Trifter

 Just two decades or so ago, travel was highly desirable if one could maximize the better. Some travelers get up at six in the morning, and don’t finish shopping or sightseeing till late in the evening. One could well need a holiday after such holidays.

Today, some things have slowed down a bit, with the trend swinging “back to the basics”. Perhaps “trend” is not such an appropriate word for travel plans in search of some peace and tranquility, the warmth of indigenous furnishings, privacy or even oblivion—for a couple of days anyway. The “trend” could be here to stay. Because peace is less of a commodity than it is a necessity, natural materials remind us of our lovely world, and we do seek the great oblivion of sleep, for instance.

As a result, Asia can be proud of her spas and resorts—her niche actually. With modernization, kampongs (neighborhoods) of thatched houses have slipped into obscurity. The onus lies on individuals who can still recall to paint a vivid picture of life in the old days, children and chicken running about as well as hearty dinners in the docile night. There’s little electricity and definitely no mobile phones. You’re not a phone call away, and if someone had to walk a bit in the dark rubber plantations to disturb you, the chances are he won’t.

Nostalgia is indeed sour-sweet. Pleasant, yet melancholic. Which explains why Asian spas and resorts are such a huge success. They let you relive the past, and for travelers who’ve never tasted that side of Asia, here’s an opportunity. That thatched roofs are back, but with the added dimension of luxury. Splendid cliff villas on stilts with sweeping panoramas of the horizon, penetrative massages and bowing service personnel. Time slows down here. But are guests expected to do with a little electricity? Yes. Candles burn softly in the room so as to not disturb the mood.

More About Asian Travel:

Magical Hues of Nature in the Sacred Heart of Bali

Mad About Malaysia

Maldives: Savor the Most Incredible Waters on Earth

Singapore: Southern Escape