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Blissful Escape at Aum Spa

kikaygurl — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:51:34 +0000

Cebu is not only known for its rich historical and religious past, it is also a modern bustling city and home to some of the most luxurious accommodations outside Manila . When in Mactan Island , just outside the city, and billeted in one of the many five-star resorts and hotels along its shores, you get the added bonus of some of the best spa treatments in the country.

Crimson Resort and Spa is an exclusive piece of paradise just 15 minutes away from Mactan’s airport. On this sprawling six-hectare resort facing the Olango Island sanctuary and Hilutungan Channel is a tropical escape of 250 suites and 40 villas, 38 of them outfitted with private plunge pools, set in the Asian contemporary style. There are not one or two but four theme restaurants—Saffron (Asian), Azure Pool Bar (tapas), Tempo Music Lounge (canapes) and Score Sports Bar (Western)—in this private luxury enclave and the 1,000-square meter Coral Ballroom, fit for a king’s banquet. No wonder the resort is a favorite for weddings and big parties and events.

Being Filinvest Land ’s first foray into the hotel and hospitality industry, nothing was left to chance. No less than architectural and interior design firm Wimberly Allison Tong and Goo (WATG) from California was tapped to masterplan the resort. Landscape architecture is by Belt Collins from Hong Kong , which created a garden atmosphere reminiscent of Balinese-inspired resorts. The result is understated elegance with subdued cream walls and dark wood paneling in its interiors, enhanced by accents of wood, stone and woven natural Philippine fibers, and exteriors that echo a lush tropical paradise.

The resort devotes 2,000 square meters to its Aum Spa and Wellness Center , housed in a separate structure, a short walk or a golf cart ride from the main resort. The spa derives its name from the word om, a Hindu sacred sound spoken in the beginning and the end of prayers and meditations. Considered as the greatest of all mantras, it also used in the practice of yoga and is related to techniques of auditory meditation. The very act saying “om” or “aum” leads one to a heightened sense of awareness of one’s place in the universe. It is with this philosophy that resort spa consultant Karen Villarica of Mandala Spa conceptualized a spa that would provide guests a place of peace and serenity, where you find your own center and work towards “holding everything together.” With the fast-paced lifestyle we are leading, searching and finding that place is priceless indeed.

Tucked away in its private place, the spa’s entrance welcomes you with a nurturing embrace the moment you set foot at the cavernous reception area. Croissant-shaped Kenneth Cobonpue loungers neatly arranged against a spirit wall invite you to take a seat and enjoy the soothing sound of water gushing from the mini falls located on the sides of the receiving area.

After perusing the spa’s menu of treatments and given a choice between a one-hour or a two-hour massage (I settled for the one-hour massage), spa manager Melissa Montesclaro gave me a short tour of the spa while my assigned therapist prepared the treatment room.

Aum Spa has 14 rooms. Massages may be arranged in the comfort of the rooms or in one of the open pavilions. You pass by a series of European-inspired stone-cast fountainheads spewing out water that gently flow into one horizontal pool before you find one of the spacious Balinese-inspired open pavilions. Modern clean lines, indigenous materials like grass for the roofing and the muted earth tones of the stone floor make the room a relaxing place for treatments. Tastefully appointed with two massage beds; a huge, immaculately clean bathtub; and a pocket garden of bamboo and tropical plants, the rooms provide a Zen experience.

Montesclaro said the wellness center offers the Aum Half Day Spa Experience in which, for a full four hours, guests are treated to a day of pampering in one of the open spa villas. Stress-reducing treatments come in fanciful names such as Tropical Getaway, Aum Luxury Escape and Ultimate Retreat, which include a welcome foot ritual and water therapy sessions at the spa pool.

For the weary traveler, recommended treatments under the Spa Journeys menu are the Tranquility, Rejuvenation, Renewal and Jet Lag packages. Those pressed for time can avail of the Aum Express Relief, 45-minute massage therapy for the head, neck, back and shoulders using herbal-infused hot compresses placed on the back and foot.

Deluxe King room

Deluxe Twin room

Long-staying guests can avail of the Aum Lifestyle Classes, private and group yoga, tai chi and meditation lessons held at the open cabanas where one can spread yoga mats on the wooden floor and spend the day in deep, soulful meditation. A steam and sauna room and an outdoor pool with a spacious sundeck have plenty of loungers to allow one to soak in the sun after-treatment while sipping Gingered Oranges, Aum’s signature drink, a calming and revitalizing drink of ginger ale, fresh organic juice, calamansi and lemon twist.

After the tour, we headed back to the room, our staccato footsteps echoing in the stone courtyard. I was ushered into the changing rooms and into the spa room where for the next hour or so the trained hands of the therapist transported me to a blissful state of nothingness as I felt my muscles being kneaded and stretched as soft piped-in music filled the air. I chose the Aum Signature massage, a combination stroke massage that applies the right pressure on just the right spots on the shoulder and lower back using lavender-infused virgin coconut oil. After a day of exploring the resort and savoring the delicious food prepared by master chef Stefano Lerillo at the spanking Saffron Restaurant, there was nothing more gratifying than to just lie back and find that inner calm while my body was being restored to health.

Other signature treatments are the Aum Deep Tissue Massage, ideal for severe or chronic muscle tightness, and the Aum Healing Stone Massage, two hours and 15 minutes of bliss guaranteed to transport one to state of healing and health. One-hour treatments such as the traditional hilot, Thai and Shiatsu massage, foot reflexology, prenatal massage and a Teen Spa are offered to guests. And if those are not enough, they also have body wraps and scrubs. The spa offers detox and firming body wraps such as Phytomer Seatonic Firming Wrap, the Rhassoul Body Wrap, Dead Sea body wrap and the after-sun cooling body treatment. Body scrubs come with a tantalizing blend of fruit and herbal formulas such as the Spicy Sugar Scrub, Wild Orange Calamondine Body Polish, Tropical Fruit Body Scrub, Jasmine Body Scrub, Coffee Invigorating Body Glow and the Aromatherapy Salt Rubdown.

Anti-aging facial treatments include the Babor HSR Glamor Lifting Facial with Gold, Tropical Revitalizing Facial (lime and pineapple), and the Phytomer Skin Escape for Men.

Aum Spa day entrance is at Php1,800 in case you want to indulge in a spa experience for a few hours. However, an overnight stay at one of the resort’s spacious beachfront, oceanfront and private pool villas is an experience one should not miss. To this I say, “om”, a prayer that someday I might visit the resort again to find myself lost in this tropical paradise.

Crimson Beach Resort and Spa is located at Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines with telephone number (+63 32) 401-9999, fax number (+ 63 32) 401-.9998 and email info.mactan@crimsonhotel.com. Their Metro Manila sales office is at Unit 2202, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V. A. Rufino Street, Makati City, with telephone number (+ 63 2) 728-0005 and fax number (+ 63 2) 729-0077.

My Badian Island Escape

kikaygurl — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:37:36 +0000

As far as escape from the hectic life go, it is difficult to find a remote place in Cebu than Badian Island Resort and Spa, a world class island “sparadise” that has earned for itself a reputation for being one of the most romantic places to stay. Many tourists have known many hotels and resorts in Cebu, but those who wish to discover the other paradise that is Badian, a two-hour drive from Cebu City, past the picturesque town of Carcar, will reveal more surprises.

As we headed to the island at the Badian Bay, remnants of my busy and hectic life seem to ebb away as we docked at the jetty amidst the lively singing of the staff. Leis were placed on our necks as we were ushered to the reception where lavender-infused cold towels were passed around as Maria Catral, our gracious host, offered us welcome drinks. Because of the warmth of the midday sun, I almost ran off to one of the hammocks to laze around for the rest of the day, drink in hand, but I had to restrain myself.

Hartwig Scholz, in his many travels around the world as an international tax consultant, came across Badian Island and saw its potential. The area has long been a favorite of divers and snorkelers as the island is surrounded by a ring of coral reef stretching to one kilometre. Charmed by the locals’ warmth and the pristine beauty of the island, he had a vision of a world-class resort sitting at the spot. Twenty-five years later, his dream became a reality. Scholz was among, if not the first, to elevate the art of wellness in the country with the creation of an island resort with a full-service spa, where wellness take a mind-body approach by incorporating yoga, meditation and sound healing into their list of services. Each guest is treated like royalty in this haven where Scholz warmly welcomes guests as if to his own home. He himself gave us a personal tour of the facilities, something that he does regularly when he finds time away from the office.

Right after our open-air yoga session at the beach, we had the pleasure of dining with him at the Coral Garden Bay the following day. The reef garden can be reached by a five-minute boat ride where a buffet had been meticulously set up for all, including the two newlyweds we espied snorkeling nearby, to enjoy. I asked one member of the staff how many boat trips they had to make to get everything ready, and they said the reef garden maybe reached by a twenty-minute walk from the resort.

Scholz was an engaging host who related how years ago dynamite and cyanide fishing was rampant in the area. He wanted to make a difference, and building a resort meant he can help people from all walks of life.

“I can think of only two countries that are very good in terms of service: Philippines and Brazil. But first you have to educate the people on how to take care of the environment, make them understand that protecting the environment is a must because this is their livelihood,” he shared.

All the employees of the resort live in Badian Island, one of their long-standing policies.

“You can build the most beautiful resort, yes, but you cannot leave it at that because more than anything it is the people behind it that makes each resort experience a memorable one,” said Scholz.

This emphasis on impeccable guest relation is apparent in the way the staff greets you with a genuine smile and anticipates each need.

It was only past 2 p.m., and the tide had started to come in. The boat that would take us back to the other side of the island was waiting. Despite his 80 years, Scholz moved confidently to take his seat as we glided past the serene bay. On the horizon just 30 minutes away, is Pescador Island, one of the primary dive spots in the country, where PADI-certified divers of Badian Island Resort and Spa takes guests for diving. Excursions to Kawasan Falls and glass-bottom boating are offered at the resort, but the boat trips serve another purpose as well. In one of our trips while we were there, the sense of peace was oddly transforming as we returned at sunset when sky and water had turned deep orange.

Dinners, by the pool or at the beach, are grand productions. The Beach Boys, senior employees who have been with the resort since it started, rendered songs while the Kalikasan Dancers, made up of high-school students and out-of-school youths, enjoined guests to dance the tinikling. The cap the night, a selection of after-dinner drinks were presented to us, and a Palawan rain flute was played by one member the staff which Catral proudly calls “the sound of the islands.” A brief and entertaining introduction to a few of the wines and cocktails never fails to elicit a few chuckles from the guests. Choose Amarula if you want to be like the elephant with a long memory.

Left to our own devices during the day, the opportunity to escape to each of our chosen activities presented itself in pleasant ways. Our villa came with a generous floor space, allowing for plenty of relaxation and a chance to “unclutter the mind.” TVs are emphatically not present in any of the bedrooms, and WiFi is only accessible at the reception area and restaurant. This might seem a big deal to some but after a while one gets used to it and even welcomes the quiet. An infinity pool just footsteps away from our bedside had us admiring the beautiful Badian Bay where fishing boats glide past against a backdrop of blue sky. A stroll through the “love garden,” where rows of palm trees grow tall and strong, led me to a cluster of smaller palm trees growing. Each tree had heart-shaped markers with the names and dates of visit of the honeymooners who went to this place. Years after their visit, couples would visit the exact spot where they had planted their Love Tree and see for themselves how the trees have grown. It is just one of the pleasant touches the resort has for its guests.

The soul is cleansed just to be here, experiencing the full force of the natural world, as far away from urban living as possible. While there is much to be done in terms of water sports such as diving, wind-surfing, kayaking and dolphin watching with the resort’s private Pleasure yatch, what proved more engaging and pleasurable for me was lounging at the beach or at the pool. Hammocks among palm trees invite guests to lie back and enjoy the peace and solitude. Picturesque tents with rattan chairs strewn about are perfect spots to immerse one’s self in a book or just relax among the cushions after a dip in the beach, which is kept immaculately clean at all times.

“People come here to unwind and soak in the tranquil surroundings and to also learn a new way of living,” said Catral.

And just as the environment is kept harmonious, balanced and preserved, so is the mind and body. The resort offers retreats and workshops that focus on yoga and sound healing, facilitated by yoga teacher Amitabha of Body Mind Well-being, who took us through the basics of yoga step by step during our sunrise meditation at the beach and in the afternoon an hour of healing through sound in one of the pavilions, which I found very invigorating.

But more than the luxurious accommodation and service, it is the spa that this resort has built its reputation around. During a tour of the spa facilities, I was delighted by the Thalasso pools, which use filtered seawater containing a blend of complex minerals that help rebalance the body’s mineral deficiencies. From the Greek thalassa, meaning “power of the sea,” the Thalasso waterfalls and pools combine the pleasure of indulgence and wellbeing. The three-tiered pools are a real treat where you can gaze at the magnificent view of the Badian Bay as you relax under the sea and sky. Another special feature of the spa is the Finnish dry sauna, which cleanses the body through heavy sweating.

Before my treatment, I went to the pool and lay on one of the comfortable beds submerged under the water, anticipating what would cap my Badian Island experience—the Deluxe Four-Hand Massage, the spa’s signature massage.

The badehaus (German for “bathhouse”) had two bathtubs filled with botanicals and floating flower petals where guests can submerge themselves in skin-enhancing ingredients. Each open-air pavilions look out to a magnificent view of Badian Bay. Four kinds of aromatherapy oils are used for their treatment. The Mi Amore is made from the essence of lavender. Island Breeze is a combination of cloves and ginger. Tranquility is from the essence of the ylang-ylang flower. I chose Serenity, a mixture of lemon and eucalyptus.

They say more is not always better but in the case of the four-hand massage four hands are better than two because it can work on your body in ways a two-handed massage cannot. For me, it was sensory overload. The massage begins with the two therapists putting their hands together, palm to palm as if in prayer then setting them down on the body. From the shoulders down to the lower back, they make long strokes that are done repeatedly leaving a complete and soothing touch to the body, more like a warm rolling pin with just the right pressure applied on every sinew and muscle of my body.

Scholz asked me later if I had felt one hand to be heavier than the other. I said I felt the almost imperceptible shift in pressure each time those skilful hands would run across my lower back but other than that I felt total bliss. He was satisfied with my answer and stated that kind of synchronicity can be achieved through months of intensive training, something the spa has continually strived to maintain.

Due to its remoteness, the resort is a self-sustaining operation. You don’t often hear the words luxurious and conscientious in the same sentence but Badian Island Resort insists on both. The resort is committed to green practices by using organic compost and fertilizer and 80 percent reduction of waste. They have an amazing array of herbs, vegetables and fruit-bearing trees in their organic garden, tended by Danny, a horticulturist who trained in the Holland. He readily showed me a tubful of African night crawlers, “his babies,” and gave me a tour of the facility. All the produce in this organic garden ended up on our plates, including the plump cherry tomatoes I admired while I walked by the garden. Catral said the fennel, which is good for digestion, is the best she had ever had. Danny, in fact, has five varieties growing in rows. Essential oils and other botanicals used in the spa are concocted in the resort. They produce their own coconut oil that leaves your skin radiant, youthful and glowing.

It was raining when we bade our wonderful hosts and the resort for another two-hour trip and an hour flight to Manila but memories of my stay at Badian Island Resort and Spa will linger in my consciousness. As we boarded the boat to head back to the mainland, we were left to individually contemplate on the two days we were on the island, and I for once had to admit that this was one of the rare times when I truly experienced an island vacation in its purest sense in which I was able to enjoy the simplest pleasures of basking in its beauty. Getting there may have taken a time but in hindsight most routes to paradise usually are. (photos for this story courtesy of Donald Tapan)

Badian Island Resort and Spa can be contacted through telephone number (+63- 32) 401-3303 to 05 and Mobile: (0063) 920-952-6293 + 920-953-3362 + 917-727-4931 and fax number (+63 32) 401-3302, and email badianisla@aol.com. Their Cebu City office, located at Cebu Capitol Commercial Complex-A, N. Escario St., Cebu City, may be reached through tel. Nos. (+63 32) 253-64-52 or 416-61-59 and fax (+63 32) 253-33-85. Visit Web site at www.badianhotel.com.

Island Girl Boracay: Eco-friendly fashion

kikaygurl — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:48:16 +0000

Island Girl Boracay

In this environmentally -challenged times, we become truly beautiful when we are positively driven. Island Girl, a brand of resort wear and accessories based in Boracay, lends its share in the greening of fashion by using only naturally-sourced materials and crafting them into artfully-made accessories and beachwear. The store, which showcases eco friendly products expertly hand-worked by rural communities in Cebu, recently opened a retail outlet at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran, Bohol. Owner Janice Uy Chua shares with us inspiration behind the brand:

How did Island Girl start and how did it grow to what it is now?

We have been exporting fashion jewelry to all over the world for close to 25 years now and our line was always just fashion accessories—necklaces, bracelets, earrings made from natural materials like wood, shells, coconut, plant fibers and seeds. Then in 2002, my mother had the idea to take what we know from fashion accessories and put them on sandals. We thought we needed a brand that could encapsulate both our natural line of fashion accessories and sandals in one and after several months of brainstorming, Island Girl was born. It was a stroke of pure luck that while vacationing in Boracay, we learned that D’Mall, Boracay would be expanding their existing property to include more shops. We jumped at the opportunity to put up our first Island Girl shop there because Bora is the perfect place to showcase our line of resort fashion accessories and sandals.

Where do you source your materials and who designs and crafts the accessories?

All our materials are sourced locally, mainly from Cebu, its neighbouring provinces, as well some areas of Luzon and Mindanao and we make it a point to HIGHLIGHT the natural element in every single product. Our shoe materials are also bought from local producers of rubber and leather. We wanted to ensure that everything about our line, from the sourcing of materials to assembly of the finished product is all done in the Philippines to make them wonderful gifts/souvenirs for tourists to bring back home with them. We have a Product Development Team that designs our wide range of sandals and fashion accessories.

What is your involvement in the design of the collection?

I head the Product Development Team so my job is to do the conceptualization of the line for each season, creates the themes that the collections will revolve around, suggest new materials and combinations to experiment with, and approve or disapprove the end-product of these experiments.

You recently opened Piece of Green also in Boracay, tell us something about the philosophy behind the brand called “upcycling?”

Upcycling is a very exciting concept. Although it is not exactly a new concept, it has become more and more popular these days as people have become more concerned about the environment. We fell into it by accident, actually. By chance, we discovered that there are several collectors of industrial excess materials from factories that can still be turned into things that are of higher value with a little help from us!

At A Piece of Green, we have created signature collections of fashion accessories and souvenir items out of what we consider our “main-stay” elements. These are collections made from crushed bottleg glass, plastic tetra pack chips, newspapers and magazines, and colourful electric wire casings. We are always in search of new elements to use and upcycle. It really is true what they say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

Your products are geared towards the female clientele. Do you intend to open a men’s line?

Soon! A lot of our accessories, especially those at A Piece of Green are actually unisex! We intend to expand our retail base domestically by joining more trade shows/bazaars in Manila and develop more presence online with the launch of our website, www.islandgirlph.com in the coming months. The site supports e-commerce, incorporating PayPal and credit card payments as alternative payment options to the usual bank transfer system so that our tourist customers can still purchase our latest collections even while they are back home!