Thailand: A Tale of Five Senses

Weaving through Bangkok’s flower and food markets on your first tuk tuk ride, past the world’s largest Chinatown with its porcelain-clad, castle-inspired temples, you’ll quickly realise that Thailand’s capital is a treat for the senses. Here, Kempinski provides a base from which to explore the rest of the southeast Asian country’s bustling cities, scattered with sacred sites, as well as the shores of its 1,400-plus islands.

BY LANE NIESET*

Your first 24 hours in Bangkok are guaranteed to be chaotic. That’s all part of the capital’s charm. On my first visit, my jet lag heightened the experience, and I was overwhelmingly aware of every sight, smell and sound. But what the Thais have mastered is balance. Skyscrapers may flank either side of the Chao Phraya, the ‘River of Kings’, but this thoroughfare also connects some of the city’s classic, must-see sights. These include the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, home to a 46-metre-long, gold leaf-covered statue, and the Grand Palace, the official residence of the Kings of Siam. Finding your spiritual centre while waking up all five of your senses couldn’t be easier in Thailand, especially when you have one of the city’s largest parks right outside your door at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.

Your sense of sight can easily be overwhelmed by Thailand’s rich natural beauty: the lush tropical forests, perfectly-groomed rice paddies, cascading waterfalls and limestone karsts jutting out of the jade-coloured sea. A view to top all others can be seen on the hike to 'heaven' from Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Trek up Phu Chi Dao Mountain, known as ‘the mountain pointing to the stars’, which forms a natural border between Thailand and Laos. Start before dawn and you'll have sweeping, 360-degree views of the sunrise above the clouds from the 1,800-metre peak. If you’re visiting on a clear day, you’ll be able to see across the Mekong River to the mountains and valleys of Laos. Back in Bangkok, Kempinski forms a natural extension to Lumpini Park, the city’s version of New York’s Central Park, where you can partake in your own form of enlightenment through meditation or tai chi.

Thai cuisine plays heavily on fresh ingredients and delicately balances four key flavours: spicy, sweet, salty and sour. You can easily dedicate whole days in Bangkok to exploring your sense of taste at the city’s multitude of markets. For over 100 years, farmers have rowed their goods to markets along Bangkok’s Venice-like canals. Start with a stroll through Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, one of the most popular, where hundreds of vendors sell local produce off the backs of their boats. At street food markets such as Wang Lang Market along the pier or Talat Phlu, you can sample some Thai classics like chicken rice (khao man gai) and papaya salad (som tam).

The smell of fresh mountain air lures you to visit the hills surrounding Chiang Mai. But there’s one spot in particular where you’ll get a whiff of something even more fragrant: Suan Lahu. This certified-organic coffee farm is run by the local Lahu tribe, one of the ‘hill tribes’ of Thailand, whose homes sit on high stilts. The 12-hectare Arabica coffee plantation is located near the Lahu Sheleh community. You can help plant or pick before joining the tribe for a homemade lunch. You can extend your visit and do a longer hike to visit multiple hill villages on paths through the verdant countryside, trekking across northern Thailand.

Many consider the Buddhist temple of Wat Pho in Bangkok to be the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Stimulating the sense of touch, the therapy dates back to 1455. However, the ancient healing practice of Thai massage (or Nuad Thai) is also said to have started in Thailand’s farming communities, where healers would help cure aches from long days of labour in the fields. The massages at the Wat Pho Temple near the Reclining Buddha are considered among the best in the world. After a few busy days of sightseeing in the city, I stopped by for a two-hour session. Working with energy lines, the experience is a mix of stretching and acupressure designed to re-balance and restore the spirit. The treatment is performed in a large room with multiple beds, so there is a lack of privacy. For a more private session, book into Sindhorn Wellness by Resense and incorporate hydrotherapy while you’re there. Or take a massage by the sea while island hopping on Koh Samui or Ko Tao.

Sound has a mystical meaning in Thailand, where nearly 95 percent of the population practices Buddhism. In this land of temples, over 33,000 monasteries dot the country, and on certain holidays or festivals you can hear traditional Thai chanting in Pali, a language from the Theravada Buddhist scriptures. Temple gongs are used for prayer and meditation, and can signal a fresh start or transformation. Chants and chimes can also be ways to find calm or healing. This is especially so with backdrops like Wat Muang monastery and temple in Ang Thong, surrounded by the largest lotus petals in the world and crowned by the country’s first and largest silver holy Buddha statue.

* Lane Nieset is a writer and editor who covers lifestyle and travel for publications such as National Geographic and Condé Nast Traveler.

Rising above the hectic rhythm of one of Asia’s most vibrant cities, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is an oasis designed with space to breathe. If Thailand is a feast for the senses, its essence is perfectly encapsulated by this majestic property.

This new landmark hotel is part of Sindhorn Village, a fully integrated lifestyle complex close to the edge of Lumpini Park and Bangkok’s ‘green corridor’. The area is home to embassies and Thailand’s most prestigious residences.

Much more than a hotel, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is a wellness destination catering for both travellers and locals. One feature of our wellness concept is the Sindhorn Kempinski gong. Its sound is relaxing and calming; centering and energising. But not only do we hear its tone: we feel it.

The wellness concierge helps you plan your perfect visit, while the chef prepares nutritionally balanced meals made with seasonal whole foods. The juice butler delivers a daily energy boost and the team of nutritionists, yoga experts, fitness trainers and other specialists, unparalleled in the city, provide personalised integrative care. So, whether you’re on holiday or travelling for business, you can stay on track with your usual wellness and training routine.

At the hotel’s heart is Sindhorn Wellness by Resense, a unique boutique fitness and health concept spanning three floors, including a collection of exercise studios. Unlike any other hotel spa experience, it brings something completely new to Bangkok.

A holistic programme of physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing includes yoga, Pilates and virtual cycling as well as HIIT (highintensity interval training), bungee fly workout sessions and private coaching. After a workout, you can unwind in the recovery area which offers treatments such as compression therapy.

On the ninth floor you’ll find the comprehensive thermal zone which includes a traditional hammam as well as private treatment suites and a tepidarium with incredible views over Lumpini Park.

This type of detox circuit is usually only to be found in destination spa resorts.

You can look forward to the most advanced spa therapies in luxurious treatment rooms - some of which have private relaxation suites.

There are outdoor activities too, such as morning walks in beautiful Lumpini Park and regular yoga classes in the hotel’s lush green gardens. And what better way to relax than over a nutritious al fresco lunch by the fabulous pool, refreshed by gentle breezes?

Whatever your health goals, you can achieve them through the personalised wellness journeys and membership programmes at Sindhorn Wellness by Resense. Choose from three to seven-day immersions and daily treatments designed to nourish the mind, body and soul. Locals can use the spa flexibly, choosing either an annual or per class pass.

Guest rooms at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok are large and luxurious and all have balconies. They range from Deluxe King and Twin rooms to the Royal Suite with its private rooftop garden terrace.

For even more room, choose from the spacious one, two or threebedroom residences, some with access to exclusive rooftop terraces equipped with private outdoor jacuzzis.

As you’d expect, dining options are healthy and delicious, with menus that make the most of seasonal ingredients. Flourish Restaurant, with gorgeous green garden views, is open all day. At night, Firefly is the place to relax with a glass of wine or a creative cocktail. It’s the perfect spot to reflect on a day well spent in Bangkok’s first city wellness sanctuary.