Has life been busy lately?

The hustle and bustle of life, the non-stop cycle of work, kids, social connections, the constant ringing of your smartphone, the e-mail notifications, traffic—wow, that is hectic!

It sounds like you need a well-deserved break to refresh your soul, mind, and body to enjoy stillness, tranquil, and blissful moments of silence, where you can hear yourself think and spend beautiful moments alone or with friends and family.

Shirley Conlon lists three beautiful, little known eco hotels that she herself was lucky to stay at, where you can relax, feel nourished and rejuvenated, and come back with a new zest for life.

Here we go!

Swaswara in Gokarna India

OM-the primordial echo inspires the essence of Swaswara. This peaceful resort enables you to hear ” your inner voice,” celebrating simplicity and holistic wellness in its purest form.

This all-inclusive resort is super value for money. Offering seven different yoga classes per day– choose as little or many as you like. I was introduced to yoga nidra here, which blew my mind away. The staff are the essence of this retreat. For the yogis who like grape, they provide quiet a decent selection. The daily massage and prayer sung by the voice of a sweet angel therapist was heavenly as was the food and cooking classes. They harvest their own water from the monsoon season to supply all the needs of the resort and wastewater and food is recycled into organic fertilizer. I hope I’m lucky enough to go back one day.

Swaswara’s primary purpose is the reconstruction of your mind and body and to bring harmony and balance within. This beautiful haven boasts of some fantastic facilities:

• Large oxidized swimming pool
• Meditation deck on the cliff- where you can enjoy guided sunrise meditation
• Yoga shala-dedicated center for performing yoga
• Spacious, well-lit library
• A thatched roof meditation hut
• Art studio offering expression art and pottery after yoga class
• Cooking classes
• Wellness check-up on arrival and departure

Enjoy some delightful experiences such as nature trails, bird watching, boat ride, a visit to the temple town where you can have a glorious view of the Shiva temple, try interactive cooking, and unleash your creativity in the art studio.

Six Senses in Hua Hin a dream get-away in Thailand

Heal your soul listening to the calm and gentle sound of flowing water and Himalayan singing bowls in this beautiful Thai resort. Ideal for couples and families, Hua Hin, offers eco-friendly accommodation with a relaxed ambiance and plenty of natural lighting and calming hues coupled with comfort and modern conveniences.

It has been many years since I visited this resort, but the food and treatments were unforgettable, some of the best I’ve ever experienced. Their spa resembles something from the Flintstones, which is simply to-die-for.

Make lifelong memories strolling through the mangroves in a long-tailed boat, immerse yourself in the cultural richness of Hua Hin city and Bangkok, enjoy a thrilling game of Thai boxing, and enjoy activities such as archery, beach volleyball, biking, and pétanque. Nurture yourself with yogic detox and release your stress and tension through the hot stone massage.

Hua Hin resort is environmentally conscious; they support elephants and mangrove ecosystems, and recently they helped children from a hill tribe orphanage to build an egg farm and a vegetable plantation.

Four Seasons in Langkawi Malaysia

Welcome to this jungle cloaked island retreat, flanked by limestone cliffs, emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, and a tropical rainforest-Four Seasons resort will take your breath away. Whether you prefer a quiet romantic haven or a fun-filled family-oriented retreat, this jungle resort has it all.

Four Seasons will enthrall you with scintillating experiences, set sail, and look at the breathtaking 550 million-year-old cliffs and thick mangroves and have close encounters with exotic animals. Experience the ancient methods of fishing and enjoy glorious views from the world’s steepest cable car and sky bridge.

Our family room was stunningly decorated in a simple, elegant eco style. An oversized bathtub, enormous outdoor shower and wall to wall glass panels directly overlooked the ocean and a private pool, which was surrounded by a thousand coconut trees where clever monkeys played around in the hopes of finding a banana.

If you’re braver than me, enjoy the rugged forest canopy adventure with the zip lines. Try your hand at cooking and immerse yourself in the flavor and fragrance of Malay cuisine. Have fun together as a family with rock climbing, henna tattoos, and batik paintings. Kids will have their hands full with kids yoga, natural excursions, treasure hunts, archery, and plenty of other exciting sports.

I was lucky to experience their Raja and Ratu (King and Queen) ritual, where the focus in on the sacral, heart, and crown chakras to strengthen relationships. This mind-blowing ritual is followed by a traditional blessing ceremony. Experience Ayurvedic body massages that restore your natural balance with ancient energies to bless you with a sense of inner harmony.

Shirley Conlon Organics wishes you BonVoyage!