“Do you play Pokemon Go? This is a Pokestop.”, it felt like an Astadala Hotel Management staff just spilled some classified information.
The last thing I’d expect to hear at the entrance of a spa.
“Oh. Do players flock here then?”, I wondered if the guard spends his day catching/shooing trespassers or non-guests/clients or… Pokemons.
“Nah.”, he giggled.
I was ushered to a buggy, a free shuttle service from the entrance of Villa Seminyak Estate (which offers luxurious villa accommodation) to The Lagoon Spa Seminyak for guests/clients. In less than a minute, we reached the reception office. Door opened, and I was greeted by the front office staff with a sembah — Indonesian gesture in which the hands/palms are clasped together, placed in front of the chest (similar to the Thai wai). The spa’s receiving area itself was a respite from the Balinese hustle and unforgiving heat.
“Is a three-hour spa session okay?”, spa manager Ratna Dewi asked after we were introduced. “I recommend our Signature Spa Package.”
Three hours. Three hours!
Mind you, I only had one full day in Bali. And that was that day.
“Sure.(?)”, I was unsure. It was almost midday and that meant skipping lunch. And I’m not an attractive person when I skip meals. But I couldn’t refuse such generous offer. Besides, I didn’t have anything planned.
My masseuse talked me through the whole session. “Rain shower, foot bath, Seminyak massage, green tea scrub… Green tea or volcanic body wrap?”
“Volcanic, because you have a lot of volcanoes.”, I made her giggle.
“… Facial, and then flower bath.”, when she finished, she asked me to sign a form.
Whew. Three hours packed with all them good stuff. I started feeling giddy.
When all the formalities got sorted, she led me deeper inside the property. We passed a few rooms — which are actually more like villas to me — before we got to mine. And it was all to myself. The massage room, with two massage tables, was spacious. There’s a jacuzzi in the garden, and the tub/shower’s outdoors as well.
I was provided slippers, and was asked to change into a robe. There’s a safe inside the closet where my masseuse told me to store my valuables.
She made me sit and sink my feet in the footbath with floating petals. It was at that point that I realized that I had made the right decision. The moment my feet sank in the bath, my doubts sank in it as well. My masseuse was to conduct one of the most marvelous spa sessions I’ve had in my entire three-decade existence.
The Lagoon Spa prides itself on having years of experience of service excellence since 2003. They bagged the Asia’s #1 Luxury Boutique Spa award at the World Luxury Spa Awards this year. And that certainly is something.
They have a wide array of treatments that are drawn from/inspired by ancient beauty and health traditions. Every package was designed not only for relaxation but also for sensory wellness. The products used are locally sourced, and the staff will be more than happy to explain what they’re for.
Speaking of the staff, they exhibit exceptional hospitality — what the Balinese are known for. They easily make clients feel comfortable, which is of utmost importance when your masseuse is scrubbing your naked self under a rain bath (which, by the way, I enjoyed thoroughly). They’re very attentive to clients’ needs (they’d tweak your program if need be) and wear the most infectious smiles.
Three hours went by like a breeze. I’d like to say it’s a massive achievement for someone like me who’s got an attention span similar to that of a toddler’s, but really, the session was that amazing. There was no hurry transitioning from one treatment to another. It made me appreciate and savour every part of the session. I was always told, “Whenever you’re ready.”, it felt like I was really cared for.
The Lagoon Spa Seminyak set the bar way up high. Will I do it again? The answer’s an abrupt “yes” next time. No more hesitations, no more doubts. And honestly, I already want to go back.
Check out their discounted packages here: www.lagoonspaseminyak.com
The Lagoon Spa Seminyak
Villa Seminyak Estate & Spa
Jalan Baik-Baik
Seminyak, Kuta
