Body + Wellness

What a 4-hour spa treatment at the Pangkor Laut Resort is like

25.09.2018

By Gwen Ong

What a 4-hour spa treatment at the Pangkor Laut Resort is like

When I first found out that I was booked in for a 4-hour spa session, my jaw dropped to the ground. “What could we possibly be doing that needs 240 minutes?” I was definitely intrigued. More so cause my body was ready to crash from the 3.5 hours drive to Pangkor and my mind was ready to shut off from the stresses of daily toils (and tolls too). I’m not exaggerating when I say that I walked into the Spa Village that day zoned out with half my senses numbed.

My treatment was called the ‘Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan’ – now upon reflection it’s an apt name, as you’d really feel like a royalty from all the pampering. It is after all based on the Malay wedding tradition of prepping the bride for her big day, hence the said treatment is ritual-laden with time-honoured traditions of the east.

The 45-minute ritual

My treatment officially begins with the unique Bath House Ritual that takes inspiration from various bathing traditions around Asia. First, I sat down to Chinese foot pounding – while this might sound like a torture, it was strangely really therapeutic. The ‘beating’ I learned was previously enjoyed by the concubines of feudal China and it is said to help in lymphatic drainage, improving blood circulation thus boosting the immune system.

Then I was escorted to the bathhouses with the first ritual involving the traditional Malay ‘circulating’ bath but first I was to make a wish with a coin and toss it into the well. I walked into the small pool with large clay pot outlets lined on the side that had water streaming down. I let the strong gush flow down my head and the cold temperature to awaken my senses; it was every bit invigorating.

Following this, I stood over four different types of hot facial steam for a few minutes before going into a Japanese-style bathhouse where I clean myself up with a goshi-goshi cloth and took a dip in the heated Rotenburu pool after. I felt completely relaxed by now as my body was awash with calmness in the warm pool. For the final ritual, I got an exfoliating wash from the therapist using the spa’s signature Shanghai Scrub to prepare for the goodness coming next.

The 3-hour pampering

The ‘Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan’ is part of the couples’ spa experience – so while you get pampered up like a blushing bride, your other half can be a warrior for a day with the ‘Panglima Bukit Gantang’ treatment. It started with a Malay traditional massage using a blend of herbs and aromatic body oil made of jasmine and tropical magnolia. The deep tissue massage was especially helpful in loosening up the tight knots and hit the right pressure points around my body. My muscles really got a good workout from the pressing and rolling motions. An hour seems to pass when I was roused from my nap for the next treatment—the Malay hair ritual ‘Ikal Mayang’ to condition my tresses. Then it was time for a facial and body scrub using a selection of herbs such as turmeric and galangal—a treatment that was meant to firm and brighten the entire body as well as getting rid of dead skin cells and promote a healthy radiance.

Just when I think the ‘Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan’ treatment was done, I was led to an indoor tub to enjoy a milk bath scented with flower buds and petals such as jasmine, rose and tropical magnolia. This mandi bunga experience was reminiscent of a folklore princess who immerses herself in a magical pond. While I didn’t attain any special powers, the bath really helped to moisturise my skin and uplift my spirit. For the final part of the treatment, I got myself into a mini sauna for the scented body steaming. The floral fragrance of jasmine and rose water was heady as I was zipped up in a “tent” and left to work for my radiance. I’ll admit the heat was a tad uncomfortable but beauty does come at a price (read: bucket loads of sweat).

The takeaway

At the end of the 4-hour session, I head out to the nap gazebos by the beach to gather my thoughts and revel in my smooth skin. My day as a royal was an experience that was made all the better with the stunning scenery in front of my eyes. The Spa Village at Pangkor Laut Resort offered me an unique encounter that left me feeling rejuvenated from head to toe. It was a luxurious indulgence that every girl should pamper herself at least once in her lifetime.

For more information about the Spa Village and the treatments, click here.

SHARE THE STORY
Explore More