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. ?

Obsession

Taking a cue from my own blogging, I decided to order in the first edition of Hamam magazine; as suggested in the previous post.

Recap: it's a new initiative, it's print only and it seeks the curious minds:

'A quarterly magazine that features 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'.

It's slogan: 

'The Magazine of letting go'

It's a hefty magazine (heavy quality paper 100+ pages) and outside the US not available everywhere. Thankfully, a book store in my crazy capital was also in the mail order business and forwarded my order in.

First impressions were that it's certainly neat; very high quality all round. Flicking through though it brought me back to the pre-internet days when a magazine was king. Maybe in the US it's still such, but over here internet is so ubiquitos, magazines are going out of business.

Contentwise there are articles on Victorian Turkish baths in the UK, Mongolian sky burials (stretching the definition of bathing a bit),  there are a couple of takes from the onsen photo reportage by Mark Edward Harris (below; The way of the Japanese bathing) and and there's a long article on the Saunatarian (SWEATERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!). Other theme's dropped: US banya, Korean bath experience, Totto-na-tta (Japanese tuning), rewilding, James Mortimer, Palau Swimming Association, David Mason poetry and Urban bathing.

But what did I think, other than the presentation? 

Refreshing. 

Overall, I am very interested in what they are seeking to convey. Maybe not too keen on the photographic presentations, but there were a couple of surprises included. The article on sky burial stood out, I knew it still takes place sporadically in Tibet, but the description of actually witnessing the process in Mongolia was beautiful. 

The article by Jack Tsonis (aka the Saunatarian) was quite thought provoking. Jack (from the sauna barren Australia) takes a liking to sauna, such that his travails are noted with 1 city / 1 sauna motto. Not always possible of course, but what he describes as the moral of his story:

'... not to convince everybody to travel my way, or that every Saunatarian needs such zeal. Instead the point of my telling is to inspire others to their own kinds of creative travel, and to record for history what happened when one man said that he was going to sauna every place he visited'.

In fact I've been doing as such already. Being outside, being active, but also encouraging my body to rejuvenate through water immersion has brought me to soaking. And lately sauna-ing.

What also struck me as he describes his visits to 2 Berlin sauna complexes as how these are not in tone with what he associates as taking a sauna:

'The only downside to this whole situation was my deep and abiding unease about the opulence of these facilities,

...

which are completely inaccessible to the majority of the population in financial terms. This observation extends, by and large, to the entire global wellness sector, which preaches a message of well-being but is generally priced at the luxury end of the market. Put another way, wellness is like money: it doesn't trickle down. The dissonance here -between the message of the wellness sector and the practical realities of access- is deafening, and in need of significant critical theorization in coming years. The aim of such theorization would be to expand access to facilities of regeneration in all areas of human habitation'.

I would wholeheartedly agree. 

In western Europe (where I live) the smaller, often inner city commercial saunas are disappearing quickly, as on the one hand larger complexes in attractive settings are offering a full day of sauna fun, a mini holiday as opposed to a weekly routine of a couple of sweats. It means you need a car to visit these places, as too often than not, they're not reachable by other transport methods. Entrance is hefty, so you presume to make it worth by staying the whole day, but then enjoying a meal is making the pricing of your visit even higher. It's also a question of big money versus small-scale family run businesses, the ability of either to invest.

So the first issue was interesting enough, let's see if the can keep up the same qualities, especially content wise.

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.

Publications: Stories from a heated earth

It's been a while, but another book to review. 

It's also a bit outdated, now 20 years old. Stories from a Heated Earth is an excercise to take on the globe's soaking opportunities and explain how their culture views them. In taking this task on, it's not only a huge task to align the various cultures, it has also proven to be even more difficult to align the authors, as each chapter has a different author. So though you do get the odd chapter with new cultural insights, there are others which only list the hot springs of nation x or y. Not much of a story.

So other than the above what did I learn? 

Well, despite the huge effort to see the book read, I was made aware that Roman soaking culture was in fact a duplication of Etruscan culture which relied heavily on connecting hot springs in the Tuscan setting. Then how Greek gave even religious significance to hot springs. How cranes were rumoured to spend time in Korean hot springs so as heal wounds to their legs. Or the connection between the original inhabitants of north America and the then existing hot springs. So not all bad.

There is a possibly better review, this from P. and R. DiPippo (University of Massachusetts) that starts as follows:

'Fact or fiction? People in several Korean communities got so fed up with lepers and other diseased folks over-running their villages to bathe in their hot springs that they poisoned the springs with dead dogs and even buried the springs so they could no longer be used.
Fact or fiction? Icelanders complained about the nuisance of hot springs on their farms to convince the tax assessor to set a low value on their properties.
Fact or fiction? The French Revolution nearly lead to the destruction of the geothermal district heating system at Chaudes-Aigues that had been operating smoothly since the 1300s.
All of those are true and represent but a few of the fascinating items to be found in Stories from a Heated Earth - Our Geothermal Heritage. This handsome volume is a collection of articles skillfully assembled into 34 chapters by three editors well-known in the geothermal community: R. Cataldi from Italy, S. F. Hodgson from California, and J. W. Lund from Oregon. There are stories from at least 41 countries, written by 47 individual authors, within its 588 pages'. 

The review itself is 3 pages long and seems this pitch is to justify the outlay maybe? 

But if willing to invest the time and effort there may be some stories within that might pique your interest.

Reference:

Cataldi, R., S. F. Hodgson, J.W. Lund (Eds., 1999) - Stories from a heated earth. Geothermal Resources Council, Davis, U.S.A. & International Geothermal Association, Bonn, Germany.

Soul

motogirlthailand

Introvert Heaven...#pongarng#hotspring#nature#thailand#chiangdao#Introvert#intj#quiet#relax

Well, overall not too much to share, mostly country related.

Let's first look at the lesser reported.
It's not often that we can read about a Timorese hot spring in a publication such as The Australian (Jan. 24). Pity it's quite a short piece:

'These must be the most remote hot springs in all of Asia. We are soaking in a swimming pool of hot spring water at Marobo, Timor-Leste. The water is hot enough to boil an egg. Or a toe. I inch in and once I’m in, it’s hard to get out'.

Another anomaly. Myanmore (Jan. 26) has a tip on what to do at Naypyitaw the nation's capital: 

'First up we have Pinlong Hot Springs, around a 2 hour drive from Naypyitaw, you can enjoy the natural hot and cold springs in a beautiful and lush landscape. After opening in 2010, it was mainly locals who would go to enjoy the springs but finally the word has trickled down and up to 400 people a day go to visit during the colder winter months. They’ve built a resort around them which you can now stay in for 20,000 kyat a night, however the reviews are not particularly good and even the manager admits that no one stays there. However it’s a great place to spend a day, you can enjoy some traditional food and tea amongst beautiful scenery and away from the soulless capital'.

Not necessarily regional, hot spring literature: now available for pre-ordering from a Hongkong publisher, Iris Law's

The Onsen Experience: A Guide to Japan’s Hot Spring Sanctuaries

Hmm, wonder what that entails.

Isolation
Vietnam has some soaks on offer.
itourvn has a top 5 of hot springs worth a visit.

While Vietnamparadisetravel (Feb. 19) offers to inform us about:

'Top 5 Most Famous Hot Springs in Vietnam'.

Lifeofdoing, (Mar. 4) stayed a night in Nha Trang's I-resort, experiencing mudbathing and soaking:

'The highlights of the day were the famous mud bath and the hot mineral springs. After we changed into our swimwear, we went straight to our mud bath in our private tub. Mud has the pre-connotation of a thick goopy texture. Here, the warm and almond colored mud had a velvety and silky smooth texture similar to a coffee latte. It was fun to sit, chat with my mom, and slather the mud onto our skin.
Once we rinsed off, we went straight to the hot mineral spring swimming pool. It’s stated that the mineral water is natural to the area. The pool is shared with other guests in the VIP bungalows yet we had it all to ourselves for 15 minutes until three other guests arrived. The pool was hot yet so relaxing to swim in. The view overlooked the green hills of Nha Trang'.

lewan_qh

Hmm I need some mud bath right now. Quarantine or lock-down should never be hot key words. I'm in isolationship in this summer days 🙄#omg #covid_19 #plzleavemealone #travelphotography #phuquoc #island #vietnam #mudbath #enjoylife #instapic #instagood

More from Vietnam, Yahoo Finance (Mar. 25) shares this:

'From now till the end of 2020, a number of game-changing tourism projects and products will also be launched by Sun Group. Specifically, phase 1 of the luxurious Yoko Onsen (a hot spring resort) in Quang Hanh, Cam Pha, Quang Ninh will officially come into operation. This investment by Sun Group is the first Japanese-style 'onsen' resort to be opened in Vietnam. Attracting tourists through all four seasons, Yoko Onsen will solve a perceived seasonal weakness for tourism in Quang Ninh'.

Boasting

Channelnews Asia has an article (Jan. 4) on the re-opening of Sembawang soak, Singapore's only public hot spring:

'Where there used to be just drains, taps and buckets of very hot water, the Sembawang Hot Spring is now a park that boasts a cascading pool, cafe as well as a floral walk.The park, the only natural hot spring park in Singapore, reopened to the public on Saturday (Jan 4)....The park's amenities have also been improved and there are now toilets, an activity lawn and a cafe'.

Buffetliciuos takes the opportunity to head over to the revamped Sembawang hot springs cafe, with intent. They aren't too impressed by what's on offer here: local delights. Advice entails a 10 minute walk for

'better and cheaper alternatives'.

View this post on Instagram

#sglife #singapore🇸🇬 #singaporelife #sembawang #sembawanghotspring #exploringsoutheastasia #hotsprings #シンガポール #シンガポール生活 #シンガポール温泉 #温泉 #足湯 #シンガポール巡り ・ ・ 📍Sembawang hot spring ・ センバワン音泉♨️ ・ シンガポールで唯一の？温泉へ🚶‍♀️ ・ 足湯でポカポカになりました😚 暑い中暑いお湯の足湯ってなんかへんな感じ🤣 ・

A post shared by yurie@Singapore OL🇸🇬Japan (@yt_tpe_sin) on Mar 24, 2020 at 9:05am PDT

There's more user-related info from Goodyfood (Jan. 11):

'It’s only been a few days since the newly redeveloped Sembawang Hot Springs Park reopened and we’ve already heard quite a lot of comments about the place. More specifically, about the people who have visited the place since the reopening. And let me just say that the comments aren’t all good.
One blogger called Petunia Lee shared her experience on her blog which was posted on 7 January when she visited the park in hopes of feeling refreshed and revitalised. Instead, she left feeling disgusted and ashamed.
Well, here’s why.
It all started when she entered and saw a domestic helper bending down and washing her employers’ feet for them.
Her entry wrote, “She fetched water. She bent down and splashed water over her employers’ feet and calves. Those people did not look handicapped. They probably have delusions of royalty.”
...
One 31-year-old woman told Shin Min Daily News that one’s feet are bound to be dirty after walking around to get to the cascading pool and it’s only right that they wash their feet before entering the pool.It was previously hyped that visitors can cook their eggs at the park using the hot water that can be collected at the water collection points.Excited about this feature of the park, Lee brought two eggs along with her on her trip. However, while she was trying to cook her eggs, an inconsiderate old man simply emptied his pail of feet soaking water into her pail with her eggs.
...
It seems that even though this place is newly reopened, it’s only a matter of time before people stop visiting because of how dirty the place has become. Lee expressed how beautiful the place was, but she was ultimately disappointed by the people she met there.
She even said, “At times like this, I am so ashamed of being Singaporean.”

Elsewhere Asiaone (Jan. 15) also reported on an impromptu bath, which is also a no-no here. There is though a hot spring etiquette guide, see here.

Indication

Thailand's Pataya Mail (Mar. 10) looks on the upside of our current crisis:

'Authorities in the northern most province of Chiang Rai have decided to promote over 10 hot springs in the province in an attempt to attract local travelers after a 70 –per cent drop in tourist number due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
...
Under the Lanna Spa City Programme, hot springs which would be promoted include Thaweesin, Pong Pu Fuang, PhaSert, Pong Phra Bat in Muang district and Pa Tueng in Mae Chan district'.

Over to the Philippines.

The Manilla Bulletin (Feb. 5):

'Tacloban City – The Department of Tourism regional office 8 (DO-8) is upbeat with the tourism viability of a hot spring in La Paz town as another tourist attraction in Eastern Visayas.
DOT Region 8 Director Karina Rosa Tiopes told reporters in an interview that the newly-identified tourism destination will surely attract more local and foreign tourists with the infrastructure now in place connecting the tourist destination located in Barangay Bocawon to the town proper of La Paz town'.

A reference to Kalabato? As in below:

zachxha98

Hotspring 🍃😊

Sangat island, an islet off Busuanga, has a hot spring which seems very idyllic. More info here.

Davaotoday (Jan. 28) notes on the nearby Ardent hot spring:

'He [Camiguin Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo] said the temperature in Ardent Hot Spring, one of the tourist attractions in the province that’s located at the foot of Mt. Hibok-Hibok, has gone down in the last few years. Their recent record was at 33 to 34 degrees. In the past, its temperature could reach up to 47 degrees Celsius.
Romualdo said this could be an indicator that Mt. Hibok-Hibok no longer poses a threat to Camiguin. And while the change in temperature could have an effect on the tourism industry, the governor said they could still develop Ardent into a water park if it no longer offers the temperature that it is known for'.

So, no longer so hot?

Confused

Malaysia's New Strait Times (Feb. 24) notes the local delvelopment of 

'Esplanade Hot Spring Hotel in KSL Bandar Bestari in Klang, Selangor [which] is targeted to open in July 2021'.

The Star (Mar. 11) shares this:

'About 70 people took part in a gotong-royong to clean up the natural hot spring in Kampung Ulu Kuang, Chemor, near Ipoh'.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝓜𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮 𝓡𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓮 (@ellerickie_) on Aug 2, 2019 at 8:34pm PDT

Bestblogcorner (Dec. 30) has 8 best Balinese hot springs:

'There are many wellness retreats that serve hot springs with mineral-rich water too. Some of these springs are even sources of holy water. Be it the hot springs Bali Ubud or of any other area but, if you also wish to be a part of one of these natural hot springs in Bali, then be confused no more as we have already done the leg work for you. Here is a list of top 8 hot springs in Bali'.

If I'm correct, there are only 8 hot springs on Bali.

Authenticindonesia (Feb. 6):

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

Another new hot spring? 
Bali sees a hot spring called Gitgit, as in the famous waterfall. It has a website, though only in Bahasa. Google reviews have been around for a year, the last few months seem more positive.