Sometimes relaxation is hard work

The plan was simple.

Resort. Book. Pool. Bar. Spa. Relax.

Except that when I moved to the resort this morning, I automatically took the shuttle into town to run some chores like doing laundry and getting some food. I got a cheap (not particularly good) pedicure (RM20) and a quite good leg wax (RM60) at Centrepoint but getting your hair ripped out by their roots in frankly not-quite-clean premises with the one clinician in Borneo who apparently knows how to do a leg wax - I had to wait half an hour because the one person who could do it across three sites was hungry and wanted lunch - is satisfying but not exactly relaxing.

Of course, all this could have been avoided if I'd paid the rates for the spa and laundry at the Sutera Harbour resort but they were frankly ridiculous. I mean, there's "we're going to pay more at this five-star resort" and then there's "$200 for a massage: pull the other one it has got bells on".

Then, after a lunch of mee goreng (I'm counting down my meals in Malaysia) I happened across the lovely South Sea Sanctuary spa. I spent a lovely afternoon having a fantastic facial and 75 minute massage (all up RM280 or about $90) and walked out much more relaxed.

Then I just bought a couple of bottles of wines and headed back to the resort. I'm not quite there yet but you never know - I could have wound down by the time I go home.

Little Red Dave gets his reward

My Borneo trip is now over (backdated blog entries to follow) and so today I transferred to the Magellan part of the sprawling five-star Sutera Resort. This was my treat for finishing the fun and frenetic Borneo component of my trip and boy is it a treat! I got here at 9:30 and they informed that a) my room was ready and b) I'd been upgraded. To a suite. Dave couldn't believe it and neither could I. Here's some - inadequate - photos.

Photo: Living room - just off it is the dining room and the first balcony. Yes, I said 'first' 

Photo: Small dining room 

Photo: First balcony 

Photo: 'Powder Room'

Photo: Bedroom -  Door to the second balcony is next to the recliner

Photo: Bedroom with view of second balcony

Photo: View of main bathroom from bedroom

 

Photo: Main bathroom - shower is to the left and behind me is the second toilet 

Photo: Where I will be with a book for most of tomorrow.

But the most truly amazing thing about this room? It has a clothesline so you can handwash. I've seen things in my time but a resort that encourages hand washing rather than an extraordinarily-priced laundry service... amazing.