A serious Oasis in Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the busiest, most bustling metropolises on the planet. 

It's a city that is alive 24 hours a day, full of noise and vitality: loud music, car horns, sirens and general hubbub are all part its charm. 

You can get a massage just about anywhere in the city. If you are on foot you will be assailed every 10 metres or so with the plaintive cry: "massaage".

If you are looking to spend 300 baht on a foot massage, or perhaps a neck-and-shoulder massage then you are in luck. Your chosen service provider may also offer a bottle of water, free wifi and even air-conditioning. 

Or maybe not.

If you are looking for a real oasis to escape the sights and sounds of the city for an hour or two, then I can heartily recommend Oasis Spa, which operate two facilities in Bangkok, as well as in Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya. 

These are serious locations for anyone looking to chill out and have a serious massage experience; and there are free shuttles running to/from the nearest Skytrain station in Bangkok - ideal on a warm day. 

The kind people at the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Sydney treated me to a choice of one-hour treatments; hot oil massage, foot massage, traditional Thai massage or a facial. 

Given my unredeemable face, I opted for an aromatherapy hot oil massage after enjoying a delicious chilled lotus root drink and filling in my health survey. 

The massage lady hit all my tight spots: perfect with a flight to Australia coming up within 24 hours, and left me in a state somewhere just short of deep sleep.  And no, you are not getting a photo of me having a massage!

The surroundings are delightful; quiet, with gardens, running water and huge massage rooms with toilets and showers. No rush. Just bliss. Think relaxation platforms, lotus ponds and steam rooms. The range of treatment options is enormous.  

The experience ends with a cup of Thai tea in a relaxing, cool space.  

One of the locations is in hip Thonglor, the other just off Sukhumvit Soi 31. One-hour treatments at both start from around 1,200 baht (around $48). It is certainly worth spoiling yourself at least once during a Bangkok visit. 

See www.oasisspa.net      

 

Stone the crows! Cannabis treatments are all the rage

Regular readers will recall Anantara Chiang Mai’s resort restaurant launching what it said was "a healthy and nutrition-rich cannabis-infused menu".

Now that same innovative hotel group is promoting a range of healthy spa treatments featuring cannabis products. 

As Thailand is preparing to reopen its borders to international guests, Anantara Spa has unveiled a Thai first addition to its signature treatment menu with the launch of cannabis-infused spa treatments. Coinciding with the decriminalisation of certain elements of the cannabis plant, Anantara Spa is harnessing the restorative and anti-inflammatory compounds contained in cannabis and bringing the traditional healing properties of cannabis into modern wellness practices. Rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds and pain reducing properties, the medicinal purposes of cannabis have been brought back to the forefront of alternative therapies.  Cannabis has been utilised across central Asia for centuries.  Among the offerings are: The perfect antidote to long haul flights, the Restful Slumber Journey including a cannabis-infused aromatherapy massage, cannabis salt-infused foot bath and a relaxing cup of CBD-infused tea. After a day of sightseeing or adventures, the Cannabis Stress-Release Journey unfurls tense muscles knots using a cannabis herbal compress ball, or Luk Pra kob, which has been known in Thailand for centuries. For top-to-bottom pampering, the Head to Toe Calming Journey combines a scalp massage with foot reflexology to melt away tension.  The treatments are available at Anantara Spas across Thailand including the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, Anantara Chiang Mai Hotel and Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort (above). For more information see https://www.anantara.com/en/spa-and-wellness