What Is It With Spas!
What explains this latter-day fascination with spas? Yes, there has always been an acknowledgement of the health benefits of certain mineral-infused waters, and people have recognized their healing attributes and used them from time immemorial. That's not quite what appears to be happening in most instances now, with people eager to share new vacation adventures at posh new spas opening up throughout the world.
These turn out to be costly holidays, combining in the vacationers' minds with health benefits. Yet another service being flogged for the wealthy, the bored, the adventure- and romance-seeking and spoiled upper crust elites and wanna-be hangers-on of the international scene. Of course these little adventures in ego-boosting and body-tingling are available closer to home. But they're not quite the same as those on offer at more exotic locales.
Spa-hopping seems to have become popular among the indolent upper-crust, much as extreme mountain climbing has its addicted following among the truly death-denying/inviting adventurers among us. As many experiences in as many geographical sites as possible, and then swap cocktail stories to the envy (or scorn, or disinterest) of those less given to throwing their hard-earned cash to the winds.
One can go to Switzerland where a subterranean catacomb of pools is on offer. Choices, from a "fire" pool (42C) to a plunge pool (14C) are available, with everything in-between temperatures, including picturesque grottos and scented pools. And did we mention the spectacular mountain scenery? Single rooms start at about $289 including half-board and access to the spa. Travel expenses, needless to say, are additional.
Or how about northern Slovakia at the CryoTherapy installation where a face mask (shirt, shorts, socks) is obligatory as you enter a cool minus 60C chamber for 30 seconds, then follow that with a minus 120C chamber. You can conclude with a 20-minute medically-supervised aerobic workout. There are also geothermal outdoor pools. Cost: $170 includes breakfast and dinner.
In the Caribbean you can opt for the Ayurvedic massage, administered to your unclad body by two large men. They massage the body, quietly speaking between themselves, in a language not shared by the visitor. Bear in mind that in so many instances it is women, often travelling alone or in pairs who enjoy these adventures in health, where richly scented oils are rubbed into the skin for a completely relaxing experience. In high season a garden room starts at about $600.
How about the Czech Republic to a spa with a menu listing dry CO2 bath, cryotherapy, gas injections, laser, parafango, inhalation, floating, medical gymnastics and dental irrigation? How's that for pampering? Pandering? Confusing? Don't forget the mood lighting, the aromatheapy and New Age music to set the stage. Here you can have a massage also, and if you're the least bit retiring, you may come away from the experience feeling rather stressed.
And then there's always Beijing; a 24-hour flight can get you there. It appears the latest craze is foot massages in the middle of the night. Dance to Asian techno at various clubs, then make your way to the spa where male attendants dressed in Mao suits and females in pink polyester bow and greet their clientele. It does hurt to know that the foot-massage therapists work 12-hour days, six days a week, sending their earnings to their impoverished peasant families.
Ah, the unpleasantness of reality. Good thing that type of reality is reserved for the great masses of the unwashed, those whom one never need come face to face with on the streets; only as waiters and waitresses, masseurs and bartenders in those posh hotels and spas.
These turn out to be costly holidays, combining in the vacationers' minds with health benefits. Yet another service being flogged for the wealthy, the bored, the adventure- and romance-seeking and spoiled upper crust elites and wanna-be hangers-on of the international scene. Of course these little adventures in ego-boosting and body-tingling are available closer to home. But they're not quite the same as those on offer at more exotic locales.
Spa-hopping seems to have become popular among the indolent upper-crust, much as extreme mountain climbing has its addicted following among the truly death-denying/inviting adventurers among us. As many experiences in as many geographical sites as possible, and then swap cocktail stories to the envy (or scorn, or disinterest) of those less given to throwing their hard-earned cash to the winds.
One can go to Switzerland where a subterranean catacomb of pools is on offer. Choices, from a "fire" pool (42C) to a plunge pool (14C) are available, with everything in-between temperatures, including picturesque grottos and scented pools. And did we mention the spectacular mountain scenery? Single rooms start at about $289 including half-board and access to the spa. Travel expenses, needless to say, are additional.
Or how about northern Slovakia at the CryoTherapy installation where a face mask (shirt, shorts, socks) is obligatory as you enter a cool minus 60C chamber for 30 seconds, then follow that with a minus 120C chamber. You can conclude with a 20-minute medically-supervised aerobic workout. There are also geothermal outdoor pools. Cost: $170 includes breakfast and dinner.
In the Caribbean you can opt for the Ayurvedic massage, administered to your unclad body by two large men. They massage the body, quietly speaking between themselves, in a language not shared by the visitor. Bear in mind that in so many instances it is women, often travelling alone or in pairs who enjoy these adventures in health, where richly scented oils are rubbed into the skin for a completely relaxing experience. In high season a garden room starts at about $600.
How about the Czech Republic to a spa with a menu listing dry CO2 bath, cryotherapy, gas injections, laser, parafango, inhalation, floating, medical gymnastics and dental irrigation? How's that for pampering? Pandering? Confusing? Don't forget the mood lighting, the aromatheapy and New Age music to set the stage. Here you can have a massage also, and if you're the least bit retiring, you may come away from the experience feeling rather stressed.
And then there's always Beijing; a 24-hour flight can get you there. It appears the latest craze is foot massages in the middle of the night. Dance to Asian techno at various clubs, then make your way to the spa where male attendants dressed in Mao suits and females in pink polyester bow and greet their clientele. It does hurt to know that the foot-massage therapists work 12-hour days, six days a week, sending their earnings to their impoverished peasant families.
Ah, the unpleasantness of reality. Good thing that type of reality is reserved for the great masses of the unwashed, those whom one never need come face to face with on the streets; only as waiters and waitresses, masseurs and bartenders in those posh hotels and spas.
Labels: Peculiarities
posted by Pieface @ 5:48 PM
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