Updates 15 January 2011

Coming back from a recent visit to Lao, there are 2 entries coming. Both from Xieng Khouang province: one already published, one to be published later this or next month. This brings the list of countries with hot springs featured up to 7, nearly 40 featured soaks in all.

Despite the difficulties in traveling Lao it must rank high on anyone's 'to do' list. Culture and scenery are beautiful. And if willing to put up some effort, there are also nice hot springs and beautiful waterfalls to be visited (see Waterfalls of Southeast Asia). More entries in the waterfalls blog have taken place on Thailand, Lao and Cambodia.

Publishing new entries on Hot springs of the Himalaya has come to an end, from now on there will be only re-publishing as and when time allows, hopefully keeping the info published up to date.

Press
Other interesting news is being kept to a minimum, despite this being the ultimate season for soaking in Asia.
Sydney Morning Herald has put in a glowing overview of Banjaran Hotspring Resort near Ipoh, Malaysia. "Spectacular" is a quote which seems to justify the reporters free overnight stay; other than that she seems not very impressed.

Thanhniennews has a feature on Binh Chau, a hot spring I visited (and featured) earlier last year. added info is the fact that the springs were

' “discovered” in 1928 by a French doctor named Salle'.

As if not known before ... Overall a very positive article though again not very journalistic.

Further away, Cityweekend's Shanghai edition hopes it can get it's readers naked. At Tangshan hot spring.

'People have been getting naked there for 1,500 years, due to the hot springs and their famously curative waters. It was fenced off as a royal sanitarium for most of that time. These days, though, anyone with a little coin can take the plunge'.

Then it transpires they mean Kayamunis:

'You see, the Kayumanis is all about privacy. The 21 villas—each over 300 q. meters—are all enclosed by high walls. Inside you’ll find a cold plunge pool and what you came for—your own private hot spring nourished by 50 degree Celsius waters containing numerous healing elements. High walls means no roving eyes. Bathrobes are optional in your private estate, even in cold, early spring weather'.

The walls come with a price, upwards of $600 per night! Stay a few nights and you could have spent the same amount on a new bathroom with your own hot spring (?!).

Geothermality
A mainstream article by National Geographic looks at the future of geothermal power generation. Apparently Kenya will be leading the way followed by Indonesia.

Readers'tips
From the UK press, the Guardian comes this list of reader's tips concerning

'spa's and hot springs - the best places to chill out in warm water'.

The winning tip concern's New Zealand's Hot Water Beach and Kerosene Creek, even though they are nearly a day's drive away. From Southeast Asia the only tip concern's Thap Ba (Vietnam) while Asia at large gets tips on a hot spring in Jordan and 2 in Japan. So much for soaking being a popular past time ...

Hot Water Beach: dig in? (visited 2007)