Spa :)

Flower Bath Maya Ubud Bali
Gambar diambil dari facebook maya ubud

     Spa have become popular at big cities in Indonesia from Star hotels, beauty salon to the house. It becomes one of lifestyle for women in Indonesia. The word "Spa" originally came from the greece word "Solus per aqua". It means the therapy and treatment with water. Another source said that it came from the word "Spau". It is a little city in Belgia which its famous mineral pond that could cure any of skin disease. I presume that spa treatment in Indonesia came from Bali or Yogyakarta/Solo ( the heritage city in Central Java). Long time a go, the queen and princess from Yogyakarta took care of their beauty by flower bath, rempah (spices bath), body scrub and ratus.  One of  famous beautician from Indonesia, Mooryati Sudibyo ( grandchild of the Sultan Pakubuwono X from Solo) established " Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa" which is  famous among socialite women in Indonesia. She fabricated the cosmetic, hair and spa product under the "Mustika Ratu" brand. The popular brand for middle class called "Zaitun Series" which include mineral oil, body scrub and body masker. Bali ( The Island of God) also offer many spa treatment from the five star hotels to the small beauty salon. They use expensive and international product like L'occitane and Local product such as Bali Alus and Sekar Jagat. Nowadays, there are a lot of Spa House spread around the city. People take the spa treatment for relax especially on weekend after the weekday's tiredness. The treatment can include massage ( aromatic massage,javaness massage, thai massage, tuina etc), body scrub ( with tropical fruit, chocolate, strawberry, mud), body massage, and bath ( flower bath, spices bath, jacuzzi, whirpool etc). The ambience of the spa place usually romantic and relaxing with the fragrance flower everywhere, jazz/smooth music and romantic room. The therapist usually wear traditional dress like kebaya. The treatment destress your mind, relax your soul and brain and enhance yor mood. The Honeymoon packages are usually include this spa treatment ( for example asmaragama massage which belief can increase the sexual desire).  The price ranged from millions to hundreds. If you want to cutting down your budget, I suggest you to try the home spa ( I will review the home spa later in special thread).


                                                                I.   Spa at Stars Hotel :

Spa maya Ubud bali
Gambar diambil dari facebook maya ubud
      http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.51615992979.60401.51612547979&type=1

                                                                              

Spa pool environment Maya Ubud Bali 
 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.51615992979.60401.51612547979&type=1

The Spa Four Season
Gambar diambil dari http://www.fourseasons.com

                                                                   II. Spa at beauty Salon :

Gambar diambil dari : Facebook SS Wulandari Salon and Spa Bekasi
http://www.wulandarispa.blogspot.com
http://www.wulandarispa.com



Cave Room Roseberry Spa
Gambar diambil dari facebook  Salon Roseberry spa

Pontianak's Hotels :)

Pontianak is the capital city of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. There are no 5 star hotel in Pontianak. Mercure, Aston Pontianak, Grand Mahkota and Gardenia are 4 star hotel. There are also 3 stars hotel like Orchadz Hotel, Gajah Mada Hotel, Peony Hotel, Kapuas Hotel and Santika Hotel.

Price Rate in October 2011 ( For Indonesia KTP/KITAS only) :

1. Mercure Pontianak (****) :  Superior Room    560.000 idr
                                                     Deluxe Room      650.000 idr

Deluxe Room Hotel Mercure Pontianak
Sumber : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mercure-Pontianak/162497502795?sk=wall

2. Aston Pontianak  (****)          :  Superior Room     488.000 idr
                                                         Deluxe Room       528.000 idr- 560.0000 idr            

                                   

Executive Room Hotel Aston Pontianak

Deluxe Room Aston Pontianak

Superior Room Hotel Aston Pontianak

3. Peony Pontianak Hotel           : Standar Room     318.000 idr

                                                      Executive Room  528.000 idr

Standar Room Peony Pontianak

Roof Top cafe Hotel Peony
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.188291455859.166775.188270590859

                                                   
                                                   
4. Santika Pontianak Hotel  : Superior Room    427.500 idr
                                                 Deluxe Room      500.000 idr

Above : Deluxe Suite Room Santika Pontianak

Superior Room Santika Pontianak

Deluxe Room santika Pontianak
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hotel-Santika-Pontianak/155561977745?sk=wall

5. Hotel Gajah Mada Pontianak  (***)

Hotel Gajah Mada Pontianak

Hotel Gajah Mada Pontianak Standard Room

 6. Hotel Orchadz Pontianak (***)

Deluxe Room Orchadz Pontianak

 http://pontianak.orchardzhotel.com/contact.asp

  http://pontianak.orchardzhotel.com/room.asp

                                         
                           

Happy Ied Mubarak for those who are celebrating !!!! (Selamat hari raya Idul Fitri)

Every year, my friends in Indonesia celebrate Ied (Idul Fitri). Although I'm not muslim, but 80 % of my neighbourhood and my friends are muslim. I remember when I was at public kindergarden and public elementary school, I feel the ramadhan feast. In the end of Ramadhan month, my neighbour always give my family ketupat (pack riced that has been wrapped in a woven palm and boiled), Rendang ( A dish made for beef and cooked with coconut, spice, chilli), Opor ayam ( boiled chicken with coconut milk and spice), Sayur Lodeh and Lemang ( Rice barbecued in Bamboo tubes). Those food are very delicious. In Sambas, the Melayu tribe who celebrate Ied made a cake named "Kue Lapis" (baked layer cake made from flour cake, egg, cream butter and sugar). The cake's taste is sweet and gurih . I also visit some of my neighbourhood called "silahturahmi". They served us with peanut, cake, snack and of course Lapis Sambas. I love the communion between us.

Lapis Sambas from my neighbourhood

"Silahturahmi" to one family in my neighbourhood (My nurse's family)

I miss Jakarta "The Metropolitan and Crowded City" :)

Hmm..I've been in this village for 4 months and sometimes I miss some delicious and Yummy food in Jakarta. I  miss the crowded shopping mall, modern Hotel and apartment, cafe, salon and spa too. The things that I miss in Jakarta :

1. Pancious Pancake 
 The best pancake in town ! They have all branches now in Taman Anggrek Mall, Kelapa Gading Mall, Plaza Indonesia, Plaza Senayan. Their first restaurant located in Permata Hijau, Jakarta. I and my husband usually go to Plaza Indonesia branch. I love their pancake's menu with ice cream and their fetucini mushroom :)

Coco berry Pancake pancious Pancake

Original pancake with maple syrup and ice cream

Chocolate ice cream with waffle and pancake

2. Sushi Tei

I miss Sushi Tei's speciality like Tuna Salad Crispy Mentai, Stamina Roll,Ebbiko avocado maki and the others food.

3. Frozen Yoghurt
About three years ago until now, the frozen yoghurt have become most popular in big cities in Indonesia : Jakarta, Bandung and Semarang. As a healthy food and low calory snack, it is necessary for snack, healthy diet, substitute for dinner and serve in many special occasion like wedding and birthday celebration. There are there popular brand's name : Sour Sally, Heavenly Blush and Red Mango. J-Co ( The popular brand for doughnut) also make frozen yoghurt too named J-Cool.

4.  Dimsum
     I don't miss this food too much because about 4 hours drive by car from my village, we arrive at Pontianak ( The capital city of West Kalimantan). There are a lot of chinese foods there from the Hotel to the hawker...like Chai Kwe/Choi Pan ( Vegetable cake from the Hakka/Tio Chiu Tribe), Ko Kue and of course Dimsum.

Boiled Dimsum

Fried Dimsum

And I miss others Delicious and Yummy food like Honeymoon Dessert  ( Pancake Durian and Sagoo Mutiara), Haagen Daaz Ice cream, Zuppa Soup and etc. I miss the moment in the Cafe ( Relax and Listening to Jazz Music), Enjoy Massage and Spa in and stay in Comfotable Hotel in weekend. Gonna back to Jakarta as soon as possible in vacation :)