Thailand Travel Notes

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. October 14, 2008

JUNE 13, 2007. With today's hectic lifestyle an ever-increasing number of travelers are drawn to places that enable them not just to relax, but also to renew their mind, body and spirit. This surge in demand for curative services in recent years has prompted investors and entrepreneurs to invest heavenly in luxurious spa facilities throughout Thailand. In fact because it is home to such a large number of state-of-the-art, service-oriented spa facilities, Thailand is considered by many to be the "spa capital" of Asia.

In this issue, you will see a whole new side of Thailand. We will focus the finest spas, hotels and resorts in each region of the country, as well as special activities, exotic travel destinations, all-inclusive spa packages and the unique Thai approach to spa treatment.

We hope you will enjoy this edition of our travel notes, and that you will find a way truly to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.

A HIDEAWAY PLACE

If your desire is to hide from e-mails, phone calls and other distractions, Chiva-som is the place for you. This recipient of multiple prestigious awards is situated within seven acres of lush tropical gardens, near Hua Hin, Thailand's most celebrated beach resort.

Chiva-som is dedicated to revitalizing mind, body and spirit for total well-being and vitality. With fewer than 60 elegantly-appointed Thai-style pavilions, ocean-view rooms and suites, Chiva-som offers total privacy and seclusion to its guests. The resort's 42 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and five health and wellness consultation rooms, along with the Niranlada Medi-Spa, well-equipped fitness facility and activities including yoga, tai chi and meditation, help guests achieve a perfect balance of mind and body. In addition, Chiva-som offers guests a world-class selection of spa cuisine: try its detoxifying, fat-free and salt-free cuisine, made with the finest Thai herbs and spices.

SPA IN THE CITY

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, with hundreds of attractions and activities for visitors from around the world. It is a city that both preserves the old with respect, and embraces the new with enthusiasm. Bangkok is still a city of temples and palaces, of golden spires and orange tiered roofs, of saffron-robed monks and serene Buddha images. Classic sights, most famously the Grand Palace and Temple of Emerald Buddha, remain as magnificent as ever. In the midst this ancient and serene setting, modern cosmopolitan lifestyles have made Bangkok one of the best choices for dinning, shopping and entertainment.

After a busy day exploring Bangkok's many treasures, indulge in the spa services of The Oriental Spa, situated across from the Mandarin Oriental hotel. The quest for health and beauty through meditation, massage and the use of natural herbal remedies is an ancient tradition in Thailand. At The Oriental Spa, you will experience this tradition, handed down through countless generations, in the spa's restored century-old teakwood house. Discover the pleasure and benefits of therapies based on traditional Thai and modern Western techniques.

GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR SIX SENSES

First coming in to vogue in the 1920's as a royal summer retreat, Hua Hin today offers modern luxury accommodations, while preserving much of its traditional character as a classic beach destination. Popular destinations include Hua Hin beach, Khao Takiap (which offers bird's eye view of Hua Hin), Klai Kangwon palace and Sam Roi Yot National Park.

To revitalize each of your senses during your Hua Hin experience, visit Earth Spa by Six Senses at the Evason Hideaway and Spa at Hua Hin. The holistic Six Senses Spa provides a truly relaxing and revitalizing experience, and offers therapeutic treatments to rejuvenate the senses. The luxuriously appointed spa is adjacent to the beach and sets new standards in spa design. Try the new lifestyles programs to harmonize with a healthier lifestyle or go for the meditation de-mystified.

SPA WITH LANNA TOUCHES

For those who are drawn to the beautiful forested landscape of Northern Thailand and the many outdoor activities it offers (such as hiking, trekking, elephant riding and white water rafting), Chiang Mai is the ideal spa location. Beautiful ancient temples with distinctive Lanna architecture abound in Northern Thailand, and many top tourist attractions - including the famed hilltop temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and traditional handicraft villages are situated nearby.

Explore the unique Lanna touches at the Spa at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, which was recently voted the World's Best Spa by the readers of Cond'e Nast Traveller (UK). Step into the spa and enter a luxurious temple of harmony for body, mind and spirit - an indulgent sanctuary created exclusively for your pleasure and well-being. The range of Four Seasons treatments is inspired by ancient Thai rituals using native herbs, spices and aromatic oils created through traditional rural methods and focusing on the use of organic ingredients.

DELIGHTFUL RETREAT IN PHUKET

Against a backdrop of green hills, the west coast of Phuket - Thailand's largest island - is blessed with a whole string of magnificent beaches and coves bathed by the clear blue waters of the Andaman Sea. Popular attractions include Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Patong Beach, Chalong Bay (offering Phuket's best seafood), Blue Canyon Country Club (home of the Johnnie Walker Classic), and the nearby islands of Phi Phi in Krabi province and Similan in Phang-Nga province.

While in Phuket, let Banyan Tree Spa at the Banyan Tree Phuket uplift all your senses. Banyan Tree Spa, like the tropical and sacred tree that inspired its name, is a delightful retreat from the pressing worries of the modern world. Embodying its own signature blend of romance, rejuvenation and exotic sensuality, this sanctuary for the senses is the place for physical, mental and spiritual renewal. Enjoy its famed Spa Poll Villa and round off your spa experience with special activity program, which includes meditation, yoga classes, and delicious spa cuisine.

SPA CUISINE: FOOD FOR HEALTH

You are what you eat. To achieve total beauty and health for your body, simply combine sensual spa treatments with sensitive and carefully selected and prepared food. Chefs at Thailand's top spa destinations, hotels and resorts will turn local natural elements in food to meet your day-to-day dietary needs.

For a superb spa cuisine experience, treat yourself to the Tamarind Spa Restaurant, a dedicated spa restaurant by Banyan Tree Phuket. Famous for salad buffets, healthy dishes and light entr'ees by the serene lap pool, Tamarind Spa Restaurant is a gastronomic adventure, in which each bite unveils a new discovery for the palate while ensuring a healthy, balanced diet.

While Thai spas are known the world over for their pampering and rejuvenating treatments, few people realize that the methods and techniques employed by Thai spa are deeply rooted in ancient health and beauty treatments. Thai spas offer much more than relaxation; they bring to life centuries-old traditional healing methods that are right at home in today's modern world.

Thai traditional healing is based on the use of herbal remedies and time-honored practices such as massage and heat therapies. While heat acts as the catalyst, the real power of the traditional Thai techniques comes from the curative properties of plants. Certain herbs, roots and flowers have specific abilities to nourish and rejuvenate the body. For example, turmeric (a relative of the ginger family used in many Thai curries) aids the healing of blemishes and scars, kaffir lime (tangy aroma leaves used in Tom Yum Soup) makes the hair soft and shiny and tamarind and ripe papaya work as skin exfoliator and a face and body mask.

ASIA'S FIRST DENTAL SPA

The cosmopolitan capital of Bangkok is home to Asia's first dental spa, offering aromatherapy and relaxing foot, body and head massage in an avant garde spa-style setting. At Bangkok Dental Spa Clinic, several elements - such as the scent of therapeutic lavender and lemon grass essential oils and moodscape background music - work together quickly to de-stress patients. The virtues of massage therapy are well-documented, and its effectiveness is particularly effective as a pre-dental treatment. As a result, dental spa patients are in a much better state of mind by the time they settle into the dentist's chair. Massages are also offered post-treatment for patients who have had extensive dental work performed.