Musings and Wanderlust

May 2017, Heping District, Taichung, Taiwan.

Thick steam rose from the hot spring pool in the centre of the room, but it was chilly out here at the entrance, where Katie and I were nervously dithering. Before entering, we were supposed to strip naked, hang up our swimmers, then walk across the room to the cleansing area. Only after we had been fully cleansed, could we make the mad dash to the sanctuary of the scathing hot waters. While we were all mulling over the enormity of the journey ahead of us, my boss had made it into the pool and was enthusiastically calling for us to hurry up and join her. There was nothing for it. We hurried our way through all the steps, doing the fastest naked waddle known to womankind, and plunged into the waters. Although we had originally planned to use it as a shield for our nakedness, the pool was hotter than hell and slowly, titty by titty, we emerged from the depths.

All around us, was a hive of activity, women were dashing in and out, up and down every few minutes. After a little while one of the ladies cottoned on to our confused stares and came over to talk to us. This seemed to be a signal to the other bathers and we were soon surrounded by Taiwanese ladies eager to indoctrinate us to the real hot springs “routine”.

1. After stripping off, you spend 20 minutes in the hot pool. Really roast yourself
2. Walk across the room and up the stairs to the hidden cold pool
3. Wrap one arm around your tummy, and the other across your breasts, and plunge into the pool.
4. Do not move a muscle for at least a minute
5. Stay in these icy conditions for 5 minutes (we lasted about 2 minutes max!)
6. Back to the hot pool to roast
7. Repeat all day!
   

As we went about the doing “the routine”, our self-consciousness melted away with our sweat and we chatted away in the nude, swapping stories with the ladies. One lady travelled for 4 hours each way, every week to relieve her stress. One of the ladies was meeting her friend here after 7 years! Being naked seemed to break down all the normal barriers that people put up – we had never met people so friendly and open. One lady even gave us her number, telling us that if we were ever in Taipei we could stay with her and she would take us round. After several hours of chatting and alternate bathing, we were too exhausted and dehydrated to continue. We left; lighter, grateful for our new friends and more confident in ourselves. Maybe it was time to think about joining a nudist colony…?