The island of Langkawi can wrap its charms around you with little effort. Once romanced by its mystical aura and idyllic beauty, you will find that it lingers where the best memories reside.
Amongst the centuries-old limestone crags and hills is the rainforest canopied Langkawi, one of a group of 99 islands studded across the stunning emerald waters of the Andaman Sea. Langkawi is the most famous of the islands, most of which are uninhabited.
Langkawi is an island with a colourful past of tragic maidens and lovelorn princes - the stuff of which legends are made. The legends are many, and they are well-loved.
But Langkawi is so much more than its famous legends. It is a tranquil retreat, a place where fauna and flora are found in gorgeous variety, a place that has retained its island charm and hospitality.
It is an island with a spirit that is unhurried and a soul that is wise about the rhythm of life.
On the northernmost tip of the island is the Tanjung Rhu Resort, a luxurious resort that hugs the cape coastline, offering spectacular vistas of the Andaman Sea, unrivalled anywhere else on the island.
Equally famous are its breathtaking sunsets and the mesmerizing night sky glittering with stars like you`ve never seen anywhere else; this is because the skies over Tanjung Rhu are the clearest in the country.
Harnessing the exquisite natural beauty of the island, and the resort`s highly-acclaimed service standards, Tanjung Rhu Resort now offers yet another experience unlike any other on the island - the comprehensive and unique JivaRhu Spa.
The Spa`s personality comes from the Sanskrit word Jiva, which means Life. It has been so carefully designed - both literally as well as figuratively - that the Spa `lifestyle` experience enters a whole new dimension.
Tanjung Rhu`s imaginative response to today`s Spa needs sets a new benchmark by offering specially-developed treatment experiences, rather than to be a follower of the industry standard.
It brings together the best purifying and revitalising treatments from Eastern traditions that date back thousands of years, incorporating it with its own special treatment blends.
These treatments have been derived and influenced from the Malay archipelago - Thai, Malay Massage, Ayurvedic and Indonesian (Balinese). Also available are Reflexology and other fusion massages like Rainforest and Aromatherapy.
This is what makes JivaRhu so special. Everything here is exclusive yet it has its foundation in the time-tested wisdoms for a healthy lifestyle. Every experience here is designed to set you on the journey of rediscovering your centre.
From the moment you approach the Spa, until the time you leave, the holistic experience will invigorate all the five senses - sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
The Spa`s open and airy design is stylish and is in consonance with the natural beauty of the resort. JivaRhu consist of 12 independent villas built on a stretch of three acres of wonderfully landscaped gardens that offer breathtaking views of the sea and the pool.
The entire spa village has been carefully designed to offer a tranquil and natural setting. Latticed woodwork roofs in the foyer and pathways enable the sunshine to light up the Spa naturally during the day, and at night, an unhindered view of the nightsky provides a romantic ambience.
The garden that adorns the Spa is a burst of colour and scents of the natural foliage. The Spa is also visited by birds (they can be heard chirping overhead all day) - a testament to the fact that it’s a welcome haven for them as well.
At the greeting pavilion, guests are provided a health drink whilst the masseuse prepares you for the pampering experience you have chosen. Here, there is also an Ayurveda Consultation Room, where guests can learn more about this famous ancient Eastern healing tradition from a professional Ayurveda consultant.
For treatment, guests can choose from 12 treatment villas - eight single and four double (for couples or friends who wish to experience the treatments together).
And that`s not all. Every room has its own personality - from the special `natural` sounds effect to the gentle aromatherapy scent created from the essence of island spices, herbs and tropical flowers to relax and calm your senses.
This is a prelude to the wonderfully invigorating massage treatments that include the Aromatherapy Massage, Ancient Thai Massage and the Traditional Massage that incorporates Malaysian and Indonesian methods.
Special mention goes to the Rainforest Shower, which begins with a sea salt scrub, followed by the experience of a gentle rainfall to create a meditative and deeply relaxing state of being.
Body Wraps are also available - enveloping you in a warm and cocoon-like experience to eliminate excess toxins and fluids, nourish the skin and leave you with an all-over afterglow.
Another favourite Eastern tradition is the Foot Reflexology - age-old treatment proven to improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, thereby relieving tension throughout the body.
The treatment villas are fabulously intimate open-air enclaves - with its own private garden, complete with outdoor steam room, sauna, showers, and outdoor jacuzzi.
Together with the skilful touch of the professional masseuse, the JivaRhu Spa experience is so finely-tuned that all your senses will feel truly liberated.
Should you want vanity treatments, there`s a wide range available - ranging from facial treatments to a full range of manicures and pedicures.
If an adrenaline rush is more your fancy, then the fully-equipped gym at the Spa comes with a view of the pool and the sea. Working out will never be the same!
Up above the gym is the open-air Tai Chi and Yoga area. This is an area with no walls or ceiling. Guests practise these two restorative exercises surrounded by the treetops, gentle breezes, and a view of the ocean, creating a rare environment of harmonious balance between man and nature.
JivaRhu`s unique blend of services can be enjoyed individually or through a package that synergises several treatments into one experience.
And you don`t have to wait for another trip to tune your senses to the JivaRhu experience. The special blends are available for sale at the Spa.
JivaRhu is three acres of pure delight. Inside and out, it is a celebration of the evolution of the spa experience. With this one-of-kind spa, the resort has truly created a masterpiece.
For reservations or more information on the Tanjung Rhu Resort and Spa, please visit: http://www.tanjungrhu.com.
Related stories on Spas-Weekly:
(01/10/03) Brand New Spa Facility Launched At Tanjung Rhu Resort, Langkawi, Malaysia: JivaRhu: A Celebration Of The Spa Evolution
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