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Published on November 18, 2007

The seaside city of Sri Racha in Chon Buri, 130 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, is probably better known for its proximity to industrial parks and the deep-sea port of Laem Chabang than as a dream holiday venue ideal for rejuvenating body and soul.

Tucked away on the 11 th floor of the newly opened Cape Racha, a hotel and serviced apartment complex and the latest addition to the Cape Hotel Group, the Cape Spa offers a range of treatments from simple traditional Thai massage, skin detoxification and body scrubs to aromatic steaming and facial delicacy treatments.

It's easy on the eyes with a mix of traditional Thai and modern design and floor-to-ceiling offering stunning views over the Gulf of Thailand. There's an open room for foot massages, four rooms for traditional Thai massages and another three rooms equipped with jacuzzi and steam bath for aroma massages.

Visitors begin with a consultation to pinpoint their needs and preferred approaches, then the therapists tailor the programme to match.

"Most of our customers are expatriates and local executives working in the Eastern seaboard area. Half are Japanese, both men and women," says spa supervisor Thanjira Jakkaew.

"Among our signature treatments is the Thai traditional herbal scrub, which uses a special blend of local herbs such as turmeric and ground brown rice, soybean, Thai white clay, fresh milk and yoghurt to eliminate dead cells."

There are also body scrub treatments with tamarind for white skin, coconut to relieve sunburn, mangosteen to cleanse mottled skin and black sesame to moisturise dry skin. Customers are prepared for pampering with an aroma foot soak and a scrub with salt and foot gel.

The most popular treatment with the ladies, according to Thanjira, is the 190-minute programme called the "Secrets of an Angel", which combines steam bath, body scrub with the customer's choice of massage oils, aromatic milky bath, massage and facial treatment. For men, the 150-minute programme "Energy Balancing" is recommended with foot massage, Thai massage and Thai herbal compress to increase lymphatic drainage for a rejuvenating and relaxing effect.

"Sri Racha has several perfect golf courses and Japanese golfers usually request the sport massage, which is beneficial for sunburns, followed by the Indian head massage programme to relieve stress and tension," says Thanjira.

A long-haired friend of mine tries the 60-minute Ayuravedic head massage treatment, which is said to soften the hair and moisturise the scalp. A therapist begins with gentle massage on her shoulders and head to promote relaxation before lightly applying coconut oil to each strand of hair and finishing off with head massage.

"I think my hair is softer even though I washed it after the treatment and didn't use a conditioner," she comments.

To ease my "urban stress" symptoms, the therapist recommends a 45-minute back and shoulder massage. Despite being slight and slim, her fingers are remarkably strong and I can feel the pressure being applied at all the right points. Being more used to aromatic massages, I am a little sore afterwards but feel better the next day.

To relive stress for the whole body, the 120-minute programme top to toe is recommended with massage to the foot, back, neck and shoulder as well as Ayuravedic head treatment.

Honeymooners can opt for a three-hour romance package with aromatic floral bath together before a body scrub and aromatherapy massage finishing with the facial treatment.

A 50 per cent discount on every treatment is being offered until the end of this year.

Cape Spa is open daily, from 10am to 10pm. Call (038) 314 288 extension 266 or visit CapeSpas.com/sriracha.

Khetsirin Pholdhampalit

The Nation