Stumbled
across an amazing natural hot spring in #bandung #indonesia. Had to
hike up a small trail into a little rustic village to get here.
#stunning #outdoors #natural #nature #landscape #hotspring #hotsprings
#life #outdoors #travel #travels #water #spring
I usually start these updates with a sort of an editorial. But such was the idea for this editorial, that I will take a forthcoming full post to tackle recent developments on the subject of public access to natural soaks, public misuse and abuse and managerial measures taken as a reaction to the aforementioned.
For now, let's see what else there is to provide feedback on from the world of soaking ...
Nosy
An excerpt from an article from New Zealand (NZHerald, Apr. 21) which notices something strange:
'Last year, a writer from the Guardian newspaper asked people on
Twitter for recommendations about what to do on a short visit to New
Zealand. She got hundreds of responses. Broadly, they fell into two
categories: those from Kiwis and those from foreigners who had visited
here. And - broadly - it was the foreigners who recommended she find a
thermal pool in which to soak.
Kiwis recommended vineyards, skiing, beaches, cafes in Wellington, that sort of thing. Not hot springs.
Sometimes, you miss the obvious beauty under your nose'.
On Hainan Island (China) reports have been made that a (possible forgotten)
hot spring has been taken over and now functions as a bathing spot (Shanghaiist, May 14):
'The hot spring, around 500 years old, is left unmanned, and has more or
less become an open-air bathing spot for people living nearby'.
It's difficult to somehow unrelate the two, is a hot spring not simultaneously a bathing spot?
A nice blog entry by onsen addict reflects on how a soak may result in cultural exchange (May 8):
'You should get naked in Japan as often as you can, not just because
soaking in Japanese hot springs revitalizes your body and soul, but
because Japanese onsens are places to observe and participate in
cultural observation. If anybody implies that you are lazy for soaking
for hours, just tell them you are doing sociological research.
...
Our conversation about Japanese hot springs continued until we all
headed up the hill. Later in the parking lot way above the hot spring,
he showed us photographs that he took out from his car. We saw him and
his hot-spring-addicted friends building rocky baths around natural
springs in various forests. He was rightfully proud of the baths that
they had constructed in remote woods. The baths were simple baths
constructed from natural materials. The people I saw were members of a
Japanese subculture, people who relish relaxation in natural
surroundings and are willing to work hard for their sensual pleasures'.
'A Hot Spring enthusiast on a quest to visit 365 Hot Springs. Current Tally=25'.
That's still a long way to go ...
More from Hot Spring Traveler:
'I am a water chaser. In my childhood I leaped into the waves, charged
head first down slip and slides, and ran through sprinklers with my
clothes on (or off). I was terrified of just about everything, but I was
always chasing water. Naturally, it would make sense that I would turn
this chase into a formal adventure, and so Hot Springs Traveler has been
born. I am ready to chase down 365 hot springs in all their glory, from
dusty desert backroads to lush northern forests.
Why hot springs? Because their surreal, secretive, calming, and wild.
They feel other-worldly. You are literally bathing in waters that have
traveled through the interiors of the earth'
'5 Best Hot Springs for Skinny Dipping in the West [of the U.S.A.]'
Heed their intro:
'It’s an age old tradition. From Japan to Iceland to the dusty
backcountry of the American west, people have been soaking up the
geothermal magic provided by wild hot springs since time immemorial'.
Let's hope it remains a tradition adhered to ...
So hot
The all-encompassing Huffington Post (May 6) looks into Indonesia's power questions. In particular it asks:
'Is Geothermal Power the Answer to Indonesia's Energy Demand?'
Summing up the article one could conclude the answer to be yes, if.
There's quite a bit of geothermal power news from Indonesia.
ThinkGeoEnergy
(Jul. 6) notes that Indonesia has inaugurated one geothermal project
with the intention of many others all across the archipelago:
'This is clearly a step forward for geothermal and renewable power in the
country, signalling a the commitment in Indonesia for geothermal
development'.
'Indonesia aims to double its use of renewable energy in 10 years. It
plans to have 30,000 megawatts of power generated from geothermal,
hydro, wave and solar energy'.
Major problems lie in funding.
Enjoying the natural Hot-springs #hotspring#ketambe#sohot#ketambe
#sumatra #roland #ichbindra#dubischdra #kendall&kylie-collection
In Japan, so notes ThinkGeoEnergy (Jun. 23), the debate on the merits of geothermal exploitation in their national parks continues:
'On one side, conservationists argue that directional and conventional
drilling should be banned in these areas while academics and members of
the geothermal industry agree that no plant should be built directly on
the protected areas, but directional drilling should be allowed'.
Despite all the upbeat reactions on Indonesia's geothermal power future, all is not rosy. For instance strong local sentiment in Bali (see following) is
pitted against the mights of both the national government as well as the
commercial establishments.
The Renewable Energy Magazine (Jun. 4) has a lengthy article on background of Bali's struggle:
'According to Balinese culture, mountains and
forests are highly sacred because they are believed to be sources of
life. As a result, environmental activists and religious members of
Balism both believe that geothermal drilling in the Bedugul area would
not only worsen Bail’s water crisis, but would also damage the sanctity
of the area.
Though geothermal power can offer tremendous
energy quantities, the governor of Bali has restated his refusal to
allow the geothermal project in Bedugul in a statement from his office
on May 6, 2015. He not only placed a moratorium on the construction of
this location, but also reiterated the fact that this project would
trespass on protected forest area in a religiously sacred area of Bali'.
To
overcome opposition, the article lists a variety of approaches so as to
inform and convince those involved. Though these seem common-sense, it does miss how you can overcome
environmental, spiritual and religious opposition. Relaying simple fears,
fails to address these all-encompassing concerns ....
The kind of opposition that seek to win over? ThinkGeoEnergy (May 14):
'The Governor’s office said that the people of Bali would never tolerate
any geothermal project that trespasses on protected forest area in a
religiously sacred area of Bali. Balinese religious belief holds that
the forested areas in the hills at Bedugul are home to the headwaters of
Bali and must remain undisturbed'.
Ways
of increasing the ability of local population to stomach geothermal
power projects? Win-win solutions are just one possibility. Kenya's Kengen's Olkaria project includes a natural spa (sic).
There's this recent visitors experience (and photo):
'On our arrival an attendant at the natural spa walked up to us and gave
us a quick introduction to the site. He advised us that only those who
promised to adhere to the rules of the spa would be allowed to sign in
on the visitors’ book and also use the spa. We were a well mannered
group and we listened to the attendant keenly as he read out the spa
regulations. There was nothing he read that was out of this world, so we
all signed in and off we went into the spa!'
ThinkGeoEnergy (Jul. 10) notes that now Kengen will expand their local community initiatives to include vegetable farming in geothermal heated greenhouses.
Finally, ThinkGeoEnergy (Jun. 2) notes the fad of geothermal BBQ-ing on Lanzarote. It refers to a Daily Mail article (Jun. 1):
'Forget a portable barbecue in the park,
the aptly-named El Diablo (the devil) restaurant in Lanzarote uses the
450 - 500 degrees Celsius of geothermal heat to cook the meat and fish
on the menu'.
Hello
We see some inventions come by and think mûh ....
This one could be more successful. A Hydrohammock.
Just a waterproof hammock which you could use as a bath in far away
places. Not too expensive, but if willing to have a hot bath, there's a need
for a heater system. That comes at a cost of nearly a fully priced
jacuzzi. The inetia (Jul. 7) thinks likewise.
A HelloKitty themed hot spring? If that's what tickles your fancy, start packing your bags. Singapore's New Strait Times (May 24):
'Among the more than 200 onsens in Gunma Prefecture [Japan] is a Hello
Kitty-themed indoor onsen (right) at the Shima Grand Hotel that opened
in January.Soak up the onsen’s beauty benefits surrounded by Hello Kitty
decor'.
Alas, it's a women's only onsen ...
Not all soaking is good for you. Take this article which reports on a death by soaking. Worldne.ws (Jun. 20):
'A 73-year-old woman died of heat stroke after bathing in an outdoor hot
spring in Wulai, New Taipei City [Taiwan]yesterday noon, according to officials
of the New Taipei City Fire Department'.
Apparently the air temperature was also above 37C.
Pictures
A mention of Muang La hot spring on Travelfish (Apr. 21):
'Muang La’s main attraction is the natural hot springs. Picture yourself
soaking sore muscles in hot water while taking in the river scenery. The
experience is tonic for both the body and soul – and it’s free. It
doesn’t get much better than this'.
#hotsprings
Lao's Bo Njai hot springs, Xieng Khouan province. Source
There was a lot to do about the deadly earthquake on Sabah earlier this June. Especially as blame seems to be heaped on lesser cultured individuals who insisted on celebrating yet again a life's achievement with a naked picca (source). That celebration could have been much worse b.t.w.
Anyway, another unknown consequence of their actions was that Poring's hot springs turned black, that's what Asiaone reports (Jun. 6):
'The water at Poring Hot Springs near Friday's 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck at 7.17am has turned black.
Poring Hot Springs and Nature Reserve office confirmed that the water has changed colour'.
There's no info on whether or not the waters have since cleared.
How to kill off the soaking vibe? Malaysia's Borneo Post (Jun. 12) notes that officials want to promote soaking at Panchor more aggressively ..., whatever that means.
'The management board of Panchor Hot Spring should initiate a more
aggressive promotion campaign to attract more locals to drop by.
Tourism Ministry permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik said there were many ways to promote the hot spring, ...'.
Suggestions include lower entrance fee or organising a carnival.
So much for killing the spirit ...
Hot spring on a hot day!
#hotspring #mambukal #NegrosOccidental #Philippines #itsmorefuninthephilippines #visitphilippines2015 #travel #friends
Klong Thom, Krabi. From the Facebook of Kyoko Kitade source.
Floating
head at Waree Raksa Hot Springs #krabi #thailand2014 #wareeraksa
Venilale Baucau - Hot Spring
On allvietnam.com (Jun. 26) an outlay of Alba Thanh Tan hot spring near Hue.
'Alba Thanh Tan resort is always busy with many guests. People come here
to soak in the hot springs which is full of natural minerals underground
as well as under Truong Son Mountain. Needless to say, Thanh Tan hot
spring resort is making the clear difference in the model of ecotourism
on the central strip'.
Note that it's not so natural anymore ...
A visit to Mui Ne's new hot spring and mud center as reported by Vacationchecklist (Apr. 21):
'One important thing
Avoid submerging your entire head down the mud water, a water dipper is
provided for a reason. I do silly things sometimes, i mean all the time
ahahaa. After I dipped my entire head down the mud water it filled my
ears of course and the water didn't flow naturally. Some sand particles
were trapped inside my ear, I was half deaf for the entire bath session.
If I'm not wrong think were in the mud bath for 30 minutes or more
than, my mum wanted to stay longer but I know it's not advisable. The
staff didn't bother to check on us or maybe allowed us to take our time
because we were the only customers around at that time. She came to us
when she noticed we were already in the rainshower'.
#diving
requires healing. Here we see 8 specimens recuperating in hot springs.
#mainit #cebu #Philippines #hotsprings
Mainit hot springs, malabuyoc
