When I was in Tanjung Jara Resort earlier in April this year, I tried thetheir Spa Village servicesfor the first time. The mandi bunga ritual was really fun, and the attentiveness of the therapists and consultants really impressed me. My treatment The Asam Roselle (ROSELLE BODY TREATMENT) was thoroughly enjoyable; indeed a terrific mood booster and left me feeling truly relaxed (well, being in the resort helped, since I didnt have to battle KL traffic to get home after!), as how an effective spa session should be.
Thus for my trip to Pangkor Laut Resort a month plus back, I tried another of Spa Villages signature spa packages. This time is The Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan, a package so loftynamed that I wondered if the treatment is going to be asexquisite as its name. Priced atRM850 (do note this wasnt included in the Resident Package), it better be, I thought to myself! |
I remembered the mandi bunga ritual for the Asam Roselle Body Treatment at Tanjong Jara Resort, and was hoping to do it ! again.
However, for theRoyal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan, the pre-treatment ritual was even more elaborate! Let me go into details later.
After a quick welcome and a short get-to-know session with my therapist, I was escorted to the inner chambers of the Spa Village in Pangkor Laut Resort. As you can imagine, the resort is large, and the Spa Village are allocated its own estates/grounds.
Unlike spas in the city where each room is a cubicle, each treatment room here is a private chamber.
The Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan is a 3 hours session. However, each guest is given an additional 45-minute pre-treatment during which you will experience a series of bath rituals from around Asia. Yes, like I said, its more elaborate this time than just one mandi bunga!
My indulgent spa experience begun with a pre-treatment of foot massage and foot pounding. Apparently, this is to ease circulation in the feet. Well, nocomplains here. I love any form of foot massages! 
Next, I was handed a brown shift which is to be worn for the bathhouse ritual. Everything within Pangkor Laut Resort and the Spa Villageexudes a zen vibe. Every room, section or area is large and spacious. No one ishurried and the ambiance is always of relaxation and tranquility.
Before starting with the Malay Bath Ritual, I was given a coin to make a wish and then drop into a wishing well. Anyone wants to guess what I wished for? :P
That done, I was led to the Malay Bath.
Its a glorious pool with cascading waters from the top and from the rows of Malay urns lined at the side.
Oh boy, it was so refreshing especially on a hot Malaysian afternoon! 
I swam around for a bit and had a good soak.
Walking up the stairs from the pool on the other end, I found myself in an enclosed area where 4 tall steaming boxes stood at each corner.I was told to inhale deeply the steam from each of these boxes. Relax and take as long as you wish, as the therapist will never hurry you.
At the side of these boxes are little gold plates that explains the contents of the water where the steam were generated from. I started with Passion|Fennel seed and cloves, followed by Uplifting|Patchouli & Citrus Peel, then
Needless to say every of these steam boxes emits lovely fragrance of the herbs, flowers and spices used within. The blast of hot steam got my skin tingling and gave me a wake up jolt, albeit in a pleasant way.
Moving on, it was theJapanese Bath. I was led into a room with several taps on a row with stools placed in front. With the toiletries provided and a goshi-goshi towel (nylon bath towel woven with both fine and thick threads to maximize the lather from liquid body soap), I scrubbed and rinsed myselfwith the hot/cold water from the tap. I was wondering how Japanese is this while doing so, and I got my answer when I saw my next destination.
This is Pangkor Laut Resort very own Rotenburu aka hot spring pool.
After being in the cold water for the previous baths, the hot water here came as a shock! I gingerly lowered myself into the pool and after acclimatising to the temperature, I swam about, relaxed and closed my eyes. What a life, I told myself.
I was handed a cup of soothing green tea as I soaked for about 20 minutes, the duration as advised by my therapist.
The final bath ritual was theShanghai Scrub. This was in a private room where I was asked to lie down facedown on a mattress.
Below: Note the Shanghainese adornment andprops at the side.
Here I was scrubbed and exfoliated from top to toe and washed down with warm water. At this point I concur that the treatment was aptly named. I certainly felt very aristocratic and princessy!
Next I was towel-dried and given a sarong, courtesy of Spa Village. Cool! This was similar to my Tanjong Jara Suci Murni package where I got to keep my sarong after the spa session.
After wearing the sarong, I sat at waiting area, had a hot drink and rested for a while before proceeding for my RM850.00Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan treatment.
Below: You can opt to sweeten your tea with raw honey. Thank god! Yes, Im one of those who have to add sugar into my coffee and teas. Sue me. :P
Finally my Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan officially begins. The treatment room comes with 2 beds so if you and your significant other opted for a couple massage, then both of you will be reunited at this point. The male package also includes the bathhouse! rituals but in separate bathhouses for the men.
For Her: Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan.
RUTAN GAMELAN (MALAY TRADITIONAL MASSAGE).
The healing powers of this deep tissue massage treatment stimulates the energy points and helps to loosen and warm up the muscles while it relaxes, detoxifies and rejuvenates the body and soul. The exotic and aromatic body oil made of selected flowers such as jasmine and tropical magnolia keeps the skin smooth and silky while the aroma soothes the mind.
BOROS (FACIAL AND BODY SCRUB).
Feel the touch and the lingering scent of the traditional herbal facial massage and aromatic whitening herbal body scrub of selected herbs such asKunyit(turmeric) and Cekur(galangal). It cleanses, firms, whitens the entire body whilst helping to loosen up dea! d surfac e cells of the skin, promoting the growth of new cells and imparting a healthy radiance to the skin.
At this point I was left to rest with a mask on my face and a layer of the scrub over the rest of my body.
20 minutes after, the body scrub was rubbed off my body.
The hair is not forgotten here. After all this is a royal treatment so its expected that every inch of your body will be taken care of right?
IKAL MAYANG (HAIR CREAM BATH).
Ikal Mayang is a Malay hair treatment ritual practised by royal princesses renowned for their long, glossy and silky tresses using a combination of coconut oil, rice paddy stalks and pandanus leaves.
Then its shower time to wash off the scrub, mask and oils.
I have only read of Cleopatras milk baths with envy. Little did I know I was about to soak in one myself!
BERSIRAM (FRAGRANT MILK BATH).
Indulge by immersing the entire body in the specially prepared milk bath of scented flower buds and petals such asMelur(jasmine),Mawar(rose) andChempaka(tropical magnolia) to moisturise the skin and uplift the spirit.
Another special tea to wet the lips as I soak in bliss.
Last but not least was this funny looking box. When I was told that the last part is some steaming business, I expected to be locked in a sauna-like room but it was beyond my wildest imagination to be told to sit on a stool in a cloth contraption!
UKUP WANGI (SCENTED BODY STEAMING)
*The hauntingly fragrant scented sauna ofMelur(jasmine) andAir Mawar(rose water) penetrates the skin and leaves the entire body fresh, fragrant and radiant.
LOL! Oh my go! d, I can t help laughing looking at this picture myself! Hehehehe
UBAT PERIUK (HERBAL TONIC DRINK).
An earthen pot prepared remedy of scented herbal roots and flower buds is a special tonic believed by some to be secret of anti-aging.
Ok, I cant find the picture for this but I assure you that it is good for the health. Come to think about it, I drank so many teas throughout the treatment that I lost count! By the time I was done, it was almost 4 hours and I walked out of the Spa Village refreshed, fresh, fragrant and radiant!
Heres the Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan (Ladies) package in a nutshell:
Bath House Experience Malay Specialist Consultation Urutan Gamelan (Malay Traditional Massage) Ikal Mayang (Hair Cream Bath) Boros (Facial and Body Scrub) Bersiram (Fragrant Milk Bath) Ukup Wangi (Scented Body Steaming)* Ubat Periuk (Herbal Tonic Drink).
Below: My other YTL Hotels experiences: Do check them out! YTL Hotels certainly has the best resorts in the country!
Tanjong Jara Resort, Kuala Terengganu:
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