Thai Design, Oriental Pampering

Pamper yourself. It was the catchphrase of the Nineties and the new mantra of the decade. Pamper yourself, treat yourself, de-stress from city living, kick back your heels and relax, put your hair up and chill, God knows you deserve it.

Spas – previously found only in hotels – have practically mushroomed in Metro Manila in the last five years, from corner-street operators that offer good services but lack that all-important relaxing ambience to spas that excel in their surroundings but lack the expertise in massage. Believe me when I say that never has there been a spa that combined great design and fine services until Mandarin Oriental Manila opened its 18th and 19th-floor spa late last year.

Let’s begin with the look. Mandarin Oriental decided on the Thai theme even though the hotel is widely known in these parts for its Chinese bent. But, let’s not forget that Mandarin Oriental is a sister hotel of The Oriental Bangkok, famous for its romance with literary writers and its Thai massage.(I mean, there are people who do fly to Bangkok for a massage! Well, now they don’t have to.)

The Oriental Spa of Mandarin Hotel Manila was designed by Abacus, one of Thailand’s foremost interior design companies with a thick portfolio on spas. The design harks back to traditional Thai architecture with the use of oriental furnishings (even the comb and brush holders are in Thai wooden boxes) and artifacts. Black slate sets the background for this urban escape right smack in the middle of Makati.

The reception area is on the 18th floor, where you are given a cup of tea and ushered upstairs. Here, the space just opens up. A glass-enclosed landscaped garden welcomes guests with a pair of wooden lounging beds. Around these are the four treatment rooms. Only four? Well, yes. The spa has a floor area of 210 square meters, which should give you an idea of how un-cramped it is, how big the rooms are. Each one has its own toilet and steam bath, dressing room and foyer; plus a landscaped garden so you don’t have to stare at a blank wall should you be one of those people that just doesn’t fall asleep during a relaxing massage (but I wouldn’t bet on that just yet).

The atmosphere at the Oriental Spa is unhurried. Time just melts away and you’d be left wishing that you could camp out here and didn’t have to face another traffic light again.

Which brings us to its treatments. Famous for its massage, Thailand is also known for its beauty rituals and treatments. Thankfully, Mandarin Oriental has exported these as well. Think rose petals in the tub and aroma-filled rooms surrounded by oriental artifacts casting soft shadows. Think royal treatment. Think terry-cloth robes, white clay smothered on your face to tone and cleanse it. Think soft beds and music, the scent of Thai herbs stimulating all your senses as they smooth away dry skin. Think being energized and refreshed after a 60-minute session.

The spa’s signature treatments include the Thai Herbal Body Polish, which smoothes away roughened skin and exfoliates it and improves circulation. The Royal Foot Spa and Hand Treatment uses herbs to scrub away dead skin cells and comes with a relaxing pressure-point massage. The Thai Asian Blend Massage involves both pressure massage and stretching, as in the traditional Thai massage, except this one uses oil (as in the familiar Swedish massage). Other body treatments include Aromatic Salt Glow, which exfoliates the entire body with sea salts and pure lavender oil. Micronized Marine Algae is a seaweed body wrap to promote circulation, detoxification, weight loss and metabolic balance. The Thermal Mud Wrap uses Dead Sea minerals to eliminate impurities in the body.

For those who prefer more western methods to herbal concoctions, the spa offers the Thalgo Aromatic Facial. (Thalgo is a French company that makes skin products from rich marine resources.) Try the Aquarelle Facial, which applies pure and specific essential oils for an "uplifting" effect or the Total Eye Care to treat puffiness and sagging skin around the eye area.

Gift cheques are now available and for a Valentine experience try the chocolate treatment.

The spa has also designed a beauty program specially for men – they do get stressed too, you know. The Gentleman’s Facial cleanses and hydrates the skin and combines a hand and arm massage.

There are lot more on the Oriental Spa’s menu with treatment sessions ranging from 30 minutes to four hours and prices from P2,000 to P5,900.

If you’re a hotel guest, you can have the massage in your own room – ignore the spa’s super relaxing interiors and atmosphere. Of course, you’d be crazy to do so.