Equilibrium Instabilis

温泉

An onsen is a public bath with natural hot spring water, and its history and etiquette are closely related to the sento (communal bath house) . The essential difference between an onsen and a sento is that the water in an onsen must be volcanic spring in origin, even if reheated, whereas a sento may use ordinary heated water. The onsen plays an important role in Japanese culture, providing socially institutionalised relief from the pressures of the contemporary Japanese twelve-hour work ethic and a chance for Japanese to break down the hierarchal nature of society through the mutual nakedness of skinship. Essentially, the onsen should be the diametric opposite of everything in normal, hectic day-to-day Japanese life.

Here is where I would like to be at this moment

Ideally, they should be outdoors, use naturally hot water directly extracted from a natural volcanic spring, and they are often embellished with (or, in the cheaper varieties, replaced by) a wide variety of extravagant spa baths, artificial waterfalls and saunas. Onsen water is often thought to have healing powers according to its mineral properties and onsen often have several different baths, each augmented by the addition of different minerals or the composition of the tub.

In the mountains of Nagano, groups of wild Japanese monkeys are living in Jigokudani Yaen-koen. They are Snow Monkeys and have learned how good having a bath is.

“Mmmm, I start getting dirty”

Even though the monkeys seem friendly, it’s important to follow these rules when you find them.

• Observe the monkeys from the distance.

• Do not stare them in the eyes.

• Do not put your hands out or try to touch them.

• Do not show or give food to monkeys.

Aquest cap de setmana he fet una escapadeta amb la meva nòvia a un balneari … porque yo lo valgo. En concret era l’hotel Regina SPA, a Vallfogona de Riucorb (el mateix lloc d’on era el famós Rector de Vallfogona).

Vallfogona’s Rector

Vam trobar la oferta a www.lastminute.com. Una nit a l’hotel de ****, esmorzar bufet lliure (hi havia de tot: fruita, pastes, cansalada, butifarra, etc) i accés a la zona SPA per 55€ cadascú. No és una ganga però tampoc no estava malament. El que passa és que de seguida s’aprecien les diferències entre rics i pobres. Mentre que nosaltres ens havíem de quedar a la piscina climatitzada que hi havia a l’entrada de la zona d’activitats pròpiament dites (jo vaig disfrutar allà com un cabrón), la gent entrava a fer-se massatges i banys raros a preu d’or.

Aquí ens vam quedar nosaltres, a les portes del paradís

El que més em va cridar l’atenció va ser la vinoteràpia, banyar-se en una banyera plena de vi (sembla una orgia de Baco, no?). Jo conec a més d’un que es beuria tota la banyera (i quanta més gent s’hagués banyat abans millor xD).

Baño de sangre rejuvenecedor

En fi, que lo important és estar còmode i en bona companyia. Aquesta excursió m’ha fet venir ganes de provar els onsen japonesos:

温泉

dels quals en parlaré en el proper post.