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Chilling me softly
Maya Tan Abdullah gets hot on
Thai fragrant remedies:
Sometimes, ignorance is
bliss. I say this because before Tamarind Retreat in Koh Samui
in Thailand, I had never been truly physically and spiritually
indulged. Now, there's no turning back. At Tamarind Retreat,
one is first greeted with soothing New Age music and the gentle
movie star treatment that one easily becomes accustomed to
here. The reception and guest building is a grand double-storey
thatched pavilion with high ceilings and stucco walls. A refreshing
welcome drink - tangy-zesty tamarind and ginger cooler - gives
guests a taste of what's to come.
Inside the herbal steam room,
a deep calm pervades while the pungent yet fragrant smell
of herbs greets the nose. It is dark save for filtered daylight
streaming through a frosted window, and the atmosphere is
almost womb-like and mystical, with a great sense of being
sheltered from outside elements. A low constant hum, and the
occasional crackle and hiss of the steam fills the room, compelling
guests in the room to feel they have to whisper.
It is best to make your visit
to the spa a leisurely afternoon's event. Pop in after lunch
and spend an hour or two in the herbal steam room and plunge
pool. Then, spend the next hour and a half being massaged
to a soft and supple new you. Afterwards, spend some quiet
time reading and enjoying a wholesome tea. A shower, an evening
out and a good night's sleep later, be prepared to wake up
to the effects of your day at the spa: baby-soft skin and
hair; and a lighter, more energetic body.
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