by Kaz Barstow
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The Golf Kitchen journey has taken me to some beautiful properties and Banyan Tree Phuket is certainly one to remember. Following my visit to the Banyan Tree Spa Academy, today I am off to the Banyan Tree Spa to experience the “Royal Banyan” package, a three-hour signature treatment that is said to originate from the Royal Thai Palaces. This award- winning spa provides an extensive range of luxurious massages, beauty and body treatments. A pioneer of the tropical garden spa concept, it is a haven for physical and spiritual renewal. Using a “high-touch, low-tech” approach that celebrates human touch coupled with the use of natural herbs, spices and aromatic oils, these exotic treatments are inspired by Asian traditions that have been passed through the hands of many generations.
Greeted by Maneewan at the spa reception, I am introduced to Kannika my therapist for this treatment. I am escorted to my private haven for the next three relaxing hours. My journey begins with a soothing foot bath and a refreshing cup of tea made with the butterfly pea flower, ginger and lemongrass. Butterfly pea flower has an amazing vivid blue colour and is sourced from the local markets in Phuket. As a traditional Thai welcome drink, it is also popular mixed with lemon and honey and can be served hot or cold.
Into the steam room for a timed five minutes to give my pores the opportunity to open up in preparation for the invigorating scrub treatment ahead. If you’re not the shy type then “au naturel” is the way to go with this one. Being a hot climate in Phuket, I found this a little difficult to last the entire five minutes, but it was well worth the effort. I move to the massage table where a heated cucumber and lemongrass scrub is applied from head to toe and I have say it feels totally divine.
Kannika leads me to the open air shower where I rinse off this wonderfully soothing scrub amongst the tranquillity of the natural surrounds, then returning for my oil-free Thai acupressure massage. This style of massage is intended to improve blood circulation and muscular tension, and I will add that it certainly did just as it promised!
Just when I thought this experience couldn’t get any better, next up is the Banyan Herbal Pouch massage. This pouch is filled with healing herbs and then soaked in heated sesame oil, then applied and massaged into the body. It isn’t very often that I have a spa treatment that can successfully calm my busy mind but Kannika has successfully achieved this for me today.
Last but certainly not least is the Jade Face massage intended to aid in lymphatic drainage. I appreciated that Kannika mentioned to me prior that the jade stone she was about to apply was very cold, unlike everything else that had been applied previously. What a refreshing final step to this totally awesome treatment. I have reached complete physical, mental and spiritual calmness and I am left to relax in a warm therapeutic herbal bath for my “calm time” with some tea, fruit and yogurt.
My warmest thanks to Banyan Tree Phuket Spa for this outstanding spa experience. This is really a very unique and holistic package and certainly is a sanctuary for the senses.
Attention golfers/guests - if you want to be relaxed and totally rejuvenated after a day on the course then I highly recommend that you visit the beautiful staff at the Banyan Tree Spa and indulge in one of their signature treatments.
My warmest thanks to Banyan Tree Phuket Spa for this outstanding spa experience. This is really a very unique and holistic package and certainly is a sanctuary for the senses.
Attention golfers/guests - if you want to be relaxed and totally rejuvenated after a day on the course then I highly recommend that you visit the beautiful staff at the Banyan Tree Spa and indulge in one of their signature treatments.
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