106 AsiaSpa July/August 2017Tr avelDestination
A river sunset cruise is a blissful way of witnessing the close of the
day, and the Aman longboat putt-putts gently upstream. A glass of bubbles
and plates of canapés to hand, we unobtrusively watch the panorama of
life lived out on the banks of the Mekong. Lush, terraced gardens being
tended in the cool of the evening, monks trace a steep meandering path
for a refreshing dip, a waterside game of petanque emits distant cheers.
Then the boat turns 180 degrees to drift back on the current and the sun
speeds up its fall towards the horizon, fiery ripples of water underlining
its trajectory. When we dock, the quiet of dusk is complete.
Back at Amantaka, my evening spa treatment takes place in a huge
dimly lit room, where by day the bathside window radiates peace as
it frames the fresh emerald radiance of the greenery outside. Wellness
programmes will soon be launched, but for tonight’s massage my therapist
intuitively uses medium pressure, taking me from a more resilient place,
physically and emotionally, and adding energy that bodes well for
tomorrow’s early morning alms-giving.
http://www.aman.comAZERAI
From one Adrian Zecha creation to the next, I bid a sad farewell to
Taka and swap Aman’s ex-founder’s astounding luxury for his new
affordable brand. Aman for the millennials, you could say. While
the design unmistakably comes from the same man’s penchant
for clean lines, symmetry and space, the cleverly designed rooms
are bijou, the atmosphere casual and the location in the heart of
downtown. Pool-facing rooms or the corner suites with mini gardens
are the ones to request.
Breakfast is a feast of eggs, Asian dishes and their GM’s recipe
for French toast. The coffee is delicious and I head to the upstairs
balcony post meal, my go-to for dispensing with the day’s emails,
where the panoramic view of Sakkaline Street provides the perfect
atmosphere. I mix in laps of the pool with pottering along the
street’s boutiques and temples in the morning, finding a breezy
cafe for lunch.
Azerai’s foot massage comes highly recommended and I’m