Retreat, Retreat!

A three-day programme at Chiva-Som gives Grace Tay some much-needed physical and mental remedy, leaving her wishing for a long-stay wellness rehab

- Grace Tay

Pinch therapy is a thing. So is smack therapy. And whoever first said, “take a breath” to halt panic attacks knew what they were talking about. All this I learned from a few short, immensely fruitful days remedying my enervated self at Chiva-Som International Health Resort in Hua Hin, Thailand.

It is a three-hour drive from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The ride, though in a faultlessly comfortable Mercedes-Benz E Class and for the most part along smooth highways, is sadly longer than the flight from Singapore. If you’re prone to cabin fever and don’t want to risk bad traffic, consider flying private directly to Hua Hin Airport.

I checked into Chiva-Som with my share of baggage: a sleep deficit the size of Venezuela, the pressure of overdue story deadlines looming over my head and project reports due all at once, and run-of-the-mill ennui. So, although here I was in a tranquil Thai resort complete with a lake with a waterfall and lush tropical greenery, looking forward to a reset and rejuvenation, I was by no means in a state to let go, relax and be present.

The first forced intervention really helped: digital devices (including e-readers) are strictly prohibited from use except in your own room or the Library to ensure privacy for guests as well as to encourage a digital detox. Wonderful! I had an excuse to be uncontactable for most of my three days here.

I immediately missed my phone camera though, when zipping around by buggy for a quick introductory tour of the picturesque seven-acre compound. The resort only has 54 rooms – a mix of suites, rooms, and villas – and a good number of fitness studios, open-air workout spaces, indoor and outdoor pools, and wellness facilities. Everything is within an easy 10-minute-or-so stroll, one point to the next.