Day five in the tropical paradise of Ubud began at a deliberately slow pace. After the first four days—filled with adaptation, culture shock, art crises, and minor grasshopper trauma—Nisa and Reza decided that today was dedicated to "Total Relaxation Without Question Marks (Hopefully!)." The main agenda? A Balinese-style Spa Day right in their villa, complete with professional therapists and traditional concoctions promising peace of mind and body.
The morning started with a leisurely breakfast on the terrace, accompanied by the gentle sound of water trickling from the koi pond and the rice fields still shrouded in a thin mist. This time, there was no morning yoga schedule to invite Kung Fu grasshoppers. Instead, after breakfast, the pendopo area—used yesterday for the canang lesson—was transformed into a mini spa sanctuary. Several massage beds were rearranged, adorned with fresh frangipani flowers, and the soft aroma of essential oils blending lemongrass, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang gently wafted through, creating a truly peaceful atmosphere. Three Balinese female therapists, with calm smiles and simple traditional attire, were ready to welcome their VVIP "patients."
"Okay, everyone," Nisa announced with a broad smile. "Today, we pamper ourselves. Forget the packed schedules, the philosophical questions, or the glasses-stealing monkeys for a moment. Today is about Balinese me-time!"
The Corrs looked enthusiastic, although a slight skepticism lingered in Andrea's eyes. "This... there won't be any weird rituals again, will there, Nisa? Like a flower bath where the flowers might have hidden caterpillars?"
Nisa laughed. "Relax, An. Today is purely relaxation. We have Balinese massage, a traditional spice body scrub (lulur), and perhaps later this afternoon, a warm flower soak again—but I guarantee the flowers have passed the pest control sensor this time!"
The spa session began with the Balinese massage. Unlike the Palace massage, which focused more on muscles and deep tissue work, this Balinese massage felt gentler, flowing, utilizing lots of warm coconut oil and the rhythmic pressure of thumbs and palms. Caroline, who was still slightly tense yesterday because she almost turned into an Irish flag after forgetting sunblock (a joke we'll save for the outline, but the imagination is already there, LOL), was now completely yielding and was gently snoring again within the first fifteen minutes. Sharon, the true massage connoisseur, seemed to enjoy every moment, occasionally letting out sighs of pleasure that made her therapist smile.
Jim, this time, didn't ask many questions. He genuinely seemed to be attempting to relax, eyes closed, although Nisa occasionally saw his eyebrows furrow, perhaps trying to decipher the code behind the massage pressure on his body's meridian points.
And Andrea? After the "tickle-fest" incident yesterday, she seemed more prepared this time. She tried to focus on her breathing, enjoying the warmth of the oil and the aromatherapy. She still flinched occasionally when the therapist pressed certain points, but this time, there were more sighs of relief than giggles. "Okay, this... this is much better than the 'broken bone' massage I imagined!" she muttered to her therapist, who simply smiled understandingly.
Nisa and Reza chose to be massaged side-by-side in a slightly more private corner of the pendopo. For Nisa, moments like this were a rare luxury. Temporarily shedding the burden of state responsibility, allowing her stiff muscles—tired from too many seated meetings or standing at official events—to relax. She glanced at Reza beside her, who looked so peaceful with his eyes closed. A moment like this, comfortable silence together, felt more precious than any praising speech.
After the massage session left their bodies feeling light as cotton, it was time for the main event: The Traditional Spice Scrub (Lulur). The therapists brought bowls filled with a thick, yellowish-brown paste that smelled... unique. A mixture of turmeric, rice, ginger, cinnamon, and whatever other secret herbs were involved.
"What is this for?" Caroline asked suspiciously, pointing at the scrub bowl with her chin.
"This is lulur, Ms. Caroline," one of the therapists explained. "It's to exfoliate dead skin cells, smooth, and brighten the skin. The beauty secret of the Javanese and Balinese princesses of the olden days."