Situated in Bangkok’s city centre, Divana Nuture Spa delivers impeccable service, products and ambience even in its central location.
Situated in Bangkok’s city centre, Divana Nuture Spa delivers impeccable service, products and ambience even in its central location.
ARRIVAL: Tucked away in the touristy end of Sukhumvit, where narrow alleys are packed with souvenirs stalls and food hawkers, is Dii’s latest venture, Divana Nurture Spa. After wandering for what seems like hours in the heat after making the rookie mistake of not asking the hotel receptionist for directions, I am met with a set of metal gates that open up to a sweeping green lawn and a gorgeous wooden pavilion – not quite what I expected from an urban spa.
Opened earlier this year, Divana Nurture Spa represents the holistic, oriental arm of the brand, which has proven its fluency in advanced medical technology with the Dii line and in organic products with Divana Divine Spa. The newest outlet amalgamates oriental wisdom with modern medicine in four fundamental principles of diagnosis (both physical and psychological), detox (targeting toxins and impurities), healing through natural methods as well as boosting and prevention.
Upon stepping into the tranquil space of warm, soothing tones of wick, brass, wood and occasional floral arrangements, the spa’s motif of lotus – whether its flower, petals or leaves – is evident everywhere. The spa houses 16 double rooms with 32 beds, each with modern amenities, a steam room and an en-suite bathroom so guests have everything at their fingertips.
THE LOWDOWN: I opt for one of the spa’s signatures, the 210-minute Longevity Phikat Bua. Quick word of advice: visit the loo even if you don’t feel the need to because you’ll be, quite literally, on the massage bed for the next three hours. The therapist begins with an Ashiyu Foot Soak and Refreshing Toner, scrubbing bath salts on my tired feet as the cooling herbs tingle my skin, immediately calming the nerves that were worked up from the adventure prior.
What is to come is the most unexpected: while like most spa-goers, I assumed a body polish composed of the usual rinse, scrub and repeat, the therapist drizzles two layers of oil – one made of ancient lotus powder and the other a chilling and pungent, milky Thai rice wine – and massages it over my limbs. Can’t help feeling like a slab of marinated meat with all the sticky liquids slathered all over my body – by then I ask the therapist to turn down the air conditioning by a few notches – the two concoctions leave my body (and the room) smelling absolutely wonderful.
According to the therapist, ancient lotus powder rids the skin of ailments, increases fertility, vitality and mood while the ‘Sato’ organic Thai rice wine refreshes and rejuvenates. So to maximise the benefits of the oils, I am escorted into a steam room for an Authentic Thai Herbal Steam, where my pores happily open, and I can almost feel the toxins evaporate from my body. The benefits of the oil-and-wine concoction, however, is only fully felt during the poststeam shower: my skin is so soft the water just slides right off and minimal towelling is required. Though, admittedly, the polish is not the most enjoyable experience, it is a worthwhile one.
The part I’ve been looking forward to most is the Longevity Yokee Massage, which is done using jade to alleviate stress and reestablish balance in the body. Again playing with extreme temperatures, I feel my muscles unwind after they’ve become accustomed to the initial impact of the heated stones: the therapist’s experienced strokes hit just the right pressure points, and my body is completely relaxed.
The three-hour treatment is aptly concluded with iced tea and a bite-sized portion of the crème de la crème of Thai desserts, mango sticky rice.
AFTERWORD: Divana Nurture Spa doesn’t sacrifice ambience for its proximity to city centre: though just a block away from the bustling touristy markets, its gates open to another world of tranquillity and bliss, putting guests into the mood for what is to come as soon as they walk through the entrance.
With a name like Divana, guests can be rest-assured that world-class, natural products will be applied to their skin, whether through a facial or massage; and as experts in all spectrums of wellness and skincare, the brand puts guests at ease with treatments producing specular results, though it may not always feel the most comfortable in the moment.
Scoring full marks in atmosphere, treatment, quality of service, location and results, Divana Nurture Spa is definitely worth a visit. www.divanaspa.com
Though just a block away from the bustling touristy markets, its gates open to another world of tranquillity and bliss
