I was adrift. With my eyes closed, the waft from the burning oils, adding to the ambience in the cool room, soothed me. It was dark except for the flicker of tea light candles set in the corners which also reflected in the mirror. The music, - more like the sound - emanating from the speakers set high up in the corners of the room was soft, floating, and was of melodies of falling water with birds chirping in a distance. I was adrift!
Having needed to be kneaded, here was I, smeared all over in essential oils, with my soar back and shoulders getting the most intense rub. I could feel the tension desert me, and I couldn’t believe the peace that engulfed me as I lay flat on the bed, with my face lodged into an opening which enabled me to face downward and breathe comfortably.
Only minutes before, I was negotiating a turn in Accra Central, and had to use all my reflexes and senses to manoeuvre to avoid hitting the side of a taxi! Christ! Where do these people learn how to drive! And they also so insult us, you know. “As for these private drivers,” they say, “Where do they learn how to drive?” Ah!!!
But, I was at peace now. The energy from the candles’ fire, balanced with the cool air from the AC, and while I felt cold, I also felt warm. It was like an expectant woman yearning for hot ice cream! So calm and serene was the ambience in the room that I felt completely transported. The lady who gave me my massage was also ever so gentle, but knew just where to apply pressure. Before doing anything, she’d explain the processes. I didn’t care! I just wanted the aches to go away. I just wanted a massage! In a short while, though, her magic was working. I felt completely relaxed, loosened and soothed. It was as though I had never had an ache in my life!
I heard her mumble something, before I heard the door shut. Something like she was done, and that I could lie there a while before dressing up, and also, could she get me a glass of water or something. Maybe I said I yes, because when I finally rose from my slumber, I found a tall glass of water with ice cubes and slices of lemon, with reflections of the flickering candles illuminating it!
The candles were everywhere. They were dotted all along the stairs and corridors, even in the washroom. I love the way candles flicker, and these ones also gave off a nice scent that filled the corridors. They give a place a welcoming feel, and these ones set my nerves unwinding the moment I stepped into the Allure Spa in the City this afternoon for my massage. Feeling thoroughly pampered after that experience, I have since repeated it twice more in the space of about six months! As for the cost of the service, the less said about it, the better. It ‘s dear, but if I remember the elation I get after each massage –and I’ve tried massage from friends and family at home – it’s all worthwhile, I’d say!
That was just what I needed again today, but alas, the day came to a close before I could go get pampered, and as I made my way from the car park to the Ocean View lawn at the La Palm Beach Hotel where the gala dinner of the Ghana Music Awards was taking place, all I was thinking of was being rubbed! That was before stepping onto the lawn and seeing what a grand affair tonight’s event was!
In the expanse of the lawn, there was set a dinning arena with a dance floor and huge stage and a band, the Sappers Band, I gathered, churning out some fabulous tunes. Being lead sponsors, there were MTN Y’ello colours everywhere, brightening the space! It felt good to see all that having been put on in honour of our musicians. And they came in droves, young and old, hip and highlife, mingling, showing off their apparel, as well as their companions! But with only seven or so awards presented tonight, I wondered why the organizers didn’t just make all the presentation at the main event, which was only two days away. It was, however, still an enjoyable night with a special award going to veteran musician P. K. Yamoah, the man who composed that evergreen tune, one of my all time favourite highlife number, ‘Serwa Akoto’! Isn’t it great that the Ghana Music Awards is 9 years, going on ten? Tomorrow, Sunday, there’s the Celebration Jam at La Beach, where among great local acts, New York’s rap sensation Ja Rule will slam an hour long show. I’ll be there.
When I heard that Revele Films, the production company that brought us the movie ‘Run Baby Run’, and ‘Home Sweet Home’, the TV series, had cast the clown, Egya Koo in his latest offing simplistically titled “Fire for Fire”, I wondered why on earth the director, Emma Apea chose to do that. But seeing some scenes of the movie which premieres in Kumasi on May 1, I was convinced of Emma convictions that, going ‘local’ didn’t necessarily mean compromising on quality! Exploring contemporary family succession issues, - “a case of two wives and two first born children” - the film’s special effects and other technical details are all high grade, making it clear that, there is a need to make our movies more relevant to our audience. And Egya Koo, I dare say, is just fantastic!
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