A SOOTHING RAINFOREST shower, a cool dip in a frigidarium or a bath in a hot laconicum ... welcome to the new world of spas, where communal bathing is in, and ancient traditions are being combined with modern technology.
In Japan, Korea and many parts of Europe, communal bathing (both segregated and mixed) is traditional - but in Hong Kong it's only just started to take off, particularly at the luxury end of the spa market.
Both the Landmark Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons Hotel in Central have recently opened bathhouses.
So, what are they like?
The open communal bathing or wet areas of both spas centre on a waist- deep vitality pool, in which you can lie on a metal bed and be massaged by jets of water. Surrounding the pool are a series of so-called water rituals such as a laconicum, tepidarium (warm room), frigidarium and a rasul (see breakout).
You walk around the wet area, naked or in a robe or swimsuit, enjoying whichever treatments take your fancy.