So with not a care in the world, other than wondering if our babysitter would have a nervous breakdown by the time we returned, we leisurely strolled down to the station and hence missed the direct train to Enge. Whilst Johan was desperate to hail a taxi in the godforsaken -12c or so temperatures, I was convinced getting a train wouldn't be so difficult. Actually it wasn't and we even got there with a few minutes to spare. There are two trams from Enge that take you direct to Sihlcity Nord and the Hotel is within two minutes walk from the tram stop. The spa has its own lift. Perfect.
You get given these watch style locker keys which means you can purchase a whole manner of things, and not worry about carrying around any personal items. You get given a robe, a towel and a pair of those hotel style slippers too. All very lovely.
So off I went and the race was on. Of course Johan was there first in the waiting area trying to work out how to get water out of the tea urn. The area is all very 'lovely' and spa like with oriental tea cups and jugs of water with healthy lime and mint slices. It's obviously designed to put you in a relaxed state with its ambient music, and dim lighting. It works. You know you're in for some escapism. Perfect.
Every time I go to a spa I can't help but think of two places where I can safely say I have always had a wonderful experience and sadly both are no longer. Calmia was on Marylebone High Street in London and eased away much stress whilst I was working in Great Portland Street. They had possibly the best waiting area I have experienced complete with tiny pool full of rose petals and again with dim lighting yet candle light, the flickering of which was so completely mesmerizing. The other was at Canary Wharf - the place name I cannot remember but it was below the Reebok Spa and is sadly a place where now you can pop in of a lunch time and grab a bit of botox instead. Sad but true. But when it was a little spa, or rather beauty salon, there was a woman who was probably the best reflexologist I have even had. What she didn't know about feet and the connections with the body, I do not know. I would come away from one of her treatments having learnt something as well as feeling completely relaxed. Anyhow, Asia Spa is fast becoming a favorite of mine too with each experience there being better than the last. I certainly didn't expect to be handed a glass of champagne. Lovely start!
The 'Private Room' was gorgeous. A girly girls delight. Saying that even Johan thought it looked good. You get an hour to spend alone with a bath tub of milk and honey with ylang ylang, a sauna with eucalyptus and a couple of freshly made body scrubs and a shower. There are rose petals everywhere (apart from the sauna and shower of course) and a tray of water, and juice with two little fortune cookies. Peaceful music played, the lights were dimmed and the candles flickered in the corner. A buddha for good measure. Perfect. I am taking a sigh of relaxation reliving the moment. Aaaaaaaaahhhhh.
After an hour the therapist knocks on the door. That's the five minute warning. You then go through to the adjacent room where there are two massage beds. This is where my critical eyes (and ears) get to work. Towel technique? Contra-indication questions? Are they asking me the right questions? Is the music too loud? I can't complain at all and the massage bed was really comfortable too. Some are not. This one was even heated; at least it felt like it. Wonderful.
So massage done, champagne well and truly drunk, we were told we could head downstairs and take some time out and relax on one of the water beds. Water beds? Well we had to go check them out. We conveniently ended up in a darkened Asian restaurant. Could it get any better? They served sushi and sashimi. It was too good to be true. Thought so. They order in their food from the restaurant close by to the hotel and for freshness reasons, so they say, sushi and sashimi is not on the menu of a Sunday. Drat. Instead we opted for some Thai food and sat down in the comfortable sofa chairs watching the various tropical fish in their tank and gazed outside to the freezing cold. It was quite surreal especially seeing Burger King directly opposite us.
Asia Spa has a number of Hamam packages, which you obviously have to book as well as an onsen pool, saunas - mixed and not, and a whole heap of relaxation space. We still wanted to find the water beds even if out of curiosity. Whilst we were enjoying our food there were a number of people wandering by wearing little more than a towel. We figured that being in Switzerland people were a lot less reserved than in Britain. Either way we wanted to know where they were going and figured the water beds were in their path. But no. We'd walked in to what was a rather exclusive little room with a number of people relaxing in the pool, one of those places where everyone looks as you walk in. So like little kids we decided we ought not to hang around and turned around giggling and tried another door.
The next place was huge. This place was a haven of relaxation beds of all types and sizes and yes we found the water beds. But what I didn't expect to see on our exploratory wander were a number of people - men and women - who just didn't care that they were starkers. I'm sorry but that was horrible and actually a complete shock. Yikes. We so didn't expect that and sadly it really bought the level of style and sophistication of the place down. Right down. There is a sign, in German, which we thought translated to read words to the effect: keep your clothes on. Hey ho. Anyhow we carried on wandering around past the more respectable people, found the waterbeds at last. Then it was time to head home for it was almost 11pm! The place is however open till midnight.
A really enjoyable, fun evening made even better by the complete absence of technology. Must do that more often. Although we figured that having such a treat like that too often would detract from the treat. Twice a year would be perfect.
Of course I couldn't take any photographs in there but I have managed to find these two on the web that might give you an idea of the size of the downstairs area ...
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