How to feel like a queen even if your'e broke (Feb 22)

One - win a two night stay at the plush Peninsula Hongkong with $HKG 4k worth of whole day spa treatment Two - be lucky enough to be a director of an organization who suddenly decided to have a planning conference in the same city and voila! It was more than a welcome respite from all the past months challenges.




Upon arrival at Hongkong airport, had to take a photo of this typical chinese New Year decor. It was still chinese new year fever in the country when I arrived. I re read my email instruction from the hotel and proceeded to the next terminal where the Peninsula Hotel counter is located.

True enough they were waiting for me. They thought I got lost. Actually I took my sweet time strolling and getting some tour brochures. The Pen staff then escorted me to the Rolls Royce which will take me to the hotel.

I can't help it of course but to request the driver to have a souvenir shot with the rolls which will take me to the pen :)

I continued to take some shots of the inside. I liked the mini cabinet under my seat but since I was using the seatbelt couldnt bend much to shoot. This photo is just one of the control panels.

The mini cabinet contained cold towels and evian water bottles.

My check in was done inside the bedroom. A hotel guest relations officer accompanied me to explain details of the room plus my stay including my pre-booking with the Spa.

I
I have a fetish for bathrooms. I love big clean ones with lots of amenities so this was really a wow! You have your own personal tv screen plus controls in front of the bath tub :)

The magic of technology, good thing my digi cam had a self timer so had fun taking photos of myself inside the various parts of the deluxe room.

Since I got delayed going to the hotel and I was really groggy from the trip (I hardly slept having to wake up at 5am), I was not able to use the gym but was accompanied straight to the Spa area to fill up some diagnostic form and change to my robe for a foot bath after which I was led to the pool dining area for my late lunch which came with the package. The pool and surrounding looks just like the one in our Wiesbaden hotel last October but this seem to be better.

Since I was alone in the place when I arrived, I was able to ask the waiter to take my photo.

The great thing about the place is the breathtaking view of the harbor while swimming and dining.

the whole place really reminds me of Wiesbaden, the color and design of furniture almost the same. The only difference is that germany didnt have the view of the harbor.

The first part of the gourmet will was a tomato soup but I forgot to take its photo. The second one is fish with lentils shown here.

To cap the meal is a fruity chocolate dessert.

A chamomile tea to help melt down the food.

This was the last view of the harbor before I was escorted to the SPA area.

After my therapist took discussed my treatment, and the facilities I can use inside this Private Suite, I had my photo taken against the jacuzzi and harbor scene.

Showered, took a steam batch for a few minutes before I plunged to the jacuzzi.

The cabinet was filled with various creams and scents I had to choose from before I was told what it really was. The therapist said it was what my body was partial too. Most of those I chose was on the rose scent side.

Ended very late at past 9pm. It was full detox so tiring too from a basic massage, to a seeweed wrap then hot lava stones and a final detox massage. Got so hungry after that I had to order some dinner when I got back to the room.

A Baden Baden Experience

After our conference in Wiesbaden, Susan and I were lucky enough to be able to ride with Christiane Walter, director of Messe Frankfurt going to the famous spa city Baden-Baden in Germany. We drove around two hours before we reached our hotel, the famous and most luxurious in the country, Brenner's Park Hotel and Spa Resort.

The photo above shows Brenner's park which I took right on our hotel balcony. We were given a tour of the spa by the SPA Manager that late afternoon and treated to cocktails and dinner at the garden restaurant of the hotel.

With Susan, Christiane and I, were Heinz and Franz from Tirol Wellness, Austria.




I was too embarrassed to take photos inside the spa itself so all you can see is the immaculately clean white walls of the entrance to the hotel spa.

You have a choice of products to choose from - Futuresse, Kanebo or Bulgari.

Now this is the interesting part when we took our spa treatment the following day. Susan originally reserved for aromatheraphy massage but ended up with Lomi-Lomi. I had a much needed deep tissure massage. We arrrived at the spa area earlier so we can use the wet floor.

When I entered the wet area, they were all nude! Yes I know we were told that this is normal around the saunas in the country but I was not totally unprepared seeing some of them who were speakers in the conference therefore we know personally.

After spending some time at the jacuzi, I entered the sauna to follow susan who was draped in towel like me. There were a couple of men inside in their natural glory! Well well, even if they laughed at us, I just cant follow suit ha ha. Dalagang pilipina!

Susan left ahead so I felt uneasy being alone with naked men around me, counting a minute, I stood up and left. After the shower, I followed susan and christiane outside the wet area, near the plunge pool. In our immaculately white hotel robes, we had some girl talk while savoring the cool air of baden when all of a sudden this huge man in all his glory walked right in the midst of us and plunged on the cold pool wetting all of us! Indeed it was just to cool down his heated 'glory' (cant think of a better term).

'enuf said what else could we do but get inside again and dry ourselves? Such an extraordinary spa experience this year.

My Chi Spa experience

Was able to finally have my treatment at this famous, luxurious and definitely expensive spa getaway right at the Shangrila Mactan grounds.

My appointment was 830pm, the last call but was told to be there by 8pm so despite the rains I rushed to the place before the cocktails ended. I wanted to make full use of whatever time I have at this spa and get my money's worth.

Unfortunately I got pissed during the first half hour for I was made to wait while they sort out their screwed schedule. I wouldnt like to prattle off the booboo in their preliminary procedures right now.

Nevertheless, I tried to forget the upset to enjoy and indulge in the treatment I chose 'Traveller's retreat". The spa offered seminar delegates a special package priced at 4,500 but I wanted to experience the villa and get a really good massage. The package included only some facials and/or foot massage.

The villa assigned to me apparently was used by the president's spouse when their party visited earlier. I was informed that the president used the Grand villa good for four people since the spouses couldnt be together for security purposes.

I insisted on taking a quick shower prior to the salt scrub. The villa was similar to Dulaya in Bangkok although a bit more luxurious and spacious.

After the salt scrub, showered again to remove the debris then on to the herbal steam bath for a few minutes. By the way, I like the smell of the mild rosemary shampoo but not the deep lime shower gel. It sort of smelled like durian :)

The therapist then proceeded to do the algae body wrap good for detoxification. After half an hour or so, showered to remove the smelly seaweed then went for the himalayan bath. The warm bath was filled with coconut milk with the usual petals afloat.

The bath was located right outside the villa but still on private grounds. One can stay overnight at the villa so you can see some tables, seats and wooden benches around the garden a few meters away from the bath.

After the himalayan bath, I was given the final treatment which was the very relaxing Vitality massage using Earth aromatheraphy oils.

I was told that I was primarily a Fire person a secondarily an earth person. The therapist asked me to smell both the fire and earth oils and was made to choose which I felt smelled stronger. I pointed to the earth oil so that was what she used on me.

Right after the treatment, I was given a Fire pure soap and recommendation list.

All in all it was really a great experience! How I wish I could do that all over again this time overnight but I guess I need to earn tons of money to afford that :)