Staycation: Capella Day 5

Capella Lobby Sentosa Singapore

Today’s the last day of my staycation at Capella on Sentosa.

I had a check-out at 12noon and in case, of all days I sleep in, I set an alarm. After the second alarm went off, I just stayed in bed. Because I could.

I’m not sure I even moved, except to switch on the TV and changed my status on Facebook. I might have stretched. The girls had spent the night with Ken and so no morning walk today, for me. No dog-mommy duties.

After breakfast, I headed to the gift shop, and found a party of peacocks while I was waiting for the shop to open. I walked with them for a while. They may have called it stalking. Well, it was more not to intrude. To be able to hang out with peacocks is not an every day thing. I followed them 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.

I borrowed an umbrella from the shop, took off my sandals, and headed back to Villa #12 to pack. It was already 11:30am. The hotel had completely cleared out. It was empty, and reminded me of a post-apolcalyptic landscape.

Poolside was empty. It was perfect. I 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. Inviting. 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 and it 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 hotel, the quiet. The world belonged to me; an invigorating thought.

The thunder was the signal to leave. It must be getting close to noon anyway.

They say you manifest what you put your energy and thoughts on. Did I manifest being locked out? Or did I just foresee it? A quick call on my cell to Front Desk to arrange for someone to unlock the villa and to bring a buggy for the luggage. Modern convenience. And yes, the luxury of this did not escape me, even as I stood locked out, I was nonetheless standing in an oasis in a tropical city.

Checkout was 12noon and it was already charged to the card. Since I didn’t have to be back in town for a couple more hours, I decided to head to the spa. I threw on a robe over my still-wet swimsuit and left beautiful Villa #12.

Having a treatment at the Auriga Spa gives you access to the facilities throughout your stay. I love the Vitality Pool. I even braved the Cool Mist this time, inhaling the brilliant Peppermint scent. Refreshing. I wondered how to install this magic at home.

Foyer Staircase to Library Capella Sentosa Singapore

The Library, access only for registered guests, sits above the Lobby.

It’s a great space, full of books. Old colonial style. You can enjoy afternoon tea and cookies or other refreshments. And a nightcap later on.

You can also find Concierge there to have your trips – sight seeing, golfing – booked.

I saw a guy napping in one of the chairs.

The Library is well, quiet. Unless someone is snoring.

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, presumably on loan from Opera Gallery, near the reception area. A set of four paintings by Korean-born artist Hateam from her “Peek-a-Boo” series. (seen below)

Information on the art is available from the Library or Lobby. Or you can ask for a tour of the grounds. My walks around the hotel and visiting the spa and restaurants have already given me exposure to much of the art.

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.

August 15, 2014
September 1, 2016

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