by Yvonne Su
November. With a cold wind roaring outside, turning on the air-conditioner is not the first thing you do any more. What comes to your mind now? Lie lazily inside your warm feather quilt for as long as possible? Enjoy a hot steamy meal at a hotpot place? What about going to a hot spring, which can help ease fatigue and even boost health at a nearby scenic spot? Yes, winter is the best season for hot springs! Undoubtedly it is a terrific method to escape the cold. Even better, we are very lucky to live in a country abundant with hot springs island wide. But there are also many different kinds of hot springs. In general, the most accepted way of bathing in a hot spring is to go to public pools where wearing swimsuits is the basic rule. They are open to both sexes, kids and adults, and very often the entry fee is the lowest. It is like going to a natural swimming pool with a wonderful outdoor view and fresh air. There is no time-limit, but listening to people chatting can also be really annoying sometimes. For people who want to have their own private space and personalized facilities, they can turn to hot springs which are divided into individual rooms. These separate spaces can become your own paradise for forty minutes or an hour without any interruptions. These are ideal for couples and families. However, the charge is always the highest. The last type is the original way of enjoying hot springs. Take all your clothes off and do a bit of body cleaning before entering the water. Of course, these are male-only and female-only pools although some people are still not willing to be totally naked in front of others. Actually, the feeling is not scary at all because everyone is so moved in the arms of nature that there is no peeping. The biggest advantage is the ultimate relaxation for a body without clothing. There are several fantastic hot spring areas near Taipei. For students on a limited budget, the following information (public pools only) will help you to solve all your worries so taking a short hot spring trip will not be difficult. 1. 北投露天溫泉:台北市北投區中山路6號 This site is very close to the Hot Spring Museum. It is a newly established outdoor hot spring with a special ancient courtyard design; six separate pools are open to both sexes. Bathers need to wear swimsuits. Entry is NT 20 on weekdays and NT 40 on weekends. Closed Mondays. 2. 北投溫泉公共浴室:台北市北投區中央北路一段12號 An indoor public hot spring where male and female pools are separated. In order to control the quality of the hot spring facilities, the capacity of each pool is limited to twenty-five people. Entry is NT 40 on weekdays and NT 80 on weekends. 3. 北投瀧乃湯:台北市北投區光明路244號 The oldest hot spring spot in Peitou, which still preserves a traditional Japanese look. Both sexes have their own pools, and therefore wearing swimsuits is not allowed. Entry is NT 70 for half an hour. 4. 陽明山前山公園公共浴室:陽明山前山公園附近紗帽路上 This one is located near the final stop of Bus 260 so it is easy to get there by bus. It is also free. Two huge, sex-separated pools with cool shade trees nearby. It has also become a local favorite. The above is just a brief introduction to a few high quality but reasonably priced hot springs. Transportation couldn’t be more convenient; the MRT and buses are available at frequent intervals to Hsin Peitou (新北投) and Yang Ming Shan (陽明山). Are you ready to give yourself an afternoon off and let hot springs release stress, making you refreshed without spending too much money? Let’s go! #Volume 7 Issue 1 a
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May 2024
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