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ARCHITECTURE WELLNESS SMART EAU SPA HOMES

time out

The Eau Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, Florida is an amalgam of three spicy elements: wet, wit and whimsy. This legendary playground of the rich and the famous invites you– for indulgence, decadence and overall fun

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INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY

July 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

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ARCHITECTURE SMART HOMES

KAMAL GILL DON’T BE serious at this spa. Drop your robes and inhibitions. Relax and relent. Stay cool, be cool. Pause and play. That’s what the 45,000square-foot Eau Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach resort, Florida– which has just undergone a US$100 million transformation– encourages you to do. As I step into the softly illuminated entrance into the spa, I am blown away. Cyprus trees line a water channel. On either side are cushioned twin loungers with large, candle-lit tables under wooden alcoves as white steeple-tented structures outline the sky in a surreal setting. As it is evening, the lights transform the setting from shades of gold to primrose and all the soft colours in-between.

There is magic everywhere... in the changing patterns of colour and light, the vast stretches of cool succour, water bodies everywhere to lend a freshness and naturalness to the environment and easy cadences of sound filtering through. Not only am I stunned by the physical property, but the variety of sensory experiences coming through at unexpected moments also baffles me.

I am totally taken up by the open-air, The Self-Centered Garden, which begins and ends with you. The Self-Centered Garden is so designed that you lose yourself and abandon the rules of adulthood.

Here, within the open-air sanctuary, nature twines with man-made imaginings. I am charmed by what I see. I take off my sandals and dip my toes into the cool waters before padding my way to a cushioned rattan lounge chair strung from a latticed wood ceiling.

I relax on the gently swaying swing chair while trailing my feet in the pool of shallow water.

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There is a feeling of a shift in time. A sundial ticks to the clock of another world’s time. I decide to read a book, which I pick up from a stand nearby. It’s a book of light philosophy and fits right into my mood. I see my better half (less inhibited than me) languishing on a waterfall bench under the warm embrace of gently falling water. The therapist tells me that the waterfall erases stress and tension from neck and shoulder muscles. I decide right then and there that after my spa, I am going to do just that… so much for mood changers!

What surprises me are the amazingly creative touches strewn effortlessly throughout the spa experience. There is a wishing well,

INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY

The single most endearing feature is the ‘be yourself’ mantra, which assists you to customise your spa. This feature is likely to place the Eau Spa among the best spas in the world. Here is an exclusive spa, tailormade to suit your body rhythm with large candles floating in the waters. Moments of delight at the Eau Lounge, where butlers serve refreshments off antique, hand-held mirrors and natural light, bounces off a giant-size chandelier made entirely of crystal wine glasses. I love the Bath Lounge, with a ceilingto-floor shower, the glass stairs leading into a large bath against a stained-glass panel, heated loungers and candlelit ambience, as well as communal areas for gathering and socialising.

The single-most endearing feature, which strikes me, is the ‘be yourself’ mantra, which assists you to customise your spa. This feature is likely to place the Eau Spa among the best spas in the world. Here is an exclusive spa tailormade to suit your body rhythm. Take a look at this… Eau Spa has 19 Spa Villas, each offering individual space and privacy. Twelve of the 19 Spa Villas have outdoor gardens. I opt for the ultimate… one of the three opulent Couple’s Villas with lavish garden enclaves, oversized tubs and outdoor rainfall showers. What a sensory experience… we felt a sense of abandonment in the open-air spa.

I take my pick from the various possibilities on offer to customise the spa experience for me. These include colour therapy, aroma therapy and sound therapy. I can get my kind of light preferences, my kind of scent, my music notes and my personalised adjustments to sound.

Customising my spa includes my choice of ingredients from the Scrub and Polish Bar. Sugar or salt? There are a range of various qualities and textures of both. Oil or water? Lemon grass or green tea? Lavender or mint? I choose from a range of herbal, scented, virgin or infused liquids.

Flowers or herbs? Vanilla or ginger? Eucalyptus or citrus? Again, the variety is mind-boggling. Shaken or stirred? Take your pick.

I consult with a resident mixologist and create my own personalised blend of fresh, aromatic herbs, soothing oils and gritty sea salts, which can be used during my spa experience or packaged for later use. The spa calls this interactive product creation ‘scrub couture’.

Treatment options include Platinum and Diamond Facials, or Ruby and Sapphire Massages, where you get to absorb the minerals into your skin, allow the precious stones to beautify, a platinum chakra cleanser to balance your skin and sip platinum or diamond or ruby infused elixir… think decadence-absurdum, outrageous, sublime… it’s your choice. There are also a variety of other choices, including Elemis facials, an array of massages and BEAUdacious Wraps and Rubs. I also have the option to order lunch from the Eau Spa menu.

July 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

Eau Spa’s focus on eau–French for water–encourages me to relax and enjoy ancient spa rituals in a spontaneous setting. This is a water playground in the true sense of the word. We experience the Eau-SoIn-Love package for two (includes a bathing ritual and a Passion Potion!), a soothing and unique treatment inspired by self-indulgence at its best. It provides an intimate experience far beyond treatments.

Fully refreshed by my “me time” (body maintenance, enjoyment, and romance…can one ask for more?), I prepare to return to the real world. My mind and body are at ease. This spa experience has been extraordinary, with its elements of fun, laughter, and an overall sense of well-being. It takes me a moment to realise that this, in all probability, is the elementary purpose of Eau Spa.

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