YTL’s Spa Village in Southeast Asia
By: Holistic Healing News – Trina Becksted 
My first visit to S.E. Asia was an experience to remember. I visited 4 of 6 YTL’s Spa Village properties: Ritz Carlton-Kuala Lumpur, Tangjong Jara and Pangkor Laut in Malaysia and finished @ Tembok Bali. These spas were all the influence and concept design of world renowned Spa Designer, Sylvia Sepielli. My flight from LAX (Los Angeles) to Tokyo was a very bearable 10 hours when you upgrade to business class. I recommend booking via American Express Platinum where they have 2 for 1 tickets with various carriers. From Tokyo it was on to Kuala Lumpur where we stayed at the YTL well appointed Ritz Carlton. It was here where I had my first Balinese massage in the lovely and tranquil setting of Spa Village. The Coy pond and stairs up to the Village gave me a sneak preview; I was about to visit a slice of heaven in this hustling and bustling thriving metro of Kuala Lumpur. The Balinese massage is similar to a Thai massage where the practitioner moves and stretches with you on the table at times. The end result….bliss and tranquility. This was followed by detoxifying tea in their lovely lounge. The following morning we were off to KL’s airport for the next Spa Village experience. We flew into a small city on the other side of Malaysia called Kuala Terengganu. We were met by the most gracious greeters and drivers who offered cool white towels to refresh us as they whisked us toward the waiting vehicles that took us to our next Spa Village Tanjong Jara. I had my camera out and took shots of the little villages we passed that sat beside the So. China Sea. It was pointed out to me that this is one of THE safest seas in the world. This area is protected from tsunamis and hurricanes…what a relief!!! The time passed quickly with so much to see even though it was drizzling, I thought what a reprieve from the 110 degree weather I recently left behind in Scottsdale, AZ. Tanjong Jara 
When we arrived there was a wonderful Malay gentleman to GONG our arrival. I learned this chap had been a part of Spa Village Tanjong Jara for over 27 years!! There must be great employee satisfaction within the Spa Village family. He looked darn happy as he welcomed us. Wow…I quickly began to feel in awe of this splendorous place. Maybe it was the open-air lobby, the tropical feel, HUMIDITY nourishing my skin AND…for sure the people to greet us. I was in heaven and started to relax. I began to feel present….there was no other place to be. The chatter of my mind ceased; I no longer was thinking in forward or reverse. I was accepting this gift called “the present”. In we went to the restaurant where breakfast was still being served. I wanted to eat Malay food and tried their special red drink called Roselle Water from this unusual (highly anti oxidant) fruit. Lai Ping our host and VP of Spa Village ordered this special fish and rice dish wrapped in palm leaves, it was steaming hot and delectable with local herbs that mingled the flavors quite nicely. There were 2 glorious restaurants with 2 distinct cuisines. One had more Asian Arabic fusion where the other was PURE Malay. The rooms reminded me of chalet huts. They had latticed woodwork on the outside. Inside they had rich dark wood and were very spacious, including the bathrooms. They were rustic elegance, my most favorite way to be home away from home. Each room had a view of the sea and I heard waves lapping at night. The beach itself was easy to access as was the water….it was like bathwater unlike the Pacific where I make it up to my knees and “chicken” out due to the cold temps. We met the wonderful Sairani Mohd Sa’ad, the trainer for the Malay traditional healing treatments. She was the main reason we were there, to learn about ancient Malay healing which has been handed down from generation to generation, ensuring their authenticity, and therapeutic value. They have a history of more than a thousand years with origins in the convergence of Malay, Arab, Indian and Chinese influences during the days of the Malacca Sultanate. Sairani is from a lineage of healers who address women’s health including the passage of youth with respect and reverence. There were rituals and treatments like sitting bare on a heated stone and sitting in sitz baths with herbs infused to detox and cleanse. This treatment is called RENDAM-RENDAM (SITZ BATH). It has been practiced among Malay women for generations for the wellness of the genital organs and the firmness of the vaginal muscles as they age. The herbs in this sitz bath contain curative properties of piper betel and black seed with their natural antiseptics to relieve and soothe irritations from fungal infections and discharge as the body is immersed in the specially prepared herbal concoction. It is highly recommended to strengthen the uterus after childbirth and menstruation. Sairani travels to all the Malay Spas of Spa Village to share her wisdom and ancient healing techniques and educate the practitioners at each Malay Spa of Spa Village. Meeting her and learning about her methods was the highlight there. Pangkor Laut 
Off we went the next morning back to the little airport of Terengganu to catch our flight back to Kuala Lumpur, followed by a 3 hour drive and a boat ride to the YTL owned Island Resort, Spa Village Pangkor Laut. The approach from the boat was breath taking like we were going to visit Robinson Caruso for a Treasure Island adventure. This is how stunning our Spa Village Pangkor Laut experience “landing” felt. It was rated “Best Spa inMalaysia” according to Spa Finder in 2008. As a fairly seasoned spa veteran I wanted to see for myself what hidden treasures awaited me. Spa Village at Pangkor Laut Resort is a unique retreat that honors healing cultures that are some of the oldest in the world. They are derived from Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai practices. All treatments combine physical and spiritual health and well-being, and are based on one of four umbrella concepts: Rejuvenation and Longevity, Relaxation and Stress Reduction, Detoxification, and Romance. I met with Lee Jo Keng, a master healer at the Chinese Healing Hut. I got to experience the Chinese practice of Body Smoking. For those seeking to fully experience the health rituals of the region, it is recommended that you meet with a Chinese, Ayurvedic or Malay Specialist for a consultation at the beginning of your stay. Their comprehensive approach to health will lend helpful insight to your stay at the Spa Village, as well as life-long tools for vibrant living. Your treatment at the Spa Village will begin with a unique Bath House Ritual, representing various bathing traditions from around Asia. This starts with a soothing footbath and an invigorating Chinese Foot Pounding. From there you will be escorted to the Bath Houses to enjoy the traditional Malay 'circulating' bath, and a Japanese-style cleansing with a 'goshi-goshi' cloth, followed by a dip in the heated Rotenburu pool. 
Enola Kaneta, Spa Operations manager for Spa Village was there and a Godsend in helping decide on which treatments to try. There were so many to indulge in. Her knowledge of the treatments along with her professional spa staff members gave me a pleasant relaxing evening. The Bath House is the most interesting with giant urns overflowing with cool water leading up to steps with a wishing well and 4 steaming stations filled with herbs to create tranquility, detoxification and exhilaration, before descending into the bliss of warm water soak. This is one spa treatment I will remember for a long time and the highlight of my experience there. The island of Pangkor Laut has an incredible beach called Emerald Bay. Once again, the water was warm and inviting; the color was tranquil sea green. There was a convenient shuttle by the Sea Villas where I stayed that took us back and forth. This private beach had refreshments, drinks, nice showers and restroom facilities with towel service. We were pampered even though we felt a sense of rustic nature there. They have wonderful sunset tours with lobster dinners on the beach. Another highlight of this sumptuous resort was its incredible cuisines. There were 7 restaurants where you could sample almost any cuisine. Feast Village was one of them where you could try exquisite food representing numerous nationalities. Just before sunset on my last night there, I took out one of their sea kayaks. They had all sorts of water sports equipment available, like water skiing and wake boarding too. Oh yes, almost forgot to mention the tenacious monkeys there on the property. We saw them with babies in tow our first day. They are often caught stealing food off the carts. I thought it was precious; the hotel staff found them to be nuisances and scolded them. It was delightful as was the HUGE iguana lizard sun bathing on a rock out in the water. This guy must have been 6 or 7 foot long stem to stern. I stood in awe and wonderment at the unique vegetation and wildlife. It was like a National Geographic show in front of my eyes. We ate dinner and were off to bed for an early morning boat departure for the next adventure to Spa Village Tembok Bali. It was a mere 12 hour travel day and as they say "it’s not the destination it’s the journey” (Scott Peck in his book The Road Less Traveled). For the third time we were back @ Kuala Lumpur’s airport heading for Denpasar in Bali. The highlight was traveling, stopping for coffee, snacks and bio breaks. There was a Mosque setting at one gas station where there were prayer shawls for women and the floor was SO immaculate. It was amazing that a floor could look so clean and polished….kind of like my kitchen floor….NOT! Tembok Bali We arrived in Bali and again in the YTL fashion, were eloquently whisked away by extremely polite drivers who escorted us to their vehicles. Here we were handed a handsome binder with a welcoming itinerary customized with our names. It was from operations manager Adrian for our 2+ hour trek to Spa Village Tembok Bali. We had music and movie selections to make the ride easier. They even had the dinner menu so they could phone in our requests 20 mins. before arriving at the property. This is SERVICE!! 
When we arrived we were greeted by Adrian and numerous staff members there to attend us. We sat and had a foot soak and massage. I have never felt so welcomed anywhere like this. We were given some lemongrass tea and then shown to our rooms. This small, secluded property has numerous activities to keep their guests entertained and informed. There was Lontar drawing lessons, this is where we learned to etch on palm leaves, there was basket weaving, creating your own aroma therapy and body scrubs, yoga on a yoga swing, Balinese martial arts, sunrise sails, night time star gazing and more…ALL WERE amazing! We noticed four shrines around the property. They contained water from a sacred temple. We learned that water plays a significant role and seems to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. There is a PRE TREATMENT RITUAL. It’s an integral part of the entire spa
experience, each unique to the property in which it resides. The Segara Giri preludes every treatment at Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali. Segara means “ocean” and Giri means “mountain” in the Balinese language. The Balinese believe the feet act as a conduit between the energy of the earth and the self. Washing the feet is considered a way of purifying the self of any negativity that may rise from the earth. Spirituality, inherent in nature, is subtly infused in every treatment in the Balinese culture. This was awe inspiring, ritualistic and honoring…..oh yes and so relaxing. I enjoyed a massage after Segara Giri given by a gentle, yet strong woman. I was transported to another planet. Afterwards I was given some Ylang Ylang Water where the plant had soaked to make a tea, along with frozen fruit kabobs. Did I mention EVERY time we were served something it was adorned with fresh flowers? This is a touch I want to bring back home. 
The trip to SPA Village's properties was lovely. I highly recommend it. There is such good value, luxury, and most importantly extremely great service. What made the trip so special were the people. The Malay and Indonesian people were so generous with their smiles and sincere interest to be of service. THANK YOU TO ALL Spa Village management and employees for creating a magical and unforgettable experience. Blessings, good health and JOY to you all!!
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
