Malaysia - A slice of paradise awaits you

Imagine this for a moment.  The salts of the sea tickle your nostrils as your eyes take in the vast expanse of blue. The waves gently flow and ebb, caressing the shore. As you close your eyes, warm hands work their magic on your skin as your body relaxes and your mind lets all of its cares go. You are in Malaysia, in one of the luxury spas on a little island by the seashore having the holiday of your life. Now, this is what they call bliss.

Malaysian spas use a range of natural products. Pic: Four Seasons.

A slice of paradise greets you the moment you step into any spa in Malaysia. Almost every resort in this country offers you wellness at their fingertips. You can choose from a medley of treatments – Ayurvedic, Balinese, Thai , Chinese and the quintessential Malay . If you prefer western forms of treatment, then you can choose between Swedish and Hawaiian styles. The aromas will lighten the mood as you step into a world of luxury and beauty. Bathe yourself in spicy and fragrant oils or try hot stones therapy to heal yourself as the fingers stroke your muscles in a rhythm of their own. Pamper yourself with a massage or try out any of the organic treatments or smear yourself with beauty products, Malaysia will bring you back as a fresh and new you.


The spas are all located in exotic destinations. You can choose to lose yourself  in lush tropical rainforests or gaze for eternity at blue green oceans or chill in the cool environs of mountains. From exotic Langkawi to forested Penang to Pangor Laut, every destination in Malaysia will treat you to a world of wellness. Enjoy the pampering, cool yourself in a swimming pool and hydrate yourself with a tropical drink. Now that’s a perfect way to enjoy a holiday on a tropical island!

This is an article that I wrote for Travel Wire Asia. If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more about travelling to Malaysia, please visit the Tourism Malaysia website

Travl Update - A road trip across Karnataka and Kerala

I am on a four day road trip that took me across Kerala and Karnataka on a brand new Automatic Ford Fiesta given to me by Ford India for the trip. The route is Bangalore - Saklespur - Puthur - Vittal - Bekal - Kasargod - Kateel - Moodbidri - Agumbe - Teerthahalli - Chikmagalur - Belur - Hassan - Bangalore. Staying in an absolutely stunning property of Vivanta by Taj at Bekal Fort. Pure Bliss.  

Five Great Places to Unwind in Malaysia

My husband always cribs that my travels are never about relaxation and unwinding. As a traveller and travel writer, sights and stories are forever in my mind. Although travel for me is not about ticking off lists, I am constantly on the look out for interesting tales and takes. In Malaysia, however I did find some time to chill. I have been to the country twice and although my last trip was quite some time ago, the memories are rather fresh.. So, here is a post that I wrote for Travel Wire Asia on how to chill in Malaysia . Sing with the birds, indulge in a spa , read my suggestions in this post.

 
If you like the article and if you would like to visit Malaysia, do visit Tourism Malaysia for more information. You can also post your queries here and I will be happy to help.

Travel Tuesday - A Soulful Spanish Song

We were walking along in Spain when we heard this man on the street singing such soulful music. We could not understand a word of it, but the song was absolutely romantic. The guide later told us that it was about unrequited love. But what a voice !

The colour of a Monday Morning Blue - Birding in Ashtamudi

Did your Monday Morning Blue look like this ? I was cruising down the Ashtamudi Lake when I saw these birds on the Chinese nets

Alive is Awesome–Scuba Diving in Bali

It takes a moment for the eyes to get used to the various shades of blue . The sky and sea merge, as little sails pop out of the waters adding a dash of colour to the horizon. I am all excited. It is my first scuba diving experience and we are right in the middle of the ocean. It is just the two of us and our instructor who is teaching us how to breathe under water. I tell him I don’t know to swim and he does not hear me. In a moment, I am in the water with him, bobbing in the waves , feeling the surge of excitement and anxiety - both at the same time. My husband is nowhere in sight. I pop my head one last time above water to look at the bright blue sky with the cotton candy clouds floating above me and then I lose myself in a world below .

The journey is amazing. Even better is the destination. The colours startle you as the creatures of the sea swim along with you. You feed the fish as they nibble at the pieces of bread . And then I reach the ocean floor to see the husband surrounded by a school of fish. Some swim with you, some lie quietly in their little corners. The riot of hues below is in complete contrast to the blues of the sea. There is a dash of purple, a montage of orange and red and crimson, tinges of green and yellow. It is like the palette of colours originated from life deep under. My lungs are unable to take the excitement for long. I leap up in a moment and come back to the surface, to a world which is familiar . I kick myself for not taking underwater photography, but then some experiences are best etched in our minds and memories.

Skywatch Friday–Back from Uttarkhand

Just got back from the mountains, but my head is still in the clouds. My destination was Kanatal, near Dehradun in Uttarkhand and it was the first time that I visited this part of the country. Club Mahindra was organising its second edition of CONCLAY at Kanatal, the first one was held at Baigunay in Sikkim in June this year. I had to unfortunately cancel my trip to Baigunay at the last minute due to ill health. However the mountains refreshed me and I am still in a world of my own, even though the rains in Bangalore have brought me back to reality. More posts and photographs soon...

To see fabulous skies, visit Skywatch.