Liberation

ren.flystory on Lombok:

Volcanic Hot Springs 🌋

#hotsprings #volcano #rinjani #mountains #góry #gorąceźródła #travel #podróże #podróżniczka #podrozemaleiduze #travellife #mustsee #365photochallenge #icanrelate #hotwater #vacation #wakacje

News - Taiwan - side shows. That's all to share this time round.

Some Taiwan experiences then.

Foreignersintaiwan (14 Aug.) heads to Fanfan hotspring, an undeveloped and wild spring in northern Taiwan. It's very much a photographic share. Nothing qualitative from this visit is noted, with this exception:

'I have been to Fanfan Hot Spring once in 2020. It was a nice experience, but there were a lot of people there. Because it is so easily accessible and well known, it attracts a lot of people'.

Nickkembel has an overview (Sep. 7) of hot springs on Taiwan:

'In this article, I’m going to introduce 20 of the best Taiwanese hot springs from north to south, including famous spas, hot spring villages, hot spring parks, and wild hot springs, most of which I’ve personally visited in my 10+ years of living in Taiwan'.

A very good article, with experienced samples as well as a map with the soaks highlighted. Most though developed, only a couple are referred to as 'wild'.

 Valerie (Jun. 21)

On OxfordStudent (Feb. 21) another experience of soaking on Taiwan.

'Thus, in true British fashion, when I was first informed that the hot springs in Taiwan offered both an indoor, nude pool and an outdoor, clothed option, I assumed I would always be sticking to the latter.

My year abroad in Taiwan thus far had been stuffed with new experiences and going out of my comfort zone, but the Brit deep down inside of me still recoiled at the thought of stripping down and sitting in a pool alongside twenty odd other unclothed women. Eating cured jellyfish I could just about manage but being naked – God forbid!

...

People often say that nudity can be liberating, but I had always thought that required a bold gesture leading to a grand, sudden rush of freedom and empowerment. This, however, was no I Capture the Castle moment. Instead, it was a slow process – as I sunk into the steaming pool, I also sunk into the comfort of not feeling self-conscious about my body. For most of my life, nudity has been sexualised, yet here, it was amazingly normal.

Not to mention, it is very hard to find nudity sexual when surrounded by ten or so butt-naked elderly Taiwanese women arguing over water temperature'.

Stars

News from the region.

Soakers on Singapore are afraid that their Sembawang springs may fall victim to a geo-energy project (Mothership, Sep. 6):

'Singaporeans will not lose their access to Sembawang Hot Spring Park after the Energy Market Authority (EMA) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an islandwide geophysical study to assess the country's geothermal potential for power generation, said Ong Ye Kung in a Facebook post on Sep. 6, 2023.

Ong was responding to queries from residents.

He is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC)'.

In Vietnam soaking possibilities seem more secure (Vietnamplus, Sep. 20) :

'Boasting hot springs and unique historical and cultural relics, Thanh Thuy district in the northern midland province of Phu Tho is striving to turn tourism into one of its spearhead economic sectors, raising income for local residents.

...

There are 45 tourist accommodation establishments in the district with more than 3,900 rooms, including 3,388 ones that meet three-star standards. A five-star resort, the Wyndham Thanh Thuy Mineral Hot Spring Resort, has been put into operation recently, creating a highlight to attract tourists to Phu Tho'.

minhbi9205 at Le Champ Tu Le Resort Hot Spring & Spa (Yen Bai, North Vietnam)

Sống chậm lại...xả stress

Deepen

Heading further afield, both topically as well as regionally.

Global Wellness Institute notes (Mar. 28) a new developement: the trend to note how wellness experiences are at a premium (and pricing them thus). Such that wellness enjoyment will tend to be something for the very few privileged and fortunate enough. And access to wellness experiences to broader sections of the population will be excluded. 

They do note that nature is the only thing that can not be premiumized. Though seeing where the market is heading (money) there's no doubt that this will also happen some time in the future (the optimist).

Spoon & Tamago report (Mar. 30) on a bus serving as a mobile sauna (btw we're now in Japan):

'Saunas have been picking up steam in Japan for the last several years. From immersive art saunas to in-home saunas, the cottage industry has seen numerous innovations to make the hot and steamy experience accessible to all. One of the latest initiatives combines sustainability with saunas by refurbishing out-of-service public buses and transforming them into mobile saunas that can travel Japan.

The Sabus, as it’s called, is a project launched by Sauna Ikitai, a start-up focused on promoting saunas and all their health benefits. The company teamed up with Tokyo and Osaka-based architecture firm OSTR to renovate and retrofit old buses so that they function as saunas.

Rather than reviving the bus to a shiny, new state, the architects focused on retaining much of the old-school charm that the bus had. And by making small updates to the seating and handles, they managed to create a unique experience that feels somewhere in between a bus ride and a visit to the sauna.

SaunaTimes (Jun. 17) has an interview with Marishi Mochida of Japan Sauna-Institute. On Japanese sauna culture:

'In Japan, saunas are a major form of entertainment, regardless of gender or age. Public saunas are everywhere, and you just invite your friends, co-workers, or family members to go together. Let’s be naked, enjoy the sauna and drink good sake or beer, that’s how we deepen the connection with people.

Another thing is silence. In Japan, you’re expected to be quiet in the sauna, and in many spas you can actually see posters that say you have to refrain from talking'.

The interview comes complete with the latest Japan Sauna Survey (2023) in pdf reader format.

The Sydney Morning Herald (Jun. 9) lists 6 of Japan's best hot spring towns. 

BBC Travel (May 17) has an overview of their five best sento's in Tokyo:

'Yet, these days, nearly every neighbourhood in the capital still has at least one sento, and with a new generation of sento owners updating their bathhouses with saunas and other facilities, sento are currently enjoying a revival among both young and old'.

Tohuku reports (Jan. 10) on efforts to re-popularize traditional mixed bathing in onsen. There's a catch. Translated:

'Sukayu Onsen is a famous hot spring that has been around since the Edo period, and is famous for its 1,000-person bath, which is made entirely of cypress and has four different spring qualities in one bath. Today, it is popular not only for hot spring treatments but also for climbers as a base for climbing Hakkoda. Some people may be hesitant to use the Senninburo because it is a mixed bathing facility. It's a shame that even if you come all the way, you won't be able to enjoy the real pleasure of Sukayu Onsen. Therefore, we are trying to get as many people as possible to use the 1000-year-old bath, called ``Yuami Arari Day.'' Originally, Senninburo had women-only hours, but they were for one hour each in the morning and evening. On ``Yuami Wear Day'', you can take a day trip bath from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, and all people are welcome to come wearing bathing clothes, so you can use the bath with family and friends without any hesitation.

Also reported by Kyoko Kitade on Facebook (Apr. 17). So the future is to adapt to foreign cultues?

queenniniwidit

I’m not salty, I just have resting beach face 😌

📸— @swghhiirl_ 🥸

#philippines #coron #palawan #beach #travelphotography #travel #itsmorefuninthephilippines #rbfproblems #hotsprings #islandhopping

#adidassponsorme

Finally Korean spa culture in the US. Salon (May 6):

'I'm not alone. Studies show women face overwhelming pressure to be thin — exacerbated by social media — which can lead to distorted body image and even disordered eating. As a daughter born into Indian culture, this pressure started when I was a young girl. My mother and her peers were groomed by society to be hypercritical of themselves and later, of their daughters. Early on I was talked to about weight — how I couldn't gain it the way my brother could, how my arms weren't meant to be muscular and thick, how noticeable it was when I gained or lost a pound or two.

...

Finally, at 40 years old, I found a potential antidote: a visit to the Korean spa.

...

Sitting in the aromatherapy sauna at Olympic Spa, I realized how normal I suddenly looked: somewhere between one breast size and another, with some cellulite and scar tissue matched by some and not others. Baring it all felt like leveling the playing field. And for the first time in my life as an Indian-American woman, I felt blissfully anonymous. Nudity among strangers can boost self-esteem and improve body image. When there are no barriers left between us, it's much harder to find points of comparison to envy'.

80bathes

There's maaaany reasons to love Northern Thailand but the hot springs are right up there at the top ♨️ This was taken on new year's day; start as you mean to go on and all that. The drive to get to Mueang Paeng Hot Spring was absolutely crazy beautiful too, highly recommend it ✨

Unshy

nun_siriluk

เรามาพักที่ Kuroyu onsen เป็นแหล่งเรียวกังออนเซน 1 ใน 7 ของ Nyuto onsen เปิดบริการมามากกว่า 300 ปี ตั้งอยู่ในภูเขาเขตจังหวังอากิตะ

เราจองห้อง private onsen แช่กับโอ๊ตสองคน สบายใจไม่เขินอาย อากาศเย็นๆกับการแช่น้ำร้อนๆ ชมวิวใบไม้สีสวย คือฟินขั้นสุด

ที่พักที่นี่จะจองยากนิดหนึ่ง ราคาก็ค่อนข้างสูง การเดินทางเลือกเช่ารถขับมาจะสะดวกที่สุด แต่ใดๆคือ คุ้มค่ามากกับประสบการครั้งหนึ่งในชีวิต #แช่ออนเซนธรรมดาโลกไม่จำ #nyutoonsen #akita #tohoku #japan

I like to take the opportunity to highlight some of Southeast Asia's few remaining hot springs and it's soaking culture. But there's really little coming forth.

Surprisingly though, there's a lot to share on hot spring / onsen experiences from Japan; it seems a thing. 

What surprises me more is the dearth of male sharers on this theme. Is the onsen experience not significant enough for males? Or is the experience for females so contrasting their mostly Anglo/Saxon-Northamerican culture, that they need to share (note: Thai (mostly) prefer to share the experience on Instagram (such as above))?

Anyway let's start with a Aotearoan experience. NZ Herald (Feb. 15):

'Many travel memories begin to fade as soon as they are formed, but standing completely naked among a group of equally nude strangers isn’t something I anticipate forgetting any time soon.

Months after my first trip to Japan, and first traditional onsen, the experience remains as crisp and clear as the alpine air that brushed goosebumps from skin that rarely saw the light, let alone other people’s eyes'.

In a similar vein, Youmightneedtohear (Nov. 10) has 3 hours in an onsen:

'Before I got to Japan, the last person I was naked in front of besides my boyfriend was my gynecologist (and that wasn’t total nudity, since I had one of those flimsy little pink robes). Even then, I tucked my underwear into my shoes on the floor so the doctor who was about to look deep into my vagina couldn’t possibly see them. That would’ve been embarrassing. This biannual twenty minutes with Dr. Adie was a month’s worth of preemptive anxiety, not only for the cancer screening, but for the fact I was going to be completely exposed in front of a stranger with their eyes on me. So, when dropped in a country where they have a spiritual and social commitment to bathing, it took me six months to work up the courage to get naked. I needed to partake in the magical experience of public nudity, and that meant diving into a sento or an onsen.

...

Sitting in a hot bath with a handful of other women, in joined and accepted silence, I was officially the least sexualized human being on the planet. As a teenager in America, it always felt like I was meant to be sexual, and if I wasn’t, I was doing this whole feminine thing wrong. But in turn, sex meant shame and shame meant modesty. I never wore a skirt above my knees, thought makeup besides mascara was for whores, and prided myself on my virginity as a sense of worth. I don’t even know who taught me this. I didn’t go to Catholic school or anything either. The constant visuals of women in underwear, going alone into public bathrooms, offhanded comments about unmarried cousins with kids, sweating in pants during the spring because the shorts in the girls’ section of Target were too short, they all just fused to me without me knowing it. But not here. The urge to cover my breasts slowly waned as the water loosened my body, my legs untucked and floating leisurely ahead of me. No eyes, no comparisons, no expectations of shame over our bodies. We women just shared our solitude protected by thick wooden fences and the grey snowy sky. The Japanese language has a term for this: Hadaka no Tsukiai, naked friendship'.

An explanation on Hadaka no Tsukiai from 50onsens (May 4, 2017):

'This is a beautiful Japanese saying, which literally means “naked communion” or “naked friendship”. No – this does not infer anything “hanky panky”, but it refers to the more open communication that can be discovered, whether it be with total strangers, family, friends or even work colleagues, when the barriers are broken down and the worries and stress of daily life are scrubbed away. Being in a naked state in front of others is totally normal to Japanese, and once international visitors overcome their shyness, they also tend to loosen up and marvel at the incredible relaxation and open their hearts and minds to a whole new perspective while enjoying a Japanese bathing experience.

There must have been something in the water at Seotonoyu as on the day we formed amazing bonds with a few people both Japanese and international. Included was a lady from Morocco who had lived in Japan for over 20 years, and a couple of local Japanese ladies with daughters living in the US. Before we knew it we were all in deep conversation and sharing details about our international families and recent travels!

Such a bond was formed that we were even offered a lift to the local station and were given some great advice about the best cherry blossom viewing areas close by'.

Savvytokyo (May 6, 2022) then, with an experience from a Southasian perspective:

'I am probably one of the few Indians brave enough to visit an onsen in Japan. Where I am from, it is unheard of in our culture to bathe naked among strangers—or even friends and family. We’re taught from a young age to respect our bodies by covering up. Most Indian families encourage modest dressing too. Any clothing item revealing too much skin is a big no-no. Because of my upbringing, I had a tough time initially adjusting to the onsen culture in Japan.

...

I found the onsen experience very eye-opening. It was the first time for me to see women being comfortable with nudity and using the place as an opportunity to bond with their friends and family. I admired how free and comfortable they seemed with their bodies. This experience inspired me to build a similar relationship with mine. It wasn’t something that happened overnight, though. I had to broaden my perspective and rethink some of my beliefs'.

wearethelastrockstars

One of my priorities is to spend time with my family at the mountain home ♨️ 一時退院中に内緒で家族と一緒に湯治旅行🍁 Before the surgery.. #hotsprings #湯治 #温泉 #紅葉 #บ่อน้ำร้อน #onsen #hotspring #japanese

Bathless

Then there's the soaking news. From Japan itself.

Vice reports (Jan. 27) on some of the modern trends in Japan. Cheap accomodation without bathing facilities. Which is leading to a revival of sento's:

'Like many people, 27-year-old Tokyo resident Arata Noguchi enjoys a good soak in the bath. It helps the architectural designer wash away stress after a long day’s work.

But unlike most people in the wealthy metropolis, he has to go out for it—his home has no shower or bath.

Known as furonashi bukken—literally “no bath”—traditional homes like Noguchi’s 160-square-feet apartment have recently become a subject of debate after a TV channel reported their supposedly rising appeal to nostalgic Japanese youth.

....

In the show aired last week, the Japanese broadcaster suggested that more young people were renting showerless homes not because they’re cheaper, but because they enjoy going to public baths, called sentō. The show didn’t mention people forced to live in a furonashi bukken due to poverty'.

Continuing with the articles with soaking as add-on, Japan Times (Jan. 8) reports on music festivals where you can also take a soak:

'There are certain things you come to accept about going to a music festival: You will probably not sleep well; you will spend too much money; you will get filthy. The grime is itself a part of the festival look — unshowered hair matted with sweat, body browned from a layer of dirt. Happily, this is less true of festival life in Japan, where natural hot springs improve the situation greatly, and, in fact, add an unexpectedly pleasurable dimension to the party culture.

...

I ventured out of my tent and saw a short line outside a cabin marked “coin showers.” Seeing people holding their toiletries and towels, I shuddered at the thought of paying for a 30-second blast of cold water. It was then that I was informed that some of the people my group had met up with were leaving for the onsen (hot springs).

In the changing room at the onsen, I felt a little awkward stripping down in front of women I had just met, finding myself more self-conscious than if they had been total strangers. At the washing area, I listened to them chat in Japanese as I shampooed my hair at a distance.

...

The organizers of Labyrinth provided options for people to get warm and refreshed. I slowly made my way to a bare-bones sentō (public bathhouse). The other women moving in a constant stream through the tiny, dingy space were all wearing the same wristband as I was, instantly recognizable as fellow partygoers. Tattoos, piercings and pockmarks revealed themselves in full. I spotted a woman so thin her rear was almost concave, and realized the slim frame was the same woman who had been planted at the front of the dance floor all night, eyes closed, unwavering and untouchable.

Festival outfits and makeup can feel like carefully cultivated performances. But there in that communal space, everyone’s little dramas crowd together in all their nakedness, faces scrubbed bare and diligently treated hair stripped down, before the armor goes on again. It must be a unique feature of festivals in Japan, I thought wryly, that you might be sitting naked next to someone, wondering if she was the one you saw making out with your ex the night before'.

Then we shift a little away from Japan. But not too far. NZStuff (Jan. 13):

'But you don't have to travel all the way Kusatsu, three hours north of Tokyo, or Beppu, far to the south in Oita prefecture, or even down to Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown to have the experience. You can almost capture the serenity of those spa towns in your own backyard, with an outdoor bath, and some good planting.

...

Once in place, you can add some minerals just like the ones you’ll find in Japan, such as Okuhida Yunohana Onsen Powder, which you can order online – it turns your bath milky, just like the spas around Mt. Yakedake, where it’s made – or a Tabino Yado milky bath, from Amazon.com, which has a similar effect.

If you can’t find either of those, some Epsom salts and a few drops of your favourite essential oil will do just as well'.

Hype (Feb. 2) hypes:

'She’s sexy and she knows it – Lai Huiru (賴慧如) left little to the imagination when she stripped naked during her relaxing holiday in Japan. Like many other tourists, people have been flocking to Japan after the country lifted its travel restrictions last year.

...

In her post, Lai Huiru wrote that it’s been on her bucket list to visit a hot spring hotel in Japan.

...

Besides the stunning view of the popular mountain, the singer-actress also gave followers quite the view of herself fully naked in enjoying her private hot spring bath'.

huiru.lai.71

2023.1.28

今天要跟大家分享 日本行-東京

我很期待的一間溫泉飯店

費用頗貴 所以只安排一天🤣

一開始到的時候有迎賓 （日本人都超有禮貌的） 還有會說中文的服務人員

一路帶我們到房間

一打開房門 只有一直 哇～～～～

房間的配置很乾淨舒服

還有一個休息沙發可以坐在那邊

望著落地窗外的富士山

再來他下午時間還有下午茶可以喝免費的茶與點心

晚餐也包含在裡面喔 （高級的日式料理

最期待的當然是 可以在房間裡面 泡湯

看富士山🗻啦🤩🤩

室外-6度 泡著溫暖的湯

真的很幸福

我給這家溫泉飯店9顆星

有去東京的朋友可以列入名單#鐘山苑

Finally the negative news to the forefront. Insider (Feb. 13):

'The Japanese police have arrested 17 men suspected of photographing and filming more than 10,000 women who were bathing in hot springs.

...

Yutaka Seki, an executive director at the Japan Hot Springs Association, told the SCMP that while photography and filming are prohibited in hot springs, new technology makes it difficult to fully prevent such cases from happening.

"I am very much in favor of both sexes being able to bathe together in a friendly and safe manner, but incidents such as this attract bad publicity and worry people," Seki told the SCMP. "And that makes my hope of mixed, communal bathing — as used to be the case in the past — more difficult."

Todayonline (Mar. 1) reports on quality (not) of water:

'The head of an upscale Japanese inn apologised on Tuesday (Feb 28) for only changing the water in its hot-spring bath every six months, allowing bacteria to breed 3,700 times over the standard limit.

Local ordinances stipulate a weekly replacement of the water in which guests traditionally soak naked together after taking showers, with men and women bathing separately.

Mr Makoto Yamada, president of the company that operates the nearly 160-year-old inn, said the facility had neglected to keep the water hygienic by using enough chlorine.

He "didn't like the smell" of the chemical, he said at a press conference'.

watery725

本來以為是個普通假日，驚喜的是路上都沒車、店裡都沒人，才想到原來是補班日。

繼上次solo camp後也半年過去了，真的很開心賺到這個包場的復興溫泉，整個溪谷只有我，可以脫光衣服、音響催到緊繃，平常都聽獨立樂團的我今天來個老歌精選跟著大聲唱，哦對了告白氣球已經是老歌囉。

這是近一年來最chill放鬆時光沒有之一，此刻我只放著音樂泡溫泉沒開燈，輕輕靠在巨岩上的頭稍微抬起便是漫天的星點，它們怎麼好像在動？啊！應該是我白酒喝多了，沒有鄰居我只能自己乾掉整支。

謝謝台灣這片美麗自然的饋贈，褪去不出於自身的一切才更能享受土地、水流與星河，彷彿整個拉克斯溪都是我家浴缸。

不想動了，我就這樣泡到清晨自然醒，晚安大家。 #taiwan1 #bpintaiwan #travelgram #instago #adventure #wanderlust #landscape #nature #outdoors #photooftheday #picoftheday #photography #naturephotography #travelphotography #beautifuldestinations #写真好きな人と繋がりたい #igtaiwan #taiwan #台湾 #대만 #台灣 #高雄 #桃源 #高雄景點 #kaohsiung #kaohsiungtrip #kaohsiungtravel #復興溫泉 #hotsprings #星空

Lavish

Then Traworld (Feb. 20) has an introductory article on Malaysian hot springs which they refer to as Malaysianonsens:

'Did you know that Malaysia has more hot springs than you might think? Despite not having any active 🌋volcanoes, we are lucky to be blessed with natural hot springs all over the country'.

 The Asia Press (Jul. 30) also has soaks from Malaysia to share:

'Malaysia may not have spectacular volcanoes, but it does have its fair share of natural hot springs ready to help you soak away your worries. Read on for our complete list of the best hot springs in Malaysia and get ready to plan your therapeutic retreat, whether you’re looking for a lavish hot spring resort or a budget-friendly communal pool to try.

Tophotsprings (Dec. 2) has 13 hot springs of East and Southeast Asia. It also adds Nepal to the geographical region.

oommy.bestofall (in Thailand):

Before I used to think that making myself happy is the best thing. When I grow up, making my loved ones happy, makes me feel happier.

Then the shock and horror stories. Singapore's Strait Times (Feb. 4):

'A visitor to Sembawang Hot Spring Park was “shocked and disgusted” by the sight of a woman washing her hair at the park.

According to a report by citizen journalism website Stomp on Friday, a contributor who goes by K saw the woman when he visited the park for the first time on Thursday morning.

K said the woman was washing her hair at the egg-cooking station and another was lying down on a step at the station, seemingly enjoying the vapour emitted from the hot water.

...

In January 2020, news site AsiaOne reported that a man was caught on camera soaking the lower half of his body in the hot spring.

In the same month, a reporter from Shin Min Daily News witnessed a number of visitors rinsing their feet with the hot spring water and then pouring it back into the cascading pools.

NParks guidelines state that unwanted hot spring water should be emptied into drains, not back into the pools.

In 2021, a Taiwanese YouTuber received online flak after posting a video showing her cooking chicken wings at the egg-cooking station in the park'.

We started this blog with nakedness, (fe-)males and soaking. In the Philippines a slightly different set up. Cebudailynews (Nov. 15) reports on the need for males to cover up:

'In Lapu-Lapu City, venturing outside your house without a shirt on can earn you a trip to the police headquarters for being a public eyesore.

Acting on orders coming from higher-ups, policemen apprehended and brought to their headquarters 231 people caught “topless” in public places between Oct. 24 and Nov. 6'.

davidkirklandphotography

Women bathing in thermal springs in the mountains behind the Timor-Leste capital, Dili.

📸Photography Tip: I wanted that “milky” effect in the water so I shot with a longer exposure (3seconds@f16), and I had to shoot it a few times to capture a picture where there was no movement of all three women.

#worldcaptures #ig_worldclub @cntraveler #natgeo #natgeotravel #Best_travel_photography #tourist #tagsta_travel #travelphotography #travels #mytravelgram #travelphoto

#tourist #travelpics #getaway #igtravel #traveltheworldphotography

#tripadvisor #travelling #ilovetravel #travelwriter @bestintravel #wonderfuldestinations #nikonaustralia #nikon #mynikonlife @kings_third_age #theglobewanderer #passionpassport #traveldeeper #lonelyplanet #beautifulworld