A luxury beachside hotel with a terrific spa says welcome with its unofficial canine PR manager
Sitting lazily with a cool drink on a large day bed at the Baba Poolclub at Sri Panwa trying to resist the inviting 25metre lap pool, I look up at the sound of a cheerful voice calling. �ello, Nai! Long time no see.�The words are coming from a girl in flowing white dress and she� waving as she walks toward me.
I look around but see no one else. I� sure I don� her and my name isn� Nai but I� sure I�l find something nice to say. Suddenly I feel something hairy and warm brush my legs. I jump and pull my feet up on to the day bed. Looking down, I see a yellowish dog wagging her tail and smiling up and me.
�hat� Nai, our socalled PR manager. Our guests love her because she� the first to welcome them,�grins the bar attendant.
After greeting the girl in white, Nai is back and sits with me while I wait for the oncall car. In less than five minutes, I reach my villa, which is almost at the top of the hill.
�y name is Man, your villa assistant. Please allow me to show you how our TV system and preloaded iPods work.�
Walking after Man from living room to kitchen, walk in closet and showerfitted steam room, my mind is already swimming in the infinity edge pool wrapped around the glassenclosed bedroom.
Once Man leaves, I slip into my swimming suit and enjoy the private salted pool for an hour before my spa treatment at the newly open Cool Spa.
The azure blue Cool Spa stands out in the lush green landscape of Sri Panwa. The design resembles a traditional ChinoPortuguese residence with a beautifully landscaped garden, pool, and waterfalls.
All treatments used are from Sri Panwa� own Thai product line, which is created using local, natural and seasonal ingredients including mango, papaya, rambutan, coconut and tamarind.
�ur scrubs are prepared hours before the treatment begins. Our mango scrub is wellknown because it gently sloughs off the dead skin and leaves the skin soft,�explains Siriporn �oupee�Sukom, acting spa manager.
I fill in the questionnaire then select my aromatic oil from a menu that seems endless and includes mint, anticellulite, lavender, lemongrass and mood lifting. The soothing smell of camomile in the Asian blend kicks in and I hesitate no further.
�our answers show you have a stiff neck and shoulder. We�l arrange a masseuse who knows point pressure for you so she can help release those tensions,�says the spa receptionist.
The therapist leads me down the stairs, which are hidden between the pools, to the private treatment room.
Before the treatment starts, Vi, my therapist, washes and scrubs my feet with warm water and tamarind and salt scrub.
Unlike many spas, the private changing room is equipped with toilet and shower. I slip into a bathrobe and am ready for the famous Mango Scrub.
Lying on the treatment bed, the cool mushy scrub makes me shiver every time a new scoop is placed on my skin but once it is warm, the sweet smell of ripe mango and fresh scent of mint, help me relax. The creamy yoghurt in the scrub gives a velvety touch to every rub. The sound of the waterfall and background music act like a lullaby.
�lease wash off the scrub before the aroma oil massage treatment,�Vi� soft voice wakes me from my sleep.
The mushy creamy scrub has turned gooey and already started to dry. Off comes the dead skin and the dried scrub, leaving what� underneath radiant, soft and smooth.
The oil massage session is totally relaxing. The soothing smell of camomile and the skilful massage makes 60 minutes seem like 10 seconds.
�lease sit on the bed, I will press your right shoulder to release the tension,�says Vi noticing that I� still kneading my shoulder after the treatment.
�his is Thai massage and is normally not included in the treatment but I see that you still feel the stiffness on your right shoulder. I think this might help,�Vi explains, pressing my neck and shoulder with her elbow.
Spa treatments are available everywhere but next time I want to find a heart of a healer, Cool Spa is definitely at the top of my list.
AT A GLANCE
High Point: Friendly, attentive and caring staff.
Low Point: No choice of nonsweetened drinks before and after treatment.
Find it: On the tip of Cape Panwa in the southeast of Phuket, 40 minutes from the airport.
Pay for it: See the website for the best deals.
Browse it: www.SriPanwa.com
Phone it: (076) 371 000
