Ishan Malaysian Spa – one of Langkawi best spas

Today I felt stressed. I woke up exhausted from too many reviews and too little time. A annoyed client decided that his mistake is our fault. My company is not in its best period for sure.
I longed for a massage!

Yes, a nice massage to ease the throbbing head and the tense muscles. To relax the mind and clear the gloomy thoughts.
I need the greens, the hills, the sea. Not this gray city of woes.

What it just a week ago that I was at Ishan Spa being kneaded like a dough and pampered like a queen?
I do envy this cat. He looks like he’s having a better life than me.

Isha Spa is part of Ambong-Ambong, the tropical retreat in Langkawi where I enjoyed a short holiday just last week. The spa is located at the mid part of the hill and is literally a minute stroll from my suite.

Built around the existing flora and land so not to disturb its natural terrain, Ishan Spa consisted of many cabins modeled after traditional Malay homes and are built on stilts. Materials used are recycled/natural/ environmentally friendly building materials and I loved how it blends in naturally with its surroundings.

The “lobby” aka welcome area feels more like someone’s living room then a business establishment, which is a good thing as it keeps the whole experience in theme. Everything feels and exudes homeliness.

A towel and a welcome drink were served while I waited for my therapist. After a few sips I wondered around the room to admire the quirky decor and interior. One particularly cute feature was the spoon and fork as the window handles. So cool yes? 🙂

Once I’m ready I was escorted to a cabin. The walk to each cabin takes you past the lush greenery allowing guests to not only view but experience being within the hill itself. One can’t help but appreciate the clean air, the tranquility and the sounds of the birds.
It is a happy place.

Once we are inside, I was shown around the room and the attached bathroom.
The cabin has a small changing corner and an attached sink. Cabinets at the side holds the treatment lotions and whatever else. Notably there’s a safe deposit box for the convenience of the guest. They do think of everything here! 🙂

But an unexpected unique feature was the bathroom! Open air (well, it has a see-through roof), airy and spacious.

Every effort was taken to ensure the nature was incorporated as much as possible to the Ishan experience for its guest. The raving reviews I have read of the spa was starting to come to light.
There is a tub for a soak and a shower where both shampoo and shower gel are provided.
At one corner is the toilet room.

I do love outdoors shower areas like this. If I ever own a house I’ll renovate an area to something similar. 🙂

Back in the massage room I changed into a sarong. I noticed the air con was on and asked for just the fan instead. My therapist obliged and we started our session shortly after.

First I was told to lie down flat on my tummy. She begin with the legs, slowly working her way up to the waist and back. My trained therapist worked tirelessly throughout the session. I can assure you her strokes and kneading are as strong as it was at the end of the session as it was at the beginning.

There has been many instances where returning guests requested for the same therapist, a policy which Ishan gladly obliged subject to the therapists’ schedule and availability. If  I return I’ll definitely request for Siti.

On the back and shoulders she put her elbows to work. She got all the pressure points and firmly eased up the knots on the shoulders and back.

The neck and the back of the head are next. Her fingers gently worked on the pressure points on my dome, starting from the base of the skull. She continued with the circles up the back of the neck.
Then she bought her hands, with fingers spread, to the sides of the head, fingers pointing up. She uses light pressure and slowly move the hands up with a shampooing-like motion, keeping the heel of the hands in contact with the scalp as well as the fingers. Then she moved them around to a different area of the head and repeated the process four or five times, covering the entire scalp.

Ahh, I love a good head massage. With skilled hands it still felt good long after it’s over and my mood is elevated dramatically.

Once I turned over she worked from top to bottom instead. My face was massaged, then chest (yups, she will ask first if you’re alright with it else it is optional), followed by the abdomen.
Then the front thighs down to the feet again.

Massage done, it was my facial next. First she wipes my face clean, then deep cleanses with their house cleanser.
While cleansing she massages my face as well. She washed off the cleansing liquid and then proceed to apply a yogurt mask on my face. this and the cucumbers are left on for 10 minutes.
I think I snoozed off a few times during the 2 hours session. :DD

The last part is the body scrub. Siti informed me that the scrub is made from rice, turmeric and sandalwood, among other ingredients.

Once the scrub was done, I was asked to shower. Ah the perfect opportunity to shower under the skies and trees! 🙂

There are so many benefits of having a good whole body massage. The key is to have a skilled and dedicated therapist. Mine certainly wasn’t just doing her job, she did it with earnestness in ensuring her customer’s well-being. I walked out feeling renewed and revived. And I had smooth, silky skin the whole week after!
Thank you so much for the whole experience Ishan Spa and Dr Baskaran! :DD

If you wonder how was my accommodation at Ambong-Ambong is like, do watch this video. And if you’re ever in Langkawi, remember to pay Ishan Spa a visit! There is no other spa that offers treatments and massage within a tropical forest on this island. The prices of the treatments are competitive and in fact are said to be lower than those offered by nearby hotels.
Do look out for Dr Baskaran too. He’s always more than happy to chat and offer recommendations if you’re unsure of your choice of treatment.

Ishan Malaysian Spa – just below the hill from Ambong-Ambong Tropical Retreat
Lot 395 Jalan Telok Baru,
Pantai Tengah 07000 Langkawi.

Tel: +604 955 5585
+604 955 6677
Fax: +604 955 2244
Mobile: +6012 499 9906
Email: [email protected]
http://www.ishan-spa-langkawi.com/ –> Check out Ishan Malaysian Spa site for an idea of the treatments offered and prices.