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By Marie Moon
My session was distinctly wonderful. I enjoy spa treatments of
any kind, but this was different for today I encountered real physical
therapy. Khun Au worked my back in ways that no one has been able
to do before and I will definitely visit her again.
I notice the property each time I go to the Bang Tao area. It's
not only the clever name and the simple black and white signboard
that peaks my curiosity, it's the high brick walls surrounding the
perimeter and the thick bamboo that provides a shady canopy across
the top; it's the overall look of encapsulation, seclusion that
beckons me, and today I finally visited the HideAway Day Spa.
The grounds are well landscaped; lush and jungly and a narrow jungle
path leads to an open reception pavilion. Behind the high brick
walls the spa is as attractive as I had imagined but I was immediately
surprised to see that it has its own line of spa products. To have
broadened into herbal concoctions is normally an indication of a
spa that is serious about healing.
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The spa philosophy draws upon thousands of years of traditional
Thai healing, the kind that was once only practised by Buddhist
monks. Mr. John Buckley, founder of HideAway Day Spa explained "In
the mid 1980's, I experienced the herbal steam sauna at the temple
in Nai Harn, the only herbal steam sauna on the whole island at
that time. I was immediately hooked, I felt fantastic and so relaxed
after it, that I would travel down to the Nai Harn temple from Patong
3-4 times a week. The Abbot of the Temple then gave his blessings
to open a herbal sauna for Patong residents. When the spa was established
in 1987, the concept was to cater for local Thais and the small
expatriate community in a natural Thai jungle setting. We utilized
several of the natural herbs that the Abbot had been using for many
years, in his temple sauna."
One of these aromatic plant was the unique Thai herb known as plai.
This amazing herb, which is traditionally used as a skin beautifier,
is hailed to ward off asthma, chronic colds, nausea, flatulence,
even colic. It is also used as an antiseptic, an analgesic, a digestive
and helps to reduce fever. HideAway was the first spa in Thailand
to introduce and promote this wonder-herb; they even registered
the name "prai" which is the local pronunciation of the
word. "We have since researched other Temple wisdom and developed
our own herbal recipe for the ultimate in relaxation." 18 years
and over 225,000 international and local guests are evidence of
the quality and benefits of this traditional holistic Thai healing
experience.
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HideAway offers a carefully selected array of traditional Thai
massage forms. John attested, "All of the treatments found
here in Thailand are so pure, we have found no need to commercialize
them by combining them with other International therapies. We have
taken the formulas of Thai massage from Wat Po and chosen the techniques
that are safe and easy for any condition of the body. Many places
offer Thai massage that is not adapted to the lack of flexibility
of the modern body. If the therapist is not properly trained, the
guests will walk away with more pain than they walked in with!"
My session was distinctly wonderful. I enjoy spa treatments of
any kind, but this was different for today I encountered real physical
therapy. My right shoulder blade has given me repeated back pain
since I injured it a few years ago. Although I am a regular massage-taker,
I'd not been able to find any lasting comfort, until I met Khun
Au, a good-natured and extremely talented woman from Chiang Mai.
Khun Au worked my back in ways that no one has been able to do before
and I will definitely visit her again.
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This therapeutic massage was but the final step in a string of
relaxing experiences which all had a cumulative effect. I started
the session with some quiet time in the herbal sauna. Nice and dark
and built entirely of wood, this steam sauna is infused with relaxing
and medicinal aromas and is a perfect way to begin a treatment.
Inhaling fresh essential oil laden steam enhances detoxification
and prepares the muscles for treatment and a quick dip in the cool
plunge pool between steams, revives the mind and sparks the senses.
After the sauna I was lead back to my private treatment pavilion.
The pavilions are well presented and appointed, with dressing rooms
and lockers, separate bathrooms with deep tubs, shower and toilet,
and an open-air treatment area. Khun Au was there and a mattress
had been prepared for me. I lay down naked and looked out to the
lake that sits between the HideAway and the Laguna property. A breeze
rushed in from across the lake and was so delightful that I immediately
became a fan of the open-air setting. It's so natural. A buffalo
was crouching just a few metres below the pavilion. Chewing on cud
and spitting out the occasional 'hawww' he watched me enjoy a khamin
and prai body scrub. The spa offers a limited number of specially
formulated skin treatments. There is also a prai and khamin body
masque and a prai and aloe vera wrap and salt scrub.
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After the body treatment I washed off in a bath brimming with orchids.
I love floral baths, there are few experiences more luxurious and
I savoured every minute. The massage was the next step and I had
already chosen a blend of nutmeg and cajeput oil, under counsel
of the reception staff who consulted me on which essential oils
were best suited to my needs. John said that, "HideAway was
the first spa in Thailand to introduce aromatherapy body oils with
Thai massage." The various other oils offered include mandarin,
wild mint, wild lime, prai, ylang ylang and lemongrass, each with
its own healing properties.
HideAway set yet another precedent when it was the first spa to
introduce Thai foot massage and hand massage as separate treatments
with aromatherapy oils and lotions. The spa also offers an aromatherapy
back, neck, shoulder, arm, face and head massage which is suited
to people who don't have the time for a long session.
A lasting impression of the HideAway spa is one of naturalness.
Wood, water, wind, trees, cotton, herbs, essential oils; the materials
employed by the spa in all areas have a rawness that wholly expresses
the spa concept. For serious treatment, natural therapy and luxurious
seclusion I highly recommend a visit to the HideAway Day Spa during
your next visit to Phuket.
A HideAway spa can also be found in Patong and the newest location,
Chalong, opening May-June 2005.
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