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

Seek

agungyudika

Stay wild and free

Model by @rachel_loudy

•

Fyi tempat ini cocok banget buat list tempat liburan kalian saat tahun baru, tempatnya buat memanjakan badan dan pikiran karena disini kalian bisa berendam dengan air panas, kalau ada yang tahu tempatnya komen ya dibawah guys

What's there to share? Not much concerning the odd photographic evidence.
But some content.

Secret Retreats (Sep. 28) has a feature on Asian hot springs.
On Rinjani (Lombok, Indonesia):

'Take a trek to the emerald jungles of Mount Rinjani National Park to see Lombok’s wealth of waterfalls and then relax those tired muscles post trek with a soak in the island’s most famous hot spring, ‘Aik Kalak Pengkereman Jembangan’. Aik Kalak translates as boiling water and as the name suggests, it is a place where one can enjoy bathing in the warm, healing waters surrounded by nature. Aside from bathing, local people have long come to the site to perform rituals and seek blessings. Long considered a magical place, locals still today bring ritual items such as Keris (a dagger typically used in religious rituals) to the spring to wash and bless them and ensure their supernatural powers are intact. Legends have it that Sasak warriors, the Sasak are an ethnic group that calls Lombok home, would visit the spring to bathe after battles and the magical waters would heal battle wounds.

Aik Kalak Pengkereman Jembangan is located at about 2,000m elevation on the side of Mount Rinjani and in the late afternoon and evening the cooling air makes for a wonderful contrast to the steaming waters of the spring. The refreshing atmosphere of the stunning natural scenery on Mount Rinjani and the warm, healing waters of the hot spring are guaranteed to soothe and revive all who visit.

They also mention Pai (below), Sankamphaeng (both Thailand), Poring (Sabah, Malaysia) and Muang La (Laos). As witnessed from the above, their script writer is very much in form.

finebites.co

Thailand, February 2019.🍃🌞

Sometimes I feel like I forget to breathe. Not metaphorically speaking, but quite literally holding onto a breath I must remind myself to release.

Like there are so many tabs open in my brain I’m not present in the moment. I’ve never been an anxious person. But the last few years have been weird as hell and have brought on more anxiety and stress than ever before.

I’ve found comfort in my friends and family, holding them close, practicing yoga and meditation, being in nature, immersing myself in things that bring me joy and calmness. Finding beauty in the small things and focusing on how I can create a life of love, happiness and allow it to overflow to the collective. We all need more kindness in community as well as solitude; doing the inner work. I hope today brings you simply peace. 🙏🏼🦋💛

More Thai, more Pai.

Thailand Nomads has a 2022 review of Pai (Chiang Mai) most popular hot springs:

'Hot Springs are a treat to the eyes and souls of people who genuinely admire the beauty of nature.

The city of Pai has some really beautiful Hot Springs that you must check out on your visit here.

We have picked up the best ones for you in this blog'.

They note 4 local hot springs to enjoy.

Halved

Central Thailand. xyzasia (Sep. 14) looks at what's on offer around Khanchanaburi:

'The hot springs were the specific reason that I travelled to Kanchanaburi province. I’d been suffering some groin pain for nearly two months after a bad bout of Covid and couldn’t find any way to get rid of it. But when I spent a couple of days at a saline hot spring in Krabi in southern Thailand, I discovered that the pain had more than half disappeared.

...

Wat Wang Khanay Hot Spring

This very traditional public sulphur hot spring is located in a temple complex on the south-eastern side of Kanchanaburi city. It’s very conveniently located to the city – only about 15 km away – but it is unlikely to appeal to most international visitors. You’ll be invited to step into a large stainless-steel drum that looks like an industrial cooking vat after the attendant has filled it with hot water from the underground spring. There are several rows of the vats along one side of the temple courtyard'.

Continuing with Rock Valley hot springs:

'I had quite a long soak in the coffee pool, but it wasn’t my favourite. The next one was – the eucalyptus pool at No 13. This also claimed to help with blood circulation and skin detoxification, but I so loved the aroma. I could have soaked in this one all day. The temperature was probably only around 38-39°C so you can certainly spend longer in it if there are not too many other people at the hot spring.

That was the last pool that I spent much time in because No 14 was only straight mineral water at 38°C. It wasn’t labelled but I assume it was a ‘cooling down’ pool before the last pool which was labelled ‘normal temperature’. That is the largest of all the pools at the hot spring, but I didn’t get to try it because it was being cleaned on the day I was there'.

On to the south of Thailand.

elena_phuket

Travel to Phang-nga 4 years ago 🥰

#travelthailand #phannga #thailand #hotsprings

The Nation (Jul. 13) has yet another story on the dual pricing structure of virtually everything in Thailand, but now with special reference to hot springs:

'A TikTok video posted by a Japanese tourist complaining about “inequality” at a Krabi hot spring after having to pay an entrance fee 10 times the amount locals are charged went viral overnight, with many netizens having their say on Tuesday. The man posted the video after he visited Klong Thom hot spring, where he was charged a 200-baht entry fee as opposed to 20 baht for Thai visitors.

“A Japanese [tourist] feels the inequality in Thailand. I had to pay 200 baht while Thais pay only 20 baht,” he complained'.

Earlier the same source (Mar. 3) reported on what seems like research on aforementioned Klong Thom:

“The number of hot springs known for their healing benefits has changed from time to time, but not all hot springs possess the properties to help alleviate physical and mental ailments. Thailand is blessed to have a remarkable and curative hot spring located in Klongtom district of Krabi province. Aside from its properties to treat poor mental health and unfavourable physical conditions, the hot spring is also unique for its naturally sparkling saline water.

The Klongtom Salt Hot Spring is considered one of the world’s five best hot springs with mineral saltwater following those previously found in Taiwan, Japan, Italy, and Malaysia.”

The above explanation was given by Dr Jiroch Sinthawanon, a former senior expert of the Office of Permanent Secretary, the Ministry of Public Health, when conducting a research study on hot springs in Thailand.

The publication, named “Safe and Healthy Hot Spring Bath”, was aimed at disseminating knowledge on the use of hot springs to create a good image where people can fully trust their benefits and safety, and maximise the standard of health tourism.

Jiroch added that “the temperature and minerals found in the Klongtom Salt Hot Spring are truly outstanding. The seawater seeps into the basement of the hot spring through rock layers to be filtered twice. As a result, the water retains only a light taste of salt unlike the strong salty taste of seawater as well as the smell of sulphur.”

The article also leads to significant info on a real estate project hopefully profiting from positive imagery, probably the reason for the article (and research; the author mentioned above is hardly mentioned on google):

'Wichai [Wichai Poolworaluk, president of Woraluk Property Plc, a leading real estate company in Thailand and a major developer of the Klongtom community in Krabi] said, “As a real-estate leader, we want to be the one to transform people’s concerns into happiness backed by our standardised and trusted management. This had initially inspired us to work on the development of the Klongtom Heritage project. Situated on a vast area of over 200 rai (32 hectares), ...'.

Luckily the locals are set to profit big:

'The local residents will be offered greater job opportunities and a chance to earn a higher income, while the ecosystem and environment will play a vital role in making the community grow in a sustainable way. This will help people to improve and reinvent themselves, getting ready to upgrade their life to national levels, he said'.

Luckily they'll not to be patronized. Oddly the Bangkok Post (Mar. 2) runs exact the same article.

Continuing southwards. The Star (Oct. 13) has 7 Malaysian hot springs to share:

'Most of the hot springs are small, but there are a handful that have been turned into proper resorts and parks'.

j2_travels

Just 45 mins from Kuching's city center

Lies an all natural hotspring

Which is reputed to cure diabetes, hypertension etc

Damn....doctors are gonna be out of jobs

I do so miss the good old days

When the responsibility and stress of work was manageable....

Maybe all I need is another long relaxing hot bath surrounded by lush greenery

#malaysiatrulyasia #malaysiatourism #nature #naturephotography #siasitoksarawak #raonraonsarawak #sarawaktravel #sarawaktourism #sarawakmoretodiscover #amazingborneo #borneo

Want

Free Malaysia Today notes (Dec. 21, 2021) that the onsen trend has reached Malaysia:

'Complete with warm lighting, a single-sized tub filled with hot water and imported salts, a shower area, and Urban Retreat’s very own line of toiletries at your disposal, you will want for nothing but some peace and quiet once the 45-minute session begins'.

It's a trend getting more and more traction in the area. Is it the culture (here fakely presented)? Is the not need to head to Japan for the experience? Do onsens balance out the hectic city life? I have no idea.

But here are some more snippets concerning onsen experience in the region.

Thaiger (Apr. 18) looks at the Japanese style onsen baths on offer in Bangkok:

'What if we tell you that you can have an authentic onsen experience right in the bustling city of Bangkok?

On Yunomori:

'The Onsen mineral water bath uses water from Kanchanaburi’s Wat Wangkanai [sounds familiar?], so enjoy the holistic benefits in the heart of Bangkok'.

VNexpress (Aug. 27) shares an overview of Japanese style hot spring resorts in the Danang region. It's not always clear how the waters are sourced. For instance:

'The resort has a heated swimming pool on the top floor of the 22-story building that allows visitors to admire the entire Da Nang Bay.

With a variety of minerals imported from Japan, guests can experience mineral bath services at shared baths or separate areas for men and women'.

racvcapeschanckresort

Time to relax at Alba Hot Springs. Just a 15 minute drive from the resort!

📸 @albathermalsprings

More Vietnam.
Wellness Vietnam has an article (Feb. 15) named Best hot springs experience in Vietnam.

'There are more than 200 hot springs throughout Vietnam though only a handful have been developed and are safely accessible for public bathing. Our guide to the ‘Best Hot Springs Experience in Vietnam’ features six unique locations that combine wellness, adventure, and cultural immersion'.

A local insiders (Sep. 12) guide to Binh Chau hot spring (What to expect). It looks like the place has seen some heavy renovations since I was here.

Something from Myanmar. Mylocal passion (Apr. 1):

'Tanintharyi region also has natural hot springs and the water is warm and hot in every season. Tanintharyi hot springs are heated groundwater which is of high temperature water. Local people believe that the water of hot springs can be good for our body, relax our muscles and can heal neuralgia. I want to mention four popular natural hot springs among local people in the different areas of the Tanintharyi region'.

All still very rustic luckily.

Breached

Though times are a changing, but not yet in Singapore. At least where it concerns attitudes to bodyculture, which are yet to move forward and with this news snippet (Oct. 14) it doesn't look likely to change in the foreseeable future:

'The local edition of famed fashion magazine Vogue has repeatedly been found to be in breach of government content guidelines and, as a result, had its one-year permit revoked yesterday.

The magazine then reapplied for a new permit but was granted one lasting just six months.

In a Straits Times article, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) said that Vogue Singapore violated their content guidelines on four occasions within the past two years by including nudity and content that “promoted non-traditional families”.

The exact content that violated MCI’s standards has not been revealed. Although Vogue Singapore does not feature explicit nudity, Infocomm Media Development Authority’s content guidelines notes that semi-nude models with breasts or genitals covered by “hands, materials or objects” are also forbidden.

As for the part about content promoting “non-traditional” families? That is code for content that portrays queer or LGBTQ+ relationships in a positive light'.

Then finally some news from Quebec (Canada) ,not noted for it's geothermal highlights. LaPresse (Jun. 7):

'Un développement touristique incluant un lagon chauffé entre autres par la géothermie et la construction de 300 unités en partie chauffées et climatisées par l’énergie solaire doit prendre forme à 45 minutes de Québec, aux portes du Massif de Charlevoix. Développé en trois phases, l’environnement du GeoLAGON nécessitera un investissement privé de 300 millions'.

It's not clear from the article itself whether the lagoon's waters would be geothermally sourced or just geothermally heated. With all the geothermaility in Southeast Asia, it's quite astonishing that nothing has been done on a similar but somewhat smaller scale ...

nick.j.long

Sudah lama sekali ada cita-cita main ke Dieng; baru tahun ini impian itu dapat teraih 💙💚💙💚// Enjoying colourful lakes, ancient temples, meditation caves, hydrangeas and volcanic hot springs in a place I’ve wanted to visit for ages and ages: the beautiful #dieng #plateau in #indonesia. #mountains #lakes #temple #hotsprings

Sorted

whoisjosef

war echt ziemlich heiß

#natural #hotsprings #coron #philippines

A long overdue delve into the global soaking culture and in particular that of Southeast Asia. 

Starting off with the latter, nature newschannel Mongabay (Dec. 31, 2021) has an informative in-depth article on an initiative to expand the Mt Apo (Mindanao, Philippines) geothermal power plant:

'In the 1980s, when the Philippines’ Energy Development Corporation, or EDC, began developing plans for a geothermal energy plant near Mount Apo, a dormant volcano on the southern island of Mindanao, it faced fierce resistance.

Decades later, the geothermal plant is frequently cited as an example of a project that has fulfilled its commitments to traditional landholders, and its permit was renewed without major dissent in 2017. But a bloody struggle preceded the agreement, and as the company seeks to expand, it may again find itself facing opposition from Indigenous peoples'.

...

Despite its troubled beginning, the deal is now widely regarded as having been a success.

Under the agreement, Madadma gets 1 centavo per kilowatt-hour from the electricity sold by the geothermal plant, giving the tribe a steady income stream. This royalty goes to the Environmental and Tribal Welfare Trust Fund, administered by an NGO, the Mt. Apo Foundation, Inc. PNOC-EDC also provided housing for 68 families relocated for the project, granted scholarships to students from the affected area, and gave tribal members priority for hiring during the construction phase.

The company running the plant wish to expand, whereby the expansion in capacity will also mean more land will be needed. Hope is that a negotitions with tradional tribes will result once again in a win-win situation for local tribes'.

Remaining with the Philippines. Outoftownblog (Apr. 17) has a local's list of natural hot springs in the Philippines. About 10-ish, most with resort in the name.

Viatravelers (Apr. 26) has an overview of hot springs near Manila:

'Some are located within resorts that have capitalized on their tourist-luring appeal, while others are accessible by the wider public.

Either way, hot springs near Manila offer everything a weary traveler desires: warming waters to revitalize the body and spectacular sceneries to calm the mind'.

Authentic Indonesia has a dozen of Indonesia's best hot springs.

'Traveling has many purposes. One of them is for relaxation. To get your own relaxation can be obtained in many ways, including by visiting natural hot springs. Soaking in a hot spring pool can be one solution to make the body fresh again after tired undergoing holiday activities. If you want to travel to the hot springs, here are our recommendations for 12 best Indonesia natural hot springs'.

angela_fritz

Live#24/30

Heiße Quellen in Bandung -Was war bisher dein schönster Reisemoment?

•

Warum ich die Welt sehen will! 🌎❣️

Heute Thema in meinem Live, um 22:00 Uhr geht es los 😊 ich freu mich auf dich!

#livetogrow #reisen #weltsehen #lebennacheigenemstandard #heissequellen #bandung

ThinkGeoenergy (Mar. 8) has an article in which with the example of Flores they try to propose that geothermal electricity is especially required to assist the tourism sector in developing.

Unlikely, but there's a recent article (Jun. 24) by the Smartlocal concerning Singapore's onsens.

'Good news for those who miss Japan’s hot springs: Singapore, too, has spas with their very own onsens for self-pampering – both the nude and non-nude sort. While we don’t have many natural hot spring sources, the water at these onsen spas in Singapore do come with minerals or at least some sort of health benefits.

...

There’s no better way to bond with your mates than for all of you to jump into a pool together, fully butt-naked. But you don’t have to illegally skinny dip in a reservoir when you can do that at Yunomori Onsen & Spa, which brings the public hot spring experience to Singapore. Yup, the gender-separated pools here are 100% communal, so mentally prepare yourself, and let your inhibitions free!

klook has an updated (May 26) listing of what they consider 8 of Vietnam's best hot springs. Pretty odd, that the article lists the hot springs, but posts of hot springs from the US! 

Wellnessvietnam has another more thoughtful article (Feb. 15) on Vietnam's natural (but developed) soaks:

'There are more than 200 hot springs throughout Vietnam though only a handful have been developed and are safely accessible for public bathing. Our guide to the ‘Best Hot Springs Experience in Vietnam’ features six unique locations that combine wellness, adventure, and cultural immersion'.

ccsecotours

Are you looking to soak in mineral hot springs on your next vacation?

On our final stop of "4 Waters" Day​ Tour you'll find an oasis of hot spring resort opportunities...

Values

Over to the global chapter. Which is mostly Japan focussed.

Japan's open onsen soaking culture, quirky for foreigners is slowly being eroded.

Japan Today (Jan. 9):

'Communal bathing has long been a part of traditional Japanese culture. Mixed-gender bathing, though, or konyoku, as it’s called in Japanese, is something that’s been largely phased out at hot springs and sento (public baths), with the vast majority of such facilities now having two separate bathing areas for male and female customers.

An exception is made for young children though, with Japanese society, for the most part, thinking it’s no big deal for a mother to take her young son into the women’s bath with her, or vice-versa for a father and daughter in the men’s bath. The question is what age qualifies as “young,” there’s now a new legal cutoff in Tokyo.

Previously, children as old as nine were allowed into the bath for the opposite sex, provided they were bathing with a parent or guardian, of course. As of January 1, though, the new age limit is six, meaning that once children hit the age of 7, boys are legally allowed only in the men’s bath, and girls the women’s.

...

“If it’s such a problem for parents, then they don’t have to come to the public bath in the first place.”

As alluded to by the last comment, though communal bathing was once more or less an unavoidable necessity of life in Japan, in the modern era it’s pretty much an optional way to get clean. Two or three generations ago, it still wasn’t all that unusual for Japanese homes, especially those of working-class families, to lack bathing facilities, meaning family members had to make regular trips to their neighborhood public bath. Nowadays, though, all but the most spartan of apartments have a bath/shower combo, so going to the sento is more a leisure activity than a cornerstone of anyone’s hygiene routine'.

Guardian (Mar. 12) looks at another aspect, also reflecting the gradual demise of traditional values:

'The absence of women seemed to confirm Japanese media reports that konyoku – mixed bathing – is at risk of becoming a cultural curiosity, especially when it requires participants to go naked.

Many blame the rising menace of wani (crocodiles) – the nickname given to men who spend long periods immersed in the water, their eyes constantly scanning the room for female bathers.

...

Other hot springs have followed suit, with one proprietor who recently introduced a clothing rule on a trial basis suggesting the change would become permanent since it had clearly deterred bathers with “perverse motives”. Another onsen in the south-west of the country saw the number of female bathers rise from 10% to 80% after it made covering up compulsory.

...

Kobayashi [Yasuhiko Kobayashi, a lawyer who has written a guide to the country’s best onsen], who has sampled about 3,000 onsen over the past three decades, attributes the breakdown of bathing manners to a lack of consideration for other people that now afflicts wider Japanese society.

“People think that if something is not actually prohibited, then they can do as they please,” he said. “When foreigners arrived in Japan in the late 1800s, mixed bathing was one of the things that really surprised them. But that was a time of tolerance and respect in Japan. It meant Japanese society was safe and peaceful. The decline of mixed bathing is proof that standards are declining.”

The introduction of partitions and bathing wear requirements diminishes the value of what should be an innocent shared experience, he added. “It means that onsen are losing their individual charm. That’s a real shame.”

Globalhobo (Dec. 13, 2021) looks at the soaking culture from the dive into the unknown aspect:

'No. My clothes we’re staying firmly on, thank you very much.

...

So, with my new friends Abbey and Jada bravely leading the way, I tentatively lost my onsen virginity.

And it was… freeing.

Although I had thought that being in an essentially translucent swimming pool with a group of strangers would be daunting, once I got over the initial shock of seeing boobs every which way I looked, I found the whole experience transformative.

...

You can look at all the glamourised, picture-perfect female bodies you want on Instagram, or in magazines, but at the end of the day, those photos are artwork: the most ‘ideal’ of the ideal body-types who are paid to pose and edited so that the photos are flattering. Normal human bodies are naturally lumpy, lopsided and flawed. But that doesn’t make us any less beautiful or valuable. Bodies, too, are essentially just superficial skin prisons that enclose the real us: it is our feelings, thoughts and actions that make us intrinsically unique.

So frankly, I think we Brits have a lot to learn culturally, and maybe practicing becoming relaxed with taking our clothes off more readily (within the parameters of the law) is a good a place, as any, to start. I believe we could all do with being a bit more naked!

Elsewhere, ThinkGeoenergy (Jul. 13) has a short article on the supposed threat of geopower generation versus soaking:

'On June 21, 2022, the Japan Hot Spring Association held their own in-person general meeting in three years after the restrictions caused by the pandemic. One of the major topics discussed during the meeting was the potential of geothermal power generation in Japan and its possible effect to Japanese hot spring culture.

...

“The hot spring culture is pervasive in Japan, with 130 million people staying at hot springs annually. Geothermal power generation is now used for conventional hot springs.” said Ministry of the Environment Director Yoshiaki Kitahashi. He added that the minimum line for geothermal power generation is that it should not affect the conventional use of hot springs'.

seraiballmann

Dicen que el agua cura todos los males.

No sé si los cura, pero te hace sentir mejor.

#aguastermales #thermalbaths #family #coloredhair #nature #relax #greenery #naturalspa #naturalsprings #travel #trip #wanderlust #travelphotography #travelmania #rainbow #naturelover

Away from Japan, MTL blog (Jun. 7) notices that Iceland's hot spring culture is to be exported to ... Canada!

'A giant geothermic pool could be coming to Quebec. With a surface area of 120,000 square feet, the Iceland-style swimming hole would be the largest of its kind in the world, promoters say.

The lagoon would be the centrepiece of an eventual 600-door retreat in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, a small town on the Saint Lawrence River roughly an hour north of Quebec City. There are also plans for restaurants and a spa.

...

The pool itself would rely on geothermal, biomass and solar energy to maintain a year-round temperature of 38 C'.

It does look though that it's Iceland's soaking culture for foreigners (not the national soaking culture) is to be exported.

Finally, BBC (May 19, 2021) has a video on geothermal energy.