| When compiling a list of things to do on a | | | | with their understanding and adaptation of |
| luxury travel itinerary, a visit to an | | | | the Dreaming. Luxury travel has now found its |
| organic spa would come somewhere close to the | | | | newest pasture-one that has fresh, natural, |
| top and generously interspersed throughout, | | | | and least processed products that your skin |
| depending on the length of your travel. Well, | | | | and soul will be grateful for. The other |
| the choices are many at most luxury travel | | | | side of luxury travel is now undoubtedly |
| destinations. Here's why a trip down under to | | | | sustainable travel. It's time to show the |
| Australia is worth serious consideration. Ask | | | | door to petrol guzzlers, and institutions |
| anyone who has travelled to Australia and | | | | with monstrously big carbon shoe prints. In |
| they'll have tales to tell of the tough | | | | the world of personal care, now is the time |
| immigration policies that won't even let you | | | | to bid adieu to parabens, petrochemical bi |
| bring along a wad of gum from abroad. While | | | | products, dimethicones, and a variety of |
| immigration officials are not the friendliest | | | | chemicals also used by morgue technicians to |
| of folks, they most certainly do not derive | | | | preserve dead bodies. You have an alternative |
| any perverse pleasure from denying you the | | | | that is pure, natural, and not tried on some |
| right to bring along a pretty orchid from | | | | poor guinea pig in a cage. Organic spas |
| Singapore or your pet tarantula from Africa | | | | guarantee the use of such clean products. |
| just to see the gloom flood your face. They | | | | Organic spas are all the rage in major |
| are merely doing their job. And it is their | | | | Australian cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, |
| job to protect the fragile ecosystem of this | | | | and Brisbane which are also big time luxury |
| unique landmass, down under, from foreign | | | | travel destinations. A commitment to the well |
| organic matter that may disrupt or even | | | | being of the planet and the welfare of the |
| destroy the delicate balance. For 50,000 | | | | customers makes these ventures a strong link |
| years or more, the aboriginals have inhabited | | | | in the chain of sustainability. Some of these |
| this part of the world and lived in harmony | | | | spas have extended businesses where they grow |
| with the land, the water, the vegetation, the | | | | their own raw materials. Great care is taken |
| seasons, the wildlife, the rain, and the | | | | to preserve intact the goodness of all |
| rock. They left no footprint on any of these | | | | materials used. Fair Trade practices are |
| elements unless it was a playful hop, skip, | | | | followed wherever possible when goods are |
| or jump that benefited both ways. They lived | | | | sourced from abroad. Active collaboration or |
| off the land, on the land, and by the land, | | | | advice from the aboriginal people is a great |
| as one with the land. They didn't have | | | | way of enhancing lives in more ways than one. |
| hypertension, strokes or diabetes. What they | | | | Organic farming of source vegetation required |
| had was clear skin and eyes that shone. They | | | | to create creams and emollients becomes a |
| were Dreaming; the eternal truth that links | | | | source of employment for aboriginal |
| the past, present, and future, and the people | | | | communities. In return we get the invaluable |
| to their land. Now what would this have to | | | | in terms of ancient wisdom. Luxury travel in |
| do with luxury travel, you might well ask. | | | | search of authentic relaxation and spa |
| Having come to the sad conclusion that the | | | | treatments, where all side effects are of the |
| faster the rat race the wearier the soul, | | | | benevolent kind, are made for each other |
| people embark on luxury travel as a means of | | | | concepts. 'Have money will spend' will have |
| solace away from it all. They eagerly look | | | | better outcomes when that money is spent |
| around for new outlets, fresh pastures, and | | | | responsibly. Giving back to nature might not |
| healthier alternatives to achieve that | | | | be on everyone's good deed for the day list. |
| nirvana. The good news for all is that the | | | | Mainly because most people don't think that |
| Dreaming has been re-discovered here in | | | | far, or if they do, they can't think of many |
| Australia. More and more people are turning | | | | ways to do it other than refusing the odd |
| to the ancient earthy wisdom of the | | | | plastic shopping bag. Organic spas are where |
| aboriginals to figure out modern ills. What | | | | you can give as good as you get. And down |
| was once considered good at best for some | | | | under is where it's at right now. Let's |
| novelty value has now come to be recognized | | | | sustain this blue marble we call home and |
| for its intrinsic truth. Now isn't that the | | | | replenish the natural glory as best as we |
| final destination of all travel? The wisdom | | | | can. |
| of the aboriginal way of life is now | | | | |
| increasingly adapted to main stream life, but | | | | Justine has been a journalist for 20 years |
| nowhere as much as in the world of luxury | | | | and is a contributor to Just The Planet, the |
| spas. The word organic that was bandied about | | | | online luxury travel magazine for independent |
| as casually as bananas by monkeys, has now | | | | travellers. Read more about luxury spas |
| assumed its true significance. It has taken | | | | around the world and discover more luxury |
| on its authentic avatar in the organic spas | | | | getaways here. |
| that are now standing apart from the crowd | | | | |