Toolkit

anitadonas at Pangururan (Sumatera Utera, Indonesia):

Lo mejor de viajar solo es encontrarte con personas bonitas con las que compartir momentos, vivir experiencias nuevas y llenarte de recuerdos. ¡Maravilloso! Aquí en Sumatra, con Simon y @marieloche, descubrimos estas aguas calientes y nos dimos un buen chapuzón bajo la tormenta, gracias a nuestro querido host @harrysmanik🌫 #couchsurfing
#airpanas #hotspring #pangururan #samosir#sumatra #sumatera #northsumatra#sumaterautara #wonderfulindonesia#indonesia #indtravel #traveltheworld#travelblog #travelgram #travelgirl#itravelalone #wanderlust #passportpassion#backpacker #solotravel #discovering#explore #gopro #goprohero #gopro3#goprooftheday #iamtb

Hot springs in Japan (onsen) get their regular free press due to what's regarded as an outlandish practice. 
Especially it's traditions concerning soaking as well about the soak itself. 
And prominent in these different traditions is the required non-clotheliness. 
An example: traveller.com.au (Aug 23):

'Regular visitors to Japan will know all about onsen.

....

It's not for everyone, that's for sure; especially if you don't like getting your kit off willy-nilly in front of strangers. 

I don't mind at all, which is why I found myself sitting naked in the open-air hot springs of the Kouno-Yu onsen with a bunch of local gentlemen when, on the wooded hillside above us, a lone deer came ambling along. We sat in silence and watched as the animal sauntered across the landscape and eventually disappeared into the trees'.

The author then continues with a description of Spa World (Osaka) and finishes the article off with: 

'Honestly, it's almost the most fun you can have with your clothes off'.

Another Japanese experience (Well+Good, Jul. 18), more personal though. And more interesting:

'I’ll admit that I was a bit hesitant about the onsen because traditionally the bathing is done in the nude. As someone who covers up at least a little bit in the SoulCycle locker room, it felt boundary-pushing to drop my yukata and walk around totally naked. I kept trying to cover myself with my hands, but quickly realized that I… didn’t have enough hands.

Decatrel [Françoise Decatrel, founder of Japanese bathing product brand Amayori] told me it was common for a first-timer from the West to feel this way. “Communal bathing has deep roots in Japanese history and has always been viewed to strengthen community ties and foster bonding. Sometimes Westerners are a bit shocked by this, but the attitude towards nudity at an onsen is very different than what we are used to,” she explains. “It’s fantastic—there is no need to be self-conscious. Other bathers are simply enjoying their baths. No one is comparing bodies. It’s a chance to let go of your perceptions of your body and truly enjoy yourself.”

...

“Bathing in the Japanese manner is life changing and is a tool to a more mindful, calm, happy life,” says Decatrel, who notes that the practice can be incorporated into your daily routine even if you don’t have access to your own personal hillside hot spring. “These ancient Japanese bathing rituals translate to our modern times just as does yoga and meditation,” she says. “They will bring a sense of ease and calmness into your life that you never thought possible.”

Though the article adds little, the words used to describe how I would envision a soaking experience are spot on. The simpleness of bathing (naked) with fellow soakers, within nature, enables creating a shared experience; breaking barriers of class, income, race, gender even.

The South China Morning Post notes (Aug. 6) a similarity, but then in the so-called forest bathing:

'A walk through trees or sitting under a tree have been shown to be relaxing and therapeutic. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku as the Japanese call it, lowers blood pressure and boosts the immune system'.

Following through, though slightly off topic, the last few years western US has been losing a number of soaking sites, albeit temporary hopefully. These include  Harbin, Ojai and just recently Terwilliger hot springs. Culprits were forest fires.
Forest fires have taken the surroundings of these hot springs away completely, though mostly leaving the sources themselves intact (hopefully). It means soaking still can take place but very much in a denuded surrounding thereby revealing how important the surroundings are in the complete soaking experience.

What I also noticed is that social media is fast in pointing the finger to social media itself: internet invites too many careless soakers. Even though the cause of these fires is unknown, possibly even an event of nature. 

anastasia_bachykala at a naked Ojai (California, USA):

Healing earth for my digital wounds.
Situations to be loved through.
#california #hotsprings #nature #child#healing #mud #getaway #naturechild#peace #love #freedom #home

Back concerning onsen culture, an interesting article about an onsen on a cruise ship (Daily Telegraph, Sep. 3). Unfortunately the source seems to focus on the novelty of nakedness (yawn), though it emphasises the positive side of communal naked soaking:

'Move indoors and Japanese bathing traditions come into play. Matsuo [Hiroki Matsuo = Japanese bath attendant on board Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess] is only allowed access to the male baths and he remains fully clothed. “Even though the indoor baths are segregated into men and women’s, foreigners are usually anxious when they learn that nudity is compulsory,” he says'.

evabaerin at northern Thailand:

Went for a swim in the not so secret secret hot springs and even boiled an egg in there! 🥚 Did I mention that I LOVE PAI? 💦🌴 #hotsprings #pai

Art in hot spring settings, not an usual topic. Lonely Planet (Jul. 3) on KAI Sengokuhara:

'A new Japanese ryokan is being billed as the first “art-oriented hot spring ryokan”, where guests can celebrate creativity along with tradition.
...
When the new ryokan opens, twelve artists-in-residence will be brought in from around the world to create works that will be displayed in the rooms. It will combine an art gallery and studio along with the hot springs that Japan is known for. There will also be activities that help guests explore their own creative side, including a variety of materials in the common rooms for artists, guests and staff to use for painting, illustrating and more, as well as the studio for guided art experiences'.

At prices beyond 300$US a night, for a random night next April.

merytimtrasmonte from the Philippines:

Some like it hot. #Maquinit #hotspring #coron #palawan

Steamrolling

Heading for our Southeast Asian regions, starting with a couple of splashes from Malaysia. 
The local Daily Express (Aug. 14) on news regarding Southeast Asia's most internet savvy soak: 

'The popular Poring Hot Spring in Ranau will be upgraded and expanded with new facilities to cater to the rising visitors, including tourists.

... 

Following the working visit of Liew [Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew [of Sabah]] to Poring, Dr Jamili [Sabah Parks Director] said it can be concluded that the place could not cater anymore for the rising number of visitors that has reached its maximum level based on the existing capabilities of the facilities. 

Hence, he said there is a need to upgrade and expand the place by adding more features.

Liew said the proposed private chalets which will look like small bungalows aim to cater for high-end tourists who can afford the facilities and services.

She said at present, there is no accommodation facilities in Poring and building the chalets would meet the needs of visitors who wish to stay to enjoy the nature and scenic view.

"My ministry would prepare the working paper and submit it to the State Government," she said'.

More from Malaysia's Sabah state, once again the Daily Express (Jul. 17):

'[Sabah] State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew said a professional tourism architect will be hired to develop a conceptual plan for Tawau Hills Park (Taman Bukit Tawau) in order to turn it into a first class tourism resort in Tawau.

Christina, who is also Tawau Member of Parliament-cum-Api-Api Assemblywoman, said Taman Bukit Tawau has a wide area with 2,700 hectares with lots of potential such as waterfall, hot spring, the tallest tropical tree and beautiful rivers'.

fgjohniu:

#VisitSabah #TawauHotsprings spa

The Star of Malaysia (Jul. 5) on the Peninsula: 

'[Johor Bharu] City dwellers can now enjoy a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of city life with the opening of KSL Hot Spring Resort at Taman Daya, the first resort in Johor with hot spring water.
"One of the key features at this resort is the natural hot spring water or ‘Onsen water’ that is rich in minerals and calcium,” he [KSL Hotel and Resort assistant general manager Simon Cheng] said.
“University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) helped us locate the best source of the natural hot spring water in Jasin.
“After the water is transported here, it is kept in a water tank and undergoes treatment before we allow it to flow into our pools,” he said'.

Spoilt

Singapore's  Strait Times (Aug. 11) reports on the development activities of it's main island hot spring of Sembawang:

'The Sembawang Hot Spring, Singapore's only natural hot spring on the mainland, was officially closed for development works on Friday (Aug 10).
The area will be developed into Sembawang Hot Spring Park, and is expected to reopen in October next year, according to a notice posted on the National Parks Board's (NParks) website'.

mzuuzu at Ardent, Camiguin (Philippines):

Устала от этой поездки. Почему-то выдохлась. 6 перелетов, минивэны, лодки, тук-туки, велорикши, мопед за неполные четыре недели.
Снорклинг, дайвинг, обезьяны, черепахи, водопады, сардины, лагуны, каньонинг, снова дайвинг. Очень много ярких впечатлений и эмоций за очень короткое время.
Три дня на разграбление острова, перелёт, новый остров, три дня, переезд. Индонезия-Гонконг-Филиппины.
Осталось два перелёта, два ночных автобуса и самый большой остров Филиппин.
Не знаю, как можно жить в режиме постоянной дороги. Сколько надо сил?
Еще мне никогда не был понятен тревелливинг. Как можно постоянно путешествовать? И как при этом можно никуда постоянно не ломиться? Сидеть в кафе, ходить на рынок..
Как научиться быть марафонцем, а не спринтером?
#mzuuzu_philippines #путешествие#источник #hotsprings #alwaysontherun#филиппины #camiguin #юва #азия#nationalgeographic

Over to Vietnam. Vietnam news (Aug. 10) has a touristy feature on Vân Hồ District (Son La province):

'Chiềng Yên Hot Spring is very different from others of its kind. It is not planned as a professional service area. The hot spring runs from the mountain with an average temperature of 35°- 40° Celsius. It is embanked to create a 50m2 pool for people to have a hot bath. Both men and women in the village will share the same pool here. And it is also for tourists. It is the hot spring that provides local women with white skin, black hair, and attractive figures.
If the tourists spend a day conquering Mt Pha Luông, they are advised to enjoy the hot spring to ease their pain and complete the journey to the mountain'.

the.wolfbaby.lsk at Xã Trạm Tấu Huyện Trạm Tấu Tỉnh, Yên Bái province (Vietnam).

Vietnamnet (Aug. 16) has more serious news.
Much ado about hydropower going wrong. Blame is put on hydropower as a poor choice, though events point towards insufficient public scrutiny (read undemocratic decision taking), leaving locals disenfranchised:

'In 2000, Ban Ho, with its scenery and culture of ethnic minorities, was the ideal destination for travelers who came to Sa Pa [Lào Cai province]. There were nearly 30 homestays in Ban Ho at that time.

However, Muong Hoa Stream and La Ve Waterfall, which were always full of visitors, now have nothing except rocks and gravel.
...Dao Thi Tem felt lucky as her house was near La Ve waterfall, a favorite destination of travelers. She decided to borrow money from relatives to build a house for travelers. However, since the day Nam Toong hydropower plant was put into operation, the waterfall has been dry. “Su Pan 2 hydropower spoiled the hot spring. And now Nam Toong hydropower spoils the waterfall,” Tem said.To many people’s surprise, many of the hydropower plants are illegal'.

andika_anjani at Ciater (Java):

 Swimming time di kolam depan rumah mantan. 🙊
At least setelah janji ngajak temen gw ke sini, akhirnya gw juga bisa renang manis pagi-pagi. Berhubung belum bisa balik ke Aik Kalak Rinjani lagi, mending ke deket rumah aja.
Curug Cipanas Nagrak ini airnya hangat karena bersumber dari Ciater, Subang. Fasilitas warung dan toilet juga udah proper. Kemarin sih lagi dibangun kolam tambahan buat di bagian bawahnya.
Dengan HTM 10.000 rupiah, buat gw okelah ngacir berenang air anget sampe puas. Walau kolamnya memang buatan, tapi suasana alam di sini masih terasa asri. Bentuk kolamnya mirip-mirip Umbul Sidomukti gitu deh.
Saran gw kalo berenang ke sini pakelah kacamata renang, kecuali kuat perih kena air belerang, lalu datanglah pagi-pagi supaya dapet suasana sepinya. Dan jangan baper liat jalur masuk ke area curug soalnya dipenuhi plang sejenis 'Jalan sama aku, jadinya sama dia'. 😂
Jangan lupa jaga kebersihan dan patuhi larangan naik ke tebing atas curugnya, yes!
O iya, banyak yang kepo sama hasil foto-foto di sini sampe pengen buru-buru main ke Curug Nagrak. Nih, salah satunya yang bilang bakal dateng pas libur Lebaran @hafizhshofwan. Awas aja kalo pehape. Tenang, di rumah ada kamar kosong ko. Kamar mandi maksudnya. 🙊
~APL
#andikappuccino #explorewestjava#curugnagrak

Traditionz

mrboiiii at Lake Agco (Mindanao, Philippines):

One with nature! #gopro

Japan and onsen seem inseparable. 

Taking an onsen is much more than just a soak. It revolves around traditions. Following traditions. And it's also about purity: pureness of water combined with pureness of human bodies and human souls. And spirituality.

But that was then.

Now, in order to attract more guests (no, no, no, it's about making more profits) we read that bath wear is allowed. 

Reported on quite a few websites in the region, I'll cite traveller.com.au (Nov. 14), though the original article is attributed to the Washington Post:

'The inn [Sui Suwako] is among an increasing number of hot spring resorts that allow guests to wear a garment while bathing, not only because more and more Japanese find it embarrassing to be naked when men and women can use the same bathing space, but also because of the growing number of foreign visitors who are not used to the traditional requirement that bathers be naked at these facilities.
...
The Japan Tourism Agency in March last year compiled guidelines - for onsen inns and other bathing facilities
...
[The agency] calls for operators to allow guests to use bathing wear.
...
According to Ishikawa [Michio Ishikawa, an onsen critic and chair of the Regional Science Association of Spa, Japan], some operators do not allow users to wear their own garments while bathing for hygienic reasons and instead have them use items they sell or lend'.

Allowing bath wear allows the sanctity of pureness to be dropped as well as allowing aspects such as class, social standing, religion and even politics to enter the onsen bathing process. 

It may not be the end of the world, but it does bring this closer. Ummm, sort of.

laygroundtokyo

♨️Onsen rules series♨️ #onsen #温泉 #newrules #japan #illustration#sofreshsoclean #onsenszn #hotsprings

Giving in to foreigners rudeness may be one way to go, refinery29.uk (Nov. 14) looks at it differently:

'Elsewhere in the world, gendered communal baths are a cornerstone of how you hang out with friends. One country where this happens is Japan, where natural hot springs known as "onsen" are a big part of life. As Shino, a Kyoto resident who has been visiting the baths since she was four, explains: “Onsen are for relaxing and healing, as the waters are often high in minerals. As well as aches and pains, they’re supposed to be good for the skin, which is why a lot of women go.”
...
Pochi, from Tokyo, has her own bath at home (not necessarily a given in a city where space is at a premium) but still goes to the sentō two or three times per month to relax with friends or family. It’s like going to the pub, only wetter.
...
With women in Japan enjoying the longest life expectancy in the world, communal activities such as these play a vital role in maintaining the health and happiness of an ageing population.
...
Naturally, supply and demand plays a big part in the price structure: While the Romans and Victorians were big fans of a bathhouse, many have now been closed down. Plus the UK's level of geothermal activity means hot springs are never going to be – erm – springing up all over the place. But if communal bathing were as ubiquitous and budget-friendly as it is elsewhere, would we be ready to take the plunge?'

Discover

More. On soaking in general.

An article (Adventure.com, Nov. 8) on how internet is killing discovery.

'The internet has made many things, including travel, easier, safer and more accessible. But does too much information risk destroying the most rewarding aspects of travel?
...
And paradoxically—instead of always hunting out the highly-rated sights, hotels, cafes, restaurants and bars—we have to try harder to stop seeking the best experiences, and let them come to us. There might not be many corners of this world yet to be discovered by humankind, but there are plenty yet to be discovered by you.
So if you do manage to find somewhere extra-special and all on your own, perhaps don’t tell us about it via TripAdvisor or Instagram. Don’t even tell us about it when we ask you how your trip was. Save a few spots for the rest of us to ‘discover’'.

Discover what? tripviss.blogs (Jul. 22) has 

'8 Relaxing Hot Springs & Baths in Southeast Asia'.

A couple each from the major nations (in size).

A geothermal musical? ThinkGeoenergy (Nov. 20) reports on a geothermal themed musical, staged in Belgium.

Nikkei.com (Nov. 17) notes a number of new methods to breathe fresh air into older bathing establishments:

'Dwindling customers force public baths to try new ways to get them into hot water
...
Another sento attracting foreign visitors is Showayu in the Awaji district. Teruo Morikawa, who runs the facility, has teamed up with his brother, Masatsugu, to allow free, unlimited bathing for customers who stay at Masatsugu's guesthouse nearby. The service attracts many backpackers from Western countries, Morikawa said.
...
Irifune Onsen near Nishitanabe station specifically targets after-work joggers
..
One sento has turned itself into a venue for an entirely different use. Masataka Tamaru hosts live music performances at his Asahi Onsen
A shortage of successors for traditional family-run operations is also being blamed for sento closures. Some sento owners are handing over operations to people outside the family.
Hideaki Katsura began running Chidori Onsen in Konohana Ward in October, after the owner retired but had no one in the family to take over. The 51-year-old former company employee has a plan to attract a new type of customers -- he said he wants to turn the facility into a place where avid cyclists can gather'.

More soaking business. The Asia Times (Nov. 1) reports:

'Russian and Japanese investors have begun work on the first hot-springs spa resort in Russia to use geothermal mineral water and follow the traditional Japanese bathing style. The bathing complex, known in Japan as an “onsen,” is due to open in 2019 on Sakhalin island in the North Pacific, and will, it is hoped, attract tourists from various parts of the Asia Pacific region'.

Benefits

Time to explore the Southeast Asian region in topical bites, starting off in Indonesia.

A new concept? The onsenresort, Malang (Java). Opened from October last year:

'The one and the only natural hot spring resort and Japanese restaurant in Batu, Malang of East Java. It is ideally located in the amidst of lush pine trees scenery of the mountainous background in Batu, Malang. This is the ideal place for relaxing your mind and body .Our 24 hour friendly staff will welcome you with fresh welcoming drink, and will lead you to the true Japanese villas and also the Japanese bathing culture and experience: ‘Onsen’. It is believed that enjoying onsen will be beneficial for your well being'.

Facebook reviews count 2.5 stars from 14 reviews; quite a few were very negative. 

The Japanese bathing culture and experience? It seems that what is meant, is that it's more attuned to the Indonesian traditional (?) full clothing soaks.

endahwahyuratri

Berendam hot spring di Giri tirta resort dengan air mineral supaya awet muda... yuuks.....#hotsprings#giritirtaresort#happyladies

Five most recommended hot spring destinations near the Toba lake on Sumatra (Laketoba.com, Sep. 17). 

Interesting. And surprising. To see yourself from a selfie. They could have asked ...

Then, the hot spring of Kasi (Vientiane province, Laos) announces on Facebook (Dec. 25) it's new pool has been completed. It looks like a new pool has been constructed in the old pool. 

How it was:

mairawa

A tip for northern Laos - Kasi Hot Spring. We stayed two nights in one of those small huts on the hill and spent at least half of the time floating (jumping) around in the hot pool. #laos #kasihotspring #biketour

Basic
The (Malaysian) Star (Dec. 2):

'Far from being just a simple scenic spot by a river and waterfall, the Lubuk Timah Hotsprings and Recreational Centre has more than Mother Nature’s wonders to offer to visitors today.
...
Just a few years back though, the popular weekend destination had yet to be properly developed and it lacked many basic amenities.
After several upgrading projects started in 2015, thanks to the Tourism and Culture Ministry, it is now on its way to becoming an outstanding destination'.

The New Strait Times (Dec. 14) on the Setapak soak in KL:

'If you are new to Kuala Lumpur, chances are you probably don’t know that there is a hot springs spot in the city.
...
The pool lies in the compound of the Resource Springs apartment but it is still open to public, daily from 7am to 8pm. For a small fee of RM2 you can have a hot bath here. There is a bathroom with cubicles for men and women. The management has also provided a number of foot-baths around the pool and there is even a small kiddy pool fed by hot water from the main pool'.

nadz_ruslan

Panchor Hot Spring Serian#photooftheday #travelgram #websta #samsungs7edge #portrait #perspective #photography #panchorhotspring#hotspring #sarawak #borneo

Philippinesnow (Sep. 13) has:

'8 Timeless springs in the Philippines'.

Note: hot and cold.

jed1433

Pampainit ng katawan#byaheNiJed #summer #laagan #lakwatsero #instravel #instagram #IG #wanderer #view #PilipinasDestination #nature #naturelover #naturePhotography #Philippines #promotePH #pinas #chasingwondersph #spring #Dauin #NegrosOriental #hotspring #baslay

Singapore's Strait Times (Nov. 25) reports on Sembawang soaking developments:

'The country's only natural hot spring on the mainland, the Sembawang Hot Spring, will soon be developed into a park 10 times its current size and feature a cafe, toilets and a floral walk.
Construction work will start in early 2018 and be completed by 2019, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Saturday (Nov 25).
...
News that the site was to be developed into a park was met with mixed reviews in April, with some wanting to keep its rustic character while others open to having facilities such as washrooms and basins'.

To round off this post, just the single picture from northern Thailand:

alks.hnn

The Naked Man.#thailand #pai #nature #naturephotography #natureporn #naked #man #ass #nude #allnatural #hotsprings #mountains #landscape #clouds #summer #ink #river #asia #travel #travelphotography #instatravel #igtravel #travelgram #picoftheday #pictureoftheday

Addiction

icangdio at Gunung Ciremai national park, West Java:

Feels like a prince 👑 lol

#nature #hot #hotsprings #westjava #jawabarat #kuningan #ciremai #adventure

Well overdue, let's just check some photographic evidence of what's hot in Southeast Asia!

Starting off with Vietnam. Below what resembles a natural soaking environment, in fact it's part of a whirlwind tourist attraction.

alin_ov at Yangbay, Nha Trang:

😻😻😻

professionaltourists 

Bunch of buddies, some fun local kids, a natural hot spring in the remote forest Venilale in East Timor... sounds like a great moment for us.

#weekend #trip #friends #mates #kids #local #hotsprings #nature #mothernature #jungle #moment #love #share #travelblogger #traveladdict #travel #traveldiaries #travelphotography #picoftheday #photooftheday #travelgram #instatravel #couple #expatlife #islandlife #roadtrip

Less tourists (above) in Timor, looks very soothing. Below the ubiquitous northern Thai soak at Pai.

sarahf49 at Sai Ngam, Mae Hong Son province:

Mud masks and hot springs #pai #hotsprings

Phenomena

mundanebabble 

Sembawang Hot Spring in Singapore

It was my first time here but the place gave me a nostalgic feel.

The families gathered there were enjoying themselves soaking their feet in the hot spring water, the kids were playing with the water and also waiting for their eggs to get cooked.

It had that familiar Kampong feeling which I haven't felt in a long time. Maybe it's time to slow down my pace of life and not get caught in the hustle and bustle of life.

Singapore's only hot spring which may or may not change if recent developments are to be believed.

But below, the Philippines still apparently having soaking secrets.

faithpatayon_1 not saying where:

 Immersed ourselves in this natural hot spring that lies beneath these volcanic boulders by the sea. Again; no tourist, no entrance fee! I could say that this is the most spectacular place I have known all my life! Lowtide was just in time for sunset which made the experience more phenomenal! Even the word "AMAZING" is an understatement!

Indeed, The best things in life are free!☝

Let's take care of Mother Nature the best way we can, it's the only way we can pay her back

#blessedbeyondimagination #naturalhotspring #hotspring #mindanao #philippines #wheretonext #philspots #pinas #sunset #cannon #love #leavenotrace #explore #secretspot

Inside SoutheastAsia, Abra (Luzon) Philippines

Kili hot spring 

Crocs

ayaqjagung 

Suria Hot Springs Resort, Bentong, Pahang.

GPS Coordinates : 3.409379, 101.891356

I had a lovely stay at the Suria Hot Springs Resort. The hotel staff were all so welcoming and accommodating. Parking was easily accessed and secure.

Check-in was quick and friendly. Breakfast was fresh and delicious. I was upgraded to a lovely spacious villa with a hot springs pool and mountain views.

The only 'downsides' were the mobile network coverage namely Celcom, Maxis and webe (I'm using only these 3 telcos for my cellphones so please don't ask about DiGi and Umobile) are very very poor at the resort area. I can't connect to the hotel's Wi-Fi network at the villa at all. But the Wi-Fi was good in the lobby and restaurant. #suria #hotsprings #pool #Bentong #Pahang #instapic #travel #travelingram #traveller #travelbugs #travelling #visitpahang2017 #resort #eryabysuria #eryabysuriahotspringbentong #oneplus3t

Alas, not the natural soak we crave for (above, Malaysia), but that's what commercialism gives you.

Below northern Lao: less money, more nature.

arne_duehr at Xam Neua:

Hot Pool 🔥

#laos #hotsprings #hotpools #nationalpark #happyeaster #muanghiam #swimwithcrocs #travel

Pixies

antaurpe at Yeh Panes, Bali:

Right here.

Right now.

It's all coming true.

✨

#infinitesourceyoga #spiritledtt #hotsprings #bali #indonesia #followyourheart #trust #goddess #pixiedust

Finishing this photographic addition, Indonesia. Above you guessed the private pools on Bali, below under the volcano near Sumatra's Brastagi.

 

monicasilaban at Lau Side Bukbu, Sumatra Utera:

jadi manusia yg berprilaku kemanusian jangan berperilaku kehewanan 😆😆

Soothing

eazytraveler 

DAY 18 of #eazy30daysinindonesia | Two gushing streams merge — one cold and the other steaming hot from the heart of Inerie volcano — at Malanage Hot Spring. It's the wonderfully soothing way to end a full-day exploring tribal villages and a volcanic crater in #Bajawa, central Flores. 🛀

Time for some update, however ther's precoius little to focus on. It looks like the timespan of internetters is decreasing by the day, so we end up with just a couple of views here and there. Still, let's give it a try.

Starting in Malaysia, Thinkgeoenergy (Aug. 5) has some info on geothermal development:

'The Apas Kiri in the Sabah east coast district in Malaysia is expected to be operational by June 2018, as reported locally.

The project is set to have an installed capacity of 30 MW and will be feeding its electricity into the grid of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd. under a feed-in-tariff scheme.

It will be Malaysia’s first geothermal power plant'.

Eco
Staying on-subject. Indonesia has much geothermal potential that it makes sense to exclude national parks for geothermal extraction. Mongabay (Sep. 12):

'The Indonesian environment ministry has denied the Aceh provincial government’s proposal to rezone part of Mount Leuser National Park for geothermal development, reacting to opposition from conservationists who argued the project would threaten key orangutan and rhino populations'.

The article was cited by ThinkGeoEnergy (Sep. 13) which failed to copy the part in which doubts were raised to meeting the local needs (there were none) nor on the extent of the rezoning (nearly 8,000 ha instead of the 100 ha required). Better usage below.

hillymontague 

I'm not much of a selfie taker, but when taking a bath in natural hot springs, exceptions have to be made! #swimming #travel #adventure #camping #trekking #hiking #ketambe #leuserecosystem #hotsprings #bathtime #indonesia #aceh #sumatra #forest #travellife #gopro #selfie #hillyfromtheotherside

Meanwhile the same source (ThinkGeoEnergy, Sep. 13) highlights the geothermal setup on Bali by translating an article from CNN Indonesia as it concludes

'There is though hope, as a lot of the opposition is likely rooted not in religious issues, but about who will be effected by development with regards to the division of land and compensation'.

Cover
Sometimes the hot springs can get too hot, figuratively speaking. TTR Weekly (Sept. 29) duplicates an AFP report on the most recent rumblings atop the Indonesian island of Lombok. A smaller vent situated in the crater of Rinjani has begun to erupt:

'Around 1,000 tourists, including about 600 foreigners, were believed to be in the area when Mount Barujari sent columns of ash and smoke shooting high into the sky over Lombok island, Tuesday, according to the official disaster agency'.

One of the highlights of a multiday trek over the volcano cone is a possibility to enjoy natural picturesque hot springs, as below.

david_jacowbski

 Indonesia last year. #hotsprings #rinjani #mountain #nature #beautifuldestinations #thevisualcollective #createexplore #earthfocus #visualsoflife #instagood #stanyandwander #igmasters #streetdreamsmag #agameoftones #illgrammers #urbanromantix #citybestviews

There's a list of famous hot springs in Vietnam (source).

Stranger soaking news from Indonesia. Coconuts Jakarta (Sep. 20):

'The warden of Soppeng State Prison in South Sulawesi, Irpan, was recently arrested by police in the tourist area of Lejja, Soppeng - famous for its hot springs.

Irpan was not on a family trip to the the hot springs. According to police, Irpan and three of the guards from his prison were on holiday, along with 17 prisoners'.

On fire

More hot news, this time from China's Yunnan state. Gokunming reports (Sep. 23):

'Fuxian (抚仙湖) is reputedly the cleanest lake in China, and also the deepest, containing an estimated ten percent of all the lake water in China.

...

The group was photographed bathing near a hot spring that feeds the lake by another unrelated traveler on September 12. While swimming is allowed in the lake, one of the trio was caught on camera washing her hair with shampoo. Once the image was published on Chinese social media the firestorm began, and continues unabated nearly two weeks later.

...

In addition to countless posts and discussions on social media, press outlets across the country seized on the misdeed to highlight the growing sense of environmental awareness amongst China's citizenry. One can only hope that such concern over Fuxian — the shores of which are ever more crowded with resorts and tourists — will prompt people around the country to think twice before littering'.

Quick internet searches reveal that the custom is quite prevalent. Even cars are seen washed in the pristine (?) waters ...

South China Morning Post (Sep. 17) adds:

'The administration said it had hired 200 inspectors to stop “uncivilised behaviour” and one in charge of the hot spring section had been punished.

Mania

A couple of pictures, first from the Philippines, then a rustic springs northern Laos and finally a peculiar picture from Burma:

One of a series of pictures on Mainit hot springs, on Cebu island. From tumblr

 

Muang La Lodge Hot Spring

antoine.fievet at Dhang Kuang

#Myanmar #Birmanie #burma #inlelake #monks #hotsprings #buddhism #swimmingpool #travel #instatravel 

Expansion

Off to Thailand where ther is news from the Yunomori chain of onsen reports. Thailand tattler (Oct. 6)

'After the success of its Bangkok and Singapore branches, the unique concept of Yunomori Japanese Onsen and Spa has expanded to Pattaya. The Thai inspired onsen and spa combines Thailand’s natural hot spring waters with traditional Thai massage techniques and allows guests to restore their mind, body and spirit'.

Note it's unclear what is understood with natural hot spring waters, it certainly is trucked in at the least. 

boycalledric 

Hot Springs Crew Dem #pai #hotsprings #friends #hostellife #vscocam #thailand #travel

Star TV (Aug. 25) has a vdo of Southeast Asia's first geothermal plant in Fang, Thailand, which is still the only geothermal plant in the Kingdom. 

Finally sad news from Malaysia. Free Malaysia today (Aug. 5):

'A five-year-old boy drowned while bathing in a pool at the Ulu Legong Hot Spring Recreational Centre near here last night'.