Lemongrass

miamalaine

What my perfect day looks like (and what I did yesterday): wake up at 6am in a bungalow with my lover surrounded by nature. Head to my favorite coffee shop and sip on a latte while looking at the beautiful view. Go on a long ride (either dirt bikes or horses) through the mountains and swim in some hidden hot springs. Ride back to town and have lunch. Go back to the bungalow, take a nap, work on some business emails and make some art. Go back into town and have another delicious meal. Go on a hike and watch the sunset. Come back into town for some dessert. End the day with a couples massage and some lemongrass tea. One day this is going to be a average day for me. What does your perfect day look like? If money wasn't an issue and you could do ANYTHING, what would your dream day look like? Tell me all the details💌

A quick tour through Thailand's soaking pictures of the past cooler months, most though from north Thailand. Such as Mae Hong Son province hot spring at Pai (above).

The brokebackpacker actually has a recent entry (Jan. 12) on Pai and it's hot springs:

'One of the best things to do in Pai is visiting one of the many natural hot springs. The Sai Ngam hot springs (also known as the secret hot springs) are run by the local Karen hill tribe, who showed me where to find mud that’s rich in minerals.
We lathered our body in mud and waited for it to completely dry before washing it off. My skin was so soft and smooth afterwards, I couldn’t believe it. There are so many natural health benefits associated with hot springs thanks to the high levels of magnesium, sodium and sulphur thanks to the geological conditions.
There’s a bunch of different hot springs around Pai, but the best, most natural and the cheapest one is Sai Ngam. Entry is only 40 Bhat, compared to 300 Bhat at the super touristy Tha Pai Hot Springs plus the drive to Sai Ngam goes through the incredibly beautiful national park!'

miko_de_baat at Sai Ngam

Is this water hot or is it just me? #notcockyjustconfident #hotsprings #thailand #travel #pai #naked#canon

Nearby and probably on your way to Pai. You have the opportunity to stop at Pong Duet which lies on the edge of Chiang Mai province.

fit.packers

These hot springs were amazing! Loved to chill out and have the whole national park just for ourselves! 😍 cheers to the low season 🥂....Prirodni dzakuzi je bio fenomenalan! Uzivali smo u vreloj prirodnoj vodi i imajuci ceo nacionalni park samo za nas 😍 upravo zbog toga obozavamo ovu sezonu - nema turista juhuuuu......#travelling #instagood #insta #instapic#travel #traveller #travelinspiration#travelgram #travellife #travellers#naturelovers #love #f4f #backpacking#beautiful #nature #thailand #landscape#followforfollowback #photography#travelphotography #view #mountains#waterfall #wanderlust #lostinthailand#travelgram_ #hotsprings

Line.today has a Thai language article (Dec. 2) on the hot springs of Doi Saket (also Chiang Mai province) which have been recently renovated.

Purse
Meanwhile in south Thailand there's a bit of news to be hashed up.

Photo above is a lead photo to a Thai article (Nov. 9) on Trang's salty hot spring at Ban Khuan Sa - Tha Khlong Palian District. It basically describes how an investment has been made to improve the facilities.
Thairath has a same sort of article (Nov. 12).

Below it's Krabi-time. Wareerak to be precise.

julian_mi

#hotsprings

In Bangkok the soakers seek alternatives. Tripcanvas gives as a recent overview of 11 Bangkok onsens:

'What’s even better is that luxury in Bangkok doesn’t necessarily mean burning your (or your guy’s) purse, especially when it comes to onsens and spa. Onsens may cost you a bomb elsewhere, but you’ll be surprised at what you can get in Bangkok!
Stay with us as we journey to find the most value-for-money and affordably luxurious onsens and spas in this bustling city!

All receive a positive glow. One comment though states:

'BTW .. I live in Bangkok and visited some of the SPA above described .. well the photos although looks nice with staged models, dont exactly reflex the state of the establishment. They are not all as clean as presented and some better be avoided'.

kirarista

แช่ Onsen นวดหน้า อาหารคลีนๆ สวยกว่านี้มีอีกมั้ยคะ 😆

📍 Panpuri Wellness

Full Vdo at www.youtube.com/KirariTV

バンコク都内にもプライベート温泉あります！気持ちいい~

.

#KirariTV #PanpuriWellness #panpurionsen #onsen

Passion

A larger tub located in Nong Sai Phrao, Chiang Mai province. Translation of the Thai article reveals that temperatures are 50-60°C at source (source).

A couple of picca's and a few quotes, that's what makes up this entry.

Starting off with a link to a video by Bangkok Post (Jan. 24) on (off-topic) sand bathing:

'People visit the Black Sand Beach in Trat and cover their bodies with the sand. They believe it helps reduce fatigue and symptoms of paralysis'.

Krabi, source

While in the area the Bangkok Post (Feb. 1) also visits nearby Krabi:

'From the bay, we cruise through the dense mangrove forest and turn into Sikao Canal. Hundreds of fiddle crabs rush back to their holes when Banjong jumps onto the bank. Just steps from the crabs' home is a saltwater hot spring, of which crystal clear water runs directly into the canal.

"The hot spring sits on the canal's bed, yet not many know about it until the canal changes its course and a mud deposit fills up the bank; at this point, the hot spring emerges," said Banjong. It may not be such a good idea to take a dip in this hot spring which is filled with fiddle crabs. 

Luckily, if you go a bit north into neighbouring Krabi province, you'll find the Wareerak Hot Spring Spa which is highly recommended. Wareerak is different from other spas. It has its own hot spring well hidden in huge tropical garden. Guests can take a dip in outdoor pools and get some sleep during their massages. 

"Our hot spring has warm water at 42C. It's ready to use. After getting your body checked up in traditional Thai style by a doctor, guests will enjoy a body scrub and dip in the hot spring," said Chantima Channam, the resort manager of Wareerak, describing her award-winning hydrotherapy programme'.

Now we’re having a coffee at that nice little cafe I posted not too long ago and taking our time to relax and think about amazing time we had so far! In about ten days we will leave Thailand for Laos, so need to soak up every last bit of this amazing country!

#hotspring #gopro #pai #thailand #asia #vsco #vscocam #travel #traveling #vscoadventure #adventure #lonelyplanet #tripadvisor #goworld #travelingourplanet #backpacking #igerstravel #river (bij Sai Ngam Hot Spring)

Source: yeahhright

Elevation
Less natural Kashikiri Soda Onsen and Spa is a wellness "resort" in central Bangkok which itself notes:

'Our passion for spa onsen in Japan, happened to be the 1st and the only private spa in Thailand'. 

There's no word on the origins of it's waters but it does also note:

'Elevating the onsen spa services, we strive to deliver the best minerals essence from the top sources of hot springs in Japan. The premier essence powder are imported especially from Beppu and Kusatsu directly into our baht tub ...'.

No word yet from tripadvisor ...

 

Indulge yourself with the treasure of enrich minerals from Japan hot prings and volcanic essence#privateonsen #beautifulplace #bangkok #thonglor #bts #spa #relaxing #healthylife #goodhealth #bodyandsoul #chic #skin #kashikirisodaonsenandspa #kashikiri49 #kashikirionsenbkk #kashikiri

source

Then to wrap this up, back north for two photo's , the first from Chiang mai province, the second  of Phu Klon mud, Mae Hon Song province.

  

ไคแตงโมเหลือง เอ็ดดี้ที่รัก เพพเพ่สไปซี่ดัค

Chiang Dao's cement rings, source

 

#mudmasks from 280000 year old mud #beauty #health #hotsprings #chiangmai #ITMschool #thailand

  source

Chronicled

Enjoying Thailands hot springs from south to north.

Starting off with little known Kuan Kang hot spring in Trang province:

บ่อน้ำร้อน แช่สบายเลออ แต่ลงแค่ขานะ ร้อนโฮกก #trang #hotspring

source

temperatura da água: 35° #hotwaterfall #thailand

North of Trang comes Krabi's Klong Thom, always popular, source

 

只要10銖的野溪溫泉 #kanchanaburi #sylvietraveling #hotspring #taiwaneseinthailand

Hin Dad hot spring, Khanchanaburi, source

 

18+ #onsen #thailand

Or elsewhere in Khanchanaburi, Rock Valley's hot spring, source

Not really a natural hot spring, though it does claim to use natural mineral water, Yunomori Onsen & Spa in Bangkok:

ยามว่าง ถ่ายนู๊ดเล่น 555555555 แอบหมั่นอิคนหลังอะ ที่สวยกว่า #FotoRus #yunomori #onsen #hotspring

source

Beauty

Taking a bath in natural hot springs #chaeson #nationalpark #hottub #hotspring #natural #lampang #thailand #travelling #wanderlust #beauty #life #friends

Chaeson (Jason) hot springs, Lampang province, well and truly northern Thailand, source

2. San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

Chiang Mai province, source

And then two from what is fastly becoming a favourite soak for all those luckily enough to end in Mae Hong Son's town of Pai: 

 

Mineral bath 🚿 #hotsprings #36degrees #bath #pai #chroniclesofsiania

source

 

#InstaSize #tochkarazborki #travel #thai #thailand #picoftheday #instagood #instamood #vsco #pai #hotsprings 

source

Concentrate

'#น้ำพุร้อนหินตาด'

Khanchanaburi's Hin Dad hot spring (source)

As is common on this website, there is little and/or very few to report on.

In recent weeks there has been quite a bit made of  RarinJinda Spa in Chiang Mai which claims to have opened an onsen. Now onsen is usually a term referring to a hot spring bath in Japan. So whether a new hot spring has opened or something which seeks to condure up an image of what may be a Japanese spa in Thailand, it's unclear. From tatnews (March 14):

'RarinJinda’s semi-outdoor Onsen area consists of three pools: Hot Springs Pool with temperature of 40 degrees celcius, Soda Carbonated Spa Pool and Cold Pool with temperature of 18 degrees. Each pool has its own unique features and benefits.

...

The Mineral Hot Springs Pool with concentrate from Japan’s Gero Hot Springs in Takayama Region, which has been recognised as the top 3 onsen in Japan with the nickname ‘Beauty Hot Spring’, cleanses and beautifies the body skin, reduces stress both physically and mentally as well as stimulates the metabolic system'.

So, as I understand it, concentrate (minerals) are added to tap water?

 

The caption says Chaing Mai. But is it? The image has since disappeared from Instagram

'Chilling ~~ #onsen #unseenthailand #chiangmai #โป่งเดือด'

Onsen enthusiasts need not to worry in Thailand. Besides the many natural hot springs, even Bangkok has an onsen which trucks in mineral water from Ranong (source).

Recent construction has taken place at the saline hot springs of Krabi, see above (source). Yourkrabi: 

'There is also an interesting salt water hot springs at Huay Nam Khao, in Klong Thom district, though the bathing pools here are shallow and have been artificially created from concrete, so the setting is not as picturesque'.

' #rockvalley#hotspring#kanchanaburi'

source

'#hotspring'

Chiang Dao, northern Chiang Mai (source)

 

Onsen press

Since the last post on this new spa, the Japanese style, hot spring inspired, Bangkok situated, Yunomori onsen has gained more fame in the form of positive press write up's. And Facebook fans have now nearly doubled to close to 6,000!

Well a recap of the press: 

• Bangkok 101 has it's second feature, this time from 5 October. Glowing reports of course, if it could be otherwise. It does mention that the owner hopes this will inspire Thai tourism to take hot-springing more seriously.
• One of the nation's leading newspapers, the Bangkok Post (21 September), starts it feature as follows:

  'Dear readers, you might yet again accuse me of lying, or, even more likely this time, of being a disgusting pervert, if I said I took off my clothes and got completely naked a couple of days ago in the middle of Sukhumvit. I hate to admit this, but it's true. And though I would like to claim that it was for a good and noble cause like protesting against human trafficking or animal cruelty, it was, in fact, purely for relaxation. And in case you're interested (of course you are!) in knowing the exact place where the naked incident took place, the newly opened Yunomori Onsen and Spa is the answer'.

  Despite highlighting his own awkwardness with nudity he does overall have a positive experience:

  'What appeared at first to be absolute onsen relaxation turned out to be an ultimate physical confrontation as well'.

  And oh, the Bangkok Post has another write up from the 4th of September.
• Then the Nation (September 30) has a huge article mentioning that it is

  'proving a hit with stressed out Thais ... We expect Yunomori - which literally means 'hot water in the garden' - to support these Japanese expats so we're a little surprised that during our first month of operations, 40 per cent of our customers are Thais who had never experienced onsen in Japan'.

  And an odd mention:

  '"During the first week, we provided disposable underwear for female customers who were too shy to be naked in front of friends and other strangers. So far, only a few customers have asked for it. Perhaps there is an awareness that going completely unclothed is natural in the onsen while wearing even a minimum amount of clothing can draw attention to oneself"'.

  So it is possible in Thailand? No real comment on the experience, but the article does get 100 plus likes from Facebook.
• There's a short write up from Travel & Leisure Asia. And a longer one which adds amongst this:

  'All facilities are separated for men and women. You will have to be definitely naked in there. This surprised me to me when I found that 50 percent of their customers are Thais! Well, both Japanese and Thais are shy, but it is reasonable for Japanese that they are familiar with such service, but Thais are not'.

• And more from directBangkok.

Yunomori onsen on instagram.

Bangkok onsen?

Yes, you read it correctly, within the near future there will be an onsen in Bangkok. Located at A square Sukumvit according to Bangkok 101:

'They offer 20 “discreetly separated” spring baths for men and women using mineral waters from Japan and from local sources such as Ranong'.

Note that there already is an onsen-like business in Bangkok called Arima onsen, tripadvisor has good reviews.

Coconutsbangkok.com has more:

'Set to open in late August, Yunomori Super Sento takes the onsen experience a step further; it offers guests a wide variety of spa treatments, a small bar offering Japanese brews, two restaurants, and traditional Japanese gardens. Even if you’re not into the whole bath experience, the restaurants, Gastro 1/6 and Torajiro Izakaya, should be worth the trip.

...

“There are no bathing suits allowed. Besides, in Japanese culture, stronger relationships are formed when you’re naked. Its like you have nothing to hide.” Smith hopes that Thai patrons take to the Japanese idea and overcome their shyness to enjoy the wonderful experience of bathing naked'.

It has it's own facebook site (nearly 3,000 likes), not a real website. 

It actually focuses on the Japanese expats, supposedly numbering more than 100,000 in Bangkok but also hopes to attract Thai. I have my doubts though. Take for instance this blog entry from a very brave Malaysian woman:

'Naked.. in the pool.. (>.<) .. its kind of hard for a Malaysian proceed with this action, friends were making fun of this topics. LoL .. 

...

Approaching to the Onsen, felt so excited yet felt so scared, what will I see? how should I act?.. (>.<) *NERVOUS*

...

And the next thing I see.. people .. just.. take.. OFF.. their yukata, and then.. walk around barely ! O_O.. eventhough this was expected, but the feeling was still..weird.. (>.<)..

...

Then I cleared off some of the steam on my spec, and the scene was like.... WOAH ~ "bodies" were everywhere ~ (till here, still feel weird! gosh.. am i not suppose to be here?)

...

It's like a big bathroom, there are shower facilities provided with shower gel, shampoo, etc. EveryBODIES sitting down to clean off themselves before entering to the onsen pool. I've to do the same too (its the rules, gaaaahh~ this time gonna do it for real), the shower area is totally exposed, not even a partitions in between, any kind of bathing pattern were in action here. (gaaahh~ i still couldn't accept it! (>.<) weird la ! mama said can not peek people bathing! but now... )

Geeezz.. die die have to do the same, sat down and simply, quickly rinse off, quickly covered with towel again and quickly walk to find pool, there are many indoor pools, some whirlpool, and 2 outdoor pools, I walked pass all the indoor pool, almost all with "BODIES" in there, then passed another auto-sensor door, here reached the outdoor pool (finally can feel some fresh air), and there's nobody in the pool, then I quickly, carefully walk in and sat in the pool (feel safe when hide inside water, LoL ~)  

...

In the changing room, hair dryers, combs, body lotions, face lotions are provided too. I didn't use those as there were really many "BODIES" in there.. LoL ! 

It was really good.. its like .. "Wow ! what's an experience !" hahaha ~ '. 

Well, at least she tried it. And liked it. Many if not most wouldn't dare this for whatever collective shame it might implicate ...

Wishing the new business all the best for their future!