Feeling groggy and sluggish? A fantastic Thai herbal steam cave in a lush coconut grove offers a healing herb mist that clears the fog in your head. Tamarind Springs Forest Spa on the laid-back island of Koh Samui in southern Thailand is the first spa I wrote about at the start of my career as…
Category: Wellness & Beauty
On the Rishikesh Yoga Trail, Beatles Ashram, & Ananda in the Himalayas Palace Wellness Retreat, India
Where best to start learning yoga? At its birthplace in India, of course. Little did I know I was on the Beatles trail in Rishikesh… I’ve been a yoga fan for a long time now, but there was once an unhappy, blurry Time Before Yoga when I didn’t know what it was and wasn’t interested. That was…
Inner Cleanse for an Outer Glow – My Surprising Detox Retreat at Samahita Koh Samui, Thailand
When it comes to food, I’m no angel. I’m blissfully happy indulging my palate with things that are bad for me. Succulent beef burgers, crispy bacon, fresh pasta, fried chicken wings, and delicate puff pastry are things I find it hard to say no to. The cruelest way to torture me would be to separate me from…
On a Beach in Sri Lanka, Ancient Healing Treats Modern Ills – Barberyn Reef Ayurveda Resort
Everyone has a third eye. Yes, you have one too. Thankfully you can’t see it. Here’s how to take care of this important energy point in your body… A third eye may sound like something you’d rather keep hidden in the genetic skeleton closet, like a sixth finger or third nipple, but it’s an important…
10 Top Spas, Detox & Wellness Retreats in Asia
For the latest info, see my 2018 Top 10 Wellness Destinations in Asia list here Looking for the best places to detox, lose weight, de-stress, get fit, do yoga, and be a better, healthier you? Here are some of the best health resorts in Asia … When people hear that I write spa books and am a judge for the regional AsiaSpa Awards, they…
Chiva-Som International Health Resort – a fat-fighting week at Asia’s most glamourous spa
People are always curious about world-renowned Chiva-Som Health Resort, located at the Thai royal beach resort of Hua Hin. It’s the most famous health resort and spa in Asia, thanks to its celebrity clientele of supermodels, pop stars, royalty, and Hollywood glitterati. I’ve enjoyed a few stays there over the years and while there were…
A Powerful Yoga Healing Retreat at the Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai
Ask me to name the most luxurious hotels in Thailand, and the Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai is right there at the top of the list. It’s a fantasy world of northern Thai Lanna and Burmese architecture. The architecture alone is another story in itself (and the hotel has even published a lovely coffee table book…
Raw Energy: Q&A with Diana von Cranach, Asia’s Top Raw Food Chef, Author & Culinary Consultant
Diana von Cranach is a Cordon Bleu trained chef who hated every minute of having to follow the rules, and forged her own culinary path in Asia, inspired by her love of Asian flavours. She’s an internationally acclaimed raw food chef, cookbook author, health cuisine consultant, and boutique resort owner in Bali, where she’s lived for many years and…
Where holistic therapy beats shopping therapy – Peppers Seminyak Spa, Bali
I wasn’t thinking about juice fasting or any kind of deprivation when I headed for the stylish social scene on Seminyak beach, Bali. I arrived on the island with a different idea of fun, anticipating my first stay in Seminyak, Bali’s most glamorous beach – renowned for its beach scene, luxurious designer hotels, chic boutiques,…
Where Massage is the Room Service – The Plateau Spa, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
It was the day that refused to end, starting at dawn on an island in Thailand and ending late night on top of a skyscraper in Hong Kong. Thank goodness there was a luxurious massage and steamy bath awaiting in my luxury residential spa suite to recover from all that. One of my favourite spas in Hong Kong is…
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