SPA TURKOISE GRAND TURK CARIBBEAN

The blue of the Caribbean sea is everywhere. We had a long haul to go scuba diving from India to New York to Atlanta and finally to Turks and Caicos Islands. Grand Turk is a tiny little dot of an island. Sleepy little village with some beautiful leftover colonial houses. It only wakes up once a week when the cruise ships land here to see this historical town.

Local Mammas

Boys who took  me  conch diving

We stayed in Manta house chosen because of the Sandbar opposite, where we could watch the sunset over our drinks. It was pretty much as we imagined. Back of nowhere. Quiet.

Manta House

Zorawar and  Katya form Sandbar

Next door to Manta House was the SaltRaker Inn. It had the best food around there and was the hang out place for diners after watching the sunset in Sandbar. Here is where I met Lena the owner of Spa Turkoise, the only spa in Grand Turk. We hit it off immediately and together with her colleague, Meghan, we had a long conversation on spas in general. I had been passing by the spa on previous days but didnt venture in until we had a our exhilirating conversation.

It was located in the premises of another hotel and had just one simple treatment room. Meghan the therapist welcomed me with a big smile. She didnt want me to be confined to a specific treatment and allowed her hands to run over me picking up points and treating me wherever she felt necessary. From the Far East, I am used to choosing spa treatments with many exotic names from a menu, claiming all kinds of benefits never knowing whether they are actually true. So this approach was refreshing to me. It said to me that she was going to give me what my body needed rather than what the spa menu dictated that my body should have. I like this idea. It requires a lot of confidence from the therapist. 

Meghan was definitely different. She really knew her body well. I hadnt told her about my fingers jamming up from using the computer too much but there she was. SPOT ON! Picked it up from my meridians. I must say I was very impressed. She picked up all my problem areas and I dont have many. The massage was deep, therapeutic and relaxing. We chatted and she told me about her training and how she came to be here in Grand Turk.
She played some Indian chants in the background and honestly I wanted to transport her back to India!!!

Entrance to spa

Lovely Meghan

Memories of Grand Turk remain fresh. Meghan if you ever come this side of the world do please get in touch. And Lena a big THANK YOU for arranging this. You have a good thing going there. Keep it up!

Long live the Conch!

PARROT CAY, TURKS AND CAICOS, CARIBBEAN ISALNDS

Welcome to Parrot Cay!

 This is not a picture postcard- I took this photo!

Parrot Cay (pronounced 'key') is a private island in Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. It is owned by the Como Shambala group and supported by fashion designer Donna Karan (you can find her Urban Zen clothing in the boutique!) who also owns a group of villas in the property.

Me in the docks!

Parrot Cay had been a distant dream for me. I admire anyone who combines fashion and holistic human growth as two distinct yet parallel careers, because I am of the same ilk. In fact the design team at Urban Zen once bought some designs from my collection in PV, Paris. Since then I have followed the initiatives of Urban Zen and of course, living in Asia, and doing the kind of work I do with Mystic-Asia, I am familiar with the holistic concepts of Como Shambala.

So here I was, dream fulfilled, excited to experience this exotic private island dedicated to the philosophy of the Como Shambala Group. We were picked up from the airport and transferred to a very stylish waiting room to catch our private boat to the island.  The boat ride was almost an hour long across very very blue sea with the wind catching our faces. Beautiful!

Boat to Como Shambala

The whole resort felt like a natural spa. What struck me me most was that the hotel has understated its style, from architecture to furniture to interior design, in order to allow the beauty of the natural surroundings to take full precedence over man made holistic/sensual experiences. It has a mile long white powdery beach, sea water that you can walk on endlessly (see below), large decks to do your own Yoga, Tai Chi etc and whatever you need is at your service with the very discreet butler who was ever willing to spoil us.

Como Shambala is known for its emphasis on health and wellbeing. Its the only hotel I know that offers an ancillary menu from which one can order healthy food without having to sift through long lists of exotic but unhealthy options. I was specially happy to have that option after having travelled with my boys to other Caribbean islands where vegan food is unheard of! Their fresh juices are also divine!

We were five of  us travelling and were assigned a three bedroom villa with a private butler and an expansion of beach and sea literally as we tumbled out of bed!

   

Yoga, moonlight and boatyard at the resort

Yes thats me!

At the spa, I decided to go for a Deep Tissue massage as I had been travelling for the past three weeks and my body had gone through many time zones. My therapist was Asian (as are lot of their staff) and she handled my body with great expertise and ease. The massage was a restorative massage helping to release deeply held tensions and toxins. She said she was using the techniques of deep muscle compression and cross fibre friction to increase blood and lymph flow. My 60 min experience went so fast I didnt realise I was done. It was deeply relaxing and she really got into some of the knots in my back from carrying too many pieces of luggage, me thinks.

I relaxed off in the steam room and then had a cup of ginger honey tea by the lounge area staring into MORE sea!!!

I need to thank you Lynda for organising this amazing experience for me!