Just a short photographic whirlwind through the region. Above Bali's Angseri hot springs with a waterfall as backdrop, below a geothermal hot mud bath in South Vietnam.
Hot Springs Krabi #hotsprings #krabi #travel #thunderstorm #thailand
Thailand always haves a perfect hot spring just waiting for you; above near the southern tourist hub of Krabi. Following another agreeable hot spring in the for Thai famous hot spring town of Ranong, though not so many foreign tourists visit.
To wrap up the chapter slightly further afield in Taiwan a more rustic experience 9and locally popular) from Wulai.
This chika galor moment while in the hotspring. I wanna go back @suecorleone 😭💦🙈👙 #hotsprings #pulangbato #redrockhotspring #itsmorefuninthephilippines #travel #byaherangseth #bucketlist 💯✅💋👣
Besides Thailand, both Indonesia and the Philippines are jam-packed with
hot springs. Malaysia (the last photo in this paragraph) is less so fortunate, though the
Banjaran is probably top-notch though also possibly overclassed ...
42 Grad und es wird noch heißer! 🌞🌋 #hotsprings #therapeutic #neverstopexploring #Cebu #Visayas #Philippines #Pilipinas #itsmorefuninthephilippines #globelletravels #bisaya #Urlaub #Sommer
I would like to apologise for the lack of expanded updates on this blog, limited time being one factor. But the other is the discontinuation of the google search of blogs which means many firsthand accounts are disappearing forever. Sign of the times? We seem more intent to throw our photo's on instagram rather than to be able to write a sentence or two on how an experience was. Certainly looks like the internet era has heralded a dumbing down.
Talking about dumb, debate in the US is very much on hot springs conservation and access to nature. It's mostly a response to misuse of recreative and natural wonder sites. Apparently it is the era of the throw away consumption. No individual responsibility.
For instance take this local report (Telluride News, March 31) on a clean up:
'Hidden just down an
embankment off of Colorado Highway 145, the Rico Hot Springs used to be
one of the best kept secrets in the area.
Now that residents
and visitors alike have discovered the warm, soothing, mineral-rich
waters of the spot just north of the town of Rico, the hot springs have
become more popular. With that popularity have come problems. Recently,
the area around the springs has become littered with trash, discarded
clothing and other items left behind by soakers.
...
Wearing gloves, they collected whiskey bottles, beer cans, water jugs,
undergarments, bathing suits, food containers and innumerable cigarette
butts'.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, there is the heavy handedness of the authorities (Idahostatesman, Jun. 21):
'The Bureau of Land Management’s Tate Fischer said he’ll consider
proposals to keep the Skinny Dipper hot pools open right up until the
time his staff starts tearing them out and reclaiming the trail leading
to them.
But for now, the hot springs are officially closed. Fischer announced the closure Tuesday after a notice was published in the Federal Register, a government journal that publishes federal decisions.
Let's hope that society comes to it's wits before more damage is done.
Dumbing down
Everybody knows I like to discuss geothermal power generation in relation to soaking: not often a successful combination as the tech-ies developing their power generation see no need for soaking nor for any community involvement whatsoever; the latter sits well with the governmental elite: centralising political power.
Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article85008347.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article85008347.html#storylink=cpy
Indonesia's Aceh is another region hoping to hop on the geothermal power bandwagon. ThinkGeoEnergy (May 9):
'The ongoing electricity crisis, with not sufficient electricity
available is a big concern in the semi-autonomous province of Aceh on
the northwest tip of Sumatra Island in Indonesia.
The regional executive board council now urges the government to
implement a geothermal project to serve as key element in helping it to
deal with the crisis'.
Geothermal power generation can also go small scale. ThinkGeoEnergy (May 24):
'MiniGeo is a small, modular geothermal power plant the size of a
shipping container. The system is designed to generate renewable
electricity for remote communities using the earth’s natural heat. The
benefits of the MiniGeo are that it can generate power 24 hours a day,
doesn’t require fuel, emits almost no CO2 and needs very little space'.
First pilot programme to be in Indonesia.
Seeking to convert the soaking faithful in Japan, Japan Times (Jun. 20) notes this new instrument to allay fears for onsen operator:
'Developers of geothermal power projects can now buy an insurance policy
that covers the expense for surveys to determine if their projects are
the cause of changes in the quality and volume of hot water'.
'With centuries of tradition on their side, Japan’s hordes of naked
bathers remain unmoved by the island nation’s bid to tap a rich reserve
of power equivalent to about 20 nuclear reactors.
...
“We strongly oppose geothermal development,” said Toru Terada, the
senior managing director of the Japan Spa Association, which represents
1,200 members. “Geothermal plants can lower the temperature of the
springs, as well as deplete volume. We can’t support the government’s
plan to loosen regulations in order to expand facilities.”Hot springs are big business in Japan. More than 120 million people
stay overnight at such resorts annually, while millions go for day
trips, according to the association'.
Funny how ThinkGeoEnergy (Jul. 5) refers to the same article, taking the odd snippets here and there but finishes with this addition, supposedly their own words:
'While other countries show that geothermal development for power
generation can co-exist with direct use applications, such as spas and
baths, there seems to be still a long way in Japan to find common
grounds on the utilisation of the great geothermal resources of the
country'.
One way to ease opposition is to let communities share in the proceeds. ThinkGeoEnergy (Jun. 21) has announced that
'Local governments in Indonesia have been trying to get access to some of
the profits derived from geothermal operations in their communities and
it now seems like this is going to happen'.
What is actually meant are lower governments, not communities ....
#daharofamz #hotspring#sibayak#sibolangit #mask with Sulfur#sharangeo 😚
Onsenexit? More developments but not geothermal.
Xenogears has an article (Jan. 2016) on the Japanese bathhouse:
'For the longest time, Japanese public baths were an integral aspect of
Japanese society. In 1968, the industry peaked with 17,642 bath houses
existing across the nation. However, by spring of 2008 that number
dropped to a mere 4,343, and it continues to decrease at a rate of
almost one a day. There simply aren’t enough customers to support the industry, not to
mention that there are few young people prepared to take over the
business, and the facilities themselves are breaking down due to their
age. Japanese people who would like to bathe together are now more
likely to attend a large-scale bath houses or make a day trip to a
natural hot spring (onsen), rather than remain local'.
It
puts its hopes on foreign tourists to keep the bathhouses afloat.
Maybe
it's a cultural thing, natural soaking in places such as Iceland, North America, New Zealand and Italy has seen quite an increase in
recent years, with internet providing better info and the increased free
time actually resulting in visits to hot springs.
Japan will catch up
soon I believe and the plenty availability of onsens will only reward the renewed interest.
Relief
Then over to the regional focus starting off a snippet on non(?) news. From the Travel Daily Media (May 10):
'Thailand’s Dusit International has unveiled plans to open a new luxury hot spring resort in southeast China’s Fujian province'.
Oh well, catering to rich and (nearly) famous. Anyway as stated above not much texts to focus on, so it's over to the picture section with the odd reference.
Thailand
aonjungnida Khanchanaburi's Rock Valley Hot Spring & Fish Spa
Singapore's Sembawang generates quite some news. Let's start with Channelnews Asia (Apr. 18):
'The potential redevelopment of Sembawang Hot Spring into a national park
has drawn mixed reactions from Members of Parliament (MPs) and regular
visitors - but calls for the 108-year-old locale to resist
commercialisation and retain its rusticity have been unanimous'.
But this seems to have been lost on some:
'Dr Chang Tou Chuang, a tourism geographer and associate professor at
the National University of Singapore, also weighed in with suggestions
on how to draw crowds to the Sembawang Hot Spring.
“The area is
undeveloped and hence can only support a small crowd of visitors. It
needs a larger critical mass of attractions in order to attract more
people, including tourists,” he said, proposing a “nature-themed
attraction that perhaps complements the spring with other water-related
amenities and facilities”.
A neglected part of history:
'At the height of the spring’s popularity in the early 2000s, it would
register hundreds of visitors daily, claimed 72-year-old retiree Mr
Chen. Speaking in Mandarin, he said he has been bathing in the spring
since he was a child living in a nearby kampung.
Mr Chen then
related how the public were spooked and eventually left disinterested by
the spring after an incident in 2002, when an elderly man lost six toes
to gangrene after dipping his feet in the water - which was measured at
a steaming 131°C in the late 1990s'.
Hot on this article's heels comes the Strait Times (Apr. 23):
'The question of what to do with the Sembawang Hot Spring at Gambas Avenue has been mulled over for decades.
Senior Minister of State for Defence Ong Ye Kung said on Saturday
(April 23) that the land where the hot spring is on will be returned to
the State.
The area may be turned into a park, as Mr Ong said he hopes a public
agency such as the National Parks Board can take over, and maintain it'.
Then an onsen has opened for business in Singapore. Asiaone (May 28):
'Have you always yearned to soak your weary body into the hot spring
baths at Japan's relaxing 'onsens'? Well, you're in luck because
Singapore's first spa offering authentic Japanese-style public baths has
opened its doors.
Located at Kallang Wave Mall, Yunomori Onsen & Spa features 11
pools with six variations of baths'.
Things you should know:
'no. 2. You don't have to be fully naked Thankfully
for us, the founders of Yunomori Onsen & Spa understand that we
Singaporeans are pretty conservative and are a shy lot. Therefore, the
spa offers disposable undergarments for both men and women. Yes, we can
hear your sigh of relief'.
No mention about whether or not the waters
are natural. Doesn't seem so.
2. You don't have to be fully naked
Thankfully
for us, the founders of Yunomori Onsen & Spa understand that we
Singaporeans are pretty conservative and are a shy lot. Therefore, the
spa offers disposable undergarments for both men and women. Yes, we can
hear your sigh of relief.
- See more at:
http://women.asiaone.com/women/beauty/5-things-you-should-know-about-singapores-very-first-japanese-onsen#sthash.822XVy4A.dpuf
: reflecting relaxation nothing more soothing to an aching body from surfing that to take a dip in this hot spring pool from Mt. Bulusan
Indonesia
Indonesia Trip Tips (Jun. 16) has a top 7 of Indonesia's best natural thermal baths. Surprisingly 6 of those are on Java and 1 on Bali, so much for the rest of Indonesia.
No. 1 from the list (and Bali's only contribution), posted by yuragawashinkurou
#banyuwedang #bali #hotspring #landscape
Finishing off with what seems a more often occurrence: not always are hot springs soothing. Channelnews Asia (May 11):
'The Search and Rescue Team has found and recovered the body of a climber
who reported drowned in the Aik Kalak hot spring of Mount Rinjani [Isle of Lombok] on
Sunday (May 8).
Have
you always yearned to soak your weary body into the hot spring baths at
Japan's relaxing 'onsens'? Well, you're in luck because Singapore's
first spa offering authentic Japanese-style public baths has opened its
doors.
Located at Kallang Wave Mall, Yunomori Onsen & Spa features 11 pools with six variations of baths.
- See more at:
http://women.asiaone.com/women/beauty/5-things-you-should-know-about-singapores-very-first-japanese-onsen#sthash.822XVy4A.dpuf
kelewaha hot waterfall minahasa tenggara pic by my sista #hotwaterfall #waterfall #hot #kelewaha #minahasatenggara #mitra#sulut #travel #travelling #local #nature #happy #fun #family #wisata #jalanjalan #airpanas
Air Panas Waigete #airpanas #waigete #maumere #flores #ntt
Long time, no see? Apparently that's what happens when u are busy busy. Or better said putting your priorities elsewhere.
Following are a couple of pictures from the region which might be to your likely. Well, better siad they are to my liking.
We started off with Indonesia (above) which always has some of the regions most enticing hot springs. Following in alphabetic order is just the solitary soak from Burma:
Indonesia condures up many a potential photo-op however somehow I've included another from Flores, with the second photo of having a shower: it's not often that having a shower is emphasized at the popular soaking possibilities in Southeast Asia.
Monthly
gathering means showering together after #hotsprings #bali #kintamani
#island #likeforlike #ilovebali #wonderfulindonesia #noedit #friendship
Sit back
#favourite
#memory bathing in an #amazing #natural #hotspring with the local
#village #people in #laos - the area was actually divided in two
sections one for #men and the other for #women and #children - it was a
#beautiful moment to be apart of and our presence excepted! #hotsprings
#secrethotspring #washing #bathing #beautifulmoments #travel #travelgram
#travelstories #backpacking #journey #destination #ilovepeople #laotian
#ilovelaos #amazingplace
Laos (above) is still a country where tourists are yet to discover the many soaking possibilities, leaving the hot springs as pristine as one could hope for.
Malaysia (below) in contrast has overdeveloped most of their hot springs, only those off the main road still having some attractive powers if only for avoiding the hordes of merry makers:
Hot spring is one of my fave natural waterpool. The warm water relaxes my nerves.
Arden Hot Spring, Camiguin
#camiguin #beautifulisland #adventuretime #rowinwonderland #hotspring
nene_nae at Rock Valley Hot Spring and Fish Spa, Khanchanaburi:
ออนเซนแบบไทยๆ ตีโป่ง 😂 #onsen
aussieinwanderlust at one of Pai's hot spring resorts (Mae Hong Son province)
The happiness when you stumble along a cool natural springs resort....only to find out that it's SUPER HOT. This is not refreshing when it's 40 degrees out already! 😫😫😫
There's little newsworthy to add; more and more the internet is becoming just a pictural roll of all what sparkles and shines.
Fortunately hot springing seems a never ending experience of respect, pleasure and relaxation. So there's no dearth of photo's of soaking.
But beware for mainstreaming (i.e. is soaking becoming too popular?) lurking, waiting to pounce on the opportunity to literally sell itself and the soakers soul for a pittance.
What follows is just a brief insight into what's topical (and interesting) and too many photo-ops ...
Doubts
See also the section below on the Philippines. Why? Because it deals with social aspects of geothermal development. With some hope, this is a subject which will be dealt with at the forthcoming Iceland Geothermal Conference which goes out of it's way to highlight that besides all the normal hoopla, there needs to be social inclusion. Thinkgeoenergy (Mar. 29):
'So
it is great to see the Iceland Geothermal Conference in Iceland in
April this year, to dedicated a whole session and several presentation
to this important topic. The session will feature experiences from a
project in Ethiopia, a new project in the North of Iceland, a project in
Hungary, as well as a view from the Iceland Geothermal Cluster. In an
additional presentation, Marietta Sander from the International
Geothermal Association will talk about the implications from the recent
climate meetings and agreements of the COP21 meetings for the geothermal
sector'.
Whether excluding this theme to a byline to a big money / big
science event will justify it's cause or give legitimacy to current
geothermal development remains to be seen. Benefit of the doubt?
Bathing at Ardent Hot spring, Camiguin, Philippines
News.com.au
has a report (Jan. 31) from a business person getting business through
soaking at deep Creek hot spring, California. U.S.A.:
'I never thought I’d strike a business deal while sitting in a hot
spring, totally naked except for a pair of sunglasses, and sharing a
plate of hummus and carrot sticks with a tech executive, a medical
student and the CEO of an online shopping website'.
The NZ Herald (Apr. 7) has a piece on using stickers to overcome tattoo problems in Japanese onsen.
'The Japan Tourism Agency has compiled measures to be taken by ryokan
inns and bath facilities to reduce the number of cases in which foreign
visitors are refused admittance to bath facilities because of their
tattoos.
The guideline measures include distributing or selling
stickers to cover tattoos, and allowing customers who have covered their
tattoos with such stickers to enter bath facilities'.
Though the article refers to the Washington Post, there's a more original article from Japan Today (Apr. 3):
'For generations in Japan, it was almost exclusively yakuza who had
tattoos. Recently, more young Japanese people than in the past have been
showing an interest in tattoos from a fashion and personal style
standpoint, but inked flesh is still far more common in Japan’s criminal
underworld than the law-abiding sectors of its society. Because of
this, hot springs in Japan commonly bar individuals with tattoos from
entering their baths, since the relaxing atmosphere that draws onsen
fans tends to be somewhat disrupted when sharing the tub with a mobster.
...
so an obvious foreign national with “Go Lakers!” tattooed across his
bicep or a butterfly on her calf is unlikely to produce extreme
uneasiness among the other bathers.
However, hot spring operators are understandably averse to the idea
of putting up notices stating “Tattoos are OK…but only if you’re a
foreigner!” Still, proponents of relaxing restrictions feel that even if
tattooed people of any nationality are allowed to use the onsen, inked
Japanese will refrain from doing so, out of consideration to existing
cultural attitudes, and thus a change in policy will not result in an
increased yakuza presence in the baths'.
Enjoying the silence And then the Southeast Asian focus
Burma
After
a lengthy bike ride we arrived at the hot springs #worthit #khaungdaing
#naturalhotsprings #myanmar #Burma
I acabar el #trekking
dutxant-te com si fossis birmà! [bikini] [sun_with_face] And finish the
trekking taking a local shower! [bikini] [sun_with_face]
#Integració100perCent! #Lipotímiques #Vacances #Vida #HotSpringWater
#NaturalHotSpring #HotSpring #Hsipaw #HsipawTrek #Kyankhin
#Integration100percent #NearFainting #Holidays #Life #FollowTheRixi
#LreneAndLainMyanmarTrip #Birmania #Myanmar
Hot springs, near Kasi town, Vientiane province, Lao P.D.R.. Source: Facebook page of Vieng Laty
Malaysia
A local Malaysian government wants to upgrade hot springs (New Strait Times, Apr. 13):
'The
Tourism and Culture Ministry is upgrading several infrastructures at
the Lubuk Timah Hotspring recreational centre, Simpang Pulai here,
towards making it a first class tourism centre'.
What was once (decade ago) a very natural hot spring will now naturally not be so anymore ...
A visit to Paku Hot Spring by aaronng88
(Feb. 27):
'According to Sarawak Tourism and Sarawak Vacation Destinations .com
(HERE), Paku Hot Spring is also another Bau attraction. So, on a day
when I was craving a little lazing and relaxation in a hot spring, I
decided to drop by.
Not directly in town, Paku Hot Springs is not the easiest location to
find, however, you do get several sign boards on the highway showing
where to turn. You will have to turn to a kampung (village) called Pekan
Paku, and keep going.
Paku Hot Springs (Air Panas Paku), is not a building or a sheltered
area. Just an open air, natural spring. Which at first glance looked
abandoned. All it had was a sign board.
And on closer examination, it wreaks of pollution and floating potato
chip bags.
The water is murky, with a greenish greyish hue, with colloid-ish
bubbles.
I was disgusted and disappointed.
I did put my foot in for a few seconds at the 'cleaner' area. The water
is warm and comforting, but the gross water is just too much of a turn
off for me. Sucks cause I wanted to take a nice long dip and be all
wrinkled when I come out~
Meh~ '
Walk out Continuing ...
Hot
spring in Hapao rice terraces [clap] [skin-tone-2] #45minswalk
#hotspring #banaue #hapaoriceterraces #march2016
How to play the press. The Philstar (Apr. 13) notes how opposition to a new geothermal plant near the town of Valencia (Cebu) has disappeared. Or has it?
'The mayor further recognized the concerns raised by certain groups but
during consultations and a public hearing, which was widely disseminated
to all the barangays in Valencia, and other stakeholders through his
office, thus mitigating measures were recommended to address any
negative effects of the expansion'.
The town would receive extra taxes and royalties.
But it seems that money enough, is not that's what's requested. 350.org has a look at the flip side of this (Mar. 10):
'We [= environment groups] walked out to raise our opposition to the unjust process of the
public hearing and the deliberate expansion project of EDC (Energy
Development Corporation) at the Mount Talinis Range [= expansion of Southern Negros Geothermal Power Project]'.
The
old tricks were used in what was supposed to be a public hearing.
Opposing voices were silenced (literally, their microphones were turned
off!). The Environment Impact Assessment presentation was poor / brief.
'The Public Hearing held today is sadly a failure– reflective of the
tragedy it can bring to this generation and the future generations. They
may turn off the microphone to silence us, but they can never stop the
collective voices resounding at the ranges of Mount Talinis [where the project is planned]'.
'The popular hot spring of Pampanga, found in the hinterlands of Mount
Pinatubo, is under fire from businessmen and 4×4 vehicle enthusiasts.
....
Romero [Rene Romero of the Land Rover Club of the Philippines (LRCP)]
said he was informed recently that residents living near Puning are
“barred from touring their own relatives, friends and visitors at the
portion of Sacobia River near the resort.”
“As far as I know, the river is owned by the government. I can’t believe
that our own province mates are not allowed to enjoy what belongs to
the community,” Romero said.
....
Tourism Regional Director Ronnie Tiotuico said on Thursday the Puning
Hot Spring “cannot claim ownership of a property in its vicinity, much
less prohibit people from using the same as entry point to certain
places and beyond.”
The Tourism and Culture
Ministry is upgrading several infrastructures at the Lubuk Timah
Hotspring recreational centre, Simpang Pulai here, towards making it a
first class tourism centre.
The Tourism and Culture
Ministry is upgrading several infrastructures at the Lubuk Timah
Hotspring recreational centre, Simpang Pulai here, towards making it a
first class tourism centre.
The Tourism and
Culture Ministry is upgrading several infrastructures at the Lubuk Timah
Hotspring recreational centre, Simpang Pulai here, towards making it a
first class tourism centre.
No pictures (!) but Vietnam's hot top 5 (paolionthemove) it seems: 1. Kim Boi Hot Spring in Hoa Binh, 2. Bang Hot Mineral Spring in Quang
Binh, 3. Kenh Ga Hot Spring in Ninh Binh, 4. Tay Vien Hot Spring in
Quang Nam and 5. Dam Rong Hot Spring in Lam Dong.
With this site I hope to get interest in the geological phenomenon known as hot springs. And enjoying them. Soaking. Here. In. Southeast Asia. In many countries visiting hot springs is a favourite past time, strange as it may sound in such steamy nations, hot springs tourism is well, er ... hot in Southeast Asia. I am trying to maintain this site with supplying first hand knowledge, trolling the net for other sources and hopefully contributions from other soakies. So if you ever feel the need to contribute just contact me,
jhdubbeldam@ hotmail.com
Soaking in Southeast Asia visited hot springs postings
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*kamshingwai*
*Cooked ♨️🇹🇭 #hotsprings#thailand*
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Above Taryn hot ...
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Our owner Dan Sine was recently interviewed about our company during the
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In this quick video he talks about the hot ...
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