As a long-time New York City resident, I'm used to slowly getting from point A to point B instead of taking public transportation whenever time allows. But within a few hours of arriving in Bangkok, I realized that it was not a walking city. The constant heat and humidity, combined with a lack of sidewalks and crowded crowds in many areas, make getting around on foot difficult. And after a full day exploring the massive royal palace, it's a massive complex with highlights including a 150-foot-long reclining gold statue. Buddha and the much smaller but equally impressive Emerald Buddha. I wanted to escape to a quiet place, far away from the approximately 22,000 people who visit the palace every day.
Fortunately, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort It offers a serene atmosphere that makes you feel a million miles away from the chaos. Located on the sparsely populated western bank of the Chao Phraya River, the resort boasts 11 acres of green space and stunning river views from the private balconies of guest rooms and suites. Gold-leafed palaces and ancient inscriptions decorate the walls, while also offering modern conveniences.
The property also offers two spa options. One spa focuses on prevention and the other is for people looking to repair the damage caused by too much time in front of a computer screen. BDMS Wellness Clinic Retreat, affiliated with a local hospital, offers a variety of preventative treatments, from IV drips to Ultimate Hydration Facials and Spirulina Body Wraps. Before I knew it, my 60-minute appointment for a facial and IV drip (prepared with a blend of anti-inflammatory agents, antioxidants, vitamin B12, and other vitamins known to combat jet lag) included a 20-minute pre-treatment chat. With the resident MD, we asked formal questions about diet, exercise routine, and sleep habits. As a result, a facial performed by an attentive therapist using an electric mesotherapy wand left my skin hydrated and glowing, while an IV drip helped banish brain fog.
Focusing on traditional healing methods, the property's Anantara Spa offers signature treatments to relieve physical and mental tension and restore energy flow. Having just landed and already having a hard time adjusting to the jet lag, on our first afternoon in Bangkok, my husband and I booked a couples Himalayan thermal stone therapy massage at the spa. Having ghost-written the book “Elemental Energy,” I feel knowledgeable about the healing properties of gems and minerals, but my husband, a professional skeptic, is not particularly intrigued by the idea of healing. Heated pink and amber Himalayan salt stones help detoxify and relieve muscle tension and inflammation.
After a short walk to the spa, past Instagram-worthy manicured flora and fauna, we were offered hot tea and refreshing cold towels scented with lemongrass before being transferred to our suite, which had its own changing room, shower and bathroom. . My therapist provided us with white cotton gowns and disposable black underwear. Soon we were sitting at the table ready for our massages. I tried to focus on the rattling-clack of salt stones strategically placed along my spine and in my palms facing upwards. Laptop every day.
I always thought hot stone massage was a bit of a gimmick. That's because therapists typically rely on hot stone massage rather than hand strength to loosen knots. But my therapist used a successful combination of powerful strokes sliding over well-oiled skin and the weight and warmth of stones to relieve my stubborn shoulders and screaming glutes.
I then stroked rose quartz gua sha along my jawline and around my eyes, and placed a warm, oversized cloth on my back and shoulders. Her husband and I both left the treatment feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. The 84 minerals and trace elements in the stone made her husband a believer… Maybe. By 6pm we were both feeling cold and I realized that my husband might finally be starting to understand the benefits of a good massage.