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Hot springs are hoottt #hothothot#thailand#pai#travel#hotsprings

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Spell bound

The last post on this blog concerned the Top 10 hottest hot springs in Southeast Asia for 2014. The biggest surprise is the strength of Thailand's Pai hot spring. The Bangkok Post (Dec. 15) helps with explaining the rise:

'The hit Chinese comedy Lost in Thailand (2012) made Chiang Mai a hot destination for tourists from China, and now it is weaving its spell to revive the fortunes of Mae Hong Son province, particularly Pai district.

...

"Pai is now like a mini Chiang Mai that Chinese tourists feel they must experience. Now we see many Chinese women dressed for pre-wedding photo sessions, riding motorcycles, taking photos and sharing them on social media," Mr Sobthana [director of the Mae Hong Son office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand] says'.

Luckily not all of them are heading for the hot springs ...

Meanwhile the number 1 in the list, Poring hot spring (Sabah, Malaysia), is set for some competition from the hot spring of Rugading, so reports the Malaysia's Daily Express (Nov. 17). The article however fails to describe what competing means; Rugading's owner in the article actually believes his hot spring is better located and more natural. With hardly any facilities and a small two by two cement pool, that may be an understatement.

Hot Springs in Tambun, Malaysia. #hotsprings #traveling #malaysia

 source

Cynical
Then we get to the hot spring varia. Alas mostly from out of the region.

A missed article from earlier this year just evidences how authorities in Zhejiang (China) are using sexist policies to attract most probably the wrong kind of clientele. WantChinaTimes (Jul. 27) reports: 

'The Sea Mud Festival on Xiushan island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, has become an instant hot topic after 30 Miss China Tourism Cultural World contestants in bikinis visited the festival and got down in the mud on July 21'.

How to react? 

'In response to criticism, the organizers denied using cynical publicity tactics and reminded visitors to appreciate the benefits to health and well-being of playing in mud instead of just looking at girls in bikinis'.

Small bathing cubicles? Hot spring owners in Yilan county’s Jiaosi Town, Taiwan are thinking about denying singles a singular soak, so reports the Taipei Times (Dec. 7). 

'Some hot spring owners say they are afraid of individuals using independent pool rooms as it is possible the users might suffer cardiac arrest and drown, and the establishment would be unable to provide the emergency treatment that could save their lives'.

The solution may be all too apparent:

'While the Hefong group’s Jiaosi establishment does not refuse independent pool service to single customers, it is a rule for employees to check up on customers every 20 minutes to half an hour by knocking on the door and only leaving after receiving a response, Hsiao [Hefong Resort Hotel group’s Jiaosi branch general manager] said, adding that there are emergency buttons in the rooms as well'.

source: flanaganbrothers

'Elves' Hot Spring Hot Tub

After the rush leading up to Christmas, the elves need a place to relax. They chill out at their Hot Spring Hot Tub up at the North Pole! Not only does the warm water keep them warm, but the heat from the fireplace keeps the air nice and toasty as well!

(Unfortunately none of the elves own swimsuits, so they're stuck with their everyday clothes. Oh well, a jacket and flannel it is...)

P.S. Sorry, I don't have any alternate images, rendering took long enough as it is, darn translucent bricks. :P'.

Australia? Big country, less soaking opportunities. A belated find, but Pretraveller lists ten of Australia's best. With very good information.

A nice report on the earlier ages of Japan's onsens. As documented on Ukiyoe, woodblock prints.

'"Nanayu no Shiori," a guidebook on seven Hakone spas, maintained the no-nonsense approach when it was published in 1811. It reminds readers that hot springs are "not places to go and entertain yourself," said Yusuke Nosaka, chief curator at the Hakone Local Museum.

However, around the time "Nanayu no Shiori" came out, the hot-spring tradition was already shifting. Another book, "Hakone Onsenshi" (The History of Hakone Hot Springs), hints at how baths became mainstream tourist destinations'.

Gaming and hot springs. Japan's sees quite a lot of computer games taking place in or around hot springs, it's not that special. But now there's a new version of Pokemon ORAS a role playing game for Nintendo. The most recent version though has some scene changes: apparently the onsen with naked bathing grannies has been cleared! Kotaku (Nov. 22):

'But now on Twitter, people are reporting that the grannies are gone:
That’s a shame and makes the onsen seem so lonely. But, from the looks of it, at least you can ride your bicycle into the hot springs!
Online in Japan, some commenters are saying this happened because of the mixed bathing, that the old ladies have apparently been cut. Or perhaps the better graphics are to blame? Or maybe, as one Twitter user suggests, they’re still in Pokémon X/Y‘s Kalos region? Others say it’s because the grandmas are now bathing somewhere else: Heaven'.

Sari Ater Hot Spring  

The ladies soak in the water all covered up to protect their modesty

 Source: -Yapster-

Hot springs of Canada, 3rd edition: a review

An Australian report (Nov. 9) on a visit to the Banyan Tree's Rainforest Spa on Samui, Thailand.

Excerpts:

'How refreshing, then, to visit a spa where shrieks, roars of laughter and happy chatter are encouraged, with the focus as much on having fun as winding down.

...

The 'bathhouse' concept remains popular in Europe, where 'taking the waters' became fashionable during the Jane Austen era; while the Japanese and Koreans have long appreciated a good soak. In South-East Asia, however, water therapy is still fairly unexplored territory.

Unlike most spa treatments, The Rainforest works brilliantly as a group experience. Both male and female guests are welcome to use the facility, so it's perfect for couples, friends or even families. And unlike bathhouses in other parts of the world, swimsuits are de rigueur, eliminating those uncomfortable moments of body insecurity'.

Ha!

Elsewhere the same source reports (Nov. 21) on China's claim of the world's largest spa resort:

'I am about to find out at Mission Hills Resort, located on the island of Hainan, China, which holds the Guinness Book of World Records title of "World's Largest Mineral Springs Resort", clocking in at 88 square kilometres.

...

My room in the 18-storey main building overlooks the mineral springs, 168 pools of naturally warm water.

...

Mission Hills may be mass market relaxation but it is done with flair and an eye on traditional cultural references. This resort did not get to be a premier golfing destination just by breaking records. It wants to makes sure you come back for the experience not just to say you have been to the biggest, but also the best.

The writer stayed as a guest of Mission Hills'.

Hmmm, ....

From kickstarter, Nomasoak: 

'Weighing in at 45lbs. in total, the Nomasoak can go just about anywhere there’s water. In about an hour, you will be sitting in 100 gallons of blissfully hot water. Hopefully with an amazing view of something. And if your view isn’t that great, you can move on'. 

Still seems a bit of a lug ...

Hot Springs #thanhtan #hotsprings #vietnam #thebuffalorun #buffalogirls @katrinaluder @sophiekiddle90

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Finally, a snippet from an experience in Indonesia. From tripadvisor (Oct. 16) an insight on one of the Dieng plateau's (Java) hot springs:

'Some locals brought us to the hot springs where everyone bathes however be warned, I got a bad fungal infection from swimming in there. Water is not clean, lots of people wash every day in there, mothers clean babies bottoms and people blow their nose. The bathes do not get emptied and it is a great breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. I would say if you have an open wound or you are a female don't go in. Otherwise very interesting experience'.

Red tape

Singapore's Business Times (Nov. 21) has an extensive article on Indonesia's geothermal potential.

'... progress has been slow due to red tape, uncompetitive power tariffs and uncertainty over asset ownership. The 25 years it has taken from the planning stage to breaking ground on its latest project show the formidable barriers the sector faces.

...

The US$1.6 billion Sarulla project in North Sumatra, the world's biggest, saw construction start this year, 25 years after it was first planned, delayed largely by a lack of finance and red tape'.

Thinkgeoenergy (Dec. 12) notes discussions are taking place in the Philippines on how to resolve locals claims on hot spring resource .

Kahit anong #lamig ang dala ng #bagyo, nananatili pa rin ang #init sa #puso ko. #hotspring #murcia #negros #nature #sulfur #spring #travel #explore

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Insane

The Top 10 of Southeast Asia's most popular hot springs for 2014. 

In listing this top 10 I have used relative scores between soaks depending on number of references from google over the last year, instagram, youtube, twitter, pininterest, tripadvisor, flickr and tumblr. 

Counting down, hot springs just outside the top 10 are the Filipino soak of Mambukal, Singapore's Sembawang, Bali's Toya Bungkah, Java's Cipanas, Lombok's Rinjani and Sarawak's Annah Rais.

New
10 (newcomer) Fang, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

One of the few popular hot springs still in a natural setting, visitors destined for Fang are more interested in what to see rather than taking the waters themselves.

source:

'a geyser shot up on cue every so often'

9 (newcomer) Tambun (Perak, Malaysia)

A typical destination for day visitors, Tambun offers many pools with cheap catering opportunities: a hit for the many visitors.

 

'Last but not least, the bloggers at the Crystal Pool. The Crystal Pool at Lost World Hot Springs & Spa is specially designed with crystal tiles thatglimmers reflecting the sunlight by day. And by night the Crystal Pool will be bathed in colorful lights which would make a dip in this pool interesting and relaxing'.

Source 

8 Banjaran (Perak)

Another Malaysian newcomer this year, the hot spring resort of Banjaran is Southeast Asia's premier exclusive hot spring destination: one visits here for the photo-op so as to show off to the less fortunate ...

 source

需要充电! #relax #swimmingpool #pool #romantic #getaway #surprise #banjaranhotsprings #ipoh #tagsforlikes #sweet #thebanjaranhotspringsretreat #happy #retreat #vacation #ipohcityawesome #ilovemylife #instagood #instalove #chillax #mountain #cave #travel #natureporn #naturelovers #nature #freedom

The mid terms
7 (2013: 4) Sariater, Indonesia

Sariater is a rambling and popular leisure park surrounding the hot springs, close to Bandung, Java.

 

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6 (6) Banjar (Bali, Indonesia)

Probably one of the most authentic of the developed hot springs in Southeast Asia, Banjar's delicately decorated hot springs are a magnet for locals and tourists as well.

'In hot spring with greenish - yellow sulphurous water which is supposed to be therapeutic for skin conditions. The hot water is considered sacred by the locals. Water is about 35-40 °C but it feels good even in these hot days'. 

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5 (5) Thap Ba (Nha Trang)

Vietnam's premier beach side resort caters to ever increasing numbers of tourists, who can't fail to enjoy the local mud baths slash hot springs.

'#mudbath #nhatrang #thapbaspa'

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4 (2) Ardent (Philippines)

Combining enhanced spring pools in a lush jungle setting with cheap accommodation makes this an ever popular destination for locals and tourists visiting the island of Camiguin.

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Number two's

Surprisingly ex-aequo are Maquinit (Palawan, Philippines) which has moved up a notch compared to last year and the too hot to handle hot springs of Pai (Mae Hong Son, Thailand), rising 6 places.

Maquinit is the ultimate place to end a day of beach and island activities with large soaking pools in saltwater hot springs.

source

Meanwhile Pai's hot springs are still gaining attention from many a weary traveller who are discovery this quiet and idyllic corner of northeastern Thailand.

'#hotsprings #pai #hot #burnnnn #insane #mineralwater #healthy #thailand #summer #skin #nautral #love #romance #backpackers'

source
 

And yet again Southeast Asia's most popular soak is Poring (Sabah, Malaysia). Combining a visit with an intro to the surrounding jungle is still a must when visiting Sabah and photo snapping tourist from all over the world are happy to share.

Source

Light bulbs

 Who doesn't ️ #hotsprings ? #dieng #java #indonesia #travel #nikon #nofilter #latergram

(source) 

Fine Line 
In the most recent posting on this blog, I presented a possible definition of a soaker:

Soaker: a person who enjoys and values (possibly through  maintaining the vicinity, but with reference to traditions and history) hot naturally occurring liquid which mostly is publicly accessibly / free of charge with a preference for natural bathing habits.

Though this may be the global definition, would it stand for Southeast Asia? 
If we exclude the most popular soaks of Southeast Asia, which tend to be micro Disneyworlds with little regard to soaking, soakers in Southeast Asia are mostly driven by potential health benefits. There are always entry fees to contend with, albeit mostly nominal. Dining is a quintessential part of the experience. Natural bathing habits are out (and with it hygiene!), though socialising is in ...

So a Southeast Asian soaker definition could be:

A person who enjoys and values the therapeutic qualities of hot naturally occurring liquid which is affordable and includes dining opportunities for the (extended) family / friends. 

Not so standard news
Probably the most striking bit of news the past two months concerning wellness came from Germany. What makes it more mind-boggling is how it has been disregarded by the mainstream news channels.

Bad PR for the wellness branch:

'In fast zwei Drittel der Pools von Wellnesshotels entspricht die Wasserqualität nicht den Hygienevorschriften'. 

So two-thirds of the (swimming) pools of wellness hotels fail hygiene rules. The results were taken from hotels in Germany and Austria and make poor reading. In general outdoor facilities were cleaner and using the facilities around lunch time was the advice, later and earlier gave worse results ...
If in Germany this was the result, one can only imagine how poor such facilities are in general as regards to hygiene ...

'A man was hospitalized after jumping into a hot spring on the northern Nevada desert to rescue a dog'. (source). 

No word on the condition of either jumper or dog.

Looking for a different soaking connection: mountain biking and hot springs.

'The Hot Springs Route is a brand new mountain biking route, the brainchild of Casey Greene, an avid rider and a cartographer for Adventure Cycling in Missoula, Mont. Casey came up with the idea after doing a 10-day bike tour across North Idaho and Montana when he and some friends biked to a different fire lookout tower every night. "At the end of the tour, I thought this whole concept of having a destination where you end up each night was kind of cool ... basically, destination mountain biking," Casey said.

The light bulb for the hot springs route went off when he was soaking at a hot springs in Pole Bridge, Mont. He was thinking that Idaho had the highest concentration of hot springs in North America, so why not try to connect the dots? He started evaluating the situation from looking at maps, plotting the hot springs, looking at connecting routes, and came up with a tentative route. Then he ground-proofed them to see if it would work. Last summer, he rode the whole route that's connected by dirt roads, all 517 miles of it, and he also logged a number of singletrack routes that add spice to the whole experience'.

What happens when you crash a drone in a hot spring? RT (Sep. 23) notes that:

'The German tourist who crashed a camera-equipped drone into a lake in Yellowstone National Park in July has agreed to a plea deal that would ban him from the park for one year, as well as unsupervised probation in his home country [yeah, right]'.  

But then 2 days later Reuters reports (Sep. 25):

'A Dutch tourist has been ordered to pay penalites of more than $3,000 for crashing a drone aircraft into a famous hot spring at Yellowstone National Park, a park spokesman said on Thursday'.

So how come the difference in sentencing?
 

Uncertainty about a Japanese onsen experience? Japan Realm has a guide (Sep. 24) on how to get naked with strangers. Apparently for normal non-Japanese this is a possible situation of pure terror. Embrace it, is the main advice ... 

A hot tub gondola? Yes, in Japan (source).

We've heard about the declining bathing culture in Japan (mostly non-hot spring sourced). So what to do with bath houses having been closed? Rocketnews24 (Oct. 2): 

'Japan has been going through something of a hot spring renaissance over the past decade, but at the same time, things are tough for Japan’s other traditional venues for communal bathing, sento, or public bathhouses. Despite a recent uptick in their number of foreign customers, most Japanese have a pretty lukewarm reaction to the prospect of taking a soak with others if the water isn’t heated by geothermal sources.
For the current generation, a hot bath drawn from the tap is no longer a luxury nor something that necessitates leaving home for, and so sento have been shutting down around the country. But rather than close their doors for good, a few have converted their bathing facilities into dining spaces and been reborn as stylishly retro sento cafes'.

Complete with 5 examples.

Onsenaddict (Oct.) has a top 5 of the best cascading hot spring massages.

Foreign Affairs need not always lead to a panacea for hot spring development. The NZ Herald (Oct. 27): 

'A master plan to turn the picturesque Waiwera thermal resort into an international destination with jobs and other economic benefits became bogged down in red tape'. 

That seems to be the case, but there were quite a few question marks concerning the investor which drew out the process. Money doesn't always pave the way.

Geothermal

A very good read. From thinkgeoenergy (Oct. 8) Alexander Richter let's us know how he started up the website and how he hopes to continue doing so. A very genuine article and thought provoking.

The Economist has a very upbeat article (Oct. 26) on geothermal energy in the USA. Despite being one of the cheapest means of power generation, subsidies to let this sector mature have been lagging. No word on double use (power & soaking) of generated steam though.

From Bandung.bisnis (Sep. 20) an article about developing the geothermal power development of Kamojang near Bandung (Java, Indonesia). At the same time they hope to develop the tourism potential. Thinkgeoenergy was a recent visit here (Oct. 27), no news of the tourism potential though.

Hotspring waterfall in #mountrinjani #lombok #indonesia #hotspring #waterfall

(source)

Not top notch

• Indonesia

A great posting on Sumatra's answer to Turkey's Pamukkale (tripzilla, 22 Sept.):

'At a glance, Kawah Putih Tinggi Raja resembles the natural rock pools of Pamukkale, Turkey. “Kawah Putih” literally translates to “white crater” in Indonesian, and it is one of North Sumatra’s best kept secrets. Found in the village of Tinggi Raja in the Simalungun province, Kawah Putih is a natural hot spring that has hardened to form white terraces rich in calcium carbonate deposits.

It takes about 4 hours to drive from Medan to reach these “warm snow” terraces. Bear in mind that this location is not a typical tourist hotspot with top-notch facilities. It’s completely off the beaten path and the road leading to it is paved with huge uneven stones. If you don’t mind a super bumpy car ride, hiring a four-wheel drive is the way to go'. 

Unfortunately the springs are too hot to soak in, it's more a place for sightseeing ...

It's all Sumatra btw, in this update. Yahoo Singapore notes (Aug. 14) that Sumatra's capital Medan is highly underrated. One of the 16 reasons to visit:

'To soak off all that travel fatigue, I highly recommend a soak in one of the hot springs at the foot of Mount Sibayak. The warm sulphur water can relieve rheumatism and help you de-stress. The smell of bad eggs and the entrance fee of S$0.30 is a small price to pay for a spa experience surrounded by nature'.

Photo:

They do fail to tell prospective tourists that due to an eruption of the Sinabung volcano the area is covered in ash ...

Lonely Planet on Flores (Oct. 8): 

'Like a fiery dragon snaking out of the Komodo Sea, Flores boasts a sinuous highland landscape that is spiked with no less than fourteen active volcanoes (only Java and Sumatra have more). This is the heart of the ring of fire and volcanic activity is visible everywhere from the black sand beaches to the smouldering mountain peaks. Near the village of Moni, there is a pair of sacred thermal springs, one reserved as a bathing area for men, the other for women. After work the entire village frequently gather to bathe in the gigantic hot-tubs and chat happily about the pleasures of highland life'.

Not really natural, but the Australian Traveller names six of Ubud, Bali's best spa retreats.

• Malaysia

An overview of 10 hot springs in Malaysia.

Another extensive photo review (Sep. 23) of Banjaran hot springs. So many photo's. But no people, let alone no soakers?

• Philippines

Oi pre?! Nakayakap kaba skin? Wahahah @hi5ange ayysoosss nmn! @simplyarmie @nvrheard @ #mtIsarogHotspring #hotspring #tripniprince #galaniprince #bicolandia #bicoliscool

(source)

'Just two hours away from the hustle and bustle of Iloilo City, the unassuming town of Anini-y offers a much-needed respite to weary travelers.  Rugged and bountiful, this 4^th class municipality in Antique Province is home to some tourist attractions worth a visit'. 

And what are then the attractions? Yahoo Philippines (Oct. 5): 

'Siraan Hot Spring is a local favorite. Here, one can take a refreshing dip at any of the hot springs enclosed in bathtubs and pools. A mossy swimming pool with sulfuric water is the key feature of Siraan. The water flowing here is believed to be therapeutic; it is said to cure skin diseases like fungal infections and eczema as well as soothe muscle and body aches'.

• Singapore

Experiencing an onsen. In Singapore. The concept of onsen bathing is slowly being introduced to the city elites of Southeast Asia. Albeit without the natural surroundings. And even the natural waters. Just the concept. The Evacomics has a blog entry (Sep. 23) on the experience of the Ikeda Spa in Singapore. Score: very impressed.

• Thailand

#squaready #タイ#パーイ#温泉#hotspring#GoPro#GoPro#GoPro#水が茶色い 三ヶ月ぶりくらいにお湯浸かりました。のぼせた。

(Pai, source) 

Just out of our geographical scope, but a nice read nonetheless, how to soak in Taiwan. Ligeia describes (Sep. 7) her experiences at the Long Nai Tang Hot Springs:

'Wanting to include a hot springs experience in my day trip to Taipei’s Beitou district, I looked up places online and found an vast array of choices. Long Nai Tang Hot Springs seemed the most appealing as it was the oldest, dating back to 1896, and it had no website of its own. I only found it because a blogger had visited and wrote about his experience there using words like “local” and “authentic”. So, of course, I had to give it a try.
It is not the easiest place to find unless you can read Chinese. But the concierge at a hotel (that turned out to be right next door) pointed me in the right direction.
I was greeted by the most efficient older Chinese man, who responded to my “Ni hao” with “naked”. Clearly waiting for a response, I said, “naked is ok”. “Towel”, he continues. “I have my own towel”, I said pointing to my bag. “One hundred”, he replied holding out his hand. I paid the money and he said, “shoes” and pointed me towards the women’s section'.

Thus becomes easy communication. 

'Mateo Hot and Cold spring'

Sorsogan, Bicol, Philippines (Source)

Publications: Hiking Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest

Soaking attributes

Is there something as such? I mean soakology. A good description might be the science surrounding the act of soaking with reference to hot springs.

We would have to define hot (above 30 / body temperature/ hotter?) and what is soaking (probably the most difficult)? And how can it be a science?

Well the former does leave us shaking our heads. Do note that in Japan this is very different, however the science of taking a hot spring has still some way to come by in the western scientific literature. In the past I've noted about 2-3 books on soakology. But in all fairness listing a couple of hot springs after each other with their characteristics is hardly scientific. What's more this seems to be dying trend: listing on the internet is rendering all this obsolete.

So it does come as a surprise that a publisher has been found for what is essentially a list of ultimate natural hot springs which are located in the Pacific Northwest of North America (Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia) and have somehow failed to be "developed" due in part to problems of access and/or being on state land. Question mark. 
What's even more surprising is that the authors (Evie Litton and Sally Jackson) have turned this essential and entertaining item for hot spring hunting into what could be contrived a scientific listing of where and what, but also how. How soaking is done. I like it.

Though I call myself a soaker, I've yet to find out what distinguishes myself from those non-soakers. Collins notes on a soaker:

'a person or thing that soaks sb or sth else'.

With soak possibly referring to

'to take in (a liquid) by absorption'. 

Though there are some definitions of soak referring to getting drunk or heating up. Maybe a soaker is simply someone drunk on absorbing heated liquid!

In the blurb of the Hiking Hot Springs etc., the publisher notes that all hot springs covered in the guide are free of charge and on public land. So that are two characteristics of what a soaker seeks: free of charge with public access. But that would be specific to North America; in Japan other rules would have to apply and free, public accessible hot springs are few and far between in Europe. Asia-wide there would be more differences, while New Zealand differs yet again and then there's still Latin America and Africa which all have other characteristics. Add traditions, history?

Dames Litton & Jackson though note in the preface that the guide is dedicated to all those who

'... struggle patiently and often ingeniously to create and maintain soaking pools for everyone to enjoy and who value hot springs in a natural setting enough to pack out the trash left by others, ...'. 

So here they add more possible attributes of a soaker, this is getting complicated ...

What's more wherever I go in nature (beach, river, waterfall) I make an effort to carry more trash out than in. Does this mean I'm an ultra soaker? Or should this be characterised as common sense? And if so why is it not common? So a soaker focuses solely on hot springs. Hmmm.

The science of soakable skinnydipping

What the previously mentioned blurb of the guide fails to inform it's (potential) readers, is that the authors have gone to great lengths to describe the (un)dress code of the relevant hot springs. Aside from the fact that the publisher might have purposely missed this, it gives us certainly another possible attribute of the soaker: he/she prefers the undressed code. And here comes the science.

The authors have looked into what the swimwear code of each hot spring is. Of the 162 featured hot springs I've collated what the various advisory standards of dress are brought forward. There are 33 possibilities ranging from 

'swim wear is a must' 

or even 

'no nudes' 

to 

'swimsuit / birthday suit mix' 

to the ever clear

'mixed bag' 

to 

'swimwear: first come is first serve'

and ending with 

'swimwear is the least of your worries'.

The top 3 advisories were: 

1. swimwear optional (17 out of 162),  
2. keep swimwear handy (?) (15) and  
3. jointly third with 10: swimwear required/essential, swimwear superfluous and the strangely advised swimwear is advised/vital/essential when standing up!?

In total, 38 advisories implied that whatever the correct amount of dress society requires you, that's what's needed. Meaning a hefty majority of soaks allows you to lower (literally?) your guard.

Interesting in the above, is that Canadian soaks and soaks in Idaho require more clothing. On the other hand, Idaho is the only featured state with the curious habit of 

'skinnydipping after dark' (5 counted) 

as well as the widely advised stand up / dress up rule mentioned above.

So now where are we? Soaker: a person who enjoys and values (possibly through  maintaining the vicinity, but with reference to traditions and history) hot naturally occurring liquid which mostly is publicly accessibly / free of charge with a preference for natural bathing habits. 

Still not me I think, but close enough.

Screened

But as said the guide is an enjoyable read, even though I'm not from that part of the globe. Who knows that could still happen. 

It's also a book of inspiration, there's still so many places we soakers can (still) enjoy. Hopefully the trashers amongst us, won't get their hands on this ....

Just flip the guide open. Let's read together. Page 217: Anderson hot spring, Idaho:

'A hot pool screened by trees in a creek canyon, near a dirt road. Keep swimwear handy'. 

It then comes with general characteristics and how to find the springs. A photo by Ms. Litton of a male soaker in his natural habitat and then a text box on how Sally lost a sandal but found another hot spring nearby.

I compared this to the Idahohotsprings page on Little Anderson:. Coincidence or not: the two descriptions don't line up. Anymore. Another question mark.

Others note some progress / lack of as compared to earlier editions (this is the fifth) especially when updating prior info: that goes to show that an internet listing does have it's own advantages. Maybe a website to keep the list up to date?

Reference:

Litton, E. & S. Jackson (2014) Hiking Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest - A Guide to the Areas Best Backcountry Hot Springs. Falcon Guides, Globe Pequot Press, Guildford, Connecticut, U.S.A.

Celebration

'Afternoon at the hot spring. ️#vanistravel#vaniaroundtheworld#hotspring#swim#forest#bali #banjar#indonesia#summer#holidays'

Source

Rages
Quite  a few items from the wackier side of soaking. What about theoriginalnomad who have now developed a collapsible hot tub, ideal for trekking into the forests and over mountains!

Other strange news: 

'Boise City’s Public Works Department and Boise State University are partnering to commission a public art project to celebrate the use of geothermal water on campus'. 

Follow this link to find out the three proposals.

Only in Australia. From the greynomads (Sept 2):

'A fisherman at Douglas Hot Springs south of Darwin believes he saw a 1.5-metre saltwater crocodile in the supposedly safe swimming area.

...

No saltwater crocodiles have previously been spotted at the hot springs, although one was seen eight kilometres downstream'.

If you are logged into Facebook go here for a photo of the foot spa on the Shinkasen train to Fukushima.

The use of drones is all the rage, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the use of drones in natural geothermal areas is now on the radar. It became all the more apparent when a drone crashed into Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Spring (CNN, Aug. 7). Drones are apparently forbidden in US national parks though it's doesn't seem clear to all users, especially since the ban was just announced in June. Possible problems:

'Park rangers have not determined if the drone damaged the spring and if it's necessary to recover it'.

Finally less pleasant news. The Costa Rica News has an article (August 26) on whether or not their nation's hot springs are safe:

'Floating on your back or dipping the your head underwater are common actions when enjoying a natural hot spring. However, experts now recommend not submerging your face or head in order to prevent infections that can enter these more vulnerable cavities.

This recommendation stems from the case of Jordan Cole Smelski, an American 11 year-old boy, who died in July in Orlando, Florida, due to an infection resulting from the amoeba Naegleria fowleri. The deceased boy was on vacation in Costa Rica, where he visited the hot springs in the Northern Zone and began to feel sick afterwards and never recovered.

....

So in conclusion, yes, Costa Rica’s hot springs are safe.  But it’s safer to keep your head above the water'. 

More info on this from the Ticotimes (August 19).

Hot in here
There's really not too much reports/news coming from Southeast Asia itself.

• Indonesia

'Not far from the magnificent Kawah Ijen (Mount Ijen) lies Kalianyar Village, Sempol. Like many villages that you may find in Indonesia, this one is unique because of it's hot springs area that it has. Amazing to have a soak in once you're done with your hike up to Mt. Ijen. Nothing like hot spring water to soothe those aching muscles. Thanks to Mr. Slamet, he brought us to a hidden charm if you walk in toward the village'. 

Link to this video from East Java.

Indonesia has passed new legislation meaning less environmental regulation for geothermal projects (MSN, Aug. 26). Oddly enough is this piece of news (Jakarta Post, Sep. 1):

'Rida Mulyana, director general of renewable energy at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said that local administrations would receive more money from the development of their geothermal resources even if they will no longer decide the issuance of exploration and exploitation rights to investors'.

Thinkgeoenergy (Sep. 10) notices that more larger scale projects are in the pipeline. 

'Baden in Schwefelquellen'.

Hot springs at the foot of  Sibayak mountain, Semangat Gunung, north Sumatra. By Katharina V

• Laos

A flickr album on Viengthong, Houaphanh, Lao PDR.

• Malaysia

One of Asia's most upscale natural hot springs (the Banjaran, Malaysia) has a new management team. so announces Thai Travel Review Weekly (Aug. 14).

A Japanese website which highlights no more than 18 Malaysian hot springs! With translate a very interesting summation of what's on offer.

• Philippines

'It's getting hot in here! Natural hot pool. #hotspring #alegria #cebu'

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• Thailand

 

'natural hot springs #pai #hotspring #thailand '

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• Timor Leste

'Day trip to the hot springs in Marobo! #marobo #timor #timorleste #hotsprings #boiling #hot #pool #mountains #view #bathtime'

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• Vietnam

While Indonesia may have opened up to more investment in geothermal power with it's new laws being passed, Vietnam's potential is still to be developed as it fails on the legislative side. Thinkgeoenergy (Sept. 4):

'Another relevant hurdle the country has to address is the lack of specific legislation regarding geothermal exploration and feed-in tariffs, which makes the process of moving forward more uncertain yet, according to the article, the main regulatory framework for renewable energy seems to also cover geothermal'.

any place for me to enjoy this messy happy bath? #roadtrip #taybac #vietnam #ontheroad #hotspring #suoinuocnong #letsgetwet #instamood #doyoutravel

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