A Green Oasis in Yogyakarta (Part 2)

Photographed at the Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta in the Island of Java, Indonesia.

After exploring Yogyakarta’s colorful Beringharjo market, I took a ride down Jalan Malioboro and through the bustling city back to my serene green oasis for one last night in the spellbinding island of Jakarta.

While strolling through the hotel’s lush gardens a few hours earlier, I had noticed the beautiful traditional outdoor spa and was dying to get a chance to experience the much popular, and exotic, traditional twilight massage. Luckily, Yogya’s traffic was kind to me and so was the lovely team at the Hyatt Regengy Yogyakarta who arranged a most memorable evening of pampering, so I could have the chance to get a taste of yet another delightful aspect of Indonesian culture.

I have to confess, I’ve never been much into spas. As you know, I’m a no fuss, low maintenance kinda girl and I’ll typically come up with a million things I’d rather be doing than spending time in a salon. Well, my journey through Southeast Asia has brought about a budding and growing obsession and appreciation for the world of traditional Eastern massage. Indonesian oil massage (as well as traditional Thai massage) is a deep pressure massage that’s not only amazing at easing muscle and join tension (a godsend to bounce back from long-haul flights) but it’s also a powerful therapeutic healing system that’s awesome in the detox department. I’m officially adding it to my list of toxin-release weapons.