Foot Reflexology at Palm Garden Hotel Spa

Palm Garden Spa, Kiulap 60 min Foot Reflexology $23

Palm Garden Hotel is part of the more exclusive and coveted area of Kiulap. I noticed that Kiulap have begun to grow more upmarket day by day, I feel that some day it will overtake Gadong area as the place to be seen. The strategic location of Fitness Zone, a premier gym and fitness centre attracts people to the area. The gym membership fees is on the steep side, which you will have to dig deep at least $550 to join as part of the exclusive circle of people in Fitness Zone Kiulap.

Porsches Carrera & Cayyenes , Mercedes CLS, 6 series Beemers, Lambos really expensive cars can be seen park around the Palm Garden Hotel.Also this is where I saw the rare 3 series coupe as only the saloon is offered here in Brunei. Although in my opinion, its only at best a 3 star hotel when compared to Risqun International Hotel, The Mall. The allure of the Palm Garden Hotel is of course  it is co-owned by Brunei’s own heart-throb actor, Wu Zhun, famous in Taiwan and China for his acting role in mandarin dramas and if I’m not mistaken he is also part of a famous boy band in Taiwan.

Prior to trying their foot reflexology treatments, I have heard from various sources that the massage therapists at Palm Garden Hotel Spa hails from Mainland China, and are well-trained for Traditional Chinese reflexology and acupuncture. Definitely a much welcomed addition to many spas in Brunei which are mostly dominated by Swedish massage styles of the Filipinos and the saturated Thai massages in Brunei.

The interior and ambience of the Palm Garden spa is very Oriental with Chinese watercolour paintings and traditional Chinese art painted on glass as shown on the picture above. The music on the background is also traditional Chinese music. Together this creates the feel of the spa: Oriental. Its so different than the other spas which I have tried previously, I can see that spas in Brunei are getting more specific – just see Intan D’Zaress Spa in Gadong with its Balinese and Javanese influences in their interiors and spa treatments.

Starting with a warm foot soak with a traditional Chinese bucket flown from the Mainland China, with Chinese Herbal Tea infusion, they ensure your total comfort throughout with a complimentary 15 minute head, neck and shoulder massage. Do request for massage therapist number 22, who specialises in traditional Chinese nerve healing massages.

The muscle strain in my neck was instantly soothe away. She is intuitive on which parts of the shoulder and neck needed to be massaged, I do not have to inform the therapist that I have a muscle strain!

Pressure points are applied along the body’s energy lines, tendons and ligaments, muscles and nerves system to clear blocks in the body that cause back aches, digestive problems and arthritis. The foot reflexology uses medium pumping technique with sliding method to ease the tension and stimulate the acupuncture points. It reminded me of the Ryo-Shur reflexology techniques I experienced in Kuala Lumpur last year.

At last! I have found an excellent and affordable foot reflexology place in Brunei. Compared to the Thai reflexology and other spas reflexology, this one at Palm Garden Spa is the real deal!

Verdict:  8/10 

The spa ambience could use a little bit of improvement. Begin with replacing the Giant brand tissues!

60 minutes of Foot Reflexology including a complimentary head, neck and shoulder massage costs $20. Call in 2232211 for more details.

Palm Garden Spa, Ground Floor Palm Garden Hotel Kiulap

 

Update: I have tried this twice now in the course of one week! 

Balinese Massage at Intan D’Zaress Spa

Intan D’Zaress Spa, Gadong: Balinese 90 min Massage $35

Peace and loving relaxation. Traditional Balinese massage technique passed down through generations in the Javanese and Bali traditions. A restoring and calming experience heightened with Swedish massage, acupressure, skin rolling and relaxing strokes.

Welcome to Intan D’Zaress Spa, a spa which markets itself with traditional Indonesian spa treatments and Balinese massage. I found the spa while blog hopping, and have read promising reviews about the 3 month old spa in Gadong. At the time, that was the only information provided – no address or phone number provided especially when Gadong covers quite a wide area. It was quite difficult for me to find the spa and since there’s no website to check for the addresses or even signs leading to the spa. But eventually I managed to track down the location.

The spa shares the same block with Cosmopolitan College and Processta in Gadong. Its at the building right by the Gadong river, if you know Booker bookstore in Gadong, there is a small road leading to this building. Now that, trying out different spa treatments have become somewhat a leisurely activity of mine – I thought I have tried out all spas in this country. But spas or health centres specialising in foot reflexology and massages are shrooming and expanding here.

Intan D’Zaress spa opened recently in December 2008, its unfortunate that no one really knew about it partly because of its obscure location but its mostly to do with the fact that the management didn’t really market the spa well. Anyway – this is one spa I will have to write about because I feel that it deserves the attention that it should get.

There’s not a lot of Balinese spas out there in Brunei especially for men, most of the spas like Martha Tilaar and Tunjung Sari Spa in Delima only cater for women. In the Kiulap area, most of the massage and spa therapists are Thais or Filipinos – the massage techniques are very different than a Bruneian traditional massage experience. From a Thai masseuse you will generally experience plenty of stretching and yoga movements while the Filipinos mostly learn Western massage techniques such as Swedish and Sports massage.

A Balinese massage is probably what’s on offer here which closely resembles the traditional Malay experience. It would be great if someone could open a Brunei-based spa offering traditional massage and immerse the Brunei Malay culture in the spa treatments. I mean just look at how detailed and intricate the Bruneian wedding journey is with Mandi Bunga (floral bath), Berbedak (scrub and traditional camphor body mask treatment) and Berinai (Herbal nourishing mud and henna for the hair and skin for fertility). It would be nice to see this one day – our culture is as equally as rich and beautiful as the Balinese and the Thai cultures.

Anyway, the 90 minute treatment starts with a warm, soothing foot soak with basalt stones at the bottom of the bucket. The massage therapist then apply hot towels all over my back. The warmth was definitely welcome, it really makes your body and muscles more relaxed. Steam coming from the white towels felt really good, it reminded me of my childhood where my grandmother would apply hot towels on my forehead. Its very traditional indeed to start with this.

I also would like to point out that, I really like that the towels have the words Intan Spa embroidered. It really gives a personal touch to the spa, making it all exclusive and unique for the spa customers. Although I did not like the use of plastic flowers as shown at the picture above. It makes the setting cheap and tacky in my honest opinion.

I have experienced Swedish, Thai and Shiatsu massage before, I thought there wouldn’t be any more massage techniques besides that. Generally, I could easily predict what the massage sequence is especially with Swedish massage normally given by Filipinos. This Balinese massage experience was unpredictable. This is a good thing, the massage sequence and the strokes were really good. Balinese massage is different than Swedish because it also deals with acupressure points and deep tissue. If you like your massage to be firm but hated Shiatsu, Balinese massage is for you.

If I have to say something negative about the spa, its the massage bed. The hole where you put your face into was ill-fitting and it was not so comfortable when compared to the ones in Thann Sanctuary Spa or Shiatzen Spa. It left a slight mark on my face, but this was compensated by the incredible Balinese massage.

One thing for sure, my busy thoughts in my mind and restlessness at night were all gone after the treatment. Like most massages I received, it makes me feel calm and relaxed. What I like about this treatment is that, the massage begins with the hot towel and it ends also with the hot water towel, wiping off the excess oil from the body. Tense muscles are a thing of the past with the steam treatment.

Intan D’Zaress Spa is definitely a serious contender in the league of spas available in Brunei. For a 90 minute massage costing only $35 and having to actually delivered. This one spa have exceeded my expectations! This spa puts down Zen Spa, Amanha Spa to shame. For a hot-stones massage, just add $10 to the price – bargain!

Verdict: 8/10

90 minutes of Balinese massage costs $35. Call in 2426160 for more details and reservations.

Intan D’Zarezz Spa, Unit 4, Ground Floor Kompleks Hj. Tahir II BE 3519 Gadong

orgasmic joy of brownies & bakerlyn cafe

There’s no denying to people that I am a sweet tooth. I have an inkling for anything sugary and high fructose contents in my desserts and chocolate. Let me share you with a childhood memory of mine – I’m the kid who meets the dentist every other fortnightly, and vivid recollections of horrible tooth extractions and tooth grinding. My parents as most Bruneian parents are incredibly indulgent and relax when it comes to their children’s diet. I know that I love the sweet taste, and the high energy I often get afterwards. I was pretty much a hyperactive child with tooth cavities.

I have sobered and refrain from eating deserts on a daily basis but lately, well I guess you could say I have “relapse”. This is partly the reason why, and you will agree with me because this pictures is ever so mouthwatering. Wait till you actually try the brownies.

 

I introduce you Miss Syazwana Monroe’s home-baked brownies.

The outside: Chewy and incredibly mouthwatering, so much so that I could not resist for a taste while driving in my car. The moment you put the brownies inside your mouth, its orgasmic indulgence: the texture which was chewy and crisp on the outside, but the inside: gosh, the moisture and the bitterness of the chocolate was heaven. There are no words to describe what I felt for this incredibly indulgent treat.

 

The aftertaste which is regarded as the definitive quality of the chocolate, is bitter and stimulating to the mind. Its like a rush, yet you feel deeply relaxed. Dark chocolates are scientifically proven to boost the part of your brain which deals with happiness and pleasure. The liberal use of dark chocolate in Syaz Monroe’s brownies makes this one to watch for, it definitely separates this from the rest of the mass-produced brownies available in Hua Ho or bakeries.

Syazwana, your brownies made my otherwise uneventful Saturday and I appreciate the complimentary box of brownies! One box of brownies costs $15, and you can call to order: Syazwana, 8950000.

Also worth mentioning is the day when I visited the newly open Bakerlyn Cafe in Kiulap. The cafe is right above a florist, so you literally can smell the fresh aromas whiffing at the cafe’s entrance. It was the middle of the week, and had a class until 4pm – now that Maurina is working in the same University, so we decided to check out after a long day!

Bakerlyn bakery shop near Vincci, Kiulap is already famous with their donuts and their pricey birthday fruit cakes (their bakers very creative and continually impress me with their skills!). The owners decided to expand their business, and open a cafe! Once inside the cafe, I feel like I am transported to someplace besides Brunei. The theme: the French countryside, with grapes and acres of vineyards.

Although, I do not get the orange paint of the walls which spoils the ambience and the look that the owners were striving for. We ordered for the donuts, since Bakerlyn are famous with it. Unfortunately, this was unavailable which was such a disappointment. 

Why put something on the menu when you don’t serve it? 

Your donuts are one of your specialties and since Bakerlyn Bakeshop is just 3 minutes away, it will not take an arm or a foot to deliver fresh donuts to the cafe no?

Then my eye caught this on the desserts display:

 

And boy! I am not disappointed! The fruits on the top is fresh. This is the fruit roll: very French indeed. Following the theme of the interiors, most of the cakes are French inspired and fusion-esque.

In a way, I am glad that the donuts was unavailable. Hands on, the cake is nyaman (Bruneian word to describe incredibly delicious). Its not too sweet like the brownies which gives you headache from eating too much sweet. The taste is just nice, and the variety of the fruits are worth mentioning. Bakerlyn cafe is worth visiting especially that its different than most coffee cafes, I’d say this one is another category altogether. Its more like a bakery/cake cafe.

Life is more enriching with things like this, monotony is so passe -  Sanctuary Brunei will continually strive to discover Brunei, this kingdom of unexpected treasures. Hope you readers enjoy the journey so far, more to come promise!

Featured on today’s post:

Syazwana Monroe orgasmic brownies – $15 per box

Bakerlyn Cafe Kiulap French roll – $5

I discovered Lomography: Delayed flash photography

I am so devastated that my precious iPhone have died on me. I have done the necessary steps to recover my iPhone, spending hours on the internet looking for people whom have encountered the same problems and how they have got their iPhones fixed.

Most of their phones are being replaced with entirely new ones, since it seemed that Apple have known about the defect. Unfortunately for me, I bought it from Qqestore Brunei. Technically they sold me an illegal iPhone which have been jailbreak. So automatically the Apple warranty is void since such acts of jailbreaking and modifying the phone software will immediately makes the phone warranty-less. I rushed to Qqstore to complain and get it fixed: unfortunately they couldn’t fixed it and returned the iPhone to me. That’s just crappy service, although the lady on the customer service line was very apologetic and promised that I will get a discount for future mobile phone purchases.

Okay, enough mulling over a dead mobile phone. Moving on: feeling naked with no touch screens mobile phones on my palm, I came back to wipe the dusts off my Sony Cybershot Digital camera. I finally took the time to read the users manual, and learned a lot of photography techniques. So very relevant since now that I’m joining a photography club at University.

Cheezebox

One night out with close friends in the bright lights of the heart of Gadong, I brought along my Sony. The occasion: To plan a friend’s surprise bachelor party at the Empire Hotel Jerudong. We were sitting outside in Cheezebox Café, lights coming from everywhere, streetlights, flashy coloured ones from the Mall and the headlights of cars moving sluggishly to find free parking outside the Mall building.

There and then, playing with the settings of my Sony: low flash and delayed exposure.

kiss me

The lights becomes strangely hypnotic and trippy. Reminds me of 90s Radiohead music.

Lomography

Anyway, if you’re reading this Azlan. We love you!

The return to Amanha Spa, Orchid Garden Hotel

Amanha Spa, Orchid Garden Hotel: Foot & Leg Massage $25

 

Its been nearly six months since I have checked out the Amanha Spa at the Orchid Garden Hotel, Anggerek Desa. I know this because I had with me one gift certificate that I have received during the spa’s roadshow in Kiulap last year. The gift certificate issued have only a six month validity, and its a few more days from expiring. So I hurried to the Amanha Spa to try another treatment of theirs.

 

Orchid Garden Hotel, Anggerek Desa

To be honest, I was a bit hesitant of going back to Amanha Spa based on my previous experience with the foot reflexology which was just mediocre. There was nothing special about the foot massage and adding the fact that the ambience of the reflexology area felt like a bar or café. With the television on and glaring white fluorescent light from the bar counter, I get the feeling that the area was not intended to be a spa during the planning stages of the hotel’s establishment.

Anyway, I like to point out that Amanha Spa have different treatment times for men and women. For convenience, it is best to call in the spa before on the specific times which you can drop in. I had a bit of time to check out the facilities offered by the spa – I was brought to the massage area for the body massage treatments, it looks tranquil and the ambience was a mile better than the foot massage area. The massage beds are laid down on the floor and each massage area was separated by light and airy curtains. It reminded me of Asianel Spa, Starhill Gallery which I have visited last December in Kuala Lumpur.

The facilities offered in the Spa are extensive: Steam Room, Infra-red Sauna Room, Rain showers, Jacuzzi and changing rooms with private guests’ lockers. White, thick bathrobes offered for the hotel guests and spa visitors. Spa visitors are welcome to use the facilities before starting their treatments. Other day spas in Brunei are lacking in this department including the infamous Zen Spa and Thann Sanctuary Spa. I had a look through the spas in Japan and England on the web, such facilities are the norm offering spa guests more time relaxing in the spa thus further enhancing their spa experience.

Amanha Spa Foot Reflexology area

 

The foot and leg massage didn’t feel like it was from an experienced masseuse. What I don’t understand is, the masseuse keeps on talking and yapping. He just could not shut up. Spa business 101: Spas is a place for peace and tranquillity, customers paid for that privilege. I was not relaxed during the course of the treatment and after. The masseuse basically talks about his years of experience in the spa industry in Brunei, having to previously worked in Health Express Kiulap under the old management. With him talking all the time, I felt that the only movement came from his mouth and not his hands working on my legs and feet. His massage techniques weren’t fluid and often disrupted, sometimes painful! It wasn’t really enjoyable at all and at the end of the day, I was more annoyed than I first came to Orchid Garden Hotel.

It raises the question of whether, this particular spa experience was worth calling a spa treatment?

 

Did I feel relaxed afterwards? No.

 

But have I paid for the treatment? Yes (Technically, I added $5 with the $20 gift certificate)

 

And all I get was a lecture and a life story of an inexperienced masseuse on how he claims to have experience in the Brunei spa industry? Hogwash I’d say!

 

What a shame, it really ruined my perception to Amanha Spa. I wouldn’t suggest the massuese although I couldn’t say much on other massage therapists – they might be better.

Verdict: 0/10