The spa factor: welcome to the Kingdom of Thailand

THAILAND (eTN) – Nestled in the center of Southeast Asia, this proud and historically-rich country not only reveals an interesting geographical form, whose borders resemble the rough shape of an eleph

THAILAND (eTN) – Nestled in the center of Southeast Asia, this proud and historically-rich country not only reveals an interesting geographical form, whose borders resemble the rough shape of an elephantโ€™s head, but also takes pride in its unique service and hospitality. This is evident from its capital Bangkok, along the snaking 219-mile-long Chao Phraya River, where superb hotels like The Mandarin Oriental lure both locals and tourists to dine in, while gazing at the bustling life on the river, while its sister property in the northern region of Chiang Mai, offers a charming spectacle of the Lanna culture with fertile paddy fields as a backdrop.

From a historical and literary perspective, Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok hearkens back to an age somewhere last century, when individual travelers arrived with footlockers and writers such as Joseph Conrad and Graham Greene booked suites along the river to finish novels like Heart of Darkness or The Quiet American. It is hard to replicate that experience, but the Authorโ€™s Room in the old part of the hotel still gives one the feel for literature alongside afternoon Tiffin.

Thailandโ€™s rapid economic growth blossomed from a seed sometime between 1985 and 1996. Today, the โ€œLand of Smilesโ€ under a constitutional monarchy, is a newly-industrialized country and a significant global player in the tourism industry.

Adding to the 4 Sโ€™s (sun, smiles, Siam and shrines) is Thailandโ€™s excellent service.
Out from these varieties of service, one that is worthy of mention is how the Thai people give great interest to spa culture. Unlike any other service industry, spas have contributed to the countryโ€™s increasing tourism figures as well as its bottom-line. No wonder that in every corner within the busy streets of Bangkok, spas are a common sight to see. For many locals, it creates a fresh touch and a sense of class in their way of life.

The long history of spas suggests the use of water in treating diseases. The practice of drinking, bathing, or soaking in hot or cold springs in hope of finding a cure for an ailment, dates back to pre-historic times. Presently, the practices in spas have opened a new dimension, more than just a pleasure; itโ€™s a part of everyday life in Thailand.

As the spa industry continued to become a ritual of conventional lifestyle, there are a few who had taken it to a higher level. A recent stopover in Thailand had convinced me that when it comes to improving oneโ€™s health, it takes a holistic approach to do the trick. Traveling from Bangkok to the mountainous city of Chiang Mai, in search of unique pampering, led me to discover Mandarin Orientalโ€™s Dheva Spa.

Their approach to wellness centers primarily in the essence of Ayuverda, Indiaโ€™s 5,000-year old-wellness practice which is believed to be the oldest healing science in existence, forming the foundation for many types of medicine.

The Dheva spa experience begins with a private consultation with Dr. Sunita, herself a specialist in the practice of Ayurveda medicine, who after the end of each session, paints a picture of an individualโ€™s character and identifies the elements that most characterize it. Each living person is viewed as a unique combination of elements and energy flow called doshas. Fatigue, improper diet, stressful lifestyle, chaotic environmental factors, and other external factors can disrupt the balance and flow of doshas, leading to a variety of health problems. Ayurvedaโ€™s main goal is to keep the doshas in balance by undergoing a prescribed program that will bring about restoration of the bodyโ€™s balance to oneโ€™s full energy level and ultimately result in an entire new meaning of the definition โ€œhealthy living.โ€

For the global health seekers and fitness conscious individuals, getting a good treatment means everything. No other way to augment the healing process but to be surrounded by knowledgeable health practitioners and to have a restful place to stay. A wonderful view is a plus. With breathtaking teakwood architecture featuring a stunning seven-tiered roof designed to represent the seven steps to nirvana and the attainment of spiritual and physical perfection, itโ€™s the beginning of the spa journey.

Jan Sevilla is a quixotic nomadic chick from the Philippines with some difficulty of having her subject agree to her verb. She is forever 25. Convinced herself that she is alive but half-asleep or half-noticing as the years fly, no matter how oxygenated the blood that flows in her brain. Catch more of her travel murmurs at : http://najsevilla.blogspot.com/

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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