Over the Christmas holidays my hubs @morkrock and I went away for a few days to see our family and just chill in general. We drove out to Swellendam, which is a teensy little dorpie or town about three hours out of Cape Town.
Swellendam is the greenest, smallest town I have seen. It has this quaint old-timey feeling, mainly due to the stunning old buildings that are all over. Most of the older buildings have thatched roofs.
There's not much to do except EAT. There are something like 35 restaurants in the town, and it's only about four roads large! It's one of those places that you go to chill the fok out, unwind, read a book, take in some history, and get a massage.
One of my favourite attractions in Swellendam is the Rain Spa. Rain is an ethical, organic from the earth spa and beauty product store. I was already familiar with the brand as there is a branch here in Cape Town, but I was keen to visit their Swellendam store too.
I really wanted to fit in a massage or treatment, but our stay in Swellendam was short and there wasn't much time. The treatments all use from-the-earth products, and have names such as Metamorphis, Cocoon, and Elephant Walk. Focusing on African ingredients and experiences, it sounds a little pretentious but I was very keen to try it out.
We did have time to check out the retail store, and I was able to purchase a few of the luxurious soaps and bath salt concoctions. They have stunning massage bars, which are compact oils, which melt upon touching skin.
I really liked the experience of being in the store. The products smelt amazing, and there was an incredible bright light, with lots of green plants and creepers everywhere.
The soaps are all natural, and the shop assistant told me that each bar has about six people in the manufacturing process. I was also excited to hear that Rain has a training system for therapists, or trainee therapists, from disadvantaged areas. If a therapist trains through their program, they are also first to be considered for employment in the Rain spas. I really loved hearing that, as I am so passionate about giving back to communities.
When we got back to Cape Town, I was so excited to try out some of the products, but my massage bar (the item I was most looking forward to using) had melted on the journey home! I was SO sad! Lulz. Summer in Africa, hey.
Rain has branches all over South Africa, and there are even a few abroad, in Manhattan, California and Ireland. You can find out more about them here.
I hope you enjoyed this little snippet of my holiday, and that I was able to properly portray to you my experience, but if you felt that I did not (or even that I did) please let me know in your comments below. Feedback and criticism is important, as we cannot move forward without knowing if we have made mistakes, or have room for improvement.
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I'm sorry that you didn't have time for a massage, place looks awesome.
Hehe, me too! Itβs ok - next time!
Those pics are nice! And that spa looks very big with tons of products, but since I donβt know much about spas I cannot give a proper opinion about them LOL
That sun from Africa must be similar to the one we have here in Venezuela, +30 Celsius degrees ALL year along. I want a little snow please βοΈ βοΈ
Haha, yes it is VERY hot here too. Not quite 35βc (thatβs only on the hottest days) and our winters can be freezing (5βC).
I didnβt knew you had winter there! Then that weather is better, here we donβt have winter, just some rainy days with minimum 20βC on those days. The normal temperature here is about 30βC every day π
Oh no I will die! I love good weather and getting out and about in it, bit Cape Town weather is coollld! I love it. Lots of blankets and cuddles.
your picture image is always the best...do you use camera or phone to snap it? @princessmewmew
Thank you thatβs very kind. I use my iPhone 6s, but then I always make increase the contrast and brightness in a photo editor. It helps a lot. X
woow that is cool...i guess i have to buy an iphone now...lol..i have vote adscatly as witness too..because you are the best...will start promoting it in my blog too
Thatβs awesome, appreciate that very much !
what you and mork did for me...was unbelievable ...so the best i can do is to support the society and make it grow...it my dream that we will get to the top..we can..and will do it too
Ah no man! We just helped you a little bit. Anyone would have done it xxx
The little was more than enough for me ...thank you
Well enjoyed Holiday
I really like the all white theme the store uses. Almost reminds me of an Apple Store.
Haha!! Yes, an organic apple store π the white is very calming and serene
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I'm very tired today. Now I would like to be there and enjoy the beautiful spa. I'm very tired today. Now I would like to be there and enjoy the beautiful spa. Unfortunately not now. But I want to go on a weekend. Thank you for your advice and sharing. @princessmewmew
Shame, you sound very tired! Iβm thibking of going for a massage this week. Working all day at my real life job and steeming all night is hard work! Where are you from @darksea?
Yep. Realy so hard. I am from Trabzon in Turkey. And you?
Iβm from South Africa. @oguylmz (first comment) is also from Turkeyπ
yes I saw you after you said. He also lives in Izmir.
You got some solid followers from Turkey :) Btw since we're talking about origins i'm a huge fan of Die Antwoord. Not sure if you like them because they are kind of aggressive, and you're a kind person :)
hahaha! I love your reasoning there
I don't love Die Antwoord, because I used to listen to them back when they were Max Normal and I loved their style back then. Here's a link to a live version Of Hazel's Joint by Max Normal. It's a crappy vid but this is almost twenty years ago, you can see how he looked before he was Ninja.
Here's a link to a better audio
I don't necessarily think they sold out, but they definitely cashed in on the gangster thing which in my opinion is not very authentic. But hey. I do love the music of Die Antwoord, it's still Waddy no matter how he looks ;)
Lol. I didn't know his background and i thought they started as Die Antwoord. Yolandi might have changed him this way.. Women.. You have so much power to change anything you want :P
I don't like the gangster thing also but in their video clips they point out the problems in that way. They seem like freaks but they give so good messages actually if we are able to understand them.
In Turkey most of the rappers made appearance so aggressively and gangster-style in the beginning, but they chilled after some time. It's the opposite for Die Antwoord then. They are going more aggressive and gangster everyday :) But i still love the music video of Ugly Boy. Cara Delevingne and Marilyn Manson. It's really hard to convince them to play in that clip i think, so there must be something really different about Ninja.
Also i love the way you make an effort and reply comments, not fudging them.
mew mew! Pwetty, my cwush π
Hehehehe oh dear! Thank you (blush)
Woah..what a great tour . Yeah you really misses the massage because you made so much emphasis on it but sure you getting the soap and others serve as a real time outing with .and it's such amazing such a place got lots of places to have fun .and in no doubt,you have shared your how your spent you holiday with those lovely pictures. You sure desire natural skin beautification which is very good.. thanks for sharing .
Yeah, I was a bit bummed but itβs all good! Thanks for stopping by!
The pictures are amazing. Your visit to your family In Swellendam really worth the effort. I will Sincerely say I know nothing about spa. This post has just encourage me to do more research on that.thanks for sharing this post.
Pleasure. Glad to share with you x
What's amazing about your post is the diversity we see around the world. There are so many misperceptions out there and your photos bring out the beauty that exists throughout the world. Awesome!
South Africa in particular is exceptionally diverse.
Thanks for stopping by!
Your picture quality always attract me to you really if I had that opportunity of massages I would stil be there by now nice time you had there thanks for sharing please go low me let me see more of your post @juli1
What a great article. Just terrific.
I love a place that uses earth based stuff. And helps the disadvantaged areas, too.
One in Carmel (on the Ocean, near San Francisco) and one in Desert Hot Springs, not too far from me. Washington DC, Virginia, New York, Connecticut.
It's winter here and it's 27C right now. We can get to 0C, but it is rare. And 45C is pretty normal in Summer.
Thanks for a great post!
Those are some extreme temperatures. Iβve always wanted to visit California. One day!
Lovely post , had no idea that there is a RAIN Spa ?!
I love RAIN Products !!
The Angel dust bath salts is amazing, has golden shimmer it.
Yes there is. Iβve wlways wanted to go! One day!
Nice to see you steeming again missy x
CAN YOU SEND ME A MESSEAGE BEFORE YOU POST ???? πππ π
Swellendam looks super interesting. I am not so much in the treatment stuff but the buildings look great :) I will remember to check it.
Yes, there are some stunning historical buildings.
Great!!! You are awesome @princessmewmew
Elephant Walk? That's a weird ass name, i would definitely try it just because of the name, do you remember what it was?
Ummm, I will look it up!
Lucky lady. I need to spoil my wife this way.
Yes, everyone does. Thanks for stopping by πππ
oh , I was passing through, but didn't realise it is such a nice town . Would definitely stop by the SPA it looks fabulous !
That spa retail space looks TO DIE FOR. Wow, beautiful. I'd love to visit sometime.
You've been resteemed + followed as part of the #LadiesofSteemit initiative. Looking forward to keeping up with your posts!
That looks like the perfect type of shop to browse in on a holiday, or any day really. I can imagine how wonderful it must smell in there.
The thatched roof and architecture looks so nice. I can almost feel the warmth through my computer screen, whilst it is cold here and might snow again. Oh well, it'll be Spring in a month or so.
I love that so many people are involved in those soaps! What a great thing to know how many jobs are supported by using a product that I bet is also a joy to use!
This post so makes me want to find a Rain Store. I love soaps and lotions. Oh and a wonderful day at the spa. Thanks for the post. ππ