What is life if we don't live it up a bit? After slugging it out month after month, spending endlessly on my credit card, I managed to earn enough loyalty points for a 2-night stay in Angsana Spa & Resort in Bintan. Bintan is an Indonesian island just 45 minutes from Singapore by ferry. Alright, alright... enough with the screaming already. Yes, it IS commercialised and the fact that you pay for everything in USD makes it worse. But it is close by and great for a quick escape.
Angsana is related (read: cheap) to the more up-market branded resorts of Banyan Tree. Anyhow, they still cater to the luxury-seeking, comfort-loving creatures out there.
Room: Tropical-themed. Had a green all-in-one-jungle canvas hanging over the bed. I expected it to be a bit more lavish but nevertheless, it was comfortable. There is a nice view of the pool & the beach. The missus did complain about the unglamorous toiletries. Ooh.
The real reason I decided to hang out here is the SPA! My gosh, it was nice. But I'm not sure if it's the essential oils talking. As soon as you step into their "office", you are hit with a sweet-smelling aroma with mesmerizing music... you feel so relaxed and happy. So elated is your mood that you won't notice the 3-digit price for their treatments. They all sound so good and oh, so luxurious.
We went ahead for the couple's session. The treatment room is located on the second floor and facing the sea. They started to pipe in soothing hypnotic music and got the aromatherapy lamps going. The combination of the outside heat, sweet oil and soft breeze is enough to get you into la la land in an instant. You would not even notice the kneads and presses by the expert hands of the therapists.
Life is bliss...
From top left; clockwise: prawn crackers (keropok) with sambal,
