Sabah's Potential High To Be Among World's Best Spa Services Providers

Sabah has the potential to be among the best spa services providers in the world, says Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

Comparing it with Bali, the world's leading spa provider, he said Sabah had an abundance of natural resources for the production of spa products as well as in the provision of spa treatment services.

"According to Tourism Malaysia's forecast, the spa industry can expect to generate as much as RM830 million by 2020.

"In view of this potential, the Sabah spa and wellness industry players must upgrade its standards and professionalism in all areas in order for the services to be on par with international standards," he told reporters after opening the Rafflesia Spa Essentials, a wholesale and retail outlet of spa products, here.

Masidi said due to increasing demand in spa services, spa outlets will soon be rated based on star ratings in order to give the industry credibility and confidence to potential customers.

However, he warned that the industry should not be interpreted as an activity for vice.

"Too often the word 'spa' has been misused for illegal activities. We hope the star rating would change people's perception so that the industry could be seen as a healthy activity in improving one's beauty and wellness," he said.

Continue reading at: Sabah's Potential High To Be Among World's Best Spa Services Providers

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Poring Hot Springs - Spa sojourn at foot of Mount Kinabalu

Shops at the entrance of Poring Hot Springs

Mamut River

Natural beauty of the tropical forest

Suspension bridge across the Mamut River

Open bath tub

Main source of the hot springs

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Risyia Lee and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By Risyia Lee

Our drive from Kota Kinabalu to Poring Hot Springs in Ranau took us about three hours during which we travelled across the Mount Kinabalu lowlands.

Poring Hot Springs is 40 kilometres or 25 miles from Kinabalu Park Headquarters where climbers begin their ascent of Mount Kinabalu.

It is believed that millions of years ago, Mount Kinabalu was an active volcano. And today, Poring Hot Springs is the only evidence of this occurrence.

Every year, over 150,000 people visit Poring Hot Springs. "Poring" is the Kadazan word for bamboo.

After passing the entrance, you walk deep into a tropical forest to reach the hot springs. Along the way, you cross the Mamut River along a suspension bridge.

Visitors are strictly forbidden from taking away any of the area's flora or fauna.

Poring Hot Springs covers an area of 1 ¼ hectare and the hot springs' water temperatures range from 49°C to 60°C. The main source of the hot springs is so hot that it can boil an egg.

During the Second World War, the Japanese ordered prisoners to develop the site and build Japanese-style wooden hot tubs. Now, they have been replaced with tiled pools and tubs.

There is a large open bath tub built near the main source of the hot springs as well as indoor bath tubs, "slide" pool and rock pool.

The hot water of the hot springs flows in pipes into the tubs. A tap which provides cold water is also located at the side of every tub.

It is believed that this hot steamy water can cure any skin problems.

Beyond the hot springs, there are two jungle tracks that take you to a 100-metre high waterfall.

Other attractions at Poring Hot Springs are Butterfly Garden, Canopy Walkway, Ethino Botany Garden, Rafflesia Research Centre, Tropical Garden, Bamboo Garden, Orchid Conservation Centre and Poring Conservation Centre.

As for accommodation, there is a 75-bed hostel there. The prices range from RM46 per person per night to RM380 per unit for the Rajawali Lodges.

There is also a restaurant near the pools known as the Jungle Restaurant.

If you go to Porings Hot Springs, don't forget to buy a memento at the souvenir shop located near the pools. At the entrance, there is also a row of shops selling souvenirs, as well as local handicrafts and fruits.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend
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Kasih Sayang Boutique Health Resort and Spa - A relaxing refuge in Inanam

By Nazri Noor

The rigours of city life can get quite taxing, even in a city as laid back as Kota Kinabalu, and sometimes it’s nice to be able to escape to a haven far from the drudgery of an urban landscape. For some, a day at the islands is enough to serve a dose of rejuvenation, while others find refuge in trekking through the rainforest. Some might prefer to take a breather on a higher plane, specifically, 2,400 feet above sea level.


Enter the Kasih Sayang Boutique Health Resort and Spa. Perched comfortably in its lofty hilltop home, this diminutive refuge offers a delightful alternative destination for those looking for a change of scenery that, surprisingly, isn’t located that far out of town. A casual 30-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu and through Inanam is enough to take you to a peaceful sanctuary that provides some truly breathtakingly beautiful sights.


Kasih Sayang’s location affords luxurious sights for miles around, from a wide view of Kota Kinabalu and its nearby islands to a vista of the Crocker Range and Mount Kinabalu itself. The resort also stands on its own as a remarkably attractive picture, a collection of homey wooden structures that is both filled with and surrounded by vibrant flowers and lush greenery. All the vegetation also manages to attract a number of curious creatures, including several varieties of butterflies.


Cloud 9, the resort’s restaurant, serves as a primary viewing platform, a perfect place to enjoy the cool weather and marvellous scenery. We’re told that it isn’t uncommon for visitors to pop in for lunch or tea and find themselves staying all throughout the evening, mesmerised by the proximity to nature or perhaps lulled into total relaxation by the resort’s charming atmosphere. Located just above the restaurant is a function room that seats up to 50, making Kasih Sayang quite the exotic option for both corporate and social gatherings.


The selection at Cloud 9 features a mix of local and western dishes, with oxtail assam pedas, fish curry, chicken boxing and buffalo wings served with blue cheese sauce counting as some of the restaurant’s best-sellers. The menu also includes a number of special items designed specifically with nutrition and health in mind. Marked with an image of a little heart, these healthier options are meant to aid in detoxification and nourishment.

Cloud 9 is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7am to 10pm.

12 standard and four deluxe rooms are available for guests who decide to extend their stay at the resort, and the Manja-Manja Spa provides even more ways to completely ease away your stress and tension. Kasih Sayang’s standard rooms are currently on promotion and are available for RM99+ on weekdays (inclusive of breakfast for two).

To get to Kasih Sayang, take Jalan Kiansom from Inanam Town in the direction of the Kiansom Waterfalls and follow a number of signs that will show the way to Kasih Sayang. The resort is only 5.2 kilometres from the Kiansom Waterfalls.

Source: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites

NOTE: Photo Copyright to New Sabah Times
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Sabah Shangri-La's Resorts - Nirvana for the body and soul

If you’re looking to get away from it all, the Shangri-La’s two sister resorts in Sabah allow a traveller to unwind in the best possible environs.

IT’S easy to switch to slow mode once you step into Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Beach Resort and Spa in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Only 10 minutes from the KK International Airport and 15 from the city, the resort is tucked away such that you’re cocooned against the hustle and haste associated with both those hubs.

And with sun, sand and the South China Sea beckoning beyond your balcony, it’s natural to just kick off your shoes, lie back and succumb to what the place has to offer.

The cue is to indulge, and the ideal place to start is Chi, The Spa, an enclave of eight private island villas – three of them specially designed for couples – where you can surrender your body to gentle hands that work wonders with fragrant oils, aromatic herbs, spices, mud and algae.

If you subscribe to holidays being best spent relaxing in your own room, then Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort at Pantai Dalit Beach, Tuaran, is the place to be. A roomy bathtub sits invitingly on the balcony of all its Ocean Wing units, and you can soak and watch the sky change from day to night, or vice versa.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Sabah Shangri-La's Resorts - Nirvana for the body and soul

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort unveils CHI, The Spa

Setting new standards for luxury and relaxation, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa (STARS) recently debuted CHI, The Spa at its premises. Shangri-La’s CHI, The Spa is internationally recognised as a world-class spa brand, and its opening brings its trademarks of excellence to Sabah.

Inspired by the mystical legend of Shangri-La as captured in James Hilton’s Lost Horizon, CHI is built on its own private island named Pulau Bayu, Malay for “Island of the Breeze.”

Eight island villas dot the 4,161 metre resort spa, making it the largest in Kota Kinabalu. Each villa features CHI’s signature spa within a spa concept, and offers private treatment rooms, lounge areas, steam rooms, lush outdoor gardens and bathing facilities.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort unveils CHI, The Spa

Jasmine Spa - An oasis in the heart of the City

It’s about now that one feels the sense of achievement 2007 brought to us, looking back only bring fond memories very similar to after you’ve said your piece in public for the first time, or got off the dentist chair with nothing more than a mild bruise.

One of the best ways to soothe those tired muscles and rid the body of the impacts it took from this past year, what better way than to be treaded with a whole lot of tlc at Jasmine Healing therapies.

Jasmine feels cozy and comfortable, the rooms are beautifully lit, the scent of fresh flowers and natural oils instantly calm the senses, that relaxed feeling comes immediately and involuntary as I glide onto a comfortable bench upon request and my journey begins.

The attendant with her soothing hands, aromatic oils and lotions weave her magic.

At Jasmine, you have a choice of healing therapies to choose from. The Thai Siatsu massage aligns the energies of the body using gentle pressure on specific points. This massage includes compressions and stretches.

You don’t just lie there, the therapist moves and stretches you into a sequence of postures.

It’s like yoga without doing any work. Thai massage is more energizing than other forms of massage. It also reduces stress and improves flexibility and range of motion.


The hot stone massage is highly recommended. Heated smooth, flat stones are placed on key points on the body. The Jasmine massage therapist will expertly place the smooth stones on specific points on the back or in the palms of the hand.

The heat warms and relaxes the muscles, which allows the therapist to apply deeper pressure, if desired. The warmth of the hot stones improves circulation and calms the nervous system. The Jasmine therapists place the stones on points that are thought to be energy centers of the body to rebalance the body and mind.

If you are looking for a perfect and a fantastic way to start 2008, a couple of hours at Jasmine is one option that should be on your short list.

Location: Warisan Square

Interior: Balinese Inspired

Open: Monday-Sunday 11:00am to 11:00pm

Courtesy of: New Sabah Times 'In' Sites - Sabah Travel and Leisure Guide

Borneo Spa at Nexus Resort Karambunai

Step into a world of relaxation and indulgence at the Borneo Spa at the Nexus Resort Karambunai. As you step into the luxurious spa, you are greeted by the sounds of the rainforest and a calming ambience. The Relaxation Lounge, as it is aptly named, is where your pampering begins.

After donning your robe in the changing room, guests make their way to the Relaxation Lounge where they will be met by their personal therapist. Your treatment will take place in a private room. One of the more popular treatments is the Aromatherapy Massage – a relaxing massage that relieves knots and pains in the body using a specially blended oil. Guests can choose from a range of oils – Borneo Spice, Borneo Passion, Borneo Laut or Borneo Relax.

The massage begins with the therapist gently kneading your back, working her way from shoulders to hips. Be sure to communicate with your therapist on the desired pressure. Your massage should be comfortable at all times. The therapist then moves to the arms and then the legs, applying pressure to the palms and soles to relieve any soreness.

The final stage of the massage involves a gentle massage of the neck and head. Much-needed after a long day of shopping or a hard day at work! The Borneo Spa also offers a variety of treatments, such as the Borneo Sun Soother, a rehydrating and soothing process for the body after a day out in the sun.

Signature treatments include the Borneo Detox, which exfoliates dead skin cells, stimulates blood circulation and eliminates toxins, and the Borneo Massage, a combination of massage techniques to improve blood circulation and digestion whilst draining toxins via the lymphatic system.

For an unforgettable session, ask for the Relax By The Sea, where you can enjoy a massage at the beachfront massage cabanas as the sounds of the sea seduces your senses.

Pedicures, manicures and facials are also available. Ask the friendly reception for more details on the packages and treatments available.

Other facilities at Borneo Spa include hot and cold pools, sauna, steam room and showers.

To make an appointment, contact Nexus Resort Karambunai at 088-411 222 ext. 6241 or fax 088-408 188.

Source: Nexus Resort Karambunai