Under. Rain Trees. th e. Shangri-La s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Under. Rain Trees. th e. Shangri-La s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang"

Christian Lamb
5 years ago
Views:

1 Under th e Rain Trees R Shangri-La s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang

3 shangri-la s rasa sayang resort & spa, penang

4 THERE S NO GREATER ACT OF HOSPITALITY THAN TO EMBRACE A STR ANGER AS ONE S OWN.

5 all too soon, twilight had hit batu Feringgi Beach. A single brown leaf made the perfect bookmark and I lay my head back on the pillowy white sand. The rain trees above must have been more than a hundred years old, their leafy canopy so thick, only tiny slivers of electric blue skylight could shimmy through. The waves rolled onto the shore with gentle conviction and an orchestra of crickets began their nightly symphony. Mother Nature was bidding us farewell for the day. It was time to head back to the resort. The lobby was captivating with its beautifully carved wooden artefacts, colourful batik prints and golden jewellery. Each piece mesmerised, drawing me closer to its own narrative from centuries past. A young porter came to take my bags and when he smiled, I felt an extraordinary sense of familiarity. As if I somehow knew him, like a friend, even family. 1

a seductive breeze, carrying the sweet aromas of cinnamon and clove, coasted through the air leading me to the Spice Market Café, where inside, a bizarre culinary circus seemed to be in procession.

7 a seductive breeze, carrying the sweet aromas of cinnamon and clove, coasted through the air leading me to the Spice Market Café, where inside, a bizarre culinary circus seemed to be in procession. The pungent aromas of nutmeg, cumin and ginger danced a waltz around the room; and chefs prepared colourful Peranakan dishes, as if they were performing some sort of flamboyant magic act, that moments later transported me to a deliciously alternate cosmos of Chinese and Malay cuisines. Outside the Feringgi Bar and Grill, the rain trees swayed dramatically as if serenading the moon above and there was something cool and mysterious in the air. But inside, the mood was different. A waitress welcomed me with a smile that felt more like a hug; and familial warmth radiated the den-like dining room with its rustic red brick walls and candlelit lanterns. The first course, a delicate yet robust tomato soup prepared right at my tableside, warmed my soul and set the night sailing to pure perfection. 5

9 9

11 as darkness spread quickly across the island, the Batu Feringgi market awoke, row by row, like a colony of fireflies. Savoury treats like satay and popiah allured and enticed, and stalls upon stalls of beaded slippers, wooden knick-knacks and delicate coral sculptures cajoled with their beauty. But after a long day of nature walking and exploring nearby George Town, it was the enchanting tranquility and sanctuary of the resort that beckoned with the most allure. The bathtub on the balcony, filled with its ambrosial jasmine-scented water, was almost anaesthetising. In the distance, the blackened sea rumbled softly in the night, and all around, the giant rain trees rustled, whispering secrets in my ear. And when it was time to sleep, I lay down on the king sized bed, that was more like a freshly formed cumulus cloud, and let the Peranakan artwork on the walls tell me old love stories of Baba and Nyonya until I fell asleep. 13

13 a soothing massage of long sweeping strokes over splashes of sweet lemongrass oil sent everything floating into a dreamlike universe. Thick lush foliage spread for miles painting the rainforest every possible hue of green, and ancient rain trees soared high in the sky as if reaching for something spiritual beyond the clouds. The air quivered with the intoxicating scents of exotic Malaysian herbs and everything was surreal, fantastical; only the percussion-like sounds of the rainforest were a reminder that we were, in fact, still here on earth. Then adrift, somewhere between sleep and consciousness, smothered in a luscious concoction of fresh cucumber and aloe vera, I might have lost myself in the pure indulgence of it all, as it is not uncommon that during a visit to the spa, one might feel as if he or she has perhaps become closer, if not one, with the mystical forces of the rainforest. 17

18 27

19 Shangri-La s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang Batu Feringgi Beach, Penang, Malaysia Tel: (604) Fax: (604) rsr@shangri-la.com 2011 Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd. Published in Hong Kong Printed and bound in China. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. RSR1011

There, to his joy and surprise, he found a friendly and prosperous population who made haste to display what I have always regarded as our oldest tradition that of hospitality to strangers.

21 There, to his joy and surprise, he found a friendly and prosperous population who made haste to display what I have always regarded as our oldest tradition that of hospitality to strangers. Lost Horizon, James Hilton It was through this 1933 classic that we found our name. And it was this novel that inspired our heartfelt hospitality. Every hotel around the world has its own story to tell and, in keeping with how it began, each captures its account in a little book. Collect as many books as you can from over 70 hotels and resorts around the world.

Island. Retreat. Shangri-La s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa Singapore

Island. Retreat. Shangri-La s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa Singapore Island Retreat R Shangri-La s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa Singapore shangri-la s rasa sentosa resort & spa singapore THERE S NO GREATER ACT OF HOSPITALITY THAN TO EMBRACE A STR ANGER AS ONE S OWN. the sounds