Putrajaya Shangri-La, Malaysia
A hilltop eerie filled with classic contemporary designs.
By Barbara Kingstone
Putrajaya, not a city that tumbles off your tongue or from your map, since
this is the new vibrant Malaysian capital. A model garden city and new chapter
in the history of modern city planning, this once huge forest area had it’s
official launch in 1999.
Visionaries decided that it would have the best of the best. The large pink
domed Putra Mosque which can accommodate 15,000, the green roofed Islamic-Mogul
designed Perdana Putra, (government and administrative buildings) and the connected
Putra Bridge are examples of innovative architecture in the biggest real estate
development in Malaysia and probably in Asia..
Above on a green hilltop overlooking the city, is the Putrajaya Shangri-La
Hotel conceived as ‘an hotel within a park’. That brand name is
enough for savvy travellers to know that one can expect 5 star service. Unexpectedly
in this country of great tradition and history, this Shangri-La is a futuristic
oasis.
As I approached the building looks quite ordinary, almost like a 50s motel,
but I soon see what a mistake in judgement this is. The border of small white
orchids leads into the futuristic designed lobby. Seating areas in various colours
from soft to hot, raspberry, mustard, cinnamon, plum, have odd shaped sofas.
Dozens of white plastic bird-like mobiles hang and swing from the ceiling in
front of floor to ceiling windows with the best city view. From the open mezzanine
I looked down into the stylish circular restaurants. A wall of fake fruit bananas,
apples etc, encased in various 10 foot high glass tubes divide one eatery from
the other. Actually, a clever innovative idea that does what it should.
Although the rooms aren’t large, the design could be from a popular house
and home publication. The ratio of room size to bathroom is off the scale since
the bathrooms are large with all the amenities and space to stack your own lotions
and potions along with the hotel’s treats. No matter where the room is
located, the odds are that the view will be overlooking the spanking new city.
Try as I could, still no spa in sight. That is until I walked outside to the
curved pool detailed with large sculptural concrete spouting fountains, did
I discover the reception room. However, I was a bit taken aback since there
were no treatment rooms.
Follow the narrow lake stone path around behind the area and suddenly a sanctuary
appeared -The Health Club and Spa. So smart in with black wood, this modern
space was cleverly divided for privacy with 7 semi alfresco villas and suites
with separate facilities for women and men. Products for body massages are made
in Malaysia while facial creams come from Indonesia. Essential aromatic oils
are worked into each treatment and “we make sure they are safe for the
skin”.
However, there’s a new twist here and with spas popping up everywhere
in the world, something different is a necessity to separate the ordinary from
the rare. “It's written in the stars” and the Zodiac in accordance
to 12 key constellations, is part of the personalized sessions. Each sign has
its own traits said to influence our fortune and health therefore different
ingredients are used depending on birth date. For instance, as a Capricorn,
I’m an earth element. Willow, Yew, Quince, Rye, hemlock, lavender, pine
and lemon are included in the products applied. Okay, there’s no resistance.
I’m always up for new angles to old procedures.
Nana, my Indonesian therapist, starts my facial with lukewarm towels, pressing
down on my temples and forehead area. That done three times before she starts
the exfoliation which is rubbed gently with essential oils taken from my birthday
sign.. A gentle suction tube is used to extract any blackheads and her knowledgeable
hands massage the face, neck and shoulder, softer on the face and more pressure
for the tight muscles of the other areas. After the finale, a mask is removed,
a cold towel closes the pores. I shine from this Zodiac ritual.
The scalp treatment included in this session is worth the oily remnants, since
it’s already been a bad hair day in this humid, sunny, hot atmosphere.
I come out looking like an electrified Phyllis Diller.
Services include complimentary in-room Broadband Internet access via the desktop
hub located on the writing desk. Complimentary scheduled transfers to Kuala
Lumpu and the various top shopping centres
There’s a 24 hour gym also 24 hour in-room dining and 24 hour Busines
Centre.
In Langkawi, an islands off a larger island of Penang and off the NW coast
of the mainland Malaysia, is where the new and simply put, splendid Four Seasons
Hotel has recently opened.
In this archipelago of 99 islands on the Andaman Sea, the voyage here is not
for someone who wants to be able to hop on a plane and be there in a few hours.
Are we there yet? That question is out of place since the trip is well into
double digit hours from Vancouver and Toronto after a stop over in Kuala Lumpur
or Penang. But once you’ve arrived, the agony of airport queues and plane
transfers are soon forgotten in this breathtaking and very private hotel only
25 minutes from Langkawi International Airport..
What can one say about a hotel that has a driveway sided with red block walls
that look like an ancient fort on an island that once was once a secret hideaway
for pirates. Then there’s the blending of contemporary architecture with
Malay and Mughal culture. There are so many décor innovations through
out this white sand beachfront complex, an entire booklet is needed to describe
the sumptuous, romantic hotel with 91 spacious rooms. Included are two story
Melaleuca Pavillions, a residential Presidential Villa and my favourite, one
of the 20 beachfront villas each featuring their own spa room massage beds and
deep spa tub
It may situated on many hundreds of hectares and have 85% occupancy, but while
I was there I saw few guests. It’s will definitely become the hideaway
for rich and famous only rock formations and sea and not a pirate in sight.
However, it’s a different story at their spa.
Away from the hub in the northern section of the hotel is a full service spa
where they offer traditional Malaysian and Indonesian massages to India’s
Ayurvedic and ancient Chinese treatments. Still water pools are everywhere and
could be mistaken for black shiny marble. Six exquisitely appointed pavilions
with Moorish touches have a calm, serene sensation. Having had my fill of body
massages, I asked Crystal for feet reflexology as well as a scalp and hair treatment.
Sitting on a small deck outside the treatment villa with my feet immersed in
a copper tub, Crystal added ground mud which soon thickened to a jelly-like
substance. After about 10 minutes, she then added salt which dissolved the mixture.
Then the often excruciating reflexoloy began, much needed she advised me. We
then moved into the substantial private treatment area with shower, sauna, locker
and loo.
From toe now to head, Neem was massaged into my hair after which she massaged,
with strong pressure, my neck and shoulders. The grand finale was the12 head
shower which pointed to the various parts of the body with varying pressure.
Brunch at Serai (Lemongrass) restaurant with a backdrop of the Andaman Sea,
was in an open sided area for the tables while the buffet of food from Southeast
Asia, China and India was stylishly displayed in a room over a small walkway.
But then, you can opt for all the spa services in the privacy of your own villa
while listening to the soothing waves of the Andaman Sea.
From Toronto, I flew with Air Canada to Vancouver. After a layover in Vancouver,
I flew to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific Airlines then transferred to Malaysia
Airlines. However, there is a direct Cathay Pacific Airline flight from Toronto
direct to Hong Kong shaving off several hours.
Putrajaya Shangri-La
Taman Putra Perdana, Presint 1,
Tel 603 8887 8888
Email slpt@shangri-la.com
Four Seasons Resort,
Langkawi Malaysia
Tel 60 950 8888
Email. Reservations.lan@fourseasons.com
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