By Bae Ji-sook
When Banyan Tree Spa and Resort opened in June, many spa-lovers jumped with joy to see world-class massage programs in the very heart of Seoul.
Located at the foot of Mt. Nam, the hotel provides essential massage programs filled with the know-how they have acquired from Thailand, Indonesia and other major tourist destinations worldwide.
The spa is indeed one of a kind. With its heavy colored interior and Zen like music paying all day long, the place is all about creating a meditative and refreshing atmosphere.
From Balinese traditional massage that delivers stimulation to the deep tissues, to the rather lighter and gentle Swedish one, the spa has it all in every level of intensity to every aromatic oil you can imagine.
The spa room consists of individual showrooms with a rain-shower system and several beauty items. After changing into comfortable robes, one can choose the type of herbal incense. With a toilet, shower and locker installed in each room, the guests can avoid the embarrassment of having to face other people half-naked.
Then the masseuse ― all the masseuses at the Banyan Tree have been sent to Thailand to take extensive massage courses ― starts by cleansing the feet.
The aroma is quite soothing and the bed is warm enough for those naked not to feel cold. The massage is thoughtfully done ― the masseuse constantly tries to communicate with the guest to moderate the intensity.
Their hands are quite nimble ― they are adept at soothing tense muscular aches. It is sometimes quite painful, but you know at the end of the day when you walk out, your body will feel refreshed.
The only problem is the noise ― the rather loud music and other sounds supposedly coming from outside of the building was mixed with the music playing inside the room and created rather a bizarre nuisance. Maybe a better soundproofing system could bring more of a sense of security and calm.
Still, in the heart of Seoul, it is quite consoling to find a place so isolated from the rat race and take a deep breath and relax for a couple of hours.