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Published on February 23, 2008

The long-established Divana Spa offers much-needed relief for urban dwellers caught in the snarls of city stress.

To spa connoisseurs, the name Divana is a familiar one - the company has been growing rapidly ever since its inception over a decade ago. From its humble beginnings as an exclusive spa retreat for airline cabin crews, Divana now has three branches offering different treatments for their tired clients, many of whom fly into Bangkok specially for the privilege. The chain also recently opened a big store at Siam Paragon where their much-raved-about organic spa products are sold.

But it is with the secluded Divana Massage & Spa on Sukhumvit Soi 25 that the story of the whole divine experience began. Situated deep down a narrow soi off busy Soi Asoke, this Divana was the first branch to offer traditional Thai massage and an array of creative spa treatments to refugees from Bangkok's hectic lifestyle. And as the group's flagship spa, Divana Massage & Spa is the place that sets the overall tone for Divana's treatments and ambience.

I'm a veteran of many sessions at Divana, having tried a lot of their treatments at their Sukhumvit Soi 35 and Thonglor Soi 17 branches, and I confess that I'm a big fan. But this was the first time that I had a chance to pamper myself at Divana on Soi Sukhumvit 25. While the two aforementioned branches are set in smaller old Thai houses brightly painted in hues of white and off-white, which gives a resort-style ambience, Divana Massage & Spa is set in a postmodern Thai-style house that reminds me of the home where I grew up in a suburb of Bangkok. The big, two-storey house is also set apart by its darker oak hues, its Thai rattan furnishings and the setting - a large, lush tropical garden.

And the place is totally quiet. As soon as I entered the premises, it was as if I had stepped into a different world, totally shut off from the rest of Bangkok.

The original branch has a large range of massages and spa treatments on the menu, but I chose their Crown Gold Ayurveda package, 210 minutes of head-to-toe pampering involving the healing properties of pure gold that, the spa says, help to restore a peaceful state of mind.

Created by Kisana Ruangsri, Divana's development director whose globetrotting experiences have exposed her the world's best spas and natural healing products, the Crown Gold Ayurveda begins with an aromatic foot soak in a warm salt bath. This was followed by a thorough body massage with oil, gold leaf and ginseng to restore mind and body, then a honeycomb body scrub - great for skin detoxification and nourishment. Next came a session of chakra stone therapy, designed to promote a balancing of the energies in the body, before the focus moved on to the skin with a body scrub using Asian herbs like tanaka, tumeric and jasmine, and a herbal steam bath. The best was saved till last: the super-relaxing Enchanting Crown Gold treatment where warm oil was slowly drizzled onto my forehead as a prelude to a hair and scalp massage.

My wonderful therapist, Or, elevated the experience to a heavenly level. Knots of tension dissolved under her nimble but firm massage style, and I surrendered to her professional hands and discreet, gentle manner. When she moved, I didn't notice a thing. The whole treatment was a seamless whole - nothing interrupted the dreamy state of mind that quickly descended on that massage bed.

Well, almost nothing - I was gently awoken by Or telling me it was time to enter the steam room for the final step of the treatment. By then, my whole body had been lavished with wave after wave of natural nourishment. Sitting in the steam softened my skin further, bringing a baby-smooth rejuvenation to the surface.

I left glowing, with the feeling that the experience had been time well spent - a special gift for myself.

Divana Spa at a glance

High points: A secluded and serene ambience perfect for an urban escape, with therapists so good that you soon feel far away from the outside world. Great products - personal favourites are their Rose hair and skincare collections.

Low point: The place can get crowded, especially during the high season when there's an influx of holidaymakers. My reservation was made two weeks in advance, and I still had a short wait for my room when I got there. Perhaps this is a sign of overbooking?

Find it: 7 Sukhumvit Soi 25, North Klong Toei

Pay for it: From Bt950 for a 70-minute foot massage to Bt6,250 for a 210-minute Enchanting Crown Gold treatment

Phone it: (02) 261 6784-5

Browse it: DivanaSpa.com

Sirin P Wongpanit

Special to The Nation