Situated a couple of hours by ferry from Singapore (see things to do in Singapore) Bintan Island, and especially the Banyan Tree Resort, is a little piece of heaven, and a popular week-end escape for Singaporeans who can afford to visit. The resort is situated at the north western tip of the Island.
The hotel has a great spa - I indulged in a lovely ‘Lomi Lomi’ (Hawaiian) massage which was extremely relaxing rather than the more ‘sports style’ massage. The Banyan Tree also has an outdoor yoga pavilion overlooking the sea – well worth a visit. You can join in group sessions or book a private yoga lesson for up to 2 people. The hotel has 2 beautiful pools, one is circular on the ‘middle level’ near where the spa is and the other is down by the beach – a few minutes walk from the central areas.
Read more...
If you are looking for a break to help you seriously un-wind, or even to fix some minor ailment, then you could do worse than visit Somatheerum Beach Resort in Kerela, southern India.
Somatheerum is an ayurvedic and yoga centre combined in very relaxing surroundings. The resort sits atop a small cliff with steps down to a beautiful wide beach. At the top of the cliff are the ruins of a church and nestling in the palms trees at the back of the beach is quite a substantial fishing village. At night a myriad of fishing lights can be seen out at sea like strings of pearls, and during the day the local population are pulling in their boats, tending their nets or playing football. The place has a wonderful spiritual and calming ambience with little to pander to commercial tourism for miles around.
For those who are not ‘in the know’ ayurvedia is a form of medicine peculiar to India that focuses on getting you in balance (mind, body and spirit). It aims to treat a whole host of ailments from skin disease, asthma and arthritis to infertility.
Read more...
This is one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in – ever!
Sayan is very close to the cultural Balinese town of Ubud and the hotel is set in an exquisite location, in a valley with a river at the bottom and terraced rice paddies across the valley. My lasting impression of the hotel is that is it very sympathetically designed to fit in with the surroundings and everywhere you go in the hotel you seem to hear trickling water, whether from the river at the bottom of the valley, or the man-made ‘river’ at the back of the main part of the hotel.
Along with our driver we were a bit bemused on arrival because we couldn’t see the hotel, and weren’t sure we were in the right place! We quickly discovered the hotel is below you – accessed by a wooden walkway that leads to a large circular lotus flower pond which is actually on the roof of the hotel. You walk down some steps through the middle of the pond, past reception and down to a lounge and bar area that manages to be both colonial and modern at the same time.
Read more...
