Page 68 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL9

Guests were offered a body massage with coconut oil and later brought in for a herbal sauna programme in the steam room. You could see relaxation seep into the faces of the participantsThe journey began on Friday morning by Bangkok Airways flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Bangkok Airways has exclusivity for flights to Samui, as they own the island’s only airport. On arrival we were driven by van to Natural Wing Health Spa and Resort and given a warm welcome.At first glance it resembles a house on a hill surrounded by a forest. The area is covered with lush trees and many species of aromatic plants that contribute to a pleasant atmosphere. My room was spacious, tastefully decorated and fully equipped.Guests were offered a body massage with coconut oil and later brought in for a herbal sauna programme in the steam room. You could see relaxation seep into the faces of the participants.Dinner began at 6pm, with tradi- tional Thai food prepared by locals. Various herbal dishes included that southern staple, khanom jeen nam ya,or rice vermicelli served with fish curry, and keang tai pla, a southern style fish soup with fermented fish stomach. Some might consider these dishes an acquired taste, but I found them fantastic and healthy, and it is rare for people in the capital to have a chance to try the real thing. And dinner was accompanied by music played by the band and DJs from Love 104.5 radio.The programme of the first night culminated in a workshop on how to practise acupressure therapy by applying local herbs and coconut oil. Participants could later try the massage by themselves at home. There was also a meditation course giving tips on how to live mindfully and avoid daily sorrows and stress – also useful to apply to everyday life after participants returned home.Activities on the second day began at 6am, when we were welcomed to the beach by the warm morning66 Elite+