Nurture in nature

1he Nurture 1ropical Spa and Cafe is a perfect weekend getaway for weary business
executives and professionals. Relax and get pampered amidst a tranquil
environment, chirping birds, and Ifugao huts.
Photos and text by Heinz Bulos
December 2003

hey call it an oasis or body and
soul`. Staying at the Nurture
1ropical Spa and Ca in 1agaytay
een or a day is certainly enough to put
you back to a serene state o mind. lar
rom the hustle and bustle o the
metropolis, yet close enough or a quick
getaway, the Nurture Spa is a much
welcome break rom eeryday stress.

1he place itsel is a peaceul oasis - lots o
greenery with touches o Asian decor.
lrom the reception, you`ll be led to a
wide-open rolling garden lined by coered
nooks with reclining chairs, where you can
read, relax, and chat. 1here`s a small man-
made pond and bridge that add to the
ambiance. 1he air is illed with the sounds
o chirping birds, chimes, and lowing
water-recorded sound to be sure, but
who`s complaining

1he walkway leads to another area or the
Iugao huts and the Royal Gazebo, where
isitors can stay or the day or oernight.
At the time o our isit, construction was
going on or expansion. Obiously, this is
no longer a well-kept secret.

\e stayed at one o the Iugao huts. Lach
one is walled by bamboos or priacy.
Adjacent to a hut is a roomy and clean
toilet and bath-and excellent plumbing!
\ou had to climb up a ew steps to get
inside the hut, where a spacious and
comy mattress beckons. 1here are seating
cushions on the side, so a standard hut
can in act it our people comortably. It
was also airy and high enough or one to
stand. Still, watch your heads while getting
down the stairs.

Ater a quick shower, we were led to one
o the massage rooms. \e took the
Intimacy package, which consists o two
treatments each, snacks, a ull-course meal
or two, and a whole day use o an Iugao
hut. 1he irst treatment was called Reital,
with a choice o exoliation and massage
treatments. Naturally, I went or Vibrant
Coee Scrub. 1he therapist asked us to
remoe our clothes and wear a sarong. I
was handed a disposable brie - a plastic,
gartered, see-through underwear. It's the
kinkiest thing I eer wore in my entire lie!

lacing down on the massage mattress, my
head was towards a window oerlooking
rich oliage. So all you can see are trees
and the clear blue sky. Pure bliss!

1he therapist rubbed crushed local coee
beans all oer my body. I joked that I'll try
this at home, using Nescae instant coee.
Ater thirty minutes, she asked me to rinse
them o at the nearby shower. Now,
imagine me in my plastic, gartered see-
through underwear coered with black
coee beans. On the other hand, purge
that reolting image rom your mind!

Ater cleaning up, she rubbed lotion all
oer my body and massaged me or
another thirty minutes. Ater the whole
treatment, I smelled like coee mixed
with lotion. Now, that gies Starbucks a
new idea or a laor.

Ater the treatment, we lounged in one o
the reclining seats to relax and chat, then
went back the hut to chill. By our, we
went to the cae or our snack - chicken
1
sandwich and mango slush. Not bad. Our
next massage was at six, so we had plenty
o time to do another chill-out session.
Come six, we were o or our Rejuana
treatment, a.k.a. the 1ranquility Massage, a
60-minute ull body Swedish massage. It
was okay, but you`ll get a more satisying
rub in one o the metro`s spas. Anyway,
it's the total experience that matters.

By this time, the early crowd has let or
Manila. So, i you're planning to go, go on
a Sunday. 1he place elt as i we owned it,
with the attendants at our beck and call.
\e had our dinner around eight - soup,
salad, and lamb chops. Unortunately,
they gae me chops cooked well done
instead o medium rare as ordered. 1he
gray was great though. Ater coee, we
headed back to our hut to pack up.

It`s pitch dark and oh-so-quiet. \e eel
relaxed, reitalized, and rejuenated. And
I`ll neer look at coee beans and
underwear the same way again.

SIDLBAR

Nurture 1ropical Spa & Cafe
Pulong Sagingan, Barangay Maitim II
\est, 1agaytay City
Reservations: 1202 Prince 1ower,
1ordesillas cor Bautista St, Makati City
Contact:
1agaytay ,046, 4130804,05
Makati ,02, 830086,
nurturespaedsamail.com.ph
www.treasures.com.ph,nurture

Getting 1here
1he easiest, idiot-proo route is to take the
South Super lighway and head towards
the Santa Rosa exit in Laguna ,surely
you`e been to Lnchanted Kingdom,, turn
right ater the toll gate on the road to
1agaytay City ,it`s a long but airly straight
road, and when you hit the rotonda
landmark in 1agyatay, turn right towards
Aguinaldo lighway. On your right, beore
hitting Santis and Gourmet Ca is
Recuerdo`s Crats. It`s a narrow road and
you`re likely to miss it. Just go straight and
when you hit the memorial park, go let.
1here are signs along the way.