An interview with Ms. Chik Lai Ping, Senior Vice President of Spa Village
Spa Village isn’t just a place; it’s a philosophy. Here, the essence of inspiration is drawn from the breathtaking surroundings. Nestled within the pristine paradise of Pangkor Laut Resort, the Spa Village embodies a commitment to healing traditions as ancient as the land itself. It’s a place where nature and wellness converge, offering an individual and authentic encounter that seamlessly blends age-old practices with modern approaches to health and well-being.
Reconnecting with nature
Situated in a private beachfront enclave within a private island, Spa Village at Pangkor Laut is an innovative entity that combines luxury with health, pampering and beauty treatments. It is a sanctuary that celebrates the rich tapestry of healing cultures found in Malaysia. With its diverse history of people and cultures, along with an abundance of natural resources, Malaysia provides the perfect backdrop for ancient health rituals. The Spa Village comprises a collection of thoughtfully designed structures, each dedicated to a range of treatments inspired by China, Japan, India, Thailand, Bali, and Malaysia.
Among the Spa Village’s offerings are eight treatment pavilions, a deluxe Belian Treatment Pavilion, three ‘Healing Huts’ featuring Chinese Herbal, Ayurvedic, and Malay treatments, two Bath Houses, three Spa Huts, three Nap Gazebos, and a Spa Boutique. Additionally, 22 stunning Spa Villas perched over the sea provide direct access to this haven of wellness.
A holistic approach to well-being
The programs offered at the Spa Village encompass both physical and spiritual well-being, centered around four core concepts: Rejuvenation and Longevity, Relaxation and Stress Reduction, Detoxification, and Romance. For those seeking a deeper immersion into the region’s health rituals, consultations with Chinese, Ayurvedic, or Malay specialists are recommended at the beginning of their stay, providing valuable insights and lifelong tools for vibrant living.
A water-centric sanctuary
The single most defining feature of Spa Village Pangkor Laut arguably has to be the Bath House Ritual.
In Asia, water lies at the heart of the spa encompassing as it does the mind, the body and the spirit. Bathing traditions are both widespread and deep-seated in the tropical world: for Indians, bathing has been a holy purification rite for centuries and Malays, too, use water rituals for both healing and purification. The Japanese have prized hot springs or onsen for thousands of years and bathing practices are often found on inscriptions such as those dating back to 824 AD at Borobudur. Ayurveda, Unani and Traditional Chinese Medicine advocate the benefits of the steam bath, and many of the region’s ceremonies have water as a central tenet.
In homage to these bathing traditions, Spa Village Pangkor Laut has a uniquely designed 45-minute Bath house ritual before every therapy to set up the mind and body for the treatment to follow. This starts with a soothing footbath and an invigorating Chinese Foot Pounding, previously only enjoyed by the concubines of feudal China. From there you will be escorted to the Bath Houses to enjoy the traditional Malay ‘circulating’ bath, and a Japanese-style cleansing with a ‘goshi-goshi’ cloth, followed by a dip in the heated Rotenburu pool. Our professional spa staff will then give you a gentle exfoliating wash with our signature Shanghai Scrub. In Shanghai, this is traditionally offered exclusively to males. After your scrub, enjoy a cup of calming tea in our tranquil surroundings before you begin your spa treatment. The sequence also epitomises the multi-cultural ethos of the spa, representing various bathing traditions from around Asia.
A sanctuary in harmony with nature and its healing traditions
The Spa Village’s overarching theme is nature and the natural world, aligning perfectly with the island’s commitment to preserving its pristine environment. With 80% of the land covered by one of the world’s oldest rainforests, guests can explore this natural wonder alongside the resort’s resident naturalist, further enhancing their connection to the serene paradise of Pangkor Laut Resort. The Spa Village isn’t just a place; it’s a harmonious blend of nature and wellness, a retreat that invites guests to rediscover themselves amidst the beauty of Malaysia’s healing traditions.
“While the Spa Village may appear natural and uncluttered, it operates seamlessly to offer a plethora of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Thai wellness practices. Its overarching aim is holistic wellness, addressing mental, physical, and spiritual health.”
Ms. Chik Lai Ping, Senior Vice President of Spa Village, said: “Guests can choose from a menu of masques, wraps, massages, and facials or customize full-day experiences for a complete immersion.”
Ms. Chik Lai Ping’s career started in the hospitality industry. “But I only began to focus my attention on the spa industry in 1999. Beginning with a humble fitness centre in the JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur and a team of 15, I was given the opportunity to develop a unique spa brand for the YTL Hotels,” she said.
“Extolling the healing culture of the region each spa resides within, Spa Village made its debut at Pangkor Laut Resort in 2002 and I helped develop the other 6 locations in Malaysia. Today, we have an international presence beyond our home-ground of Malaysia with Spa Villages in locations around Europe and Thailand, each with its own unique offering. Take for example the Spa Village Bath in The Gainsborough Bath Spa, opened in United Kingdom in 2015 which offers a contemporary perspective of the city’s thermal water heritage, Spa Village Koh Samui in The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui – offering a 3,800 square metre sanctuary with pre-treatment rituals inspired by the Songkran festival and a spa resort in Tembok, Bali.”
SpaChina interviewed her.
The Spa Village concept is deeply rooted in nature. How does the surrounding natural environment influence the design and offerings of the spa?
All traditional healing and lifestyle practices arose from their natural environments. The concept of having to incorporate the natural environment into design or offerings has only become an issue in modern life because urban communities have been segmented and isolated. Spa Village, by its very essence, inherently includes nature.
We believe in sticking to our roots, that is the traditions and the cultural practices of the people. When one enjoys too much of modernization and being trendy out there, all one needs is something back to basics, effective and meaningful. This statement came from one of the editors-in-chief of a major publication I hosted in Tembok, Bali – who at that point had enjoyed the best of materials, luxury and parties, who had it all.
What sets Spa Village at Pangkor Laut Resort apart from other spa destinations in terms of its approach to holistic well-being and sustainability?
Spa Village concept is “Honoring the healing culture and tradition of the region”. Beyond this tagline, it’s a brand that digs deep. You can be sure that if an offering or experience is on a Spa Village menu, it’s authentic. The Spa Village team has specialized in the work of weaving traditional treatments into modern wellness approaches for decades – refining rustic spa experience. If it’s new, it has staying power and efficacy. The most special thing, however, is the people who work together to serve the guests and each other. Built into the DNA, all training and daily briefings have the intent to “serve with our hearts through our hands”.
Spa Village has a unique philosophy that combines ancient healing traditions with modern wellness approaches. Can you explain how this philosophy is reflected in the services and experiences offered at Spa Village?
The Spa Village treatment protocol has very little reliance on machinery. Ingredients are locally sourced to honor the healing traditions of the area. As much as possible, our research is leaning on using fresh ingredients made daily for the guests. We begin with this intention when we craft the spa experience.
Its ethos of honouring the healing culture and tradition of the region ensures the guest journey is always unique. In order to get there, however, we do our research thoroughly by studying the local area, exploring it and meeting regularly with elderly healers to preserve and introduce therapies. We don’t just scratch the surface, and if something is not good enough for our guests, we’ll omit it.
Can you describe some of the signature treatments or rituals that guests can experience at Spa Village, and what makes them special?
All treatments at Spa Village Pangkor Laut begin with our unique Bath House Ritual, representing various bathing traditions from around Asia. This starts with a soothing footbath and an invigorating Chinese Foot Pounding, previously only enjoyed by the concubines of feudal China. From there, guests are escorted to the Bath Houses to enjoy the traditional Malay ‘circulating’ bath, and a Japanese-style cleansing with a ‘goshi-goshi’ cloth, followed by a dip in the heated Rotenburu pool. Our professional spa staff will then give you a gentle exfoliating wash with our signature Shanghai Scrub. To round-up the ritual, guests are invited to enjoy a cup of calming tea in our tranquil surroundings before they begin their spa treatment.
One of the headline treatments at Spa Village Pangkor Laut is the The Signature Couples Spa Experience inspired by the preparation for a Malay wedding ceremony, where the custom for each family is to holistically prepare the woman and man for their wedding day, in body, mind and spirit. For the women, a half-day experience called Royal Secrets of Puteri Lindungan Bulan beginning with a Urutan Gamelan massage and followed by a hair treatment, facial and body scrub, then a fragrant milk bath, ends with a scented body steaming and herbal tonic, ensuring that she is fit to enter wedded bliss. The men can partake in Bukit Gantang Warrior treatment, a similar series of treatments employing therapeutic herbs believed to be beneficial to men.
Could you share some success stories or memorable moments from guests who have visited Spa Village and experienced transformational wellness journeys?
Spa Village has been working on holistic wellness since its inception. Our guests not only enjoy the pleasure of spa treatments, but they are also able to learn the healing traditions and how those benefit themselves. With knowledge, experience, and efficacy – trust and appreciation will live on. More and more of us today have opted for traditional medicine and natural healing. We cannot rely too much on Allopathic medication. Spa Village carries the mantel for research, discovery and sharing the healing traditions of the region.
These two stories are quite close to my heart.
I was in Pangkor Laut Resort, and I bumped into my spa members, a couple I have known for years. They had been married without children. I recommended they try the Royal Malay Couple Experience, which is usually for newlyweds. The gentleman privately raved about how effective the spa treatment was. He felt like a hero and had the urge to be intimate again with his wife. I am happy to report that they now have two children!
We sent our PR representative from Japan to Tanjong Jara Resort for a familiarization trip. The PR representative had a Traditional Malay Massage with our Malay Healer. During the massage the Malay Healer adjusted her womb. He discovered she had been trying to conceive for many years. She said that if she had met our Malay Healer when she was younger she would have had her own child. She then made the decision to promote Tanjong Jara Resort and its Traditional Malay Treatments in order to benefit others.
As a leader in the spa and wellness industry, what trends and innovations do you see shaping the future of holistic well-being, and how is Spa Village adapting to these changes?
First, I am so pleased that more people are taking a holistic approach to well-being. The uses of AI and high-tech gadgets offer convenience and information, literally, at the user’s fingertips. They allow people to stay on track and receive constant reminders and motivation.
From an operational standpoint, gadgets innovations have led to a simpler operational set up of equipment, minimizing the usage of too many machines.
Though we appreciate the advantages of many of the new trends, it’s important to point out that many people come to Spa Village specifically to escape the non-stop use of energy depleting devices.
The Spa Village experience goes beyond treatments; it includes a connection to the natural world. Can you tell us about any initiatives or activities that allow guests to connect with the island’s environment and culture during their stay?
Jungle trekking, guided natural henna art drawing, meeting our Traditional Chinese Medicine Specialist, Ayurvedic Specialist and Malay healer learning the different method of having a “balanced body condition”.
What advice or recommendations do you have for individuals who are looking to embark on a wellness journey and experience Spa Village for the first time?
Indulge with an open mind. Only those who are ready and open to being healed will be healed.