Customer Reviews

The Tropical Spa: Asian Secrets of Health, Beauty and Relaxation

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was not what I expected. I thought it would be full of recipies and practices of Asian spas, and it is instead mostly devoted to describing various popular Asian spas. There are some recipies, but not very many. However, it is a beautifully photographed book -- and if you are studying spas themselves (or are planning a trip to Asia and are wondering which spa would suit you best), this would definitely be a book to have.

This beautiful book has great photography and combined with the easy going and very enjoyable/readable writing style you can thus get a real feel for the spa destinations. But then it also has spa food, explanations of the treatments, product details, a certain amount on the history and culture behind the Asian spa, glossaries etc. It covers the subject from every angle. A great book on a very "in" subject, also featuring the best back in the world!

I have watched Bali become the number one tourist destination point over the last 12 years. It was always a great place for beauty treatments, local spas, and magnifient buildings and terrain. This book puts together the best of the above in a picture book full of the most exotic spas, water areas, food, and spices that Bali (and a little of Thailand) has to offer. The Begawan Giri is a most see for anyone who wants to witnesss paradise. I made my way up there upon reading the book and found something so magical and beautiful that it was inspirational. I could not stop talking about it for days. The Asian Spas are so much more intoxicating and beautiful then the European Spas. The packaging of the products with natural fibers, banana leaves, lotus leaves, etc are perfectly pleasing. They are politically correct and appealing. This book is just the beginning of what is taking place in Bali; hopefully other parts of the world will emulate this approach. After reading this book get ready to go for the treatment. And do eat at the Chedi as suggested. I did and it was superbe.

Being Asian and proud of my heritage, I grew up watching my late grandmother prepared her own home-made facial products with natural herbs found in the forest. This book provide a good introduction to some of the best Asian Spas and an insight into the traditional indonesian and malay concoction of spa treatment, some I believe passed from generation to generation. The resorts featured offers travellers an incomparable and convenient setting for discovering the Asian secret to the ultimate relaxation and indulgence for the senses. A must have for all Spa lovers!

I really like this book and some of the recipes are really simple and very easy to do.

However, for things like masks, some of the ingredients are so hard to find and there is no list of where to find it or even what the ingredients look like. So it is frustrating and somewhat a teaser to be able to see the product and want to make it but can't !

I actully bought this book in Bogor (Java, Indonesia) at the Novotel gift shop while on vacation recently. I stayed at the Chedi during this trip, and the Mandara spa facilities and food are as portrayed in the book, fabulous! We went to the San Gria Spa and Resort in Lembang for our spa experience, as well as the Dharmawangsa in Jakarta. Having had spa treatments in both the U.S. and Indonesia, I have to say that Asia can do it the best! The treatment recipes offered in the book that I have actually tried in the spas (the Balinese Boreh, the Bali Kopi Scrub, and the Creme Bath Hair Treatment) were all heavenly, leaving me feel soft all over, rejuvinated, and at peace. This book goes up on my shelf next to Bali Style by Rod Helmi and Barbara Walker. I love this life!

Ok, I don't know how good it is as an "asian spa recipe" book - I didn't buy it for that. But for a coffee table book, its the best I have come across on Asian spa, surroundings, architecture etc... the closest that comes to it is Bali Modern, also by the same photographer - Luca Invernizzi.

The pictures are just so well taken, you feel like you want to go there. There are tons of coffee table books out there that have pictures of exotic spots, like Tropical Asian Style etc, but they just don't capture it the way this book does.. oh! so mesmerizing!

The author is a beauty journalist and not a holistic therapist, so this is not a "how-to" book, but rather and "all about-spa" book. Recipes for face,body, hair and spa cuisine, but minimal technique.