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By Lee Sutton
Lee Sutton walks us through the Mandara Spa that offers a haven
for visitors to rest, relax and rejuvenate with a wide range of
traditional and international health and beauty treatments, featuring
high quality imported products as well as natural products grown
in Thailand.
The name Mandara refers to an ancient Sanskrit myth: the quest to
discover the precious elixir of immortality and eternal youth. Mandara
Spa is meant as a sanctuary of nature, where the essential elements
of life are cherished.
Mandara Spa is the largest operator of tropical garden spas in
hotels and resorts in South East Asia. The group was established
in Indonesia in 1996 and quickly became the market leader in the
international resort island of Bali.
It currently operates 14 spas in resort destinations in Indonesia.
The company is led by a core of experienced international professionals
who devote their time to providing extensive training and supervision
to the large team of therapists employed in their epas. They also
work constantly to bring new techniques and concepts to this fast
growing industry. Strengthened by its success in Indonesia, Mandara
Spa expanded to Malaysia
and Thailand. It opened the Mandara Spa at Datai on Langkawi
Island in July 1998. Three other spas have since opened in Malaysia
and three in the Maldives.
Mandara Spa Thailand has opened seven spas in Bangkok
and resort destinations in Thailand and has established a resident
team of professionals to oversee operations in Thailand spas and
at an export training centre. As the company moves into new destinations
in Asia, the treatments reflect the traditions of each local culture.
Treatments include a variety of massage styles, herbal wraps and
facials, salt scrubs, seaweed wraps, aromatherapy, reflexology and
a selection of luxurious fresh water baths availabla for individual
guests or couples.
The 750 sq.m. spa complex at the JW
Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa includes five spacious and private
double treatment suites and a full service beauty salon. On entering
the Spa, you are immediately enveloped in the beautiful aroma of
the oil lamps and a sense of calm is the first impression of the
memorable experience. Charming Thai staff attend to your every need
and you find yourself feeling like the whole world has been left
behind closed doors.
The spa interior focuses on the exotic beauty of Thai traditional
architecture and artifacts subtly blending with the classic elegance
of contemporary desing, evoking a feeling of "spiritual tranquility
and harmonyO with nature. The treatment suites are exquisitely designed
in silver and black, with extensive use of pearl. On entering the
suite, the gentle and gracious therapist leaves you to shower and
change into a soft cotton robe. Dressing rooms are complete with
a jewellery case and lockable drawer for your valuables.
Every treatment is preceded with a relaxing foot bath in local
ceramic pottery filled with crystal clear fresh watrer. This preliminary
regimen occurs next to a highly inviting black terrazzo plung pool.
Depending on the treatment you select, this plunge pool may well
be filled with scented mineral water and flower petals; the scene
is indulgent and exciting. The area is well lit by natural light
filtering through floor to ceiling glass windows and doors. Visible
through the doors is the outdoor massage area with draped curtains,
like a four poster bed on ground level, a cooling ceiling fan spins
overhead and the tropical water garden that surrounds this area
is planted with tropical plants and papyrus. A little water fountain
tinklies in the background beyond which the fabulous herbal steam
room and twin outdoor shower units await.
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Conscientious attention to detail is paid to every element, to
produce a completely blissful experience. Nothing is overlooked
- soothing sounds, intoxicating aromas, tranquil ambience, gracious
and caring staff, peace, serenity and pampered indulgence. The combination
of these elements creates a complete experience that caters for
all the senses and soothes the body, mind and soul resulting in
a feeling of radiance and total well being.
A range of heavenly treatments has been developed from ancient
natural healing remedies as well as the beauty and rejuvenation
secrets of Asia. They are presented with nurturing mindfulness,
by gifted hands. Exquisite products including Declor of Paris and
Jurlique from Australia are adapted from traditional beauty elixirs,
capture the heating and nourishing essence of nature, using the
finest and freshest ingredients, rich in nutrients and lusciously
aromatic. For massage and aromatherapy sessions, natural local Thai
essential oils are utilized. The signature treatments are the Mandara
Spa Samplers, which last for 2 hours and constitute a combination
of other therapies on the menu. Samplers are available in five categories;
energizing, relaxing, healing, aromatic and calming, each focusing
on a different combination of techniques and products. Also available
are half-day and full-day packages that offer an ultimately indulgent
experience.
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