AsiaSpa - July-August 2017

TheGreatEscape

124 AsiaSpa July/August 2017

may see larger fish zooming around hunting

for their own meal.

But when the first dish of the tasting

menu is served, your nose will lead you back

to the table: a treasure trove of bite-sized

appetizers with the most promising aromas.

The mains that follow are just as toothsome.

They can be yellow fin tuna, Angus beef

and red mullet, or in my case artichoke

with goat’s cheese and morel mushrooms,

zucchini flower with roasted eggplant

and tomato jam, and the delicious forest

mushroom risotto from the vegetarian menu.

Chef de cuisine Bjoern van den Oever, who

also heads the Aquarium Restaurant above,

is known for his creativity and changes the

menus based on season and his inspiration.

Both lunch and dinner are available but I

am recommended to arrive at 6pm – great

advice as you can witness the transition

between day and night, which is nothing

short of spectacular.

REST AND RESET

Those with a thirst for adventure will enjoy

the excursions and water sports, but the

isolated paradise also provides an ideal

setting for ‘me’ time. The resort has a

range of wellness programmes to help you

return to balance physically, mindfully and

spiritually. So even though there is Wi-Fi

throughout, try to unplug for a day or two – if

not for the entire holiday – and take some

time truly for yourself.

Begin your day with sunrise yoga to

gently awaken the body and senses, then

head to Duniye Spa for a wellness breakfast

to load up on healthy selections like the

banana berry bowl and tuna bento, as

well as an array of fresh pressed juices and

smoothies. You can also book a wellness

lunch to sample scrumptious, healthy dishes

• the Asian infused broth with soba noodles
  and crispy lotus root is a favourite, while the
  soya milk and banana ice cream satisfies the
  sweet tooth without guilt.
  Several visits to the Duniye Spa are also
  necessary to complete your getaway. ‘Duniye’
  means ‘universe’, which reflects the spa’s
  holistic approach. Not simply a place to
  relax, the spa focuses on holistic well-being,
  from head to toe and from the inside and out.
  The treatment rooms are housed in the over-
  water spa villa connected to the reception by
  a bridge, which creates the feeling you are
  stepping into a sanctuary of bliss.