A Lazy Sunday

My weekends, to me, feel as though they should be an open opportunity to go and shop, photograph, explore and travel, and they are, they definitely are, but sometimes it's a lazy day or two. It's been one of those lazy days today. It's rained the last few days and today is no different. It started out as a somewhat gray morning but cool and fresh, too, at the same time. We slept in an hour later than our usual 8 am time to wake up. We took our time prepping breakfast and doing a few chores around the house. Then we decided to take the car to The Leela Hotel here in Bangalore, for brunch. It has been one of the best eating out choices yet that we've had. It's also the top of my list of places in the world that I would love to return any time I'm nearby.

http://www.kempinski.com/en/bangalore/Pages/Welcome.aspx

http://www.theleela.com/

The restaurant we ate at there is called, Citrus. It's a mix of different cuisines such as Thai, Indian (of course) and more. They have a grilled meats area, including seafood like shrimp and curried salmon. My favorite was the shrimp. I was so hungry and in awe of the beautiful place that once we arrived, I didn't even think of taking photos of the food. I did take photos of parts of The Leela itself, and I did take some photos of Citrus and the food stations. After our samples of food, including some fantastic deserts, we headed back home. Vikas needed his nap. He hasn't had one in a while (except he did yesterday). He usually works during the day and the evening, every week day, and I know that there are plenty of other days we can explore more of the city. No reason to rush it all. We'll just enjoy a little every day that we can.

 Vikas is checking us in. We had a reservation. Sunday brunches can get kind of busy.

This is where many of the main dishes are located. Things such as shrimp biryani, paneer dishes, pad thai, szechuan rice, yoghurts of all kinds, chutneys, steamed basmati rice, lamb gosht, and much much more.  

There are SO many desserts to choose from!

This bar has salads, cheeses, and meat selections. Also there is a grill and the chef will prepare different meat dishes for you such as grilled shrimp, curried grilled salmon, grilled chicken, chicken with a curried palak glaze and sausages. I'm sure there's more but that is what was on the sample plate they brought me. The shrimp was the best to me and the chicken was second in line. The salmon was good but a bit too much spice for me and a little too much curry, but still really good. 

Bread, soup and samber station. 

Once again, fresh flowers on every table. The flowering plants here in Bangalore are so easy to come by that just about any place you go will have fresh beautiful flowers placed out on tables, beds and wherever they can put them to make the place or room more lovely. This is one of my favorites, a Dahlia (daisy). 

There are many places to sit and relax along the beautiful corridors of the Leela Palace.

So there will be a lot more to come from what The Leela has to show and offer. There is a shopping area in the hotel (yes, a mall). More to come on that. I just wanted to share some lovely images and tell you about another wonderful place we've experienced.

This coming weekend, we plan to go to Mysore. It's a city very close to Bangalore. It's supposed to be a very beautiful city as well. We will be staying at The Royal Orchid hotel. You can see their website here, http://www.royalorchidhotels.com/royal-orchid-metropole-mysore/overview.asp. I hope to take plenty of photos so that I can share them with all of you. Thanks for reading! :)

Just Take a Deep Breath and Reeelaaax

So we knew we were happy with our house choice from the beginning. Different things throughout our stay has let us know each time that we've definitely made the right choice in home and community. It's a quiet community. The people who live here so far have seemed respectful and not nosy. It feels safe and it's an absolutely beautiful, well kept place. The club seems nice too though we've not explored it much yet. The club house is a combination of many things such as yoga classes, swimming pool, amazing gym, steam room, sauna, and my favorite place of all, the Angsana Oasis Spa. This spa is the true purpose of this blog. I finally had enough appointments and took photos to where I can write about it and give you a good presentation of how soothing for the soul it is.

http://www.angsana.prestigeconstructions.com/spa/overview.html

So often, I take a lovely stroll from our house over to the gate near the pool and park area and the beautiful location for the Angsana Spa. When you first walk up there is an intoxicating and yet soothing scent permeating  the air. You walk up to the front desk where a lovely woman is standing there in her beautiful sari. You confirm you are there for your appointment at whatever time and she asks you to sit.

If you get there early enough, you will be asked if you would like cold or hot tea (cold meaning it has ice which to be on the safe side, I would, sadly, avoid) or bottle water. While you wait for your room to be prepped you can enjoy your hot tea or water, the view of the walkway to the different massage rooms or the view to the Oasis Clubhouse, the kitties that are family at the spa or even read any of the periodicals left on the table near the chairs.

Tea

Cute kitty that hangs out around spa.

Looking out from spa towards club house. 

Once your room is prepped, your masseuse comes out and asks you to follow her to your oasis of a room. You go down the walkway, with it's stone steps and large marble pebbles. My masseuse, Wanapom (that's Thai), escorts me to the door that leads to another small walkway and you can see the room hidden slightly by bamboo curtains. She opens the door and the smell of oils and flowers hit you but more like a light feather. It's such a peaceful smell and feeling. You go in and there are fresh flowers on every table in the room, including the massage table. I'm led over to where two chairs are to sit down and put on these little white slippers. Wanapom asks me if there are any areas that need extra work and if there are any areas that are sensitive or need to be treated with extra care. We talk for a moment then she leaves the room, while I get on the table. At Angsana they do draping with a sheet. It's important to ask at places if they do this, if you prefer discretion. If you don't, you may find yourself with a small towel covering your bottom or nothing at all. It's always good to ask up front.

Massage table

Seating area near massage tables.

Selection of hot oils.

Incense laid out with hibiscus flower.

Hibiscus laid out on towel.

Sidebar: Now, this is a recollection of my third visit to the spa. I've had Wanapom work on me twice now and plan to stick with her because she's amazing and speaks English well. We can understand each other and that is important when you want someone to know whether you need stronger pressure or softer pressure. The first masseuse I had, was not as good. She wasn't bad, but it was difficult when I couldn't express the pressure I needed and the fact that it was TOO much pressure on my back.

I get the "Dreams" massage. "The massage is created specifically for tired worn out bodies. The calming massage smoothes tensed muscles, aids to synchronize your body clock, mind and soul." For specific reasons, I need soft to medium pressure and it's the only one that offers that. Don't get me wrong, there are no complaints. It's more the masseuse and how over time she/he knows how to work on your body the way you prefer. At Angsana, you will only find female masseuses. In India, you will mostly find only female masseuses but if you prefer a male, some places with have one who can do that or they will find one who can. It will depend on how upscale the place is as well.

After the wonderful massage, which is either 90 mins. (2050 Rs. / $41) or 120 mins. (2500 Rs. / $53), you get to take a hot shower which is part of your room. It tops off the whole relaxation experience. No, wait, the following additional 30 minutes of alone time and relaxation in the chair, sitting back, listening to the wind rustling the palm trees and the birds chirping, THAT, is the true cherry on top of the whole spa experience at Angsana. It's worth every penny and is as amazing as it sounds.

The Shower

That's the spa experience. Any of you that visit, must try it out. They have duets (for couples) and they also do massages that will allow you to keep clothes on, such as Thai massages, head and shoulders, leg massages and foot massages. The also do hand and foot paraffins too that include massages and nail buffing and painting.

Leave comments, if you would like. I would love to know what you think or what you might want to see more of or know more about.