#socialsoakingsilently

Social media

Love it or not, social media is increasingly becoming a feature in our lives. 

And how about (social) soaking? 

Well, you are of course all familiar with the Facebook page of Soaking in Southeast Asia. Besides this there are many other hot spring Facebook pages, mostly dedicated to just the one soak. Particulary active are the U.S. Facebook pages of Cougar, Deep Creek and Pah Tempe. Beyond these though there's no much on offer, surely no regular original content. 

Certainly not in Southeast Asia. Or is there? (Note, there are many Japanese language hot spring pages ...).

Twitter? No idea.

Pinterest? What about this one, I Love Hot Springs? Personally, I don't get Pinterest ...

Soaking spirit, my alter ego on Tumblr, seems to be the globe's choice of tumblr soakers. There are though a few more solely dedicated to hot springs, but with very irregular postings ...

Instagram seems to receive quite a lot of photo's concerning nextgen soakers, just use the search function followed by #hotspring.

Surging ahead

Ongoing drama. The CS Monitor (Nov. 5, 2012) questions nuclear or geothermal for Japan. 

'Located nine miles southwest of Fukushima city, Tsu­chi­yu is launching a bold test in harnessing the potential of Japan's huge subterranean reserves of volcanic water.

By spring 2014, Tsuchiyu hopes to be generating 250 kilowatts of electricity – about a quarter of its total needs – at a new geothermal plant located on its outskirts'.

The Financial Times (Nov. 4, 2012) then has an article on the same theme, but concerning Indonesia. It notes many regulatory and technical shortcomings but remains upbeat:

'As the world’s most volcanically active country, Indonesia has been bestowed with unparalleled potential reserves of geothermal energy, which is renewable and produces almost no carbon emissions.

With the Indonesian government trying to fulfil surging energy demand while reducing carbon emissions, it is keen to accelerate the development of a raft of proposed geothermal power plants backed by local and international investors'. 

Though it highlights the dilemma between soaking and electricity generation in Japan, it neglects the issue in Indonesia. Is there no dilemma in Indonesia?

Apparently not, Japan's Sumitomo completes a 110 MW plant on Sumatra, Indonesia: 

'Located in the Ulubelu district, Tanggamus county in Lampumg Province at the southern tip of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, the Ulubelu power station was built as the first large scale geothermal power generating facility on the island'.

Malaysia is developing it's first geothermal plant, to commence in two years. What the future entails: 

'In addition, to enable access to the project site and transport drilling rig, plant and equipments, an access road of approximately 18km in length, including 3 bridges, need to be constructed'. 

Soakers need not apply.

Meanwhile things are going so smooth on Leyte, Philippines: 

'Several groups have joined forces to oppose the sale of the unified Leyte geothermal plants on Leyte, Philippines. This is based on the fear of increasing electricity prices for the single most important power plant complex in the country'.

Just (or unjust?) politics then...

Create your own?

• Malaysia

A new find, Kampung Bongkek, Negiri Sembilan, Malaysia. From the New Strait Times (21 Oct., 2012): 

'The hot spring can still be seen today, right by the river bank and  with shrubs growing around it.

Basri said there were suggestions and efforts to develop the hot spring to attract more tourists to the village, in view of its history.

“However, the land belongs to someone who is not willing to give it up yet so we have no right to develop it”'.

Yea!

• Singapore

'Tekong Hot Spring'.

Singapore. From flickr member chia_alfred

• Indonesia

Another write up on Angseri hot springs, Bali, Indonesia. It adds this: 

'The natural attractions in Angseri Hot Spring used only as a traditional bathhouse. Starting from the strong desire of local communities to manage the hot water source and on the idea of ​​thinking Angsari six villagers in October 2007 where it was built and opened to the public a comfortable bathing area. Furthermore formed groups totaling 80 people and brought the name of the citizens Angseri Group Is Nature Angseri with legal forms CV'.

Another Angseri experience:

'Each cabin contained a stone bathtub, large enough to seat five people. A black-and-white checkered cloth covering the lower part of the bamboo walls allowed some privacy to soak in the invigorating, clear water that was hot enough to render my friend’s skin as red as a boiled prawn'. 

The same author also condures up the following on the hot springs of Tempuran, Wonosobo: 

'The first ponds weren’t exactly located in Wonosobo, but in a similarly blessed district on its west:  Banjarnegara. The hot springs were scattered in a neighborhood called Wanayasa, and together they form a bathing compound called Tempuran.

Please be warned that you shouldn’t go there at night, the way we foolishly did. We gambled with our lives when thick mist suddenly blanketed the hills and we had only about a five-meter field-of-view of the road, kind of like in the horror movie Silent Hill. All the while a deep gorge was on one side of the path we traveled on our motorbikes. My ex cried and begged to go home. But we soon forgot the terrifying time spent on the route from hell once we got to Tempuran.

...

Tempuran has different ponds for males and females, but the last two don’t. Women and little kids usually go there earlier than the men. To give you a heads up, most people bathe naked in all of these ponds'.

'A hot springs pond in Tempuran late at night. Cold and traumatized, we quickly jumped into it as soon as we arrived. Photo by Indra Nugroho'.

And steadying the nerves. Can anyone tell me why the need to smoke?

• Thailand 

Sometimes soaking news can be very special: 

'Occupiers of a row of rented apartments in Huay Yai Village, located on the southern outskirts of Pattaya [Thailand] reported the possible discovery of a geothermal hole situated at the front of one of the apartments on Wednesday afternoon.

Although highly unlikely, officials from the Pollution Control Department, the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment along with Huay Yai Municipal Officers led by the Mayor of Hua Yai made their way to the block of rooms to see for themselves the hole which had been created by locals to uncover the hot undersoil which was producing steam.

A thermometer recorded a temperature of 50C inside the hole and a demonstration involving a Chicken egg took place whereby it was cooked and ready to be consumed in under 20 minutes after being placed inside the hole. Checks were made and an explanation was given by officials who blamed poor installation of electrics and the rise in the water table due to recent rains. We were told that checks on the electrics installed in the rooms, which were constructed 4 years ago, indicated a leak of power into the ground which accounts for the occupiers unusually high electric bills which, up until now, could not be explained. As the water table rose it came into contact with the leaking electric causing the water to increase in temperature and evaporate which produced the steam and made the ground warm under-foot'. 

Can't believe it's true ...

Is there a post 21st?

What will the future look like?

'Tongjing Hot Spring Resort will start construction at the end of 2012, planned to be completed in March 2013, after which it will become a tourism highlight in Chongqing, the hot spring capital of the world, according to Chongqing Municipal Government on November 5, 2012.

Covering 342 mu with an investment of 1.28 billion yuan, the Resort is located in Tongjing Town, Yubei District, Chongqing. It will be built in accordance with the national 5A standard with a capacity of 1 million tourists. The hot spring center covers an area of 75 mu, including an indoor hot spring center and a outdoor park, able to hold 2,500 persons'. 

Hope not!

Sulfur, Siam & self-indulgence

Not much self generated news this time, so let's go to the regional soakers press:

The Jakarta Post (12 Oct) has a feature article of the hot springs at the foot of Gunung Sibayak on Sumatra (Indonesia), previously highlighted on this site. The village of Semangat Gunung counts 9 commercial soaking sites and according to the article can 

'remove dandruff'. 

Also noteworthy: 

'Sulfur powder is obtained by sieving sulfur water after being laid exposed for one night. It is sold at the price of Rp10,000 (US$1.04) for three packs. Many tourists buy the powder. Sugiran, a tourist from Medan, was one of the visitors buying the powder. He said he had taken a sulfurous bath for the first time and was interested in applying the powder to heal his skin disorder. “The rash on my body will hopefully be cured by this powder,” added Sugiran while soaking in a pool'.

Bathing in Borneo
 The local Post reports (9 Sept): 

'The hot spring at Kpg Panchor Dayak along Kuching [Malaysia]- Serian road recorded 15,076 visitors in the first eight months of this year'.

That's 60 a day for recently improved springs. 

'The Mambong MP [Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos] advised the village chief to request for parking space from the local council and electricity to be connected to the area. He said his ministry was willing to help'.

Hmmm, lets not hope it's a road to ruin. 

A very neutral review of Southeast Asia's most popular hot spring, Poring, with the addition of this: 

'If you are shy to bath in public, you can pay a little more for the private room located in the cabin behind the hot spring. Each room can accommodate two people. Remember to bring your swimsuit as you are not allowed to get naked in public in a Muslim country...'. 

?

Thai Tales

Travel Thailand has an entry on Thasatorn hot spring, Suratthani, Thailand. Some nice pictures, other not much to add to the Soaking in Siam blog entry. Travel Thailand does have an entry on the hot spring of Samet, Chaiya, Suratthani: 

'At Tambon Samet in Amphoe Chaiya, Surat Thani Province. away from Amphoe Chaiya about 4 kilometers hot springs is holy water. consists of two small caves and two natural hot spring'. 

Again. nice photo's.

Sai Ngam hot spring, Pai, Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. 

Photo found on picasa site of Ka zu. Apparently this hot spring is a tourist destination waiting to be discovered with a few tourist bungalows present.

By the way, Soaking on Siam has once more an overview of press clippings on the newly opened Yunomori onsen, a natural hot spring bath house in the center of Bangkok. Most comment on how outlandish the Japanese bathing culture is towards the conservative Thai society (as well as that towards the anglo-saxon reporters backgrounds), though they note that many Thai join in. All glowing repotrys (not only literally ...). 

I have two questions, one about the source of the water and the need to keep the water sanitary. And the other weather this may prove to be a new trend in Siam soaking, set to be replicated by the copycats (I WISH)?

Meanwhile in the Phillippines, an individual is doing just that ... 

'It was deserted but not closed. I was the only guest that day. Perfect for skinny dipping which I did!' 

Looneyplanet visited the hot spring of Baslay on Negros. And enjoyed it, despite the absence of crowds. Or because there were none ...

Otherwise

An interesting side theme. Ahave, an Israeli cosmetics company has been accused of war crimes by mining Palestian-owned resources: mud. The company response: no comment. Report by Sydney Morning Herald (4 Sept. 2012). More info on the controversy on Wikipedia.

Geothermal news: this time it is the New York Times (Oct 1) which picks up on the discussion in Japan on whether or not to promote geothermal energy generation.

'Then came the Fukushima disaster.

In March, the government lifted its decades-old ban to allow geothermal projects in five new potential sites in national parks and monuments to go ahead, under strict oversight.

Tightly regulated or not, that decision has inevitably caused tension between conflicting local business interests, environmentalists and geothermal energy developers. In Yuzawa City, for example, existing and prospective geothermal power generation facilities typically are close to the hot spring resorts.
...
Mr. Sakaguchi, the researcher at the industrial science and technology institute, said he understood the concerns of Oyasu’s onsen innkeepers.

In two known cases outside Japan, geothermal power developments have caused hot springs to dry up, he noted. One such case was recorded in the 1970s in Steamboat Springs, Nevada, he said.

Still, “a clear case of geothermal development causing a hot spring to dry up has not occurred in Japan,” Mr. Sakaguchi added. “The technology to pick up underground movements and simulation technology has really improved in the last two decades, so the risk is much lower.”

It typically can take 20 years to develop a geothermal plant, if only because it takes time to earn the trust and cooperation of local people, Mr. Sakaguchi said'.

Elsewhere a review of Japan and renewables mentions this: 

'Even geothermal, touted as a vital energy investment in Japan given the country’s abundant hot springs, is facing a battle with local resorts – the Kusatsu Hot Spring Resort association, on Kyushu island, announced opposition to developing the clean energy for fear that the precious mineral hot springs would decrease in supply'.

Meanwhile other nations are less restricted by the soaking set. Vietnam announces a project to come online at the end of this year.

'Thai Drama,

Chiang mai
San Kamphaeng Hot Spring
Thailand
NEX 3 , SIGMA 30 , MEIKE box (water/dust/sand proof )'

Found on flickr, posted by setsunalee

Post summer

According to google stats, this blog site has surpassed the 100,000 pageviews! And with 5,000 pageviews per month, that milestone has passed us some time ago ...
It are mostly the more thematic posts that have drawing in the crowds, most read is the post on mud, then art, then clothing. Only then do the actual postings regarding hot springs surface with the older posts getting more views.

During the past summer I had a sojourn to Portugal / Spain; managed to fit in a couple of hot spring visits. 

Quite contrasting, Portugal seems to have turned all it's hot springs over to the medical profession, let alone the wellness workers. 

In Spain though, rustic situations remain or have been enhanced but certainly well-geared to the public irrespectively of their income or social status ...

Just one of the many soaks available near the city of Ourense.

Gradually, blog entries on all those visited hot springs will appear on European Natural Soaking Society.

Debate heating up

Despite advances in Southeast Asia, Japan is yet to build it's first geothermal powerplant. Or to be more precise within a national park.

Ironically the push for geothermal energy is driven by the failures of atomic energy (see also preceding posts). And due to the Fukushima incident tourists have steered clear of Tsuchiyu onsen, thus now the locals are hoping they can cash in with geothermal energy. All as published by Yomiuri (July 16)

The Financial Times weighs in on the arguments pro / contra geothermal energy in Japan with reference to the same onsen. On the 7th of August 2012:

'The head of an association aiming to revive the quiet hot spring resort of Tsuchiyu, Mr Kato is spearheading efforts to build what would be Japan’s first geothermal power plant inside a national park. And while hot spring owners in Japan are usually the fiercest opponents of geothermal energy, in this case they are its backers. Mr Kato is the managing director of the Tsuchiyu hot spring co-operative.

That makes Tsuchiyu a possible poster child for geothermal, an energy source Japan has largely cold-shouldered in recent years but which experts say has great potential. The same geological inheritance that makes the archipelago vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanoes also grants formidable reserves of hot subterranean water that can be tapped to drive electricity-generating turbines.

...

Larger plants also remain controversial. Relaxation this year of a ban on vertical geothermal drilling in national parks has sparked excitement among would-be operators, but many in the hot spring sector say new plants threaten water flows.

Kasumi Yasukawa, an expert on geothermal resources at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, says there is no evidence of such problems and that even if they occur they should be technically resolvable.

Yoshiyasu Sato, chairman of the Fukushima hot spring association, doubts such assurances. The tsunami and nuclear crisis gave Fukushima troubles enough without making geothermal a new threat to troubled bathing businesses, Mr Sato says. “The most important thing is not to destroy the status quo,” he adds'.

In all a well-balanced article.

The same could be said for the following, again with the same subject matter above. The Guardian (09 August 2012) adds it's own take on geoenergy and Fukushima.

'If all goes to plan, the project could not only help the town [Tsuchiyu] become self-sufficient in power generation, but revive its role as a tourist destination after visitor numbers plummeted amid lingering fears over radiation. In the past, hot-spring operators have been among the fiercest opponents of geothermal energy, an obvious source of energy given Japan's huge subterranean reserves of volcanic water.

Many fear the plants would affect the flow and quality of the water, which is pumped up from the depths and then cooled for the benefit of Japan's enthusiastic bathers.

In Tsuchiyu, however, where half a dozen hotels remain closed with earthquake damage, spa owners are among the new geothermal generator's keenest backers. "The plant won't affect the water quality or the temperature," said Kazuya Ikeda, general manager of the Tsuchiyu Onsen Tourist Association. "We have surveyed opinion in the town, and no one has raised any objections."

...

Profits from the venture will be used to repair three damaged hotels and rebuild three others that were destroyed in the earthquake'.

Meanwhile on thinkgeoenergy, they are reporting on local opposition in Japan towards geothermal power generation.

'The projects are planned in the Bandai-Asahi National Park/ Fukushima and Akan National Park/ Hokkaido. The main concerns are by local hot springs that fear a drying up of their livelihood. They argue that most of the reports claiming that development won´t affect their hot springs are contract work on behalf of developers and therefore not trustable.

A meeting held for the project in the Bandai-Asahi  National Park in late July 2012 ended in disagreement between the developer, government representatives and locals and no agreement was reached to conduct a ground survey for the project advancement'.

Just an example of how Southeast Asia is ahead. This news item  contends that one Indonesian company alone (Petramina) is hoping to bring 1000 MW online by ... ummm we don't know when! 

'Geothermal is currently the only technology capable of displacing coal-based power in more balanced energy generation capacity.  It is a clean and reliable energy source that is available in areas where energy demand is significant and growing'.

It sounds like I have heard that before!

Soaking world
A winning photo of a hot spring? It's possible. According to the Daily Mail (July 18):

'The Royal Photographic Society [UK] received over 3,000 prints from nearly 800 photographers in the competition. Submitted by Yao Wei, and titled The Bathing Festival, the description with the entry which won Bronze read: 'The hot spring in Tibet contains various minerals and is believed to be therapeutic. 
'It is pure enjoyment to take a bath with the whole family in these wonderful natural hot pools; a feeling of being in Paradise!'

A Russian spa offers a massage by snakes. Link to video. Hard to believe.

In Azerbaijan, the thing to do, is to bath in crude oil! 
The Guardian (from Oct. last year) reports on an award winning photo reportage by Chloe Dewe Matthews.

No happy face:

'Slick treatment ... a woman bathes for 10 minutes in crude oil, heated to 37 degrees, in the spa town of Naftalan. Photograph: Chloe Dewe Mathews/Panos Pictures'.

More info from Panos pictures:

'Across the water, in the semi-desert of Azerbaijan, I spent time at a sanatorium town called Naftalan. Here people gather to bathe in chocolate-brown oil, purported to have therapeutic properties. It was startling to see a substance normally associated with heavy industry, as well as international politics, power and wealth, being used for health and relaxation. This ‘miracle oil’ has been bathed in since the time Marco Polo mentioned it in his diary'.

Southeast Asian News

• Philippines

Puning hot springs is getting ever so popular. Now the Brisbane Times (June 24, 2012) is also in on the secret.  

'We're led to a line of white, plastic banana lounges under a pergola and told to lay down as cold volcanic ash, combined with eucalyptus oil is smeared over our faces and bodies. It's particularly tricky work as we're still fully clothed, but the idea is to protect modesty in the outdoor, unisex treatment area.

The quick transition from hot to cold is a welcome assault on the senses. For the next 10 minutes the mud-like mixture sets, tightening and cooling the skin with the help of the natural mountain breeze.

We're relieved when our goose-pimpled bodies are directed to a shower block to wash off the sand and mud, envisaging a warm soak. But we're quickly snapped back to reality when it becomes apparent that each shower cubicle has only one tap - of the cold variety.

Don't expect your typical spa experience; this is primitive, natural and while not always comfortable, it is definitely invigorating. Any other way would feel out of step'.

Gma.com notes 3 hot spring resorts in Calamba:

'So hot it's cool'.

Another top something, the 7 most beautiful natural pools in the world. It includes 2 hot springs of which no. 6 is Mabinay:

'This is the most popular hot spring in the Philippines. In addition to the landscape which can attract tourists, Mabinay Spring is also free during the year. So it is conceivable height of this natural bath every day'.

•  Singapore

Singapore company Banyan Tree invests in a hot spring in China (source).

• Malaysia

Another blog on Bentong, previously visited and blogged on this website.  Placesandfood are surprised by the vandalism and the lack of visitors. Maybe the two phenomena are correlated ...

• Thailand

An onsen in Bangkok? Not really natural, but using imported hot water (?) to recreate the atmosphere of a Japanese hot spring to cater to the local Japanese community with possibly the odd foreigner / Thai making up the numbers. Soaking in Siam has the details concerning the opening.

Thailand's national parks are suggesting (read imposing) fee hikes up to 150%. Note that many hot springs in Thailand fall under the National Park Department administration alas ...

Seeking geothermal potential means setting up an inventory of prospective sites. The Thai Groundwater Resources Department has announced some of it's findings:

'... the department has so far located over 112 hot springs across the country in such provinces as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Ranong and Surat Thani. Exploration and development activities are expected to concentrate in 5 potential areas where prototype geothermal energy plants can be set up'.

The director of the department also knows the following: 

'Mr Praneet [GRD director] elaborated that geothermal power is a renewable energy source with little or no environmental impacts.
The department is expected to begin the drilling operation next month for the geothermal plants, he added'. 

Sankamphaeng makes a top 10,

'Ten of the best hot spring spa resorts around the world'. 

A recent tripadvisor review to Sankamphaeng concludes:

'This place - as explained by others - is not a "high end" spa area, but more a fun local picnic area for families'.

• Vietnam 

Vientnamnet has a surprise for it´s readers, a top 5 of places for having a nude bath!  Unfortunately, all are waterfalls, no hot springs (yet/still?). No 1. is a waterfall on Phu Quoc island:

'Tourists can have a nude bath under romantic waterfalls or at beaches on small and uninhabited islets. The most famous beach is on An Thoi peninsula'.

No. 2 is Son Tra peninsula (small beaches hidden by rocks ...), no. 3 Bach Ma mountains (waterfalls again), no. 4 Gia long waterfall (with lake surrounded by jungle), no. 5 Red River in the center of Hanoi!

Spotlight

Two entries already on European hot spring visits in the European Natural Soaking Society. More to follow.

Topical

Hot on the heels of the last update's weird and wacky hot spring and sauna experiences come's Estonia's sauna car! Follow the link and watch the clip.

I do not know if this applies to the sauna car, but in Japan you can visit a hot spring and earn airmiles!

Regional

Seldom do we see such good work in (re-)seeking hot springs in Southeast Asia, most prefer the over-trodden paths. However the blog entry 

'Unearthing Timor-Leste's Hidden Gems - Marobo's Natural Hot Springs 

by  Barry Greville-Eyres and Francisco Carlos de Araujo is a real gem by itself: 

'On a short descent we encountered ruins and remnants of what was supposedly spa or resort styled accommodation, at a picture-perfect location, surrounded by a labyrinth of ridges and valleys. Despite conflicting reports on the origins of the development - some sources attribute it to Japanese occupation forces during WWII (1942-1945) others to the Portuguese colonial occupation-era pre-dating WWII - its highly likely that local Timorese villages were instrumental in the construction of the associated infrastructure.

Much toil and backbreaking effort must have gone into the construction of the access road; distinguishable accommodation units; hundreds of metres of retaining walls; hot water diversion, distribution and drainage systems; the main bathing pool (approximately 25mx15m); an ablution facility and individual external mineral or mud baths.  Although the facility is now clearly abandoned, it still remains an important part of Timor-Leste's natural heritage and a potential drawcard for both domestic and international tourists'.

 It also lists a short overview of all Timor-Leste's hot springs. 

'A parting shot of Marobo's natural hot springs - 

yet another of Timor-Leste's hidden gems'.

Foreign control? Locals in Sabah state, Malaysia are worried that their natural wonders are being privatized. 

Always this never ending story: private ownership of public lands results in entrance fees / profiteering possibly exclusion of certain groups of persons (based on income) or public control by public organisations which (in Malaysia) don't seem to be interested in the public interests. The essence of the freemalaysiatoday article (7 June 2012):

'Ranau STAR division chief, Jalibin Paidi, said the transfer or takeover of the management of money-making Kinabalu Park or parts of it as well as the popular Poring Hot Spring near here had become a hot topic among people in Ranau and they want to know the truth'.

More worrying is the emphasis on foriegn control as if this makes non-public control worse ... 

Note also that the article mentions that all of this is rumour, hot air thus ...

The mud baths of Thap Ba (Nha Trang, Vietnam) now have a local competitor / imitator. Read more on the Thap Ba Soaking in Southeast Asia entry.

In the same area, Waterfalls of Southeast Asia reports that the famous Yangbay waterfall park, will soon expand, to include a (natural) hot spring ... 

Meanwhile in Los Baños, the Philippines, the gamble is on big-business tourism, so states inquirernews (30 May 2012): 

'The master plan also includes setting up a cable-car system along the Makiling terrain, rehabilitating the heritage sites in the town’s poblacion, and renovating the local spa and hot spring resorts'. 

More of the same thus?

Another entry on the Pinatubo hot springs:

'According to tour organizers, most of the resort’s clients are foreigners, with Koreans in the majority since it was developed by a Korean investor married to a Filipina. The resort also provides employment to indigenous Aetas, the original residents of the area, who were displaced during the volcano’s eruption.

With smoke billowing out from mountain crevices, natural pools and waterfalls sprouting from the dry earth, and oddly-shaped geologic formation, the terrain looks almost prehistoric.

It’s almost surreal to see modern amenities instead. Like in most developed resorts, there are several bathrooms and changing areas near the pools, with alert attendants handing out fresh towels to newly-arrived guests. Picnic huts, paved stairways and cement banisters made to look like wooden logs, have been carved from this mountain of stone and soil.

I dipped my foot gingerly into one of the hot pools and immediately retreated as the heat pierced through my skin. I moved to another pool where there were more people and found it relaxing in a feverish sort of way. Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead as my body slowly adjusted to the temperature. The heat of the pools really seeped in and soothed one’s aching muscles in no time'.

A great entry on an as-of-yet not-on-this-site-listed hot spring: Bogyah hot spring, neatly nestled in the Hapao rice terraces, Luzon, the Philippines. A great blog entry:

'When we got to Bogyah Hot Springs, there were locals relaxing in the hot spring. I did not mind, this was their place and I was happy that while dipping on the hot pool I get to know some bits and pieces of their life'. 

Note end line: 

'Let us not change Hungduan [where Bogyah is located] , let it change us'. Too ture.

Travelfish have added a section on the Dieng plateau, Java, Indonesia: 

'The main attractions in Dieng are the numerous temples and the geothermal area around Kawah Sikidang'.

Less local

More money being thrown around (or away?):

'GOCO Hospitality is working with Sanli Guo Yuan to develop the Xiangshan Hot Spring Wellness Center, a 6,000 sq,m. facility with an onsite natural hot spring, located 30 minutes outside Ningbo, China'. 

The cost will be only $US 25 million. For this: 

'The Xiangshan Hot Spring Wellness Center will offer exceptional wellness programs that are results-oriented and address the health concerns of the modern Chinese consumer—beauty enhancement, weight loss, detoxification, stress relief and ageing well. Benchmarked against leading thermal facilities internationally, Xiangshan will set a new standard in design aesthetics and service quality, seamlessly blending Western and Eastern wellness modalities'.

 Continuation of soaking vs geothermal energy dilemma:

'... opposition from local hot spring operators is stalling proposed large scale geothermal development in the Prefecture of Fukushima'. 

So reports the thinkgeoenergy.com last month. Seeing how the nuclear plant nearby which should be one of the most regulated industries went haywire, how is one top believe assurances from companies? Take for instance a recent entry on the soakersforum which mentions hot springs being sucked up ...

More  energetic activity in the region. $11.5 have been allocated to the Tawau, Sab ah, Malaysia project, no soaking opportunities? The Leyte, Luzon, Philippines geothermal plant will cash in (read privitize), with global energy prices at a remaining all-time high. Then there is news on Sulawesi (potential) and elsewhere on the Philippines (Kalinga).

Banjar hot spring, Bali, Indonesia (source)

Concerning developments (mostly)

The Soaking family of blogs is expanding once more. Achievable or not, a blog focusing in Euro-soakers / soaking possibilities will need to take off, but the first step has been taken: European Natural Soaking Society. Herzlich wilkommen!

Trade-offs

More of the seemingly never ending discussion of geothermal energy generation versus soaking. Thinkgeoenergy.com (8 April) gives it's views of this Japanese debate: 

'It is no news to anyone having been to Japan, that there is a thriving bathing culture in the country and this paired with strong traditions. Bathing in those “onsen”, or hot springs, is very popular.

So it may not be surprising that onsen owners have a strong voice when it comes to concerns about geothermal development. A recent article in The Economist [April 7, original article] touches upon this subject. The reason for concern is simple, onsen owners fear that geothermal development for power generation could dry out the hot aquifers that fuel the hot springs.

But with the tremendous energy demand of the country, following last year’s tsunami and nuclear disaster at Fukushima and the move away from nuclear power, geothermal as a sensible energy choice is now harder to argue'. 

To sway the onsen conservatives the ambassador of Iceland to Japan is drafted in. 

'... he [Icelandic ambassador] points out the example of the “Blue Lagoon” in Iceland, as likely being the biggest onsen in the world. The geothermal field there not only fuels the spa but also a geothermal power and heat plant. .. maybe as a side note one can say that the plant existed first, while the initial “pond” or pool was an environmental accident. Today the Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s largest tourist attraction attracting nearly double the Icelandic population in visitors'. 

This is of course a true point and well worth considering. 

However at the base of the case are small scale hot springs which could loose their waters, while the generation side requires more concerted larger scale efforts. And if then the result is an extensive hot pool pond, will this then suffice local habits? Will for instance traditional naked bathing cultures be thrown overboard in favour of mass marketeering capitalist seeking short term strategies? 

At the heart of the debate should be Japanese naked communication versus modern day perosnalised (and selfish) culture. 

More on this debate, again thinkgeoenergy notes that Bloomberg predicts that 50% of the global finance for geothermal investment will flow to Asia. Let's hope they won't ruin too much ....

'The hot spring at Chae Son National Park'. 

19th December 2011 By Scorchamac

Regional

A short uploaded video of a newish hot spring near Berastagi, North Sumatra, Indonesia. 

An extensive blog on Selayang hot spring, Malaysia. Conclusion: 

'From my point of view, it is worth paying the entry fee [less than a $US] and get to use the natural hot spring for unlimited time and volume of water (as long as you are happy)! So, do visit there and have fun!'

Vietnam News reports (13 april 2012) that medical tourism needs enhanced promotion. Their readers respond.  Le Van Nhat, Vietnamese from Hanoi: 

'Last year I had a trip to the mountainous province of Son La. I was exhausted after a quite long journey from Ha Noi. Local people recommended that I should go to a natural hot spring at the nearby village to rest and restore my energy.

I decided to go there, dreaming of a relaxing time wallowing in hot water.

But I was totally disappointed.

The water was not hot as I expected and the bathroom was dirty with cobwebs. It seemed that the bathroom had not been cleaned for years. And there was no other tourist except for me.

I do not expect significant development of medical tourism in Viet Nam if things remain unchanged'. 

The dilemma of soaking in Southeast Asia: it's seldom that wild and natural is combined with sanitary. And the expectations of locals of a soaking Disney World. Then again if vexed by cobwebs then maybe one should stay at home.

More bad experiences, this from the Philippines: 

'Today I went to Dauin Hot Spring and Beach Resort, around 2 hours away from our place in Valencia. ... When I arrived, the pool with the hotspring water wasn't filled so they had to fill it up and it took them like the whole day. .... 

The water was ground water .... 

I spent something close to P500 ($12 US) for the afternoon stay, with the "hot spring" only 2-feet deep!'The upside: 'Still, it was a luxury for me as I was able to spend time with myself'. 

!

A mud bath in Nanjing, China, brings some strange customs to the fore. Laura the explorer: 

'I don’t have many pictures because they had a strict rule about photos.  It’s curious – the Chinese are fairly modest in public, but in private it’s completely different.  The only person wearing a bikini at this place was one of the teachers, and everyone walked around wrapped in a towel.  They don’t want pictures of people in bathing suits.  However, in the change room, people let it all hang out.  I don’t know about the men’s change room, but by now I think I’ve seen more naked Chinese women than naked Canadian women'.

Shanghaiist reports (Mnarch 21) on hot spring developments in Shanghai. No protecting natural soaking sites. No less than around 75$ million will be invested to create 

'... the city's first open-air hot spring resort hotel with a 12,000-square-meter man-made hot spring pool zone'. 

Hmmm, a good development? 

Hot soaks of the Himalaya has highlighted the plight of Gasa Tsachu, Bhutan. The newest development, a road may well be on the cards. 

The outlandish?

New fashions not yet to reach the shores of Southeast Asia: singing. Saunascape reports (13 April): 

'What do a Japanese pop group and a specialized bus in Finland have in common? They’re both all for singing in the sauna!

Rocket News from Japan tells us about OFR48, a new, all-female pop group made up entirely of workers at Ofuros, or urban Japanese bath houses. The OFR in their name even stands for ofuro.

The performances started as a way to make customers feel more willing to approach the staff of the bath houses: An awkward experience because the bath customers are naked. The clothed female workers serve both the men’s and women’s sides of the spa.

The performances began in the bath houses around Tokyo. They were so well received that the group has gone on to perform at larger venues. They plan to release their first single “Our Customers are Naked” in May. Their music video for this performance follows'.

 

After singing, another sort of weird event from Japan. Artist Mariko Sakaguchi manages to take photo's of herself bathing, in her own mobile tub in very unconventional locations, such as in peoples lounge area with the family watching TV, in a meeting room (with employees having a meeting).
Mariko explains: 

'I am making art works by using photography.

I am trying to cross the sense of private and public, and also now and past by taking bath in old style Japanese bathtub and stepping into photography by myself. You can see I take bath anywhere, It means the place you are seeing my works and also the place you are at now are not off-site.

The place where you are has possibilities to be the scene of my works.

You are not spectator, but party of my work, art.

I want to be a part of art with you all'.

The amusing part is that in every picture you see Mariko bathing you actually end up asking yourself, what are the others in the picture doing?

Final note, another video, this time from Greenland:

Updating TOPics

Trending topics
Despite first hand reports now to be halted, traffic on this site has tripled in the last 2 months. No indication why though. Thoughts?

Spafinder.com publishes their pitiful attempts to recognize trends for the upcoming year:

• Focus on feet
• Icy therapies
• Coaches (I'm now a soaking coach ...)
• Online wellness gaming ...
  
• Spa food
• Vibration, sound, music, light and color therapies
• Glamour
• The website SpaEvidence.com
• Spa's becoming family friendly ...
• Wow spa's, dressed to impress ...
• Corporate programs

If it weren't for the need to come up with trends every January, what would the real trends be?

A real trend?
While on the subject of new therapies, the New Zealand Herald gives an in-sight on hot rock therapies.

Ganbanyoku is a hot stone spa popular in Japan, where people spend all day in one - especially during the cold winter months'.

It's origins, states the article, lie in the imitation of the famous soaking Japanese monkeys, who after soaking their time then lie on hot rocks. Saunascape adds that this treatment is becoming very popular with especially young women in Japan.
I myself remember taking a sauna in a small holiday park while on a congress in Germany, nearly 20 years back. After the sauna, we swam in the adjacent pool. Very normal there were the thick stone benches alongside. Under these benches was the central heating system. So, despite the freezing temperatures of the dark night outside we could lie down covered by a towel and regain heat after a long swim, a great experience.

Ganbanyokou doesn't describe whether or not natural stones are needed; in Ranong, Thailand, it was just ordinary cement. The article continues:

'Ganbanyoku is believed to have a detoxification effect similar to low-temperature saunas, and helps to improve the circulatory system and conditions the skin'.

It then describes a 60 minute session at Aucklands Bliss Stone Spa which knocks the visitor back at a rate of 1 $NZ / minute (or 0.8 $US) that while in Ranong where I visited last year the treatment was free!

Growing native Japanese plants in water from hot springs is superior than other water! A research project.

Topsy
Aah, a title tilted to tell?

'10 Cool hot springs areas in Asia'

posted by hotelclub.com. Three areas are in Japan, two in Taiwan, surprisingly 2 in India (Sikkim and Bakreshwar) and making the list Vietnam (and one of Southeast Asia's premier commercial soaks), Nha Trang.

Vietnam has it's own list,

'Discover the most popular hot springs of Vietnam',

by indochinapioneer.com. Surprisingly it doesn't list Nha Trang! It does add some interesting info, f.i.

'According to some scientific tests, Kim Boi water resources can reach the required standard for quality; therefore, it proves to be suitable for drinking and bathing'.

More top somethings. Top 12 geysers and hot springs. Asia springs involved are Beppu & Jigokudani (Japan), Valley of Geysers (Kamchatka, Eastern Siberia) and Huanglong (China).Twelve hot springs worth traveling for seems a bit ambiguous. Caption:

'With so many steamy spots to choose from in the world, we’ve narrowed our list down to natural hot, mineral, and geothermal springs in historic, picturesque locations, including two right here in the U.S. Here are some of the prettiest places to jump in and say “ahhh.”'

Including Kusatsu (Japan) and Yambajan (Tibet).

Deep Energy

Well, despite all the hoopla, on Bali geothermal energy seems to be terminated:

'Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika recommended last week that a geothermal power plant proejct in Bedugul is to be stopped and its province to look for an alternative power source, as first exploration didn´t prove to be as successful

He said results from exploration at three sites in Bedugul were not fruitful and had led to the destruction of four hectares of protected forests. “It’s difficult to green-light the continued destruction of what little forests we have left in Bali,” he said.

Pastika said another reason for his recommendation was that the areas in question were regarded as holy sites by Balinese Hindus and contained 30 temples.l ... '.

Elsewhere in Indonesia (Baturaden), permit troubles. Think Geoenergy highlights how the potential of geothermal energy in Indones1a is being hampered by politics. Despite this Pertamina's geothermal arm might go public.

Regional
Thailand

• A complete photo set by Noporomises23 on San Kamphaeng hot springs, about an hour out of Chiang Mai.

'Hot springs near Phrao [Thailand]'.

By Andrew Smith.

Vietnam

• Than Tha (Than Tan) hot spring near Hue, Vietnam, is visited by Hayden:

  'The whole place was dead though except for the workers ... The mineral bath wasnt very warm but the hot springs was actually pretty nice...'.

• Dak To hot spring, Kontum, Vietnam.
• Travelfish have a very good entry on Thap ba hot spring:

  'All in all, I would say this was my most relaxing day in the country to date.'.

Indonesia

• A salt mud volcano? Bledung Kuwu on Java island, Indonesia, according to javaisbeautiful.

News from Burma. Sagar news reports on mud volcanoes erupting and rising temperatures of hot springs after an earthquake.

Laurent Beullac: Toya Bungkah.
A more upscale hot spring resort in Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia? It's not Toya Devasya

Asia

Who would think that skinny dipping is allowed in South Korea? Malaysian SK Ong reports:

'I had not experienced a hot spring bath but enjoyed it tremendously even though I was not used to wearing my birthday suit in front of strangers'.

Well he then continues:

'I spotted the swimming pool and without further thought, immediately jumped in. Oops, too late. I heard children, men and women splashing and screaming at the other side of the pool. This was a public pool! And I was still in my birthday suit!'

Difficult (and often contradictory), these local customs ....

A link to a video of winter swimming in Khingan Range in China. Icy waters are never a good prospect. Whenever I visit a local sauna, I tend to skip the cold bath, not nice. However the prospect of a hot soak afterwards entices 'swimmers on Thursday [to defy] the severe cold to jump into a pool at a local scenic spot.

Weird?

'Tourists will get discounts on prohibited open spas, house and camp services in Lujiang county, Anhui province. A prohibited open festival is reported to open after this month and will attract many tourists. Local tourism authorities pronounced yesterday that a use discounts will be offering to pull tourists to Lujiang during a festival, People going to a 4th “Hot Springs Benefiting Health” festival jubilee will design to see a indication show, a poem contest, a low-pitched luncheon and a county tour'.

How to get more visitors? By adding a hidden element of secrecy? A hot spring near Guangzhou, China adds pr material with video's of girls with tattoo's smoking while enjoying a soak with lots of bubbles ....

GoCNN has a write up on Tokyo's hot springs. How do we sell the article?

'Hot-spring superstar Beniko Yamada takes the towel off the (extended) city's greatest soaks'.

How can we resist the towel disappearing act? Her superstar status is due to the fact that she has soaked at nearly 4000 hot springs! She even has her own app.

Globally
Britian admires it's Bath hot springs. Not faraway from these are the Taffs Wells , near Cardiff, which are neglected and ruined. Why, no body seems to have clue. So, according to BBC now is the time to rejuvenate the site.

It's not often that hot springs from the African continent catch our eye. Tunisia-live.net has it's own article on their nation's soaks, which by the looks of it number slightly more than 10 ...