Thai Treasures
September 14, 2003 | 12:00am
Traveling is always more special when you take the adventure with friends whose company you truly enjoy. Simply watching the sunrise or sunset and drinking fine wine become occasions of celebration. Recently, my best buddy Büm Tenorio Jr. and I, together with our good friends Tarlac Congressman Jesli Lapus and former Manila Congresswoman Sandy Ocampo, embarked on a memorable sojourn to Thailand, the land of smiles.
Jesli’s idea of a vacation was an outdoor spa holiday where he could unwind and relax just before the congressional session resumed. A quiet place, scenic view, great food and wine and, of course, our gregarious company would fill in everything else. Sandy, on the other hand, wanted to go to a place where she could get good bargains for ceramics, clothing and other knick-knacks.
After surfing the web for the best deals of hotels, spas and plane fares, we unanimously decided to go to Thailand. Being the effective travelers we were, we even plotted our itinerary: three days in Bangkok; and three days in the island paradise of Koh Samui. We sealed our friendly deal and distributed a detailed itinerary among us. Soon, we found ourselves comfortably seated in the business class of Lufthansa airlines.
Fast forward to Bangkok. Our address: 973 Ploenchit Road. Our hotel: InterContinental Bangkok. Our description of the hotel: Contemporary elegance in the heart of Bangkok.
InterContinental Bangkok occupies an excellent location at the core of the city’s flourishing business and commercial districts thus making it a perfect home away from home to those who come to Bangkok for business or pleasure. Strategically situated in its vicinity is the skytrain, the World Trade Center and shoppers haven Pratunam. The hotel has 381 deluxe rooms, 49 Club InterContinental rooms, and 39 superb suites. Each room commands incredible views of the cityscape. We stayed in one of the suites and from the time we were billeted in the hotel until our last day, it was difficult to leave the hotel. Could you blame us, we were pampered like royalty in this beautiful hotel replete with all the amenities. And yes, everybody was amazed with the hotel’s Royal Health Spa on the 35th and 36th floors of the hotel.
The natural warmth and charm of traditional Thai hospitality enhance one’s visit to the Royal Health Spa. The staff ensures that guests happily leave the premises vowing to return. Personally, I tried the aromatherapy massage, detoxifying body treatments, and facial treatment. All this provided self-indulgent pampering. I was revitalized after my spa treatment. Recommendation: Must try. Apart from the massage, the 1,500-sq.m. Royal Health Spa also has a gym and sauna room and steam room for men and women. As you bathe in the warm water of their jacuzzis, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city.
The hotel also offers exquisite food in its restaurants and spacious lobby lounge. Our mornings were not complete without feasting on the sumptuous buffet breakfast. Lunch was normally spent at Summer Palace, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant. We had the most tasteful Japanese dinner at Shin Daikoku.
On our last day, my friends and I had the chance to meet the gracious general manager of the hotel, Michael G. Herrmann. What a pleasant surprise it was to be reacquainted with Mr. Herrmann who was the former GM of InterContinental Manila. Over cocktails, we exchanged stories of Manila, from politics to business to showbiz.
Forty-five minutes was all it took us to get to Koh Samui via Bangkok Airways. Upon arrival at the Samui Airport, we scratched our eyes in disbelief: The airport looked like a tropical resort. The airport is a treat to the senses. Even the carousel for luggage was made of wood. The airport lounge, restaurants, boutiques, concierge, rent-a-car facilities were housed under wooden huts with dried grass roofing. Buggy rides or stylized golf carts were the modes of transportation from the tarmac to the departure lounge.
The mesmerizing scene at the airport was a precursor of a wonderful time for us at Koh Samui. Our hotel limousine picked us up to take us to the most breathtaking Le Royal Meridien in Baan Taling Ngam. It was perched on a majestic hill overlooking the mountains and sea. I felt like Mona Lisa posing for a portrait. Built on a hill bluff, the resort is overlooking the Gulf of Thailand and the famous Ang Thong National Park.
Le Royal Meridien offers luxury and first class facilities with guests able to choose between beachside villas, cliff villas, deluxe rooms and suites. The cuisine ranges from Asian, traditional Thai, and Mediterranean as we sampled their dishes.
Executive assistant manager Yves Mudry toured us around the spectacular facility.
Some tourists described the resort as the "beautiful home on an awesome cliff." Others simply said that Le Royal Meridien in Baan Taling Ngam is the address to beat in Koh Samui.
Next morning after breakfast, I met up with Otmar Ober, a friend I met in Vienna, Austria. With Otmar as our guide around Koh Samui, we discovered that there are more than a hundred spa places to go in Koh Samui. And mind you, many of these spa centers do not charge exorbitant rates. Everywhere you look, there is a spa in Koh Samui.
At night, we leisurely took the resort van that brought us to Chaweng – the most happening place in Samui. The restaurants that serve the best Thai cuisine are found here. Bargains are aplenty. And yes, foot massage centers mushroom in every nook and cranny. For three nights, we did nothing but go to Chaweng to have our tired soles pampered to perfection. Don’t be surprised if one session of foot reflexology costs you only 200 baht. Thai foot reflexology is both cheap and heavenly. Beat that!
The recent trip we had to Thailand, if I may borrow the words of Jesli, was rendezvous in style. It is not every day that we experience total bliss.
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