Yeoh Siew Hoon starts saving for a trip to the moon.

When I was first told about MOON Bahamas, I thought they were building a Bahamas on the moon.

The website, www.moonbahamas.com, certainly gives you the impression at first glance. It talks about exploration of the human spirit. Its mission is to "create the first wonder out of this world".

It shares the philosophy of its founders, Michael and Sarah Henderson: "It is not enough to wonder at all the places we cannot readily see, but can visit. It is to reach out to the one we can see."

After all, I thought, if they can build The World in a desert kingdom, or even Palm Islands, surely they can build on the moon too.

Then as I explored deeper into cyberspace, I realized they were actually building the moon on Bahamas.

The world's biggest, moon-shaped, integrated, multi-faceted resort development on the Grand Bahama, to be exact.

It will have everything under the sun.

It will comprise five man-made islands which will house the world's largest casino, world's largest and tallest hotel with 12,000 suites, multiple resort attractions including extravagant entertainment facilities, ten cruise ship terminals, 50 of the world's best restaurants with their star chefs, the world's largest resort wine cellar, the world's largest mega yacht marina, aquatic centre, real estate (22,000 condominiums), huge convention centre and sports facilities which will include four PGA golf courses.

Just typing that sentence is exhausting.

It's a project enough to make one see stars. It has created raving fans as well as its share of skeptics.

For example, here's a commentary made on the project by the travel website, gridskipper.com, says. "Usually when I see a press release about a hotel in Bahamas, I ignore it, unless it has something to do with armies of drunken monkeys burning down the Atlantis. But Moon Bahamas, the resort to end all resorts, is too incredible to pass up …

"They claim it will be ready by 2010. We'll all be able to drive our flying cars there by then!"

Founder Michael Henderson however is unfazed by such skeptics. He has his eye firmly set on the landing date. "We are still on schedule for 2010 and, at worst, everything will be open by 2010."

Henderson is clearly moonstruck.

Why the moon, I asked?

"Because the moon is the only thing we can all see but yet cannot visit. As a global brand, it is amazing. Before we start to build, all of earth's 6.3 billion inhabitants already know our project.

"Who among us has not looked at a full moon and wondered what it would be like to visit our closest celestial partner."

Henderson says he is not trying to outdo Dubai, describing it as a "wonderful place which, thanks to Sheik Mohammed, has transformed itself into a global "must see" destination.

"The Palm and World projects are excellent. MOON is similar as it is built on reclaimed islands but very different in all other respects. MOON is very much a vertical project rather than a horizontal project such as the ones in Dubai."

Do you think the world is headed for big, bigger or biggest or do u think people want small, smaller, smallest, I asked Henderson?

 "Both," he said. "The world's people are always looking for something different, be it bigger or smaller. MOON Bahamas is simply better and Grand Bahama is an amazing jewel yet to be discovered."

So now I have a confession. I have not been to Dubai nor the moon.

Both are trips I am still saving for.

Of Dubai, I have heard mixed reviews. A Singaporean girlfriend who's just returned said she couldn't help but gawp at the buildings. "They are huge, huger, hugest. Bigger and better than anything in Singapore."

An Australian friend finds it too artificial for her liking – "it's too built up, too big, too everything."

Of the moon, the only reliable word-of-mouth I have is from Buzz Aldrin, the second man to land on the moon after Neil Armstrong. I recall he told me it was out of this world.

Of MOON Bahamas, well, I guess I'll have to start saving now for a trip there or wait till 2007 to get some down-to-earth feedback.


The SHY Report
A regular column on news, trends and issues in the hospitality industry by one of Asia's most respected travel editors and commentators, Yeoh Siew Hoon.

Siew Hoon, who has covered the tourism industry in Asia/Pacific for the past 20 years, runs SHY Ventures Pte Ltd. Her company's mission is "Content, Communication, Connection".

She is a writer, speaker, facilitator, trainer and events producer. She is also an author, having published "Around Asia In 1 Hr: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries". Her motto is ‘free to do, and be'.

Contacts: Tel: 65-63424934, Mobile: 65-96801460

Check out Siew Hoon's new website, www.shy-connection.com, which features a newly-launched e-zine with a difference.