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Hari ini kami menikmati hot spring alami berair biru toska yang menenangkan 💙

Perfect pairing: hangatnya air alami + dinginnya udara gunung + nyamannya bermalam di Villa Elfame Lokon.

💧 Relaksasi di hot spring

🏡 Stay di Villa Elfame Lokon

✨ Escape to tranquility under Lokon Mountain.

📍 @VillaElfameLokon

#VillaElfameLokon #HotSpringTomohon #EscapeToTranquility #TomohonTrip”

If you hardly publish anything, then no wonder that you get the feeling you are way behind things. So guess what?

On the other hand, despite all the geothermality on offer locally, there's conspicuously little finding it's way to even some obscure website. So if there's nothing to share?

So a little info on Southeast Asia to start off with. And then a lot on Eastern Asian bathing traditions and experiences.

Adventures and sunsets (Jul. 6, 2025) has some real news to share:

'Bali’s beautiful new hot spring

Located in Kintamani at the base of Mt Batur, Cinze Natural Hot Spring has almost 15 levels of bright blue hot springs pools that look like they’re maybe even modeled after the grutas tolontongo in Mexico or some other famous tiered springs! They’re v aesthetic with the volcano, lake, and mountains surrounding it  the perfect place for a drone flight!

They also have some villas on site with little private pools. We stayed at a Glamping site nearby though that we loved - more on that soon!

How it works is that the very top pool is the actual hot spring, and the pool at the bottom is cool. The pools gradually get cooler and cooler the further down you go!

It’s 150k for entry (about $10) and includes a towel and welcome drink. They also have a small and basic restaurant for refreshments!

More Indonesia.

You have a deal. To preserve and protect. In this case a deal with UNESCO. Concerning conserving a spectacular rainforest. But the deal predates the thought to exploit the available geothermal resource. Mongabay (Sep. 30, 2025) has the details:

'Indonesia is seeking to redraw the boundaries of a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest to pave the way for geothermal projects — part of its renewable energy push but a move environmentalists warn could devastate biodiversity and tarnish the country’s green reputation.

The Ministry of Forestry has proposed excluding two degraded areas — Suoh and Sekincau in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Lampung province — from the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (TRHS).

The TRHS is a 2.5 million-hectare (6.2 million-acre) site that also spans Gunung Leuser and Kerinci Seblat national parks, making it one of the largest conservation areas in Southeast Asia and the last habitat for many endangered animals.

Officials say the boundary change would free up some of the site’s vast geothermal potential, estimated at 5 gigawatts (GW), while maintaining TRHS’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) required by UNESCO.

“TRHS sites cannot [be used for geothermal], but we know there is huge potential there. It would be a pity not to make use of it,” said Satyawan Pudyatmoko, the ministry’s director-general of ecosystem conservation, as quoted by local media Sept. 18.

The government submitted the proposal in November 2023, with a decision expected in 2027'.

But UNESCO rules forbid this. The article continues:

'The narrative that geothermal is clean and low-impact often overlooks these risks, said Ki Bagus Hadikusuma, energy researcher at the NGO Auriga Nusantara.

He cited Sorik Marapi in North Sumatra, where gas leaks since 2022 have sent dozens of people to hospital and killed five, including two children.

Geothermal is also a water-hungry industry, like mining, which could threaten critical water sources in protected forests, Ki Bagus added.

...

For conservationists, the risks extend beyond biodiversity loss.

“Altering World Heritage boundaries for extractive projects like geothermal in TRHS not only threatens ecosystems and local communities but also risks damaging Indonesia’s standing in global diplomacy,” Atina said'.

More from Mongabay and Indonesia, this time (Jan. 16) on Flores:

'When Indonesia designated Flores a “geothermal island” in 2017, identifying up to 21 geothermal sites, the policy was framed as a cornerstone of the country’s renewable energy transition. Backed by international lenders and enshrined as a “national strategic project,” Flores was positioned as a global showcase for clean energy.

Eight years later, key geothermal projects on the island remain suspended, derailed by sustained resistance from Manggarai communities who argue that the transition has come at the expense of justice, safety and cultural survival, found a study published Nov. 13 in the journal Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space.

...

For now, geothermal operations in Wae Sano and Poco Leok remain paused, not resolved. Whether Indonesia’s energy transition can move forward without repeating old injustices, researchers say, remains an open question'.

Báo Phú Tho (21 Aug. 2025) in a Vietnamese article looks at exploiting the local hot springs of Than Thuy. Translated: 

'Possessing abundant tourism resources, especially natural and unique hot mineral resources, Thanh Thuy commune is focusing on exploiting its potential and strengths to attract tourists and become a key tourist area of the province'.

Over to Cambodia. Phnom Penh Post (Mar. 25, 2025) on the country's only hot spring:

'The Te Teuk Pus (Hot Water) geothermal site is being developed into a community-protected natural area and nature tourism corridor, adding to the almost 200 community-based conservation sites that the Ministry of Environment manages, across 15 provinces.

...

A rare geothermal site, its water temperatures reach up to 70°C. The six hot springs in the area emit water with a scent similar to sulfur and limestone. They cover an 80-square-metre water surface within a 5-hectare natural area filled with tall grass, reeds and red sandstone.

According to the provincial administration, the Suoy indigenous people believe Te Teuk Pus is a sacred site that brings good fortune to visitors. It is also believed to have healing properties, with some locals claiming that washing one's face in its clear waters can help cure ailments'.

The Vientiane Times (Jul. 1, 2025) on a long shot initiative:

'Bokeo authorities have begun transporting hot spring water over a distance of nearly 50 kilometres to the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, aiming to install hot spring facilities for visitors and promote tourism in the area.

The Poung Loc hot spring contains metasilicic acid that is rich in various nutrients that are beneficial to the human body and have health benefits.

It promotes heart health and blood circulation, strengthens bones, and nourishes the skin.

...

The water temperature in the Poung Loc hot spring is as high as 90 degrees Celsius. After being transported to the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone through a 47.45-kilometre pipeline, the temperature can be maintained at around 60 degrees Celsius.

The daily water volume is stable at 2,000-3,000 cubic metres, which is 

considered sufficient to lay a stable foundation for future developments'.

From Thailand, a national Top 10 hot springs for relaxation. WanderOn (May 29, 2025):

'Thailand’s got a secret: hot springs. Not just any hot springs, but steamy pools hidden in jungles and mountains. It is one of the best places to visit in Thailand. Imagine stumbling across a natural hot tub while hiking, that’s what we’re talking about.
These aren’t your average puddles. The water’s hot enough to boil an egg. Locals swear by them for fixing everything from sore backs to skin problems. Some people even drink the water, claiming it’s good for their insides.
You’ll find these hot springs in Thailand all over, from Chiang Mai in the north to Ranong down south. Some are wild and untouched, perfect for adventurers looking for adventure activities in Thailand. Others are decked out with massage rooms and fancy pools'.

A good overview.

More Thai. Channel News Asia (Jul. 24, 2025):

'The Thai government is pushing a nationwide policy to position the kingdom as a top-tier wellness destination, with a hefty budget and multi-year strategy to develop infrastructure.
...
The policy aims to build up the capacity and connectivity of lesser-known hot spring areas
...
A survey by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in 2023 identified 118 hot springs throughout Thailand. They vary in kind and location, from natural areas to urban settings. Others are more rural and isolated, with the majority located in the country’s north, while there are 13 located in Ranong.
“Our concept connects hot springs with nearby attractions to create an international Thai hot spring brand and distribute income to secondary cities,” Nattareeya Thaweewong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, announced in May'.

Though it's understandable that governments want progress, it seems the focus on hot selling these to foreigners is a bit off emulating Japan's mostly locally used hot springs.

jojoo_bu

Guess who is stuck in the pai hole?

Pai is about so much more than just chilling in hot springs. It was about watching my mind and beeing overwhelmed about how it looks like and how big it is. It was about dealing with my mind screaming inside of my head. It is about finding my intuition back.

Pai is not only about finding answers, it is more about realising that i don't even have all the questions and to enjoy the journey of finding them. Its about getting trust in life.

One more thing i learned: A bunch of beautiful red flowers braided in the hair of a horse is kind of toxic. So instead I let them be part of the soap bubbles emerging from the side of a cube, dancing in the wind.

#paihole#pai#northernthailand#thailandtravel#hotsprings#friends#travelbuddies#meditation#travelsolo#wanderlust#fernweh#weltreisen#nature#naturelovers#healing#backpacker#backpacking

Stay

The wider region then.
Think GeoEnergy (Jan. 27):

'In the past two to three years, more and more of the locals in the village of Dazhaozhuang in Wucheng County in Shandong Province, China, have decided to return and stay, despite the harsh winters. Much of the credit for the revitalization of the village goes to the 1500-meter geothermal well that now supplies the heating systems of the villagers’ homes.
...
Zhao Jinli, the village property manager, explains that the geothermal well in the east of the village discharges water at nearly 60 °C. The water is then filtered and purified before it enters the heat exchanger, which produces water at 40 °C. This is then supplied to the village’s heating system and fed to the homes of the villagers.

And then bathing traditions. Those foreign to foreigners.
The West Australian (Jan. 24) looks at global bathing traditions. (East) Asia? Onsen and jjimjilbang.
So what makes these so special? Starting with the latter.

Sydney Morning Herald (Mar. 23, 2025):

'For my 50th birthday, friends wanted to treat me to a Korean bath experience. Having had a conservative upbringing, I was horrified. I’d have to get my kit off in front of my friends. Fortunately for me, the Korean baths they’d chosen had closed and we enjoyed a high tea instead'.

What follows are the sharing of a bath in Lake Baikal.

Again from Australia, Escape (Jun. 27, 2025):

'Call me crazy, but I generally try to avoid getting naked in large crowds. Obviously, it’s generally frowned upon in the eyes of the law, but there’s also a level of… let’s call it ‘quiet discomfort’ that comes with getting down to skins in front of hundreds.

Unless, of course, I’m in South Korea and I’m headed to a bathhouse, then all rules go out the window and I can’t strip down fast enough.

...

I dump my clothes, gather my courage and strut my naked self through the change rooms out to the hot springs (they give you a hand towel, but it is nowhere near enough to protect your modesty). Everyone has to scrub down at a washing station before entering the bath and I do, but the minute I enter a body of 40-degree water some five minutes later, a spa mistress becomes incensed that I haven’t washed my hair (which is up in a bun) and starts shouting at me to get back out and try again.

...

Is a Jjimjilbang experience for you? Only if you’re completely comfortable with public nudity. Me? I plan to go back, but next time, I’ll be sure to bring ear plugs'.

We' re now well and truly in the experiences. All following of Japan.

CNN (Oct. 17, 2025) on what's it really like ... to visit a Japanese hot spring:

Onsen are baths filled with geothermally heated, mineral-rich water. They’ve long been part of Japanese culture, but foreign travelers often struggle with the nudity aspect. Boaz Rottem/Alamy Stock Photo

...

Growing up in the UK, bathing nude with strangers was not something I ever experienced — or even imagined experiencing. But in Japan, it’s a part of everyday life.

...

Today, countless onsen are dotted across Japan, from local towns to large purpose-built resorts — more than 3,000, according to the Ministry of Environment — each filled with hot spring water.

...

“At first, I was a bit shy, not only because I was undressing in front of a friend, but also among total strangers,” says bathhouse expert Stephanie Crohin. Originally from France, Crohin quickly realized that she was the only one thinking about nudity.

“Everyone else was just scrubbing, chatting, or soaking — so I relaxed,” she recalls.

It wasn’t until years later, when visiting a type of public bathhouse called a sentō with a university friend, that she fell in love.

....

Hot spring newbies may think they’re going to stand out or draw attention in a local onsen, but Crohin says the reality is the opposite.

“Every body comes with its own imperfections, and this is the only place I know where nobody cares,” she says.

Her advice for bathers who are feeling first-time nerves: treat it as a cultural experience, not just a bath. After a few minutes, the discomfort of being naked in public is quickly forgotten.

...

The same sentiment is shared by Hoshino Resorts. Opening its doors in 1914 as Hoshino Onsen Ryokan, a small family-run ryōkan, as traditional Japanese inns are called, in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, the company has since grown and now has accommodation options across Japan and the rest of Asia.

“For Western visitors to Japan who are feeling nervous about their first visit to a public bath or unsure about the etiquette, our primary advice is: don’t worry!” says Chanel Cai, a resort representative.

“In fact, Japanese people are not observing or aware about other people’s bodies in the public bath, it’s simply a part of daily life here.” As soon as they are immersed in hot spring waters, she says, bathers are in a world of their own.

“There’s no need to feel self-conscious.”

...

Then, I made my way to the hot spring pools. Under the freezing night sky, snowflakes falling, we sat and soaked among groups of women and small children, chatting about life, problems and hopes.

That calm atmosphere stayed with me. Whenever I travel around Japan, hot spring visits are a must.

There really had been nothing to worry about'.

Another UK perspective on onsen culture. Metro (Jul. 12, 2025):

'But I didn’t quite expect a deeply respected tradition that dates back centuries to be so…revealing.

I’m talking nude public bathing. Or, rather, onsen.

...

Being nude is considered part of the cultural practice, and wearing clothes is considered disrespectful and unhygienic'.

Vogue (Apr. 9, 2025):

'... my first priority when I arrived in Japan last spring was to experience a Japanese hot spring pool, known as an onsen.

...

I was delighted to discover a public onsen located two floors below my room in the Sheraton. As I entered the women’s changing room, I noticed a woman with an amputated arm bathing herself in a long line of women seated on small stools rigorously scrubbing their bodies. All bodies are welcome here, I reassured myself.

...

Worse, I worried other women would see my thin body as a representation of diet culture and resent me. I tried to remind myself my worries were mostly a projection of my own insecurities and that the women around me were likely more preoccupied with their own reflection to care.

....

After letting my gaze linger a little too long, I realized all the other women had their eyes downcast, suggesting that here, a woman’s body is no one’s business but her.

...

Turns out there is real evidence that getting naked boosts confidence. Research by Dr. Keon West, a professor of psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, finds that spending time naked around others—what he refers to as ‘naturism’—improves body image, self-esteem and life satisfaction. The research describes naturism as an important counterforce to overexposure to the idealized bodies we grow up believing are the norm.own. But what struck me most was the silence. There was an air of confidence that can only come from women who are living in their bodies, fully embodied and present. A woman in the corner of my pool had her back turned to me and was transfixed on a tree in the inner courtyard. In the changing room, another woman gazed at herself in the mirror—not fixing or perfecting, just observing, as if seeing herself for the first time.

...

Unlike the quiet Japanese onsen where you keep to yourself, the Korean jjimjilbang was boisterous and convivial, and everything was shared ...'.

Metropolis Japan (Apr. 15 2025) a Japanese soaking experience from a US perspective:

'What the Japanese Bathhouse Can Teach Us About Body Image

Does it feel weird to be naked in a sento?

...

You walk in, strip down, wash thoroughly and then soak. It’s not revolutionary—but what is different is the total absence of self-consciousness. No one’s comparing sizes, scars, shapes or skin. The rules in the bathhouse are simple: be clean, be quiet and don’t splash. That’s it.

Somewhere around visit three, something clicked. I stopped walking with my arms crossed. I stopped turning my back to the room. The bathhouse taught me something no Instagram therapist ever could: When you stop hiding your body, you stop hiding from yourself.

It wasn’t about confidence—it was about neutrality. I wasn’t suddenly proud of my thighs or excited about the curve of my stomach. I just… didn’t think about it. That silence was more powerful than praise'.

Rolling

So if onsen bathing is such a positive experience, why then is the tradition as such under threat?

The Nikkei Asia (May 11,2025) notes this :

'As Japan's traditional bathhouses, or sento, face a wave of closures across Tokyo, the metropolitan government is launching initiatives to help find new ownership and to assist with renovating facilities.

With aging owners confronted with a shrinking customer base and costly repairs, many sento are shuttering rather than passing the torch. As a result, the number of the public baths across the capital has plummeted to just one-sixth of its peak.

Starting in fiscal 2025, Tokyo is rolling out a new program to support ownership transfers. It will help current owners work with consultants to find successors for their bathhouses and to cover part of the rent and renovation costs typically borne by new management'.

designboom (Jun. 14, 2025) looks at Nude Architecture. Well that's the title of a book:

'Architect and visual storyteller Yuval Zohar brings more than ten years of travel across Japan to life in his latest book, Towards a Nude Architecture, published by the Dutch imprint nai010. Using a curated mix of photographs, hand-drawn diagrams, collages, and maps, Zohar takes readers on a journey through Japan’s unique bathing culture.

...

As communal bathing becomes less common in modern urban life, many of these traditional places are disappearing or being transformed, with Zohar’s book reflecting on this change.

...

Zohar, based in the onsen town of Yugawara, takes readers on an immersive, almost topographical journey, where water and steam become guiding metaphors for transformation and collective intimacy. His visual documentation, both personal and precise, includes baths nestled in mountains, forgotten rural sento slowly reclaimed by vegetation, diagrams showing how volcanic activity shapes site planning, and collages where human bodies dissolve into clouds of vapor.

Even though architecture here serves as a membrane between the social and the elemental, the story Zohar tells is also one of disappearance. As local bathhouses shutter due to aging owners, dwindling visitors, and the rise of mega-facilities or in-home baths, the future of Japanese communal spaces faces an uncertain future. The book becomes a quiet call to action, aiming to protect these fading sanctuaries of the everyday, where the unclothed body exists without hierarchy and where architecture hosts a fragile form of coexistence'.

Nikkei (Mar. 22, 2025) also chimes in, a very nice read. And review:

'After a four-hour boat ride Zohar arrived at the remote, sulfuric island, where he rented a bicycle and pedaled through tropical shrubbery to his destination -- a natural hot spring bath right on the ocean known as Higashi Onsen.

"The sky was a perfect blue, the emerald water was striking, and I couldn't wait to get in," Zohar says of his experience.

"I stripped off my clothes, stepped into the baths, and looked out into the beautiful landscape while steeping in the heat. The feeling was magical; it is not often that my jaw actually drops. I just stared out at the water and kept saying "wow ... ."

Zohar's journey to Higashi Onsen, a place of exceptional beauty but so remote that he had the emerald waters of the onsen (hot spring bath) almost entirely to himself, underscores his passion for soaking in these Japanese baths -- an experience he describes as "a beautiful connection between nature, architecture and the naked body."

...

The unusual title, Zohar explains, was inspired by the Japanese concept of hadaka no tsukiai, which can be translated as "naked friendship," a phrase used to describe the honest and equal relationships between people from all walks of life that happens when they are sharing a bath, stripped of all the accoutrements of social status.

...

Despite its history, though, public bathing faces an uncertain future. The number of sento and onsen is dwindling, partly because most people have their own baths at home and partly due to a growing labor shortage.

As numbers fall, the kind of bonding that flattens the hierarchy of normal daily life and is only achieved by being naked with strangers is disappearing, Zohar noted.

Even Dogo Onsen has had to experiment with new ways of attracting visitors, particularly young people who may not find the act of soaking in a hot bath with strangers as appealing as older people with ailments.

When I visited Dogo Onsen more than a decade ago, the town put on a mesmerizing projection on the facade of the 130-year-old Honkan building and several hotels turned their rooms into art-filled galleries. My hotel room was decorated with photographs of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and red dots that covered everything from the refrigerator to the shoji screens. Other hotels featured different artists.

...

Whether or not Zohar succeeds in raising public awareness of the benefits of communal bathing, "Towards a Nude Architecture" will deepen international interest in and appreciation of Japanese bathing culture'. 

chickenmansphilosophy

- 體驗簡單與自然， 捨棄對於物質的執著與不滿；

接受不完美， 欣賞無常， 活在當下。

🪨 @ezaischill 📸 @chickenmansphilosophy

For something different.

Japanese musician Meitei on a recent release of his ambient music (Aug. 2025) which includes the sounds of onsen bathing. Listen to for instance Sen'nyū. How the musical project came into experience:

'In the final month of 2024, Meitei arrived in Beppu, a city long steeped in vapor, myth, and mineral memory. Invited to create onsen ambient music commemorating Beppu’s 100th anniversary, he immersed himself in the city’s geothermal psychogeography, where sound rises from the ground and time clings to mist.

Known for his Lost Japan (Shitsu-nihon) works, which channel forgotten eras into flickering auditory relics, Meitei took residence in the warehouse of Yamada Bessou, a century-old inn perched by the bay. Over two weeks, he listened intently to steam, to stone, to the atmosphere itself. The resulting work, Sen’nyū, traces the inner spirit of onsen culture. Like water finding its path, the music emerged with quiet inevitability, shaped by Meitei’s synesthetic sensibility and deep attunement to place.

Equipped with a microphone, he wandered Beppu’s sacred sites: Takegawara Onsen, Bouzu Jigoku, Hebin-yu, and the private baths of Yamada Bessou. There, he captured the breath of the springs, bubbling mud, hissing vents, wind against bamboo, and the murmurs of daily visitors. These field recordings became the sonic bedrock of Sen’nyū, an act of deep listening that attempts to render even the rising mist and shifting heat into sound.

Unfolding as a single, continuous piece, Sen’nyū drifts like fog through sulfur and stone. It traverses the veiled madness of Bouzu Jigoku, the spectral resonance of Yamada Bessou’s inner bath, and the hushed voices of Takegawara Onsen. It is a gesture of quiet reverence, for water’s patience, the land’s memory, and the hands that have bathed here for generations.

Where Meitei’s earlier works conveyed his personal impression of a fading Japan, Sen’nyū is grounded in tactile presence, music not imagined but encountered. Here, his practice moves closer to the spirit of kankyō ongaku, environmental music born from place, shaped by it, and inseparable from it.

As part of the project, Meitei conceived a two-day public sound installation inside Takegawara Onsen, culminating in a live performance. Bathers soaked in mineral-rich waters while submerged in sound, an embodied ritual of place, body, and listening'.

sonthanapg

#Outdoor #onsen #beppu #yamadabessou #oita #japan #kyushu

Hongkong's Standard (Aug. 14, 2025) features an article on Le Furo:

'Japan's famous "onsen" hot springs were long considered unexportable, until an idea struck Naoki Mita one day: what if he could condense them like espresso coffee?

Mita's Tokyo-based venture firm, Le Furo, has invented a technology it calls "craft onsen" -- whereby hot spring ingredients are extracted and filtered into an ultra-high concentration.

...

The entrepreneur says many commercially available "onsen powders" are synthetic and put an emphasis on mimicking the relaxing colour and scent, and don't necessarily contain the necessary ingredients.

Only after solid metals such as iron, magnesium and zinc dissolve into water does it become possible to chemically resemble onsen and recreate the therapeutic effect, Mita said.

Le Furo's technology sticks to the natural soil and minerals of hot spring sources, and uses a special method to make them soluble in water'

Finally in this section, the perceived threat to onsens, physically. Think GeoEnergy (Nov. 18, 2025). See also f.i. earlier mention of Indionesian developments:

'The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) have launched the Geothermal Frontier Project to address long-standing barriers to geothermal development. These include high exploration risk, long timelines, complex permitting rules and limited access to promising sites within natural parks.

Yuzawa City has been confirmed as the first candidate site for the programme. JOGMEC will conduct drilling surveys and fumarolic tests in designated areas and share data with operators. The agency will also take over completed wells at the request of developers, reducing upfront risk and cost'.

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. ?

Innerpeace

1egendaryl at Red Rock, Philippines:

🍀🍁🍂☘️ 

__

#hotsprings #spring #green #nature #sulfur #mountains #hike #trek #live #love #travel #philippines #stayandwander #rain #landscape #fujifilm #xt20 #bikini #innerpeace #peace

Away from the region, let's see if there are any developments worth reporting.

An issue becoming more prominent this year: shall well explain where this secret hot spring is located? 

It's increasingly more hush-hush, as keeping the secret is seen as a way in ensuring that the ultimate (and inevitable?) destruction of our places of pleasure and peace by the hordes and vandals will be kept at bay.

Anyway, Travel and Leisure with slightly older article (Mar. 22, 2019) concerning geotagging photo's, a practice sharing your location with the wider world on social media:

'Undoubtedly, the advent of social media changed the way we travel. Take one look through your Instagram or Facebook feed and you’ll likely come across at least a post or two that gives you just a touch of jealousy or inspires your wanderlust.

While all that posting certainly has its perks — like getting more people to get out and see the globe — it can also bring unexpected downsides that are becoming more and more critical to understand. Especially the issues brought on by geotagging.

...

“Poachers are now using unsuspecting tourists to hunt their prey,” Sherwin Banda, president of Africa Travel Inc., shared with Travel + Leisure. “While on safari, tourists post photos of animals to social media sites, not realizing that embedded within the post or the photo is a geo-tag containing the GPS location of the photo. This allows poachers to track animals of value.”

Of course, it’s not just animals who are harmed by geotags. Landscapes and natural areas are suffering thanks to too many people trampling the land just to get the same shot as a social media influencer.

The New York Times reported in 2018 that Delta Lake, a remote area in the Grand Tetons, became one such place after influencers discovered its beauty.

“Influencers started posting from the top of the lake. Then it started racing through social media,” Brian Modena, a tourism-board member from Jackson Hole, told The Times. Modena noted that just a few years ago perhaps just one or two hikers would make the nine-mile journey to Delta Lake each day. Now, however, he said as many as 145 people hike it just to get the same exact photo. Because of this, smaller trails are now heavily trafficked, leading to erosion of precious land'.

It's a brave call, but will it heed? Like I said, it's becoming more fashionable, but there's nothing better than social organisation of protection. That's one reason we have governments, though governments often have differing agenda's.

On a more positive note, Think GeoEnergy (Jun. 22) takes time to celebrate. Celebrate World Bathing Day:

'What better thing to do than sitting in a hot pot somewhere in nature or one of the many hot geothermal water fuelled spas around the world? So let's celebrate World Bathing Day.

kitkatchocs at Mainit hot spring:

Ate Joy 🌼 #hotsprings #travel #philippines #mindanao

I belatedly looked up the wellness trends for this year (Global Wellness Institute). Climate Change, Spirituality? No it's:

'Trend 1: Developing the Understanding, Emphasis and Use of the Term ‘Regenerative Economy'.

Trend 2 concerns benefits: 

'... pursuing higher levels of benefit at an individual, corporate, social and environmental level, to be a catalyst of change for “the better”.

Wonder if the trends have changed during the past year? Corporate survival? Inner-health? Positivity?

Heading into the wider region.

The Asian Times looks (Jul. 24) at the situation of Japan's soaks:

'Hot springs, justifiably, are a major tourism resource for Japan. The 27,000 hot springs dotted around the country generated US$11.8 billion in revenue in 2013, representing more than one-fifth of the $50 billion global hot-springs market.

Japanese hot springs were set for a further boom as analyses noted that the rapid growth in global “wellness tourism” would provide the industry with an additional boost in the coming years.

Certainly, as the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Japan jumped from 3.3 million in 1995 to 31.9 million in 2019, the country’s hot springs have also seen a proportional rise in the number of foreign visitors.

That was, of course, before Covid-19 struck. To say that the Japanese tourism market has been derailed is an understatement.

...

Hot springs are expected to face a disproportionate decline as Covid-19 lays waste to the Japanese tourism industry.

Not only are the signature communal baths that define hot-spring resorts completely inadequate in the age of “social distancing,” but cautious tourists are also keen to avoid the process of getting to remote hot-spring towns, densely built up with inns and hotels amidst narrow streets, often reachable only through normally packed trains and buses.

In an era when tourists prefer to avoid crowds, the essentially crowded nature of hot-spring resorts almost seems anachronistic.

However, even beyond the ongoing crisis caused by Covid-19, hot springs face a long-term threat as tourists shift to other destinations. Media analyses have noted that especially among the Japanese youth, travel has become more about taking in new experiences rather than particular sights, consistent with the global trend toward experiential travel.

The focus on new experience places hot springs at a disadvantage, as the communal baths they offer cannot be considered novel for millions of Japanese who habitually soak up in hot tubs at home and communal baths (sento) in their local neighborhoods.

Some hot springs have faced particular difficulties in adjusting to such shifting tastes in travel. Successful hot springs have either adapted to the need to be Instagram-friendly, like Ginzan, or diversified into other tourist-friendly activities, like Hakone. But those unable to add further value for tourists beyond hot springs, like Kinugawa and Higashiyama, have seen formerly popular resorts shuttered, further driving away visitors as their rotting structures become eyesores.

...

With more than 40 resorts filing for bankruptcy due to Covid-19, the epidemic presents unprecedented pressure and opportunity for the hot-spring industry as a whole to reform how it does business and weed out resorts that are unable to change'.

The situation seems a bit similar to Europe's sauna set up.

Not hindered by geographical needs (i.e. no source required) nor communal locked ins, sauna's are increasingly a bit player to other attractions or are an attraction in their own right. 

Possibly in Japan, tying in the onsen with its surroundings and/or enhancing the (natural) surroundings might help. Or establishing niches. Japan is very much a one size fits all social setting, so stepping outside the main fit might be guaranteed success.

It's odd that the soaking culture in Japan fails to empress younger generations. In Taiwan I observe the opposite. Still wild hot springs to be discovered, these attract a much younger internet savvy crowd.

hgw_9 [insta account n.a. anymore ...) at Taigang (泰崗野溪溫泉) hot springs:

#野溪 #溫泉 #臺灣 #Creek #hotsprings #Taiwan

Klook.com (Jul. 5) on a side note invites its readers to head off into nature: 

'It's a well-known fact that Taiwan is full of hot springs! In addition to popular hot spring areas, there are also scenic outdoor spots across the island where you can have a relaxing dip while enjoying some outdoor activities.

From the north to the south of Taiwan, here are 14 hot spring spots where you can enjoy the best of nature while enjoying both hot and cold springs!'

A good and varied overview. 

Back to Japan. Newscision (Jun. 2) also reports on the apparent downward trajectory of onsen business nowadays:

Among the oldest businesses in the world, Japan’s onsens are national treasures where guests come to enjoy the spa facilities centered around natural hot springs. There are more than 3,000 onsen inns in Japan, some of which date back more than a thousand years and have been in the same families for generations. Yet many are now being forced to close their doors.

Decades of economic recession have forced many onsen owners into bankruptcy. Last year one inn closed after having operated continuously since 704, and this year the sudden decline of Chinese tourists due to the COVID-19 has caused still others to shutter. But what if the onsens could stay open by capitalizing on their hot water resources in another way?

More than just an onsen

On June 1, 2020, Baseload Power Japan commissioned its second power plant in Japan, at an onsen in Gifu. “We first got the idea when we were driving around Japan and started noticing signs for closed onsens,” says Baseload Capital COO Pernilla Wihlborg. “we started asking onsen owners if they might be interested in making money by creating power from their hot water and in parallel, we established our local subsidiary. Eventually we came into contact with onsen owner Ms. Midori Mizunami.”

Midori’s spa has been in operation for 14 years, but the ups and downs of the tourism business can be challenging. “For business owners, it is a relief to have income from two different sources,” says Midori. “Now, when the tourist business is down, I will still have money coming in from the power being generated from the Climeon heat power plant.”

At many onsens the water coming out of the spring is so hot that it must be cooled before guests can bathe in it. “That’s one extra benefit we can offer onsen owners,” says Masahiro Ito, Representative Director of Baseload Power Japan K.K. “The power plant can lower their costs by cooling the water at the same time that it creates electricity.”

So another opportunity to be had. And if the scale of operation is such, it need not affect the onsen business; it could even enhance it. 

Other issues from the wider region. Matt Sykes on instagram teams up (Sep. 9) with the Australian venture Great Vic Bathing trail: 

'matt__sykes__

The Australian Wellness Tourism Summit is cultivating seeds of regeneration today through a virtual gathering titled 'Wellness Travel Opportunities in a Changing World'.

♨️

It was a pleasure to join one of the panels with other industry leaders and share the vision for the 900km @greatvicbathingtrail which will link up hot springs, bathing and wellness experience right across our southern coastline. Regeneration is about communities, nature, culture, trade and transformational stories. Success can't be measured through money alone.

🌱

Excited by the opportunities for collaboration that lay ahead. Thank you and well done to @katherinedroga

and the team @wellnesstourismsummit'.

Another interesting venture to report on, Hamam magazine:

'HAMAM in a new quarterly bathing magazine launching in summer 2020. It will feature essays, artist projects, photography, and interviews from contributors from all over the world. We think of bathing as a practice of letting go. We will explore many practices, but there’s no denying: we’re bathing obsessed. We’re launching HAMAM because there isn’t a magazine already out there that cares this much about a good soak. 

Creeps

Heading over to the region proper, starting off with Vietnam.

Nashaplaneta (Feb. 10) heads for one of the hot springs near Sapa (Ban Ho) and reports on the practicalities:

'The fact that this is not the sources of healing hot water from the earth, but just a pool in the private house of one of the locals, who for a nominal fee let anyone wanting to swim here. The owner of the house says the water comes from a natural deep well, and has healing properties, but in fact is no way to test, and given that it is a bit warm, doubt creeps in. Of course, no facilities there.

That is why we do not recommend a special trip here from the city, they are not worth it, but to swim in them in the evening after a long walk before bedtime in Ban Ho you can. Besides, nearby is a river where you can swim in cold water, and then plunge into the warm water'.

kimthu92 at Alba Wellness near Hue, central Vietnam:

Onsen 🧖🏻‍♀️♨️

#vacay #vacayvibes #onsen #hotsprings #japanesestyle

Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh is the name given to a new hot spring resort near Halong Bay. Timtravel (Jun. 10) is just one of those reporting on this happening:

'Located just 10 kilometers from Ha Long and 15 kilometers from Cam Pha’s downtown area, Yoko Onsen is the first Japan-standard onsen resort in Viet Nam so far.

Surrounded by the green of the mountains, Yoko Onsen looks like a small Japanese village, peaceful and quiet. The wooden villas featuring traditional Japanese architecture, Japanese gardens with rare pine core bonsais, stone lanterns, bridges and ornaments… have brought about the feeling of tranquility and serenity. Entering this space is absolutely an escape from the hustle and bustle outside.

The resort has 27 mineral bathtubs, equipped with the continuous filtration system to remove impurities that are harmful to the skin and ensure water quality even when many customers used at the same time, together with the sauna area and the food court.

Research by French experts since the French colonial period showed that Quang Hanh hot spring was one of the most valuable sources of minerals. Quang Hanh mineral water samples were also sent to Tokyo, Japan for analysis and the finding showed that the spring was rich in healthy minerals, with the content of Ion Na+ and Cl-, boric acid and bromine (up to 40ml per litre). These minerals are effective in eliminating toxins, relieving pain, promoting blood circulation, enhancing immunity and supporting the treatment of skin diseases as well as reducing stress.

Quang Hanh High-class Mineral Hot Spring Resort has been invested by SunGroup with a total investment of 3.5 trillion VND. It covers an area of 43.6 ha in Quang Hanh Ward, Cam Pha City. The project is aiming to expand with a luxury hot-spring resort adjacent to Ha Long Bay of 536,4ha and a nature reservation of 150ha'.

It's actually located further along from Halong City, heading northwards. 

There are a lot of recent reviews on google, a bit iffy possibly? It seems a lot has been done in creating the place, but most visitors (and reviewers) are nationals, who have an unrealistic expectation that one would have been transponded to Japan!

Though there are private facilities, the Japanese naked bathing hasn't been an aspect copied. Didn't see any complaints about this.

thanhtungbn1988 at Quang Hahn / Yoko onsen:

Cảm giác tắm suối nước nóng giữa núi rừng..phê phết.

[Translation: The feeling of hot spring bath in the middle of the mountains]

#yokoonsenquanghanh #yokoonsen #quanghanh #quangninh #vietnam #vietnamdeplam

The Broadlife (Sep. 19, 2019) reports on Nha Trang's 4 (yes 4) mud baths.

Lush

A primer by Thailand Magazine (Jun. 29) for Pai's (Mae Hong Son) premier pool; that of Sai Ngam:

'With a water temperature between 30 and 40 degrees, the Sai Ngam Hot Spring is really lovely to stay in. When we were there it started raining very hard, which made the difference between temperature above and underwater even bigger. A crazy experience! The area is lush and feels more like a forest than a jungle. You can relax here and enjoy the ambient sounds like birds, cicadas and other insects'.

From the Vientiane Times (Jun. 4):

'A Singaporean firm joint-venturing with a Lao partner has agreed with the Lao government to conduct a feasibility study on the development of a clean thermal power plant in the southern province of Xekong.

...

Under the MOU, EPIC and KMX will be permitted to conduct a feasibility study on the economic, social, and environmental viability of a 1,000MW clean thermal technology power plant project in Dakcheung district, Xekong province.

The project is estimated to cost US$1.7 billion and expected to be commissioned by 2027, producing reliable year-round electricity for export to neighbouring Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Domestic distribution is also likely'.

It seems rather odd, Sekong isn't really well-known for its geothermalality, so how is it possible that such a scale of project can take off?

chuckoyvicuna (I'm thinking Negros (?)):

cinnamon buns with hot tea... at the Moringa Farm Hot Springs 🙈 MAAYONG BUNTAG! 

#moringafarm #hotsprings #localboy #natibo #exotic #brown #cinnamon 

#chocolate #native #local #exportquality #highgrade 

#internationalquality #worldclass #filipino #pinoy #philippines

Malaysia then. Freemalaysiatoday (Sep. 29) heads over to Selayang:

'But some people might find it off-putting to think that a few of the bathers might be suffering from skin diseases and other complaints, some of which might be infectious.

Yes, the water is hot, but is it hot enough to kill all the bugs? Is it possible to return from the hot springs with an itch that was not there before?

...

Judging by the crowd, most people do not share these concerns and many come here to enjoy the relaxing natural hot spa treatment at zero cost. There are four pools at temperatures ranging from hot to very hot'.

Worldofbuzz (Dec. 17, 2019) has an overview of 11 Malaysian soaks. Nothing new. Nor any very natural (other than the waters).

Havehalalwilltravel (?) shares a post (Sep. 18) on 

'5 relaxing hot springs in Malaysia". 

Felda, Poring, Banjaran, Sunway and eRYAbySURIA. Note that Felda, Poring and Sunway are not entitled to let you relax (=quite busy).

renalinkbali

Natural Hot spring

North Bali

#bali #hotsprings #banjarhotspring #balinature #balidaily

Bargains

Travelvids4you has an entry (May 20) on Pangururan (north Sumatra), a place not yet changed in the last decade or so:

'After a freezing cold shower at the Efrata Waterfall and nowhere to swim I attempted to save my day by driving to Aek Rangat, an area of the Samosir region that is famous for its hot springs. It’s easy to find as you can see from a distance the white-grey rocks that stand out from the lush green landscape.

My mission was hot water and a swim. I got that and since I had a pool to myself, I got to experience it in the nude. Always a special experience.

Use of the hot springs is free as long as you buy something to eat or drink at one of the restaurants. So for a couple of bucks you can enjoy a meal and a soak in the volcanic heated water. A true bargain in my opinion'.

coconuts (Jun. 12) on Bali and Covid-19 closures / openings:

A popular hot spring water park in Bangli regency’s Kintamani district announced plans to reopen next Monday, despite officials saying that tourist attractions across Bali are still prohibited from doing so amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

...

Under the tagline “New Normal, New Happening,” the resort emphasized how they will be prioritizing cleanliness, health, and safety for visitors by applying a standard health protocol. One promotional video shows the resort staff wearing masks and gloves, and highlights how visitors will be subject to temperature checks, social distancing, and hand-washing within the premises. 

Officials from Bangli regency earlier today said they had been trying to coordinate with Toya Devasya to stop them from reopening the resort, which has been temporarily closed along with other tourist attractions across Bali since late March to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Their website mentions no closing (or any other additional concern concerning Covid-19).

Understandably there are very few reviews nowadays, though this from Tripadvisor with reference July 2020:

'I was there one hour and probably half the time an announcement about wearing masks placed in Indonesian, followed by a couple sentences in English with such a think indo accent I couldn’t understand completely. There was also a water feature that filled up with water and splashed down like a water slide load slash every minute. Not peaceful.

No signage was in English while this was marketed as a tourist destination. There were 3 Indonesian couples, and that was it. I felt very out of place as a solo traveler

This is extremely grossly over priced'.

More Taiwan, alas the final photo of this posting:

nanum_tattoo at / on Orchid island: 

A special spot that I can skinny dip. Love being in my birthday suit in nature.