A Christmas pivot

< A simple plan, KISS!

After a year and a half of steady effort, we’ve built 2.5 guest houses here at Ipyum. They’re taking shape — but we’re not quite there yet. Electricity and plumbing still need to be installed. Progress has been slower than we hoped, mostly because we’re building this dream out of pocket, step by step.

Early on, we imagined a fairly high-end experience from the start. But the reality of building on a remote island — with limited funding and infinite logistics — has taught us to be more flexible.

So, this Christmas, we’ve made a pivot.

Instead of waiting to finish everything perfectly, we’re adapting our launch plan. We’re now building four simple, elegant beach huts — easier and faster to complete — so we can begin hosting guests sooner. We’ll pair those with as many of our overwater rooms as we can finish in time.

We’ve also postponed building our central “Home” space, and will instead create a welcoming shared dining area right on the beach, using our Camp kitchen for now. It’s rustic, yes — but beautiful, honest, and infused with care.

This shift allows us to open our doors, share the magic of Raja Ampat island, and build the full vision of Ipyum over time — together with the guests who believe in it from the beginning.