Thailand is a holistic paradise, and nowhere better will you experience complete rejuvenation than at the Andara Spa in Kamala
I don’t know what’s been your highlight of the week, but for me there is no contest. The three hours I spent at the Andara Spa and SILK restaurant in Kamala was the run-away winner in my highlight stakes this week.
Having been a frequent visitor to Andara’s renowned SILK restaurant over the years, I had always turned right on exiting the first-floor elevator, never left. It reminded me of boarding an aircraft, which in my case, financial limitations always mean I am turning right into economy class; the nirvana, which lay to the left, was tantalising out of pocket.
However, on this occasion I was invited to turn left, specifically to try something from Andara’s new spa treatment menu.
Upon arrival into the main resort lobby, you are immediately hit with an overwhelming sense of calm, created by a perfect cocktail of classic Thai interior design, silk panelling, running water, huge stone statues, essential oil diffusers and heavenly music. Entering the Spa had the same effect, but a few notches higher.
Khun Ubol, the Spa Manager greeted me and over a glass of iced jasmin-pandan-stevia leaf tea she asked what element of my wellbeing I would like them to work on. ‘Sleep’ was the immediate answer so she recommended the sixty-minute Face and Head Reflexology treatment. Thinking that two hours was far too long to concentrate on my head alone, I was relieved to find out my chosen treatment included over an hour of their Signature Oil Massage as well.
Before you are led away to your private massage room (there are eight of them in total, four single and two couples’ suites), Ubol needed a few decisions from me. Cedarwood or rose aroma candles, my desired massage oil and sneak preview of the gubong stick to be used on my head. I chose the cedarwood candle, the relaxing oil (consisting of lavender, bergamot and chamomile) but the gubong worried me a bit, it looked more like an implement you would find at the dentist. On closer inspection I was relieved to see that the sharp end wasn’t sharp at all, it had a bulbous rounded tip, designed to pressure the skin rather than puncture it.
Having completed, and passed, the ‘good health’ questionnaire I was led away by Senior Therapist Khun Farida to start my heavenly journey. Again, the soothing sound of running water, relaxing lighting and sleepy music added to the serene atmosphere as we entered the treatment suite, enhanced by my cedarwood candle of course.
After an initial foot washing (and scrubbing) session with an exfoliating soap, which was pleasantly ticklish, I lay down for the Signature Massage. Khun Farida delivered just the correct amount of pressure for me; it was a sublime experience, with the highlight being the trickling of the heated massage oil onto my skin as she moved around my body.
I didn’t really want the massage to end, but eventually it had to, and Farida prepared me for the face and head reflexology treatment. Having positioned a stool for herself behind my head she placed a lightly weighted warm hand towel over my eyes so my senses were deprived of sight, with just smell and touch to focus on.
Blindfolded I first became aware of the gubong stick when something was gently placed on my brow. Over a five-second period Farida increased the pressure of the something to a point when I experienced the first degree of pain, certainly not a sharp pain, but dull pain nevertheless. Then she slowly released the pressure and moved to another point on my meridian lines. I wasn’t keeping count but she must have visited at least fifty different spots on my face and scalp.
Afterwards, over hot jasmine tea Khun Ubol explained that meridian lines in the head allow the flow of ‘chi’, and if these lines become blocked, chi cannot circulate properly so you become depleted, leading to stress, poor sleep, headaches, and for some people migraines. I’m not kidding you; I had the best nights’ sleep for a long time that night.
Doing nothing does work up an appetite I find, so after two hours of inactive bliss I was quite hungry, time to seek out a light lunch in SILK . I chose four dishes: a Mediterranean salad, Yum Som-O (Thai pomelo salad), roasted Harissa cauliflower and an Italian Burrata salad. All were exceptional, really tasty, I washed them down with a bottle of sparkling San Pellegrino, and double espresso to finish. Well done Andara and thank you for releasing my inner chi, as highlights go this one’s going to take some beating.
andaraphuket.com/experiences/wellness/andara-spa
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