Convenience

biancakyburz

Little known fact, Hsipaw's hot springs are conveniently located next to the local motorcycle wash.

Much is to be said about what will happen once the Corona crisis abates. The same also applies to the world of wellness & travel.

Starting off with Global wellness trends for 2021. A bit late, but nonetheless as much of the world is still locked up, pretty much a prediction for what the hordes (read ourselves) will do / go when cut loose.

Little newsworthy trends, basically same same as always just described differently. If anything it will be still very much elitist. 

No. 9 on the list with some relevance:

'The coronavirus pandemic acted as a near complete brake on travel in 2020 and consumers and suppliers looked to rebooting travel for the better. The next trend? Look for all travel to become wellness travel as manic getaways are replaced by slower, closer and more mindful experiences. The over tourism epidemic will be challenged, tentative travel will become a new buzzword, and people will strive to leave a place better off than they found it'.

As said, when we are all set loose again, slow travel will not survive. The pressure we exert on each other for new experiences, for greener pastures will trump the slower travelling and experiencing trends. The time we missed, the eventuality that something so weird may well happen again will mean that we have lesser time to see (and experience) whatever landmark still on one's bucket list.

I suspect home wellness will become more and more important. Why rely on seeking commercial facilities located further away when you have virtually the same experience at home? And you determine your own times and rules!

The Sydney Morning Herald (Jan. 5) has its own list of wellness trends:

'With the coronavirus pandemic shaping our entire world in 2020, it's no surprise that we'll see its influence extend into 2021 lifestyle and wellness trends.

- Comfort crafting

In terms of mental wellness and self-care, Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy's trend expert, says "little luxuries" and "wellness-focused rituals" are going to be popular. This includes things as simple as reinvigorated fitness routines and long baths. Another trend that Johnson predicts will "really stick out" is comfort crafting.

"It's really a time to craft, to learn a new skill and it can certainly serve as a form of self-care and grounding," she said.

...

- Friluftsliv, which translates to English as "free air life," is an appreciation of being outdoors and incorporating outdoor activities into your life.

...

- Trampolines

...

- Slow travel'.

No news. 

A more regional look. 

The current (Covid-19 induced) crisis is one in which national tourism agencies seem to be trying to reinvent themselves. 

Here, Couchfish (Feb. 26) discusses how Thailand hopes to move ahead, basically by focussing on the high end of clientèle:

'At least within a Southeast Asian context, much of the focus is on “high value” tourism rather than backpackers. By high value, what tourism boards really mean is “high–spending”. This is a mistake—budget travellers are the biggest spenders of all.

...

I’m not arguing that high end tourism should be consigned to the scrap heap—tourism comes in many flavours, and each has pros and cons. Backpackers though punch above their weight and it is folly by tourism boards to (at best) ignore them or (at worst) tell them to stay away'.

It doesn't seem that the local Southeastern Asian governments are grasping reality. 

faisarj1 near Banda Aceh:

Terakhir ke sini tahun 2009. Not bad!

Soothing
Talking about reality, TravelandLeisure (Dec. 12) presents 

'The worlds most instagrammable hot springs'. 

Europe gathers most hashtags (f.i. Blue Lagoon), closerby NZ gets 2 mentions, Oz 1 and Japan 2. None in Southeast Asia. 

It actually refers to an article put together by Parkdean Resorts which has a more extensive top 25 (again nothing from SeA!) and describes the methodology which compiled data on November 2020. 

No doubt the method has its limitations, as it not really incorporating other languages / scripts. But probably the less biased, though it would have been great to compare to a year before. 

Several mentions should have been non-starters: 

- Mammoth hot springs (US) refers to an area with a fair number of hot springs, 

- Aquadome and Termebucuresti are not really natural, 

- Cascate del Mulino made it to 20, but the same place but referred to as Termi di Saturnia made it to no. 6,

- Jigokudani, gets the numbers of Jigokudani monkey park whereas 

- Sawtooth National Forest actually may have a hot spring but the expansive name includes many, many non-soakers.

So a good effort but needs improvements ...

The NZHerald (Jan. 7) has a national list of (only!) 5 geothermal hotspots.

JapanToday (Dec. 23) has a ranking of Japans most popular hot springs:

'Travel company Jalan surveyed 13,342 users and asked them about their favorite onsen areas, the ones they liked so much that they want to go back, and they all seem to offer much more than just soothing hot waters and Japanese ryokan inns.

...

For the 15th year in a row in Jalan’s annual survey, Hakone, just an hour and a half outside of Tokyo by express train, was voted to be the best onsen resort area in the country. There are a lot of reasons why Hakone is a popular tourist destination, not least among them the startlingly beautiful proximity to Mt Fuji. And with plenty of things to do there–ferry boat rides, a cable car over a volcanic mountain, a scenic railway, shrines temples, and museums, just to name a few, there’re lots of reasons to love Hakone enough to keep coming back over and over again.

That Hakone made the top spot once again isn’t entirely surprising, though it is interesting that the top 10 remains largely unchanged since last year, except for Kurokawa Onsen, which jumped up two spots. Perhaps that’s because travel was limited due to the coronavirus, or perhaps that’s because these places are just too good to pass up. Either way, if you’re looking for an authentic, fun, and memorable onsen resort experience, look no further than one of these top places'.

Locally, 8 best hot springs near Manila (by viatravelers (Dec. 19)), though the definition of 'near' may need some explanation.

Traverse-blog (Mar. 1) on how to experience your first time at a Japanese onsen. Nothing surprising though.

Desperate times? The Mainichi reports (Oct. 30) on the slowing business of onsen hosting:

'NISHIWAGA, Iwate -- The local government of this northeastern Japan town, known for its hot spring resorts, put seven of its 10 municipal spa facilities on sale following falls in visitor numbers, but as of Oct. 29 -- the day before the deadline to register interest -- it had yet to receive a single application.

...

Conditions also apply: for at least five years the buyer must operate the hot spring facility and cannot resell the property in the period.

Nishiwaga's local government started to build municipal hot spring facilities in the mountain town from the 1980s, and it has aimed to develop the town as a spa resort location. But the town has been hit by serious depopulation in recent years, and the number of visitors has continued to decrease'.

NZHerald again (Jan. 25), hopes yet another article on the (n)on-goings at Waiwera Thermal Resort (not so long ago one of NZ's bigger waterparks):

'The iconic Waiwera hot pool complex closed its doors for a $3 million renovation in February 2018 and has never reopened.

Instead, the past two years has seen court battles over rent and trademarks, liquidations, cancelled leases, and a realisation that the damage to the infrastructure of the 50-year-old water park (and its more recent bottling plant) is so bad almost nothing is salvageable.

...

But there's a potentially happy ending to the tale: the present owners in September 2020 made preliminary decisions on a $250m masterplan.

....

They say the whole project could take as long as 10 years'.

Blessed

alx_alex_forever

Friday. Pool day 🐟🐟

Ready for water game 🐰🐰

#alxforever #holiday #holidays #2020 #travelblogger #travelphotography #asia #laos

A new Laotian soaking opportunity (photo above)? A new swish resort in Xieng Khouang. There's not much to find, it's managed /owned by Asa Power company and only has a Facebook page. There's also very few reviews as of now.

FindingHotsprings notes (Jan. 16) Wareerak (Krabi) as its best soaking spot in Siam:

'... you’ll be able to soak in five hot spring fed pools found on the property, of varying temperatures. To determine the healing properties of their springs, Wareerak had the waters tested by the Institute Fresenius in Germany in 2017, and it was found that the waters met the German standard for “Natural Medicinal Water”. Additionally, the waters do not contain any strong sulphur smell. With a PH of 7, the waters are very good for the skin and may be used for drinking as well. A signature of the property is its hot springs waterfall, a true natural wonder'.

A complete guide (Feb. 14) to Sai Ngam hot spring, Pai (Mae Hong Son province - Thailand) by Jonny Melon. Though excessive, by no means complete. And why whine about national park entrance fee?

where_is_jon

This was such a happy day for me. It was one of the last days of swimming for me in Thailand because I was getting my feet tattooed the next day. By the time they healed, I would have left the country. So we decided to drive about an hour or so past all of these small villages and into the heart of the mountains. Protruding from the ground was this huge bubbly rock that was spewing boiling hot water from the Earth. The local people built a system to let some of it travel through to two pools for soaking, while the rest just merged with a nearby cold river. It was surrounded by mountains and beautiful nature. We spent hours here, soaking up every last minute. I truly remember being so happy about this decision. Sometimes you have to go out of the way to see some new things that speak to your heart. Was blessed to swim at these hot springs.

The same Jonny also has a recent (Jan. 16) posting on Ardent (Camiguin, Philippines):

'As I mentioned earlier, these hot springs sit at the foot of Mt. Hibok Hibok volcano which is where the thermal water is derived from. The water temperature is around 40°C that is slightly cooled on the way down to the lower pools.

Ardent Hot Springs are man-made pools surrounded by lush rainforest and the water is transparent with a tinge of blue. For a man-made structure, they’ve done well to make this place a tranquil experience for visitors.

The water cascades from the top of the valley and divided into four separate pools. The two larger pools at the bottom are the most inviting and there is an arched footbridge between them'.

GettingStamped (Feb. 20) introduces everything you need to know concerning Maquinit hot spring.

'Looking for the perfect place to end a fun-filled day in Coron? Consider a visit to the tranquil Maquinit Hot Springs. As the only saltwater spring in the Philippines, Maquinit Hot Springs is fueled by an active, underwater volcano.

However, you don’t have to worry about any dangerous eruption. The hot springs are entirely safe. Not to mention, soaking your aching muscles in the warm waters is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of island hopping and outdoor adventure'.

NikkeiAsia (Jan. 9) on a slice of Japan in north Vietnam:

'Yoko Onsen resort lies nestled deep in lush mountain forests in Vietnam's Quang Ninh Province. It has all the trappings a traditional upscale Japanese resort needs, from luxurious ryokan-style buildings to baths bubbling with mineral-rich hot-spring water.

Since it opened in June, the new leisure complex has become a hot topic among trend-conscious Vietnamese. It may help spread the Japanese onsen culture of bathing nude for relaxation and wellness in the country, where the closest thing to an onsen is a hot-spring pool to take a dip in while wearing a bathing suit.

Yoko Onsen, the first Japanese-style hot spring resort in Vietnam, is a three-hour drive from Hanoi, the capital. It is located off the beaten track and in a beautiful tranquil setting overlooking forests and hills in the karst landscape stretching from Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

...

All baths are outdoors. The complex is divided into three zones: separate areas for men and women, and one for both men and women to bathe together in swimsuits.

Besides 25 bathtubs, the complex also has bedrock bathing facilities and saunas. The water is rich in sodium and chloride ions, and the temperature of the spring's source is 42 degrees Celsius. The spring water is diluted with no other water.

Unlike Japanese, Vietnamese do not bathe or soak with strangers completely naked. When this reporter visited Yoko Onsen, young guests were making a lot of noise in the mixed bathing area. A manager at the resort said it will try to help Vietnamese learn how to enjoy onsens in the Japanese style'.

thylaan at Yoko onsen:

Sun in my eyes, navy blue skies

These are the reasons I can survive ☺️

#sunset #13degrees

Not often, but a scientific article (pdf, Oct. 9, 2020) on one of the regions hot springs, which for a change does not look at geothermal potential (read how to make money easily), but looks at how the environs of Annah Rais hot spring (Sarawak, Malaysia) can be monetized. !!!

'The Hot Springs has potential to become a tourism destination that can contribute to Malaysian Economy'.

And non-Malaysians were prepared nearly three times as much as locals, suggesting the need for more local education. ?

Tagged

yannoschnitzel

Late night hot spring action by the river. Wine and Baileys was had 🍷 Lucas (bro) looking good 💪
#travel#onsen#hotspring#river#taiwan#modelshot

I would like to start this blog entry with highlighting the following: that of soaking secrets.

Especially on social media, I've seen a lot of "ssst, don't tell anyone where we are". But nonetheless, let's share the photo.

On the one hand, keeping something secret increases it's sacredness, on the other ultimately in a social world, if you believe that the soak setting is being sacked, the only real answer is social organisation. But that seems to entail a rash with many fellow soakers. Too many of us are only interested in what nature has on offer to us rather than the other way round.

falsesummitco

Seriously! And leave the fucking glass bottles at home. This is why we can’t have nice things. #falsesummit #hotsprings #stopgeotagginghiddenlocations

In the Southeastern Asia context, there's an additional threat. 

As public ownership is very poorly protected, any (pristine / primitive / undeveloped) hot springs gaining popularity is bound to be ensnared by private interests. 

Privatising cuts local use, cuts social organisation / cohesion and often leaves the locals themselves as bit players in the profit seekers set-up; where the wealth created is transferred to the local capitals.

And what is the role of this blog itself? 
I like to say that opposing developing hot springs is not highlighted enough. What is highlighted is often the beauty of the dwindling number of natural soaks. But with the (global) population ever increasing, spending and free time becoming more and more readily available (= good thing), the plight of many natural soaks is to be developed; the question is often only when?

Luckily as above in Taiwan, there might still be locations in Southeast Asia, rugged and rough and still far away from roads which might survive. Let's hope more soaks can hold out for longer.

Ironically the next subject concerns developing more and private soaking facilities.
ThinkGeoenergy (Oct. 7) highlights a recent report on the state of Victoria (Australia) and it's potential to encourage more investment in soaking.

'The report called “The Great Victorian Bathing Trail” can be downloaded here (pdf).
...
The report might as well be a blueprint for hot spring development beyond the state of Victoria in Australia'.

I similarly agree, it's an excellent report, showing how experiencing hot spring baths elsewhere on this globe can be copied and enhanced in creating more soaking opportunities in Victoria itself. But such is the inspiration from the report that using it for soaking developments elsewhere is a must.

Note that the developments in Victoria concern pumping-up geothermal water, as there are no naturally occurring soaks there. 

Dilemma
Some wackier news, all from Japan.

The Japan Today (Nov. 4):

'Although famous throughout the country for their baths, Beppu still feels that more people ought to be visiting. However, the dilemma is that people can’t truly see how good the baths are without first actually going there. So they developed a way to instead bring the bath to the people. These Genso no Yu or “Visionary Baths” are inflatable, easy to transport anywhere in the country, and can fit four to five adults in each of the two 450-liter baths. Of course, they use 100 percent Beppu sourced water, transported in specially-designed heated tankers to keep it at a piping 40 to 42 degrees'.

Great for a winter garden party? Can't see it taking off myself, but who knows?

The Nextshark (Aug. 7) notes some controversy:

A temple in Niigata Prefecture, Japan is causing quite the stir for its decision to use erotic art depicting historical and mythical men bathing together while in the nude.

source

More odd initiatives from Beppu. The Asashi Shibun (Oct. 18) kicks off with an article on ordering hot spring water, undiluted (it's quite common to order hot spring minerals to dissolve on location):

'Beppu city-affiliated B-biz Link started a service to deliver spa water from the municipality famous for its numerous hot springs to households and facilities across Japan.
Under the Beppu Onsen Omiya initiative, the company sends anywhere from 200 liters to 4,000 liters of hot water. A household bathtub typically requires 200 to 300 liters of water'.

Costs though seem prohibitive.

Everywhere

jojo9154

Vietnam’s hidden treasure! 💎 #banho #sapa #laocai #vietnam #nature #hotsprings #travel #wander #explore #turisteando

Heading into the region proper.

Worldthermalsprings, according to it's instagram account, is currently in Vietnam, notably Krong Pha hot spring, Thap Ba and Binh Chau.

The instagram account is actually of better known thermalsprings.ru, this is their page on Vietnam. 
They link to maps-vietnam.ru where I found this comment from the thermalsprings backers:

'Your site is excellent, but I hoped that I could easily find on the map all the hot springs mentioned here, but I found about 30%. I’ll fly to Nha Trang tomorrow and travel to the hot springs. If you have the opportunity to urgently send me the coordinates of all these sources, I will be very grateful. I created the site "thermal springs of the world" and travel everywhere to hot springs. This is my hobby. Finishing all my trips at my expense. And the information is available to everyone. On November 9, I plan to visit 3 hot complexes near Nha Trang, and there is no plan further. Your map shows 3 sources to the NW from Hanoi, but there are simply no two pages. Really looking forward to help'. 

No answer forthcoming?

Life on the soaking search road looks like this:

'Traveling to the thermal springs of Vietnam: it is difficult to travel to Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, almost no English is spoken, only spa representatives from the marketing department can speak. In hotels at the reception and ticket offices (if any) knowledge of English is minimal. So it’s impossible to plan something in advance. You go out onto the track knowing that there will be buses. Everything else is unknown. The third day of the trip, November 11, reached the main highway at 5:15, caught slipping bass, then two local buses and a motorbike to the Bin Chau resort. Another motobike and bus transfer to Mui Ne and a visit to the Mui Ne Hot Spring Center resort. I take a local bus to Fantieja, a neighboring city, walk to the highway and, after eating wonderful noodle soup, start catching a long-distance bus. They write on the Internet that they go twice a day. In fact, they drove here every 2 minutes. After 20 minutes the bus stopped, in which there were places. Agreed on a price, knowing the price from the Internet for this distance. She took her berth. Very comfortable to sleep. The blanket is thin, so you can hide with your head so that the light along the road does not interfere. At 18:45, the bus ride started and at 4:00 the next day ended. I drove 622 km during the night. At this time, motorbikes do not interfere with the bus and it flies at an average speed of 75 km / h. I had to skip one source, since I would have arrived there at one in the morning. To be continued'.

Somewhere in northern Vietnam. In better (= less developed) times? source

itourvn (Oct. 30) has a list of best of soaks to visit in Vietnam. These being Kim Boi (Hoa Binh) , Bang (Quang Binh), Dam Rong (Lamdong), Bin Chau (Vungtau) and I-Resort (Nha Trang). Mostly (very) developed.

Impact

tiahnijade

Marobo Natural Hot Springs with this special little forest nymph. Oh the people you meet ☺️ so grateful to meet and travel with you @ishtar.raven 🌞🦋🌻✨🌱

Thailand's Nation reports (Oct. 16) on sustainable tourism initiatives from concerned business on Phuket:

'Sustainability has become the key word to their survival in the face of mass tourism for many in the tourist and hospitality industry, including Phuket’s myriad of hotels and resorts. Thus, the Phuket Hotels for Island Sustaining Tourism (PHIST) forum was born.
...
While the issue of plastic usage dominated the forum, other topics relating to sustainability were also discussed.
Eric Ricaurte, founder of Singapore-based sustainability firm Greenview, outlined three main issues in mass tourism; displaced tourists, overcrowding and the backlash from the impacts caused by tourists
“First is tourists entering neighborhoods where they shouldn’t be, in residential neighborhoods and residential buildings. I’m a resident and we have too many AirBnB places in my building, and that also drives up rent,” Ricaurte said.
“Second, [there are] too many tourists. You see this in Phuket, Japan and Korea. The third is the backlash from the impacts caused. This is what we saw in Boracay, too many tourists in small destinations without the resident’s input.”
According to Ricaurte, the issues can come down to a single problem, in that “destination stakeholders not realizing the broader impacts of the individual activities of the business and private sector and the public sector”.

Though not solely hot spring related, it does inform you more on how tourism development is taking place and how to try to counter the negatives; a good initiative, if slightly belated.

Pai Hot Springs

Mae Hong Son province by Clairemrphy

Back to Taiwan. The Taiwan News (Nov. 10) reports on a local festival:

'Hot spring season has kicked off at Sichongxi Hot Springs Park in Pingtung County's Checheng Township and will last from now until Feb. 9, 2020.
The Pingtung County Government, which organized the event, has decorated Sichongxi Hot Springs Park with red maple leaves and maple leaf-shaped lights, CNA reported on Saturday. Pingtung County Commissioner Pan Men-an (潘孟安) said that the park boasts a Japanese atmosphere, with popular traditional Japanese ballads being played on the PA system'.

Not on the festival menu:

marianarittenhouse

R E B I R T H
I’ve officially spent 31 years on this beautiful planet. No profound insights this year…just an intention to spend the next one skinny dipping in all the waters as much as possible 🥰
Happiest day to all my birthday twins out there!! 👯‍♀️
marianarittenhouse#taiwan#tarokogorge #nationalpark#skinnydipping #river #nature#motherearth #birthday#naturelovers #swimming

Travel and Leisure (Nov. 13) reports on an onsen in Taiwan: 

'Nothing but a tiny cotton towel protects my modesty at the steaming pool I’m about to enter. I may be in Taiwan, where hot-spring outings are usually swimwear-friendly family affairs, but here in the baths of Hoshinoya Guguan, tradition dictates I onsen the Japanese way: in my birthday suit.  

My initial awkwardness melts away the moment I submerge into the cypress-fringed outdoor bath. Fed by streams flowing down the craggy peak of Xueshan, East Asia’s second-highest mountain, its water is slightly alkaline and on the pleasant side of piping hot, making it the perfect introductory onsen for a novice like me.  

Opened in June, Hoshinoya Guguan (hoshinoya.com; doubles from NT$7,560) is the luxury resort chain’s first foray into Taiwan, and only its second resort outside of Japan, where founder Kuniji Hoshino opened his first ryokan in Nagano Prefecture in 1914. Its setting on a forested plateau in Guguan, a tiny hot-spring enclave in the island’s mountainous heartland 90 minutes west of Taichung, taps directly into the liquid treasure.

...

The focal point is an indoor-outdoor stone bath endlessly fed by Xueshan’s hot springs, and refreshed by a forest breeze'.

Fresh
Over to Singapore.
The poorly developed hot spring of Sembawang is getting a face lift. Importantly, access will still be free. Question mark.

Yahoo news sg (Sep. 2):

'The only natural hot spring on Singapore’s mainland has been closed for redevelopment works since August 2018, but we’ve only got a few months to go before the place reopens with a fresh new look.

Sembawang Hot Spring Park’s actual construction will be completed in October, but seeing as how it’ll take a couple months to finish paving the roads leading to the park, it’ll only officially open in January 2020, the National Parks Board (NParks) told The Straits Times last Friday'.

Mothership.sg (Aug. 31) adds a photo of how the soak might pan out (minus the soaking spirits I suppose (?)):

From the Philippines the obligatory lists. Here a couple of references. 

Taraletsanywhere (Oct. 15) gets to Laguna for some soaking:

'The province of Laguna is blessed to have natural hot springs. The water from these springs flows down from Mount Makiling, which is an inactive volcanic. Over the years, more and more hot spring resorts have opened up, catering to people who want to relax, unwind and soothe their tired muscles. Here are the best hot spring resorts in Laguna — for your family or barkada outing, team building or personal vacation'.

Viatravelers (Sep. 6) stays closer to the nation's capital:

'If you’re sapped of inspiration and just need a break, here are 8 hot springs in Manila to spur your relaxation. This list includes a lot of hot spring resorts from Laguna, a city dubbed the “Resort Capital of the Philippines”, and a select few from other cities near Manila'.

sheenamiyay at Balite Hot Spring, Baganga

wala akong tasa at kape😄🥵☕️

Xinhua (Sep.1) comes with what might be peculiar info, hot-spring related. But it's ultimately very tragic:

'A private plane with six passengers, including a patient and two pilots on board crashed into a private pool resort in Laguna province south of Manila on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Police said the injured victims and casualties will be determined as the investigation continues.

Police said two caretakers of the resort inside a subdivision in Pansol, a village in Calamba City, were injured in the accident that happened around 3 p.m. local time. They were rushed to a local hospital for treatment, police said.

Pansol is famous for private hot spring resorts.

trtworld (Sep. 1) adds:

'All nine people on board a small medical evacuation plane were killed on Sunday when the aircraft crashed into a resort area south of the Philippine capital and exploded in flames, officials said.

The light plane crashed into a resort compound in Pansol village in Laguna province near the foothills of Mount Makiling'.

Unwind

Malaysia then.
The Star (Jun. 6) looks at the popular Poring hot spring:

'Visitors to Sabah are often in search of beautiful beaches and islands such as Sipadan, Mabul and Mataking, where you can go swimming, diving or snorkelling. There are also those who seek out adventurous activities like climbing Mount Kinabalu.

And then there is the Poring Hot Spring'.

charlenekhor

Hot pool hopping 🤣 #banjaranhotsprings #retreat #hotpool #travel #hotsprings #trip #airbnb #pool

Hypeandstuff (Sep. 13) mentions the trend of Japanese onsen soaking outside of Japan has reached Malaysia:

'Being able to relax and recuperate in a Japanese hot spring bath, onsen, seems like one of the best ways to unwind after a hectic day. This traditional Japanese hot spring bath is now available in Kuala Lumpur as the first onsen spa in Malaysia, just a few hours away from Singapore. Way cheaper than flying to Japan.

Urban Retreat Onsen Spa is the first of its kind in Malaysia to offer this authentic onsen service

....

Using mineral-rich crystalline powders extracted directly from Japan’s renowned onsen springs, you will be energized with the elements from this famed Japanese tradition. You even get to choose your very own onsen mineral for your bath. Thereafter, get to relax in your own cosy personal onsen hot tub that is traditionally enjoyed in Japanese homes, unlike the public baths'.

Tripadvisor reviewers rave about the place, but I read only reviews of the massages.

Sun Daily (Sep. 6) reports on upgrading taking place in Gadek:

'Gadek Hot Spring will be given a RM17 million makeover and named Gadek Wellness and Spa Resort, Malacca Chief Minister, Adly Zahari, told reporters today.

It is expected to be ready in early 2021 and will come with a 25-room hotel, chalets with a private hot spring pool, traditional treatment room and more.

“The rebranding and uniqueness of this place will turn it into an iconic tourist spot for Alor Gajah, while offering job and business opportunities in Gadek'.

Purified

travellingsumut

Sangat asik mandi air panas alami (belerang), sambil menikmati sejuknya udara pagi hari di Sidebu-debu, BERASTAGIKonon menurut mitos mandi di air belerang ini bisa menyembuhkan segala macam penyakit loh guyss...Lokasi: Hot spring pesona Sibayak view Pemandian air panas sidebu debu, BerastagiRepost: adventurewith_ashley.#sidebudebu #hotspring #sibayak #travel #traveler #travellingsumut #exploresumut #berastagi #exploreindonesia #wonderfulindonesia

Several issues on Indonesian soaking.
Starting off with Java and this unexpected news. The Jakarta Post (Oct. 3):

'A rare jaladwara (waterway segment) made of stone that resembles a Garuda and believed to date back to before the Majapahit era was found during an excavation of the ancient petirtaan (hot spring) in Sumberbeji village, Ngoro district, Jombang regency, East Java'.

It's a bit unclear whether it is really a hot spring; the  term petirtaan refers to a bath, mostly for nobility (source), though with a spring.  A jaladwara is a spout.

Majapahit refers to an era of more than 500 years ago when the eastern part of Java was the center of a in size differing Hindu (-Bhudist?) empire which in it's heyday ruled much of the Southeast Asian archipelago's (source).

More from Java. Indonesia.tripcanvas (Oct. 25):

'Here’s an overview of our guide to hot springs around Bandung and Garut area (tap to scroll to the relevant section)':

All presented as resorts, nothing natural.
Then Bali. Traveltriangle (Jul. 26) with another list:

'Hot springs are very calming to the body and the soul. Check out our list of the best hot springs in Bali which will be a relaxing getaway on your next trip to Bali'.

Amazingly, all but a few of the presented photo's are of the incorrect location. Disregard this article.

The Traveller.com.au (Aug. 19) looks at the broader implications of the tourist industry on the island:

'Badly behaved visitors to Bali will be sent home or face "purification rituals" for disrespecting sacred sites, officials said yesterday.

The warning came after a Czech couple filmed themselves splashing each other with holy water at a temple on the Indonesian holiday island'.

Apparently without underwear. They apologized, so all is forgiven. 

It's a prelude to the next snippet, sacredness. ThinkGeoenergy (Sep. 20) reports on a Bahasa article in which is mentioned that the Balinese local government will not approve geothermal power systems: 

'... the regional governor Wayan Koster has confirmed that the geothermal power plant project in Bedugul, Tabanan, will be stopped. Koster claimed to have spoken with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ignasius Jonan.
“In addition, related to sensitive issues related to geothermal steam power plants in Bedugul. The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources was willing to continue, I ask him not to continue,” said Koster in his one-year remarks at an event in Bali earlier this month.
...
The concerns mention continue to center around the sacredness of the project site'.

ThinkGeoenergy comments:

'This continues the endless story about this project, which is not quite understandable for outsiders. With the economic growth of Bali, mostly through tourism, the energy demand has increased and makes the power supply by cable from Java a factor of increasing instability for Bali. Burning palm oil essentially also creates challenges, not only in the constant supply of the oil, but also emissions that would surely be an issue for the experience of Bali for tourists and the local population. Geothermal energy provides a great opportunity tapping local resources for power generation, and a clean one. Naturally, the religious implications and approach to stakeholder engagement locally is important, but it is sad to see that no consensus can be found on this project'.

More.

ThinkGeoenergy has a report (Nov. 8) on a recent IBRD / World Bank publication titled Rapid Environmental and Social Assessment of Geothermal Development in Conservation Forest Areas in Indonesia.

'Most geothermal potential in Indonesia is in or close to forest areas. This has raised societal concerns about environmental and social impacts, especially in forests that play an important role in supplying fresh water, harbour endangered wildlife, or have high cultural or religious values. Environmental and social impacts and risks associated with geothermal power development are complex and significant and the degree to which these risks and impacts vary between geothermal power projects is not well understood.
...
The key finding is that project access roads are the major cause of social and environmental risks and impacts associated with geothermal power development in forest areas.
...
To get about 10 km of project access roads, 30 hectares of forest clearing is needed, while about 10 km2 of forest is indirectly impacted through the effects of road-facilitated hunting, illegal logging, use of fire, and other detrimental activities'.

Finally to Burma. Instagrammer hide_onsen_packer has two posts on hot spring visits in Myanmar: Khaung Daing Natural Hot Spring and Taunggyi:

hide_onsen_packer (google translated):

Inle Lake near Hot Springs Tour ♨️④

② Birisshu hot spring 

bathing charge 500 chat

open-air bath man 3 F 2, there is a water storage tank for bathing 

there was a heat Me and lukewarm There, Netsume local people have not entered

in about 38 ℃ and 46 ℃ Japanese would be a good Me heat 

put cleaning is a feeling that is not in good condition but without Well problem 

where is the source putamen not seems to have been caught a hot spring 

there was also the way private bath not in a state to put have crazy dirty

now are using instead dressing room 

good shopkeeper is a friendly person! English is not ... through

COSPA nice open-air bath 👍 

Directions 💨

entering the village to mark the red sign from Taunggyi

go straight green sign, there is the entrance you see a blue sign on the left

Insomnia

inhinyeranglaagan at Kili, Abra, Philippines

Below the hot spring is a small steam cave. #hotsprings #experiencethephilippines #explorephmag #SiAbra

Stepping outside the region, the ever popular Peninsula hot springs of Australia have partnered in the research project named:

''Indulgence or therapy? Exploring the characteristics, motivations and experiences of hot springs bathers.'

One of the very few forward looking and consumer driven hot spring institutions on the globe, the link provides an abstract:

'Analysis revealed that “relaxation,” “peace and tranquility,” “indulgence” and “escape” were the most important motivators for bathing. Most respondents reported general health benefits (98%) and better sleep (82%) from bathing, one third experienced fainting/dizziness. One third of respondents also had medical conditions. Significant benefits were reported for back pain, arthritis, stress/anxiety, depression and insomnia. These results suggest that while relaxation is currently the major driver of hot spring visitation, balneotherapy warrants consideration from Australian health practitioners and insurers as a complementary therapy'.

I don't known how much this is reflected by other significances (natural environment, social interaction, prospects of a day vacation), bathing does seem to drive the above. A common feature (whether it's the onsens of Japan, the sauna's of Scandinavia, the hot spring holidays of the Tibetans, the mineral bathing culture of Germany, the Turkish baths or the hot rock baths of Bhutan) communal bathing and thus leaving behind one's social setting are ever increasingly needed in today's complex world. 
We need more. 
We need more variation (if only, the above examples of global bathing cultural reflect there's more than 1 way to bathe). 
And it's our common interest as a society to be as physically and mentally healthy, so why not have society assist in pursuing soaking?

Nowhere
It's regional stuff that's our next focus, starting off with a photo and an experience from Burma. 
 

ohmykwok 

Day 5 (100517) - Khaung Daing Nature Hot Spring, Lake Inle Myanmar. Now who would have thought there would be a hot spring in the middle of nowhere! After a 25-minute ride into a more rural part of Lake Inle, we arrived at the destination only to ask ourselves what we were doing going into a hot spring when the sweltering midday sun was already all around us. Nevertheless we got into our swimwear and dipped in.

There were 4 pools with unique temperatures: hot, warm, cool, and dead rat -- we didn't find out what temperature dead rat was -- and I was confused how they had different temperatures when it was supposed to be a natural hot spring. Perhaps only the water was from the hot spring, and the temperature was controlled by a heater. The hottest pool was a challenge getting into, but slowly and steadily we all got used to the heat, just like how we did with the Burmese weather. With the backdrop of lush greenery and hilly contours, it was a portrait of serenity.

Think Geoenergy (Apr. 6) has an article on the creation of a geothermal tourism village near Kamojang, West Java, Indonesia.

'“In addition to the drilling activities, we will build a tourist village area around the drilling site,” said President Director of PT PGE, Irfan Zanuddin in celebration activities on Exploration Wells BDN-B / 1 at the location of the PGE at Bukit Daun this week.

What a geothermal tourism village actually entails, seems unclear.

ruthmichellecody exuding a different kind of energy. I doubt that's a common practice, rather more a risque photo shoot.

#Baliblues #happy #naked #travel #getnaked #bestwaytobe #simple #lovelife #travelphotography #mountbatur #hotsprings #bali #indonesia #beautiful #landscape #nudity #thetoplesstour

Vital
Malaysia's peninsular has quite a few of spruced-up hot springs that are so to say neither fish nor flesh: not natural enough, nor worthy of an extended stay. 
With the odd (high-end) exception of Banjaran. 
And with this mind, the future has been foretold. The edgemarkets.com (Jun. 14) reports:

'Anzo Holdings Bhd secured a RM10.17 million [roughly 2 million $US] contract to revitalise Selayang Hot Spring near Selangor's Batu Caves'.

More Malayan hot springs. KLnow (Jul. 12) has a list of 12 soothing hot springs. All with quite a bit of cement in sight.
Hype.my (Jun. 23) has another list with

'... 8 local hot springs you should visit when you need a little “me time”.

Or as the title of the article says to rejuvenate. It manages to extend the list to Borneo so it's just slightly less concrete based.

dianne_ditona at Hapao Rice Terraces and Hot Spring

Eat some makeup and maybe you will look better from the inside. Add more bb cream to cover your bratty attitude. My value will not decrease base on your inability to see my worth. My ponytail is higher than your standards. Climb b*tch 😂 #relaxing #serenity #ignore #longhairdontcare #hotspring #skinnydeeping #jonsnow #knowsnothing

More concrete. Redeveloping Singapore's Sembawang hot spring is not only seen as a positive thing. Channelnewsasia (Apr. 23):

'Come end-2018, trips to this northern part of Singapore might be a tad different The National Parks Board (NParks) announced that the Sembawang Hot Spring area will soon be turned into a one-hectare park. Development of the park will start at the end of this year and is expected to be completed a year later.
...  
Mr Teo Lye Hock, 67, another member of the brisk walking group, hopes the place remains free of charge after the revamp, calling it a “poor man’s spa”.
Another visitor, 59-year-old Mdm Pan Hiew Lian said in Mandarin: “I’ve already been coming here for more than 20 years. I don’t want it to be redeveloped because I think it brings a sense of nostalgia. Redevelopment might make it better, but it’ll lose its charm.”
...  
However, one historian said modifying the hot spring’s present form could also mean losing a part of Singapore’s heritage. Mr Alex Tan Tiong Hee, the honorary secretary of the Singapore Heritage Society, said the hot spring is one of the few remaining places of interest outside of the city region that serves to highlight Singapore's heritage.
"It’s something that doesn't just cater to the folks living around Yishun or Sembawang, (but it's also a place to show) tourists, our friends, that outside the urban areas we still have landmarks," he said.
Mr Tan added that landmarks such as the hot spring help create, among residents, a sense of belonging to their neighbourhood. Without it, that sense of attachment is reduced'.

denisa.e at Phapao, Takua Pa, Phang Nga province, Thailand:

Ripples towards the right. That's because the water was boiling... #naturalhotspring

What a common hot spring experience in Vietnam is meant to be (vietnamnet,  Mar. 13):

'In the early 21st century, Saigon-Binh Chau Tourist JSC invested in the 33-hectare Binh Chau Hot Springs area. It is ranked four stars and listed as one of 64 locations in 47 countries across the globe which foster sustainable ecotourism by the World Tourism Organization.
Binh Chau Hot Springs has 117 guest rooms and four-star villas. It is an ideal place for guests to enjoy special services such as mud bathing, hot spring water bathing, eggs boiled in hot spring water and crocodile fishing.
Rooms with two or more beds are wise choices for groups of tourists. Meanwhile, classical style villas are suitable for high-end holidaymakers who want to enjoy their trip with their loved ones.
The tourist site also features Suoi Mo (Dreaming Spring) hot pool with temperatures ranging from 50-60 degrees Celsius and hot herbal mud tubs. Hot spring water and mud combined with herbs can help people recover their health and cure skin diseases, fatigue and digestion problems.
Furthermore, Hoa Rung Restaurant capable of receiving 500 guests at a time serves both a-la-carte and set menus replete with Vietnamese, Chinese, Asian and Western dishes. There are VIP rooms for those who want privacy.
Tourists can also take an electric car tour around the site, play tennis or badminton and shop at stores'.

Bearing
Having had the region's precious little web-bits behind us, let's see if there's more to note on the wider area more or less on-topic. 

It's interesting to follow where the (soaking) market is going. Leader New Zealand has seen quite a few new developments of hot spring pools with high degrees of privacy (and exclusivity) at area's not known for natural waters but these have been bored. On the flip side it seems that the busier leisure parks are facing tough times. NZ Herald (Jun. 18):

'One of New Zealand's most popular tourist attractions is cutting back its opening hours for a refurbishment as it battles "high losses", sparking fears from staff about imminent job cuts.

The Waiwera Thermal Resort - which is owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Khimic - will operate for just three days a week from this week, with the "closed" sign to be outside from Mondays to Thursdays'.

China's answer: more opulence, less riff-raff. theluxuryasia:

Did we talk about take a dip in a such amazing design spa and private hot spring? | Who wants to join 🙌 #DusitDevarana #HotSpring #Canton #Conghua #Guangzhou #China 🍃🌞🍃
.
.
📷 @dusitinternational #DusitHotel #PoolGoals

Secret hot springs, not so secret anymore. Otherwise known as hitou (In Japan), on tofugu (Jun. 15) the secrets of the umm ..., secret onsen are revealed. More or less.

'Hitou are tough to get to and they can be dangerous depending on the location.

...

If you do go, I implore you to do extra research as well. And make sure you're prepared. Transportation can be less than ideal, and cell signal will likely be nonexistent. If you're hiking, bring the right gear (i.e. towels, headlamps, bug spray, snacks, etc). Do your research on surviving bear attacks (seriously, depending on where you go). And, because these onsen are mostly "wild," there may not be a temperature control system. You can get scalded, or even boiled, if you're not careful. Use common sense and be careful! We're not responsible if you die or get injured!

Still want to dip your toe in after all that? Let's put on our hiking boots (then take them off again when we get there) and look at Japan's ten best hitou'.

When I skim through the list, somehow I think some secrets are pretty main-stream others though look like dream, bears an' all.

Another guide on how to enjoy an onsen. News.com.au (Apr. 18):

'After my humiliating nudie run, I finally began to relax. I leant back against a rock and looked up at the night sky. Snow was falling out of the dark onto my frozen hair. My body was deliciously warm.
They say the best way to forget a fear of public speaking is to picture everyone in the audience nude. Possibly the best way to overcome a fear of nude bathing is to remember that everyone else in the onsen IS nude — not just you.

crizzlysworld 

Natural hot water at vulcano galunggung in tasikmalaya (cipanas)! 🌋💥🙌🏻🌊🌠First Tourist at this Place! After hiking to the top of the vulcano and to the crater this hot Bath was wow so good for me! Beautiful landscape! Beautiful People!
#tasikmalaya #Galunggung #nature #hotspring #backpacker #backpackers #travel #traveler #traveling #travelingram #instatravel #instatraveling #summer #happy #travelawesome #feeling #experience #germany #0711 #stuttgart #beautiful #love #travelgram #life #enjoy #instamoment #goodlife #backpacker_pics #iwasplacesiknow IFD @mige.c

Cats
In the past, I have reported on the Idaho (USA) hot spring bicycle route. Little did I know that the US also contains a even

'The Hot Springs Trail From Santa Barbara to Canada'.

I'm not sure why the trail (it's for hiking) heads to Canada (rather than head to the Pacific), but that seems the way. The Whole Food Hiker (otherwise known as Aria Zoner) has some background on this hike (Dec. 2016) which resulted in a publication.

Postholer has more:

'The Hot Springs Trail (HST) is a brand new long trail pioneered by veteran thruhiker Aria Zoner. It stretches 2,390 miles from Santa Barbara, CA to Priest Falls near the Idaho-Canada border. On the way it hits an amazing 80+ hot spring complexes'.

One should note that there are not that many hikers who have made the whole trip ... Or soaked in all springs. The official guidebook can be obtained here.

On the subject of guidebooks, does one know that Sally Jackson has just finished penning her new issue of the Aotearoa encyclopedia of soaks otherwise known as Hot Springs of New Zealand.

arrinko0o at Muang La:

旅の疲れは温泉でほっこり♪

地元の人が通う温泉。のぼせたら隣の川でクールダウン。

いいお湯できてます。

#温泉 #なんとタダ #ちんちんに熱い #泥水… #トゥクトゥクで45分 #ラー郡 #ウドムサイ#hotsprings #ladistrict #oudomxay #laos

Finally, a  bathhouse in Tokyo started organizing lessons on topics such as comedy and gaming in an attempt to appeal to young bathers and bring back the disappearing tradition of public baths in Japan.

For example, one such session in the “Naked School” at the Hinodeyu bath house included nine men sitting around the bath, listening to an expert on the ancient board game Go.

Odd. Well, it's innovative and has got the media's attention (in this case vanguarddaily, May 29).

'At its peak, more than 500 people per day visited Hinodeyu, which is located near Tokyo’s Asakusa district. Today this number is only about 100, he [Manager of the Hinodeyu bathhouse] said. In the late 1960s, Tokyo alone had more than 2,600 traditional bathhouses or “sento” in Japanese, but since then there has been a steady drop...'.

June's topic was stray cats.

morgthecaptain at Pai hot spring, Thailand 

What will I even do when I don't wake up to your face every morning #9days 😭