The Vintage Spa

DaLa Spa is one of Bali’s most authentic brands reviving old healing, bathing and beauty rituals.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
DaLa Spa is one of Bali’s most authentic brands reviving old healing, bathing and beauty rituals.  
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The Deal: I’ve never quite understood why people who travel to Bali book a Thai massage or vice versa. Which is why DaLa Spa, a brand renowned for reviving age-old Indonesian beauty rituals was a must. 

Finally someone has taken the leap beyond the usual Indonesian Massage and Mandi Lulur, to delve deeper into Balinese and Indonesia’s history. 

The DaLa Spa at Alaya Resort Ubud is a sanctuary within a retreat, the arrival point an open-air spa pavilion, typical of tropical architecture on the island, with views of rice terraces and native trees. 

I am greeted by Sukanti, who is also the trainer, over a welcome drink of pineapple infused lemongrass. She guides me through the spa menu with treatments like The Samsara, which uses fresh limes, Jamu, milk, jasmine and orange. The understanding that DaLa Spa only uses locally grown and harvested plants, herbs, salts and clays in their treatments has drawn me here. 

What strikes me is the relaxing energy of the place. While beautifully fitted out, there’s an authentic ‘village’ ambience. In one corner, a group of four women gather around bundles of native botanicals in an interactive spa class. Nearby, guests dine on local organic cuisine on the spa terrace.  It’s clear this is no somber spa, but a joyful celebration. 

The Lowdown: I have booked their most popular treatment, the Manis Klepon, inspired by the traditional Indonesian rice flour cake. 

But first, a tour of the spa takes my breath away. Not unlike a Balinese temple celebration, the spa is an explosion of colour, flowers, scent and music. It consists of one single and six double treatment spaces with a vintage Indonesian concept. The interior stylist is Moroccan-born Zohra Boukhari, renowned for her use of rich textiles and luxurious furnishings. 

Treatment-wise, it’s exotic, heady and heavenly. The unhurried pace at which Sukanti works feels so graceful and the treatments move seamlessly from one to another. As Sukanti explains, all ingredients used in the treatments are edible. 

The sequence begins with a foot wash followed by a well-executed massage delivered with a cinnamon and ginger oil – a beautiful combination of essential oils.  The body exfoliation is made from fresh coconut and palm sugar.  After this, a mask prepared with rice powder and pandan leaf water is applied onto my skin. Finally, it’s all washed away with a tranquil soak in a fragrant Balinese flower bath with seven floral varieties used in temple offerings. 

The Benefits: The Manis Klepon journey encouraged me to slow down and be present. The heavily scented ingredients took me to a space of stillness where my heart, mind and body became one. I emerged complete and connected. 

The Verdict: Mesmerising. Fresh ingredients applied to the skin works wonders and is a welcome change from packaged scrubs and creams. Returning to nature is the only way forward and spas like DaLa are leading the way. The sequence flowed like a dream, like I was in another world for hours – all this with the added luxury of learning about Indonesia’s beauty heritage in a decadent way. Authenticity at its best!

http://www.dalaspa.com