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Spa

Kurulu Bay is a unique private sanctuary in Sri Lanka

Posted on November 11, 2024

Kurulu Bay is a private sanctuary built alongside Koggala Lake in the South of Sri Lanka

Kurulu Bay (Sinhalese for “bird island”) is a private sanctuary built alongside Koggala Lake, one of the island’s largest expanses of water, just slightly in-land, located in the South of Sri Lanka. The lush surroundings of this tropical retreat are filled with loud and lively creatures that hoot and call, and you would forgive yourself for thinking you’d arrived in Sri Lanka’s jungle rather than a water-front resort. Yet the expanse of the calm lake, and the incredible sunsets she offers, ensure Kurulu Bay is as serene and tranquil a destination as you had hoped for.

For my baby moon, switching off was of paramount importance for me. Removing the temptation of busy street markets and the surfing tourists we normally encounter in Sri Lanka, Kurulu Bay made it easy for us to really relax. With only 14 suites and cottages, it felt nicely quiet. Commissioned to Shanghai based, award-winning architects A00, each suite allows for a sense of intimacy with nature.

We enjoyed private yoga sessions set on the terrace of the private residence, with a backdrop of the lake, and even more private spa treatments, with only 1 room for each of us available. The peace and quiet never felt empty, never felt boring. With two swimming pools, and a kitchen that boasts the most delicious sea-to-table homegrown recipes, it’s easy to see why Kurulu Bay’s whole resort is mostly booked out for private health and wellness retreats, with guests visiting from across the world. A long-weekend here (without our children) was honestly the perfect way to reconnect with each other, nature and ourselves.

Recommended

ESSE Live Probiotic Plus facial

Posted on May 1, 2018

Now i’m all for packed probiotics in my breakfast for a healthy, happy tummy, but probiotics on my face? I envisioned being caked in a yoghurt-y mask when I first heard about this new facial at SensAsia Urban Spa, but it boasts the latest in prebiotic and probiotic technology. This certified organic, vegan, ethical and cruelty-free facial is heralded as a ‘live’ skincare revolution that slows the signs of ageing.

SensAsia Urban Spa is Dubai’s go-to day hotspot, and this budget-friendly new facial, featuring South African-born brand ESSE with probiotics (live microorganisms), is now firmly on my beauty radar.

The first in the region to offer a range of ESSE facials and products, “ESSE works with the science that our skin is alive with naturally occurring probiotics – live bacteria and yeasts…

Just as research has proven probiotics can help maintain a healthy gut, we now know that optimal skin condition also depends heavily on the probiotic microbes living both on and inside it. Microbes permeate deep into the skin’s structure, and work with each unique make-up of cells to perform the complex chemistry, that equates to that unrivalled outer radiance we all strive for.

Without microbes, skin cannot perform even its basic functions, and the rate of noticeable skin ageing increases sharply. ESSE products create an environment on the skin to promote the growth of these hugely bene cial probiotic microbes. They then form a ‘barrier’ on the surface of the skin (think of it as a completely natural coat of body armour!), which not only protects, nourishes and feeds the skin, but also actively delays the visible signs of ageing.”

Who doesn’t want to try this!? Use the code ESSE AMANDA and get a FREE 15-minute back, neck & shoulder massage when you book any ESSE treatment at SensAsia Urban Spa!

Featured

Checking Out: Dr. Rita Rakus’s Hydrafacial MD

Posted on March 18, 2018

Fairmont the Palm’s partnership wth London’s famed skin rejuvenation expert, Dr. Rita Rakus is the reason for my new glowing skin. The leading ‘aesthetic specialist’ her products have been helping me refine my skincare routine since we met at the Willow Stream Spa, late last year. A whole host of hormonal imbalances later and I was desperate to try her more concentrated methods.

A unique technique, pioneered by the good Dr. herself, it involves a Vortex-Fusion serum delivery system that includes a multi-step treatment with exfoliation, extraction and a somewhat vacuum-like suction too. Say goodbye to dead skin cells and months of sandy air… it replenishes and plumps your skin pretty visibly after only one treatment.

I spoke with Laura Brown, Spa Manager, Fairmont the Palm about it…

“The key benefits of this can be seen immediately after the facial – deeply cleansed, glowing skin with an immediate improvement on fine lines. The facial improves the quality of the skin and results increase after further treatments.

The hydrafacial takes place in 6 steps – lymphatic drainage, cleansing & exfoliation, extraction, brightening, hydration and calming at the end using LED red and blue lights. During these steps the therapist will customize the treatment to your specific needs. Ingredients include botanical products which are used in a very gentle microdermabrasion technique in conjunction with glycolic acids (this allows a more comfortable extraction of blocked pores and decongesting the treatment area). This is followed by an application of hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and Vitamin E which is delivered deeply into the skin using the painless vortex infusion.

For a regular facial it would be worthwhile having the treatment every 4 weeks or so, but for the hydrafacial every 6- 8 weeks is sufficient since it’s a deep cleansing method. We usually find that guests are concerned about dull/tired/congested/dry skin or all of the above. These are effects that most people have living in any urban environment will face and they’re hard to avoid. We’ve observed outstanding results when treating these types of skin conditions. We’ve also seen some stunning results on congested/acne prone skin for younger girls from 14 years of age and above.

Around 40% of our guests are actually men and they also request facials too, not only massages. The environmental damage to our skin is similar between men and woman from free-radicals, environmental damage and hectic lifestyles. The only difference with women is that we use make up which can protect against sun damage but on the other hand can clog the skin. Looking after your skin is the key to keeping it healthy. We often observe from our guests that when they are happy with how their skin looks it can really boost their confidence.”

travel

Kuramathi – The People’s Island

Posted on April 18, 2017

So far on my travels to this beautiful blue archipelago, the island’s have been one beautiful breathe of fresh air and nothing but relaxation awaiting you. They all persuade you with a wide array of sandy, tropical and underwater sanctuaries to explore and all have a similar variety of cuisine on offer, with copious luxury-laden opportunities for you to fully enjoy your weekend away. Kuramathi is however, without doubt, the island you could quite happily move to more permanently. Kuramathi went through major refurbishment in 2009, where more than a third of the rooms were completely redone and environmentally friendly methods implemented across the island.

It is the Maldives but on a much larger scale, boasting 1.8km from tip to tip, it’s the largest one I’ve visited so far. It houses 4 different water villa complexes and it’s actually fairly easy to get a little lost in the midst of all their footpaths. I was a bit affronted by the golf buggies tearing up and down the island as their main mode of transport, because I wanted nothing more than to remain barefoot and enjoy the jungle trails as I had done on the past few islands. Here however, they are more of a necessary evil, especially welcomed when the giant fruit bats start flying about in the canopy and you can’t quite see what’s making all the noise!

One of the nicest traits the island has is the full community vibe in the middle of it, where staff are kept almost hidden in other areas, here there’s frequent football and cricket matches held in the middle of the island for their 1000+ employees. Amidst such a big community, it’s a welcome sight to see the sustainable hydroponic garden producing all the deliciously fresh produce and plant life across the island.

If you’re looking for a longer trip then this is the perfect place for you to enjoy getting lost in. Not only is there plenty to do above the water during the day, the evening’s are well covered with restaurants like Reef – the local seafood restaurant, with a substantial wine cellar, that boasts nothing but 100% fresh catch where nothing goes to waste – all set to the sound of absolutely no music, so that you are settled solely by the waves all around you in their open dining hotspot.

Looking for a way to explore the reef’s but finding the water a little chilly? We’ll there’s two options for you here… Kuramathi offers a unique diving experience like no other – in a submarine! Expect to be fairly surface-side most of the time, so it’s ok for those who are a little claustrophobic like me. If you’d rather get a tan in the process too, take out the monokini– a see through canoe – for the afternoon. It’s a great way of being able to drift across the reefs and spot all the fish below without getting wet. But if you are a diver… this island has a full Hyperbaric Chamber available to you too – especially if you’ve been out on one of their early morning boats to Hammerhead Shark Point – only 8 minutes by boat from Kuramathi and these gorgeous creatures can be seen all year round!

If you’re an early bird like me, there’s a sunrise yoga session that’s sure to stretch you out, after all, it’s hard doing almost nothing ☺ If that’s not for you however, the spa certainly will be! Treat yourself to the signature massage (which I’ve checked – differs from island to island) and enjoy the post-relaxation thrum of the jungle around you.

Because it’s such a vast island, the eco-sanctuary and marine station have a much bigger job of keeping it all growing. We spoke with their resident biologist who’s having a tough time with the thorny crown fish in the area, attacking what’s left of their mostly bleached reefs. It’s not a total loss though as if it’s even 10% of the Maldives at their best, it’s still 100% better than most other places in the world!

travel

Kurumba: An Underwater Haven

Posted on March 31, 2017

If it’s the fish you fancy most about the Maldives and its abundant blue ocean, then the underwater world at Kurumba is for you. Named Vihamanaafushi after the word for coconut, this diver’s paradise opened back in 1972 and is one of the longest running resorts in all the atolls. Kurumba began with just 30 rooms that were all constructed using local materials with walls made from coral stone and roofs composed of palm thatch. It’s close to Male airport in the North, which makes it even more appealing for the weekend warrior.

There’s a much more relaxed and casual atmosphere here, as apposed to the other often-intimidating 5* resorts in the area, it’s perfect for families or for the solo traveller looking for a bit of winter sunshine.

Currents and reef at this time of year bring with it an abundance of fish feeding on plankton – the current moves around the island with a strong pull and limits your efforts snorkeling so you wont get exhausted quickly, you can just enjoy the ride and take in the array of aquatic action.

The reef here is less damaged than the rest of the Maldives, with less bleaching affecting the corals as apposed to the more southern atolls. Sky blue lagoons and darker reef drops are visibly different in vibrancy to the deeper turquoise shallows elsewhere.

Expect to get up close and personal with the local black tip sharks, barracuda, eels and a few house reef turtles too. There’s an app in the Maldives that’s used by the marine biologists across the islands to help identify turtles, whale sharks, manta’s and stingrays, with just a couple of close up shots, you can determine if you’ve stumbled across a newbie (which you get to name) or if they’re locals and have been named before!

For those looking to keep their head above water for a bit longer to enjoy the beautiful weather… the spa on Kurumba is a breathe of fresh air. Take in a signature massage for an hour to truly enjoy your time off. If like me you’re looking to stay a little more active in between your snorkeling sessions, sign up for a sunrise yoga with their dedicated island instructor and wake up with a little extra good energy.

Adventure travel

Velassaru Maldives – A Tropical Paradise

Posted on December 22, 2016

Having never been to the Maldives before, I was completely convinced (thanks to instagram) that it was purely a honeymoon destination, which saw only couples really being able to enjoy its offerings, so hopping onto a plane to check it out with Adonis Marketing, I was slightly dubious about whether or not i’d be a little lonely on a small island. I’m not one for being able to sit still all day long, an hour here or there by the pool definitely, or seashell hunting along the shoreline, for sure, but if you tell me we’re here to ‘switch off’… well I just can’t.

We landed in Male, (which is basically an airport on the sea) and jumped on a waiting yacht to an island only 20 mins from the airport itself. We passed water villa upon water villa on each coast of the island’s resorts, all looking like they just leapt off a postcard. Each atoll in the 1000+ Maldivian archipelago has a variety of luxury resorts (approx 300 in total) and each of them surrounded by bluer than blue waters (no camera truly does it justice) with a mixture of over-the water and beachfront villas.

Landing at Velassaru, we’re welcomed by what felt like the whole crew. Ever-so-friendly staff were waiting to help us to our villas so that we could rest after the trip. As it was only 4 hours though, I decided to remain awake and jump in the pool to freshen up. Straight off the bedroom was my very own piece of paradise. Infinity in style and plunge in depth, the pool was the perfect temperature so I made myself at home. The moody skies juxtaposed with the turquoise tiles reminded me so much of Thailand at first, but there’s something totally unique about it here, a smell in the breeze that just feels clean, calming almost.

We headed straight for their ‘Chill Bar’ to grab some mezze after our refresh, readying us for the much needed spa session to come. After an hour long Swedish escape, to which I don’t mind admitting I totally fell asleep in – which is a massive accomplishment as I’m never that relaxed, even during a massage. We then spent an hour savouring the indefinable pool to sea perspectives from their relaxation deck.

I spoke with Sri my spa therapist and asked her why she chose the Maldives. “There’s a lot of opportunity here for those who are looking to learn from the best and that’s what I always wanted… to keep learning and bettering my ability.”

So I’ll admit… there’s definitely something to this off-switch.

The spa was followed by my first dip in the ocean, which was pleasantly bearable I have to say, I was however a bit put off about the sand… I assumed looking at all the images of these pristine white beaches that the sand would be baby soft, but in fact, it’s ground down corals so there’s a little sharpness underfoot. Either way, the completely glass clear waters made it difficult to leave, what with sturgeons and parrot fish happily basking in the shallows nearby. No sharks or manta rays spotted yet but eagle rays and turtles often make an appearance under the water villas.

Post- post downtime, we headed out onto the sand to experience the typical Maldivian style dinners on the beach. Executive Chef Costa Exprua, joined us to talk about his original flavour for French and Californian cuisines, but having had a hand in each of the menu’s across the variety of restaurants on the resort, Indo-Asian cuisine has become more of his forte since moving to the island. Featuring a stand-alone, open-air Tepanaki suite, it’s really easy to see why these islands make such good instagram fodder.

What I loved most about my first trip to this tropical haven is that I’ve realized I’m 100% content (and haven’t forgotten how) to just be still and as a yogi, get back to my breathing. I did mention about a wake-surf plate for their wake-board only boat but we’ll see when I return… and I will!

Top tips for those looking to visit:
– Wake early for some sunrise yoga looking out across the archipelago
– Enjoy the local fish dishes
– Put your phone down, at least for a little bit – the sea life is everywhere under your feet and the clouds are dancing just as brilliantly above your head.

fashion Recommended

The Mermaid Treatment

Posted on August 25, 2015

I’ve been feeling a little bit blue lately, mainly because my weekend travel trips have come to a bit of a stop due to moving house last weekend (#priorities)… with work being so busy at the moment too, i’ve been long overdue for a little R&R.

I guess there’s only one way to cure feeling blue and that’s to go green! So there’s no way I could resist a SOH Dubai mermaid treatment!I mean, its green goo-ey goodness is actually a skin revitaliser – nourishing and oh-so-squishy! Followed by a salty scrub that removes any dryness.

The clay hand wrap then helps to moisturise the skin back to baby softness… And voila! You’ve got beautifully supple hands again (for the first time in a long time!)