Fah Thai Magazine Jul Aug 2019

OVERTURES
CHECKED IN: SAMUI
Clockwise from
Top Centre
After a healing
and detoxifying
experience, nourish
your body with a
fresh and healthy
meal in the café.
Plunge pools await
you around every
corner, tucked
amongst the
towering granite
boulders.
Tamarind Springs’
location couldn’t be
more idyllic with
the grounds lovingly
maintained
and styled.
Here is where you
begin and end your
enchanting journey,
shedding the
accumulated stresses
of daily life.
TRIED: TAMARIND SPRINGS
Steam swirls around you in random
patterns visible in the dim light trickling
through a few small frosted-glass
windows. As condensed steam steadily
drips off of the huge granite boulder
in front of you, a mysterious rumbling
emanates from somewhere deep in the
shadows. The sound gradually seems
to grow louder while at the same time
crawling closer. Steam begins to slowly
roll out of the hidden vent mingling with a
bouquet of herbal scents beckoning you
to breathe deeply. You’re starting to feel
like a character in a movie script when you
remember where you actually are – at one
of the most unique spas in Thailand.
Tamarind Springs is not what you
might expect when browsing options
of a place to spend an afternoon being
pampered. Instead of being located
off the side of a resort lobby, Tamarind
Springs is in a perfectly manicured jungle
valley amongst towering rounded granite
boulders. Tree roots have grown to
embrace boulders with a small stream
meandering through as it has for millennia.
Small waterfalls cascade into splash
pools which can be found tucked into
corners of boulders. Vibrant tropical vines
dangle from tree trunks while butterflies
flitter about and exotic bird song echoes
through the canopy. The scene feels
surreal, serene, and has an indescribable
sense of magic.
Visitors can begin their experience at
the cooler of two steam rooms. Let the
steam turn your stress and tense muscles
into jelly. Once outside of the steam room
splash off with cool water, rehydrate,
and rub down with one of the natural
body scrubs provided (the coffee scrub is
amazing). Another steam, a rinse, and into
the plunge pool you go. Make your way
downhill where the hotter steam room
awaits to work its healing magic.
Although you’ve undoubtedly reached
a euphoric level of relaxation and inner
peace by now, you still have the massage
to look forward to. Tamarind Springs offers
up quite a selection and combination
of options such as the Forest Dreaming
where you can choose from 3 different
types of 2.5-hour treatments or a Thai
oil massage paired with a facial, head
or face reflexology. There are also hot
and cold stone massages and specialty
prenatal treatments.
The open-air massage salas are
perched on the hillside above the springs
with cool breezes wafting in. Visiting on a
rainy day makes the vibe more dreamlike.
After reaching complete nirvana,
showering and getting dressed, you will kick
back in their beautiful 9 Seasons Restaurant
with a coffee or tea and some fresh vegan
spring rolls and fruit. The restaurant is open
for breakfast and lunch with a menu of tasty
Thai and fusion options.
If you don’t want to wander too far
from this jungle haven, they also have four
different luxury villas available that are
elegantly simple and private.
When you’ve inevitably decided
that it’s time for temporary detachment
from a bustling world outside, Tamarind
Springs beckons you to their sanctuary of
relaxation, peace, and tranquility.
205/7 Thong Takian, Koh Samui,
Surat Thani, +66 (0) 85 926 4626
46