Bali Vacation Resort & Spa

Asia Cruises

2007-08-01T16:25:00.000+01:00

Asia Cruises: A Journey in the Exotic World
by Colin Hartness

An Asia cruise is a voyage of discovery, an experience of cultural extravaganza of Asian civilizations. Asia is biggest continent with the lengthiest coastline and the highest mountains of the world, the Himalayas. To explore the true majesty of its magnificent past, to experience the magnanimity of its religion and its people, embark on an Asia cruise. You will never ever forget the experience.

The Asia cruise takes you to the opulence of Singapore & Hong Kong, definitely worth a look. The jungle temple in Thailand, the Konark temple of India, or the peaceful eyes of Buddha in Vietnam, redefine faith and religion of the believers and non-believers alike. The graceful dance forms of India, the Japanese tea ceremony or the Chinese theatre, all have enormous cultural significance that are part and parcel of the region’s tradition. You become a mute spectator of such enormous cultural and traditional fervor entwined in every walk of life, so similar to each other yet very distinct in its own right.

The Asia cruise cruises along the Malaysian, Vietnamese and the Thai seas. Splurge yourselves with pretty gifts from the fabulous shopping arcades of Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. Be a part of a unique shopping experience with unbelievable discounts and promotional offers. Come to the Indian Hollywood, Bollywood, know what wholesome entertain can be by watching a Hindi film.

Let your Asia cruise be a medium to explore the enchanting cultures and original landscapes with their own unique fervor and flavor. You can go on a Far East & south pacific cruise, a South East Asia cruise or an Asia & Middle East cruise. Every cruise has its own tale to tell its own mystery to unfold.

After you have chosen the Asia cruise, you can expect quiet elegance and no over the top gimmicks. You can do your own thing at you own pace as if you are on a private villa. If you like to mind your own business you can jog a while, swim a leisurely lap or read a nice novel. You can take part in some activity join exercise classes get a soothing massage or enjoy a sauna. Some cruises even offer helicopter sightseeing, whitewater rafting, and nature walks etc. You can find spas, health clubs and even wedding chapels at your cruise ship. Special children play areas or centers are found with lots of games and entertainment.

The cruise people often invite guest speaker to share their anecdotes mostly about the region you are sailing giving you interesting insights. Most of the cruises provide excellent service, every guest gets personalized attention. The dedicated and observant staff looks after you well. You can find any information you require from the staff like where to find souvenirs, where to shop of local handicrafts or where to find nice restaurants.

The Asia cruises have special entertainment areas that offer real entertainment from special theme events, hilarious comedies, and melodious musicals to exquisite dance performances that leave you spell bound.

And spellbound and mesmerized you will be when your Asia cruise journey ends. Surely and truly, you will be a transformed person if you take all the experiences to your heart.

About the Author
Looking for information about cruises?
Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com
'What Cruises' is published by Colin Hartness -
An excellent resource for Cruises!
Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive

Tropical Spa

2007-06-24T09:43:00.000+01:00

The Tropical Spa: Asian Secrets of Health, Beauty & Relaxation

by Sophie Benge

She gives the example of Javanese rupasampat wahya bhiantara (the balance between inner and outer beauty) - using natural products for skin, hair and body balanced with inner beauty techniques including jamu (traditional herbal tonics and medicines), Daya Putih (spiritual form of exercise), fasting, and making more frequent giving, selfless gestures. She talks about the origins of many of the natural treatments now commonly used throughout tropical Asia. She talks about how the therapists carry compassion in their hands and transmit it as a matter of course. She describes about how building spas in tropical Asia is gaining popularity and how designers are blending indigenous raw materials such as teakwood, stone, ceramic, terrazzo, bamboo and alang-alang to make them "natural" but also ethnic-chic.

I purchased The Tropical Spa before my trip to Thailand so I could see what I had to look forward to. Indeed, three spas that I would be visiting - Banyan Tree Spa Phuket, Chiva-Som, and The Oriental Spa - are covered in the section, Top Tropical Spas, where Benge devotes a third of the book presenting the essence of fourteen Asian spas in word and picture. But there is so much more. Tettoni's photography is fabulous - rich, colorful images of exotic locations, spa treatments, and ingredients.

Benge discusses the tropical spa experience and how its focus on spiritual harmony and natural treatments sets it apart from other spa experiences. Even though the spa culture is not traditional to tropical Asia, centuries-old health and beauty practices of this region fit well into spa life. "The worldwide vogue for spiritual and mental, as well as physical, fitness has been at the core of Asian beauty custom since the beginning of time."

The largest section of the book, Asian Health and Beauty Secrets, presents tantalizing treatments for home based on those the people of tropical Asia have used for centuries. Benge says, "every women can improve her body by upping the respect that she pays to it. This is achieved by taking time for herself - a vital part of life that most of us ignore".

The chapter, Body Conscious, presents exotic body treatments - scrubs, baths, wraps, heat treatments and polishes - "for glowing skin...and improved self-esteem". Mandi Susu, Balinese Boreh, Traditional Lulur, and Bali Kopi Scrub among many others are described and recipes for the treatments are provided by various spas.

In Rites of Massage, Benge notes that massage has always been the backbone of health and well-being in Asia. She discusses Traditional Indonesian, Thai, Aromatherapy, and Mandara massage and what to expect from each. She also talks about carrier oils, essential oils, and oil blends.

In Mind-Body-Spirit, Benge discusses the pursuit of mindfulness and how we are turning to mindful exercises such as yoga, tai chi, meditation, and breathing techniques that offer physical and psychological benefits. She says, "the mood for holistic self-preservation which has so recently become the favoured route to self-fulfillment in the West, has always been the unquestioned way of life in the East. Mindful exercise, in its various guises, originated here in the simple belief that we can only look and feel good if our bodies and our spirits are working together in healthy harmony".

In Face Value, Benge describes natural, traditional treatments for the face such as Honey-Cucumber Facial, Egg White Mask, Polenta and Yoghurt Scrub, and Jamu Tropical Nuts Facial, among others. Recipes are provided by various spas presented in this book.

Hair Story highlights natural hair remedies, "tried and tested by the very women who tout those thick black tresses that speak for themselves". Creme Bath Hair Treatment, Aromatherapy Scalp Treatment, Hibiscus Hair Shampoo, Merang Hair Treatment, among others are discussed. Once again, recipes are provided by the spas that use them.

Feet First pays homage to the feet with instructions on how to make happy feet with pedicure, foot bath, foot massage, foot treatment, and foot soaks.

The last section of the book, Asian Spa Cuisine, provides spa recipes for Asian Golden Muesli, Apple Strudel with Honey, Tuna with Coriander and Ginger Dressing and Spinach Noodles, Rucola (Rocket or Arugula) Salad, Silken Tofu, Asparagus and Oyster Mushroom Salad, Crisp Banan Blossom and Green Apple Salad, Thai Seafood Salad, and many more. Teas and herbal tonics are also discussed.

The book ends with pictures and descriptions of natural spa ingredients and natural spa products.

Benge says, "One of the appealing aspects of the Tropical Spa is the floral heaven that goes with it. Frangipani and jasmine blooms are never out of sight in Asia and their aromas must be among the sweetest of al tropical flowers." She is so right! I will forever be transported to the spas I visited in Thailand each time I smell jasmine.

Laguna Spa

2007-06-20T19:45:00.000+01:00

The Laguna Resort & Spa

Nusa Dua, Bali
The Sheraton Lagoon is set amongst 25 acres of spectacular lush tropical gardens, with a large lagoon style pool winding gently through the hotel grounds. It located on the beach in Nusa Dua, on the southern Peninsula of the Paradise Island of Bali. Just 10 minutes from the Ngurah Rai Airport (Price includes return airport transfers).

- Satellite TV in all rooms
- Telephone in all rooms
- Air conditioning
- Parking available
- Hairdryer in all rooms
- Safe available
- Mini bar
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Disabled access
- Non-smoking facilities
- Credit cards accepted
- Conference facilities
- Business Centre
- 24 hour room service
- Sauna
- Gym
- Pool
- Tennis
- Hairdresser
- Massage
- Water sports

Nusa Dua Beach

2007-06-20T19:25:00.000+01:00

Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa

Nusa Dua, Bali
Located minutes away from the Ngurah Rai International Airport on the sun-drenched shores of beautiful Nusa Dua, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa's 23 acres of sculpted gardens provide an oasis of space and tranquility in the heart of exotic Bali.

The 380 rooms and suites resort invites you to immerse yourself in the pageantry of one of the world?s most vibrant cultures. A palace of refined luxury and privileged hospitality, this 5-star diamond property has welcomed kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers since its grand opening in 1983.

For guests who expect the extraordinary to be an imperative, an unforgettable holiday experience awaits. Price includes return airport transfers and breakfast.

• Recreational facilities at Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa include:
- A fully equipped gymnasium and body sculpting facilities
- Aerobic classes
- Balinese dance classes
- Mountain bikes with lock, helmet, and water bottle
- Wall climbing
- Tennis & squash courts
- Beach volley ball
- Pool volley ball
- Tour desk
- Table Tennis
- Watersports
- Billiards & Snooker
- Petanque
- Jogging

Leisure facilities include:
- Beachfront
- Main swimming pool
- Lagoon swimming pool
- Nusa Dua Spa lap pool
- Afternoon poolside band
- Lobby shop
- Shopping Arcade
- Art Gallery
- Fashion shows
- Spa Essentials shop
- Cultural Theatre
- Colors
- Children's Gecko Club
- 2 Children's swimming pools
- Children's playground
- Garden Chess

Lap Pool with underwater music

Personal aesthetic refinement began as a noble occupation in Bali, and the Nusa Dua Spa, located at the hotel entrance, continues this tradition in a range of rejuvenating massage treatments and exotic body scrubs that blend native herbs, flowers and spices. Enjoy treatments in the Body Spa, Spa Villa or Spa Pavilion, especially for couples. The spa's regal indulgences include a sauna, lap pool, steam rooms and Jacuzzi, as well as a hair and beauty salon, fully equipped gymnasium, aerobics studio, squash and tennis courts, mountain bikes and a climbing wall. The Spa Essentials shop supplies indigenous body products, and the Spa Cafe treats guests to healthy wholesome cuisine.

The Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa accommodates five restaurants, three bars, the Budaya Cultural Theatre, a night club, beach/pool service, 24 hour room service and offers regular dining buffets covering a wide selection of cuisines. The new, personal and exclusive bale dining is the perfect option for that romantic dining experience designed to impress. A special children?s menu is also available

Restaurants:
- Raja's Table
- Wedang Jahe
- Chess
- Sandro's
- Spa Cafe

Bars & Night Club:
- Puri Mas Lobby Lounge
- The Jukung Bar
- Pool Bar
- Club Tabuh

Return airport transfers are also included.

History of Spas

2007-06-19T19:37:00.000+01:00

Spa Evolution, A Brief History of Spas
Eby Julie Register, Your Guide to Spas

A business traveler wants to minimize jet lag. A mother of three wants some time to herself. A group of friends plans a birthday celebration. A man with back pain seeks relief. A teenager is troubled by acne. A weekend warrior is sore from overexertion. A man decides to stop smoking. A busy executive wants to rediscover spirituality. A woman wants help establishing a safe and effective exercise regimen. An obese man needs help controlling his weight. A pregnant woman wants to feel more comfortable. A couple wants to reconnect. Where can all these people go for help? A spa.

Today’s spa is a center for healing and nourishing mind, body, and spirit. People go to spas for fitness, stress management, peace of mind, pampering and pleasure, and health and wellness. Spas offer a wide variety of techniques and services - traditional and modern, from the East and from the West - to meet the diverse needs of their clients: Swedish, Japanese Shiatsu, and Thai massage, European facials, acupuncture, Dead Sea salt scrubs, Moor mud wraps, thalassotherapy, aromatherapy, reflexology, microdermabrasion, endermologie, reiki, aura imaging, watsu, rasul, hypnotherapy, classes in nutrition, meditation, journaling, yoga and Tai Chi, state-of-the-art fitness centers with personal trainers, and much more. To understand and organize this overwhelming variety of spa offerings, the International Spa Association (ISPA) has defined the "ten domains of SPA" or segments of the industry as:

1. "The Waters"
2. Food, Nourishment, Diet and Nutrition
3. Movement, Exercise and Fitness
4. Touch, Massage, and Bodywork
5. Mind/Body/Spirit
6. Aesthetics, Skin Care, Natural Beauty Agents
7. Physical Space, Climatology, Global Ecology
8. Social/Cultural Arts and Values, Spa Culture
9. Management, Marketing, and Operations
10. Time, Rhythm, and Cycle
Not every spa includes every domain. Spas come in many shapes, sizes, and focuses - from day spas where you can get a single treatment to destination spas where you can stay for a week or more to medical spas that treat cosmetic and chronic health problems. Spas are everywhere. According to ISPA, the number of spas in the U.S. grew at an annual rate of 21% from 1995-1999 and continues to show strong growth. Aggregate industry revenues grew by 114 percent between 1999 and 2001.The size of the United States spa industry in 2001 was estimated at 9,632 locations; in 2000, that number was 5,689. Spa Mailing List contains approximately 7,000 spas. This site, About’s Spa Site (http://spas.about.com) lists thousands of spas in over 100 countries and territories all over the world.

Although spas seem to have sprung up overnight, that’s not the case. “The Waters” can be traced back to early civilizations. Like water, spa popularity has come in waves throughout history. Prof. Jonathan Paul de Vierville, Ph.D., spa historian and owner of the Alamo Plaza Spa at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, USA, notes that the popularity of spas has accompanied cultures with leisure time. Social bathing was an important cultural process practiced by Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Minoans, Greeks, and Romans whenever they sought health and relief from their pain and diseases.

According to Mikkel Aaland in Sweat, Homer and other Greek writers tell us the Greeks favored a variety of baths as early as 500 BC, from hot water tubs to hot-air baths, or laconica. From the small Greek laconica grew the Roman balneum and finally the extravagant Roman thermae (Greek word for “heat”). Before Emperor Agrippa designed and created the first thermae in 25 BC, the smaller, more numerous balneum had been enjoyed by Roman citizens for more than 200 years. Each subsequent emperor created thermae more spacious and splendid than his predecessor. The Diocletian bath could hold 6,000 bathers. They were built all over the Roman Empire from Africa to England. The thermae later became a central entertainment complex offering sports, restaurants, and various types of baths. A typical routine might begin with a workout in the palestra, followed by a visit to three progressively warmer rooms starting in the tepidarium, the largest and most luxurious room in the thermae. Here the bather would stay for an hour or so while being anointed with oils. This would be followed by a visit to the caldarium with small private bathing stalls offering a choice of hot or cold water. A visit to the hottest chamber, the laconicum, would follow. Here the body was vigorously massaged and the dead skin scraped off with a curved metal tool called a strigil. The bathing ritual would end with a cool dip in the pool of the frigidarium. Refreshed and clean, the bather then retired to the outer areas of the thermae to relax in the library or assembly room.

As the Roman Empire fell, the Roman thermae fell into disrepair and disuse. The bath gained and lost popularity in different parts of the world – Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America – through the present day. Baths were often built near natural hot or mineral springs. According to Prof. de Vierville, Charlemagne's Aachen and Bonaventura's Poretta developed as important social bathing and healing places around thermal springs during the Middle Ages. In the Renaissance era, Paracelsus' mountain mineral springs at Paeffers, Switzerland, and towns like Spa, Belgium, Baden-Baden, Germany, and Bath, England, grew up around natural thermal waters considered to have healing properties. The use of saunas and steam baths also emerged. As these springs and spas were discovered, forgotten, and rediscovered, the healing power of the water was often enhanced and formalized. In 1522, the first scientific book on the Czech Karlovy Vary treatment for disease was published in which a regimen of baths and drinking the waters of the springs was recommended. In the 1890s, Father Sebastian Kneipp developed holistic herbal and water therapy in the German spa village of Bad Worishofen.

With the medical discoveries of the early 20th century, scientific clinics and public hospitals replaced the spa. Existing spas responded by offering luxury accommodations, and many eventually turned into vacation locations or clinics that concentrated on weight loss, catering to the wealthy, with the spa origins obscured. In recent years, the value of prevention, healthy lifestyles, and relaxation has been rediscovered and the spa is again finding its place in modern society as a place uniquely qualified to address these needs. The wealthy no longer have exclusive use of spas. Spas now appeal to and are accessible to a much broader population.

Today’s spa is an interesting combination of ancient traditions and modern mechanical wonders. However, the heart of the modern spa, just as the ancient spa, is water and the rituals that evolve around it. According to Prof. De Vierville, the proper sequence of the typical spa ritual is cleaning, heating, treatment, and rest. The first step, cleaning, should be a visit to the shower to purify the body. The second step is to heat the body. Many spas offer heated whirlpools, saunas, and steam rooms. A short visit to each or any combination can heat the body (caution: this step should be eliminated for people with certain medical conditions). The third step is the treatment such as a body scrub and massage. The last and equally important step is rest. Today’s ritual is very similar to the spa ritual used at the Roman thermae.

There have been many recent additions to spa water therapies in recent times. The Jacuzzi whirlpool, a central fixture in many modern spas, was invented in the 1950s, followed by Hydrotherapy Tubs, Swiss Showers, Scotch Hoses, and Vichy Showers. In addition to these mechanical inventions, new therapeutic ways to use still water have been discovered: Floatation Therapy, Watsu, Wassertanzen, Water Dance, Liquid Sound, and Dreams and Rituals in Healing Waters have been developed. The spa today embraces and celebrates its origins in water and is constantly looking for new ways to express it.

Photo courtesy of The Bath Spa Project

Bali Resort Spa

2007-06-19T19:15:00.000+01:00

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Article by Evelyn Chen, a Spa Site Guest Writer based in Singapore, Photo by Alex Ang

The island of Bali holds a magic that captivates like no other. Known as the "Pulau Dewata" (Island of the Gods), Bali has maintained its rich tradition of spirituality and culture despite the booming tourism trade. Its dramatic architecture, lush green rice paddies, fresh ocean breezes, cool mountain mists and brightly colored daily offerings impart a deep sense of exotic splendor. It is this natural and cultural heritage that has made Bali a popular destination.With a multitude of top-notch spas sprouting across the entire island offering a sanctuary for tired souls, Bali is highly sought after as a venue to rejuvenate and re-energize.

This is the birthplace of Asia’s best tropical spas and there is no more decadent place to indulge in the Balinese art of pampering than in the opulence and allure of the Four Seasons. With a string of accolades to its name, the Four Seasons Resorts and Spas in Sayan and Jimbaran impress the senses and enlighten the soul. The serene ambience, dramatic settings, heaven-sent rituals and refined art of pampering empowered by gifts of nature from the sea and the earth have combined to create a compelling spa experience.

My visit to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran follows.

Located on the southern tip of Bali, a ten-minute drive from Kuta Beach and the international airport is the Four Seasons Bali Resort at Jimbaran. After a one-hour journey from Sayan, we were greeted by the warm breezes and spectacular views of the Jimbaran Bay. The 35-acre resort sits on a steep slope rising 147 feet (45 meters) above the water, beautifully landscaped with lush tropical gardens by the renowned Made Widjaya. 147 spacious and luxurious villas, clustered around seven village squares, are built into the gently terraced hillside named Bukit Permai (“beautiful hill”), each surrounded by shrubs and lush greens that rustic Balinese gardens are known for.

We checked in and a buggy took us to Villa 259. This one-bedroom villa has a lovely landscaped garden with pebble-strewn path and moss-covered Indonesian artifacts. Outside is a spacious courtyard covered by a thatched roof for outdoor dining and relaxation. The plunge pool blends into the garden and offers an unrestricted view across the Jimbaran Bay and the sacred Mount Agung, the physical and spiritual center of Bali. The interior is elegant with a sleeping pavilion, adjoining dressing area and bathing pavilion with free-standing oversized bathtub strewn with frangipani flowers. Natural daylight illuminates the dressing and bathing areas through wooden-framed windows dressed by rustic blinds that reveal an outdoor bamboo shower in a secluded Balinese garden - a perfect setting for indulgence of the body, mind and spirit.

Jimbaran Spa

The Jimbaran Spa is perched on a terrace surrounded by towering tropical greenery. The 10,000+ square-foot spa accommodates 9 treatment rooms including 3 large couples' spa suites with indoor and outdoor facilities (including a Swiss shower in the Royal Spa Suite). The facility also houses male and female locker rooms, 2 relaxation lounges, nail and hair salons, aerobics studio, gym and a quiet room for meditation. A Mediterranean counter serves light spa cuisine and local elixirs. An extensive retail area features exotic essential oils and body spa products joins the reception area in receiving guests. The Jimbaran spa menu draws its inspiration from local healing elements and the ocean, featuring traditional and exotic rituals that celebrate the restorative heritage of Indonesia.

To aid my appreciation of Jimbaran Spa’s heritage, it was recommended that I try an “Ocean Ritual” treatment. My therapist, Aryani, guided me into a rustic spa suite in soft Mediterranean hues with a double massage bed and private Swiss shower. A glass sliding door opens into a private garden with outdoor rinse shower shielded by a gigantic leafy plant and an enormous bathtub. The treatment commenced with a 50-minute traditional Balinese massage using Bali Santi Oil (coconut base oil infused with citrus, nutmeg, vetiver and patchouli essential oils). Under Aryanti’s skillful hands, I could feel all tension released with the soothing touch. A Blue Sea Salt was then scrubbed onto my entire body to exfoliate the skin in preparation for the seaweed body wrap. A paste made of seaweed powder and water was generously applied on my skin using effleurage movements, ending with an aroma mist spray to keep the body moist. I was then wrapped in layers of foil and blanket to facilitate the seaweed’s task of detoxification and water retention removal.

I enjoyed a therapeutic scalp and face massage while under “wrap” in the nice and warm cocoon and almost drifted into nirvana. Aryanti gently nudged me when it was time to remove the seaweed gel. I was guided to shower at the private garden courtyard, amongst the lush greens where water cascaded from an Indonesian clay vase. After the shower, I immersed myself in a warm bath with bath salt and ocean oil (coconut base with citrus and vanilla essential oils), sipping cold “coconilla” (a specially formulated spa drink infusion of coconut milk, young coconut juice, vanilla stick and a dash of sugar). Before I got dressed, Aryani smoothed a blend of aloe vera lotion with ocean oil onto my skin. The result was aromatic and silky soft skin all round. The “Ocean Ritual” did wonders to my dull and lifeless skin!

Photos courtesy of Alex Ang