The unexpected last day of my pet-friendly staycation at Capella was relaxing. Lou and Abby had gone for a sleepover last night, and my vacation was extended one more night. Without needing to get up to walk or feed them, I took it easy.
Check-out was at 12noon and in case, of all days I slept in, I had set an alarm. After the second alarm went off, I stayed in bed a little longer.
I’m not sure I even moved, except to switch on the TV and changed my status on Facebook. I might have stretched. The bed was far too comfortable to remove myself from it.
After a leisurely breakfast, I headed to the gift shop. There I found a party of peacocks while I was waiting for the shop to open. I walked with them for a while. I followed them at a distance and watched them fly down to the grass lawn below, one by one. Such a mundane thing for them, so wonderfully unreal for me.
The skies opened up while I was browsing in the shop. It was no light drizzle. It was a glorious, tremendous, pool-clearing downpour. A rather typical tropical rain shower. I found two peacocks standing just outside the shop, under cover. Their feathers were decidedly ruffled.
So I borrowed an umbrella from the shop, took off my sandals, and headed back to Villa #12 to finish packing. It was already 11:30AM. The rain seemed to have completely cleared out the hotel grounds. It was empty, and reminded me of a post-apolcalyptic landscape.
On my way I passed by the pool. Sometimes one or a few people may be lounging in the sun. Today, it was empty. It was perfect. I already had my swimsuit on, ready for a dip. I just didn’t think it would be in the rain. The weather was looking promising earlier. I love swimming in the rain so it didn’t matter to me that it was wet, wet, wet. It wasn’t thundering so…why not.
I tested the water – it was warm. Surprisingly warmer than the villa’s plunge pool. There was no cold shock when I jumped in. The feeling, those brief moments underwater, was beyond words. This delight and joy that come from discovering things had turned out far beyond expectations.
Submerged, with the rain falling from the skies above, I felt buoyant, and not just physically. I was cocooned. Safe. Supported. The emptiness of the pool and the quiet of the hotel were incredibly comforting and soothing. My senses felt sharp and relaxed at the same time. The world belonged to me; an invigorating thought.
The thunder was the signal to leave. It must be getting close to noon anyway.
Usually I don’t take my cell phone with me. I was glad I did this time. I had locked myself out. With a quick call to the front desk, I asked for someone to unlock the villa and to bring a golf buggy for the luggage. I took these few moments standing outside my home away from home these past few days and despite all that was going on that was challenging and heartbreaking, my heart felt full and this sense of gratitude filled me. I was standing in an oasis in a tropical city.
Final Auriga Spa Visit
Checkout was 12noon. With my luggage taken care of and the stay already charged to the credit card, I decided to head to Auriga Spa. I didn’t have to be back in town for a couple more hours. So I threw on a robe over my still-wet swimsuit and left Villa #12.
Having a treatment at the Auriga Spa gives you access to the facilities throughout your stay and I had a few appointments. Visiting the spa was a great way to conclude my Capella Sentosa staycation. I started with the Vitality Pool. This time I braved the Cool Mist, inhaling the invigorating peppermint scent. I wondered how to install this magic at home.
Art at Capella Sentosa
The Library, in old colonial style decoration, sits above the lobby was for guests only. It’s a great space and full of interesting books. You can enjoy afternoon tea and cookies or other refreshments. And a nightcap in the evening.
You can also find Concierge there to have your trips – sight seeing, golfing – booked.
The Library is well, quiet. Unless someone is snoring. A guy was napping in one of the chairs.
Capella has a variety of art work, including sculptures, like “The Arcs” by Bernar Venet found on the Greens, spiralling steel curves that sit outside the Lobby.
A lot of the art is in the Lobby. You can find Salvador Dali, perhaps on loan from Opera Gallery, near the reception area. There is also a set of four paintings by Korean-born artist Hateam from her “Peek-a-Boo” series.
Information on the art is available from the Library or Lobby. Or you can ask for a tour of the grounds. On my walks around the hotel and visiting the spa and restaurants, I have already seen a lot of their collection.
At Auriga Spa, you find photography by Judith Larson. The idea is that the human body is a canvas, that we are all empty vessels. For this piece, she photographed naked bodies on which she projected Sanskrit.
My staycation at Capella on Sentosa was a good mix of nature, relaxation, art, and spending time with my girls and my bestie and her boys. Five days of vacation, right here at home in Singapore.