Sunday, August 27, 2017

Big dreams


 
There's no better place for yoga 🖤#WHPdreambig #yoga #snow #hotsprings #northsikkim #incredibleindia
While the northern hemisphere of Asia (basically everything) currently is experiencing it's summer, lets look at even hotter places to enjoy: hot springs of Himal (and more).

Spiced up with some photo's. 

Ah, the above from the former independent Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim, now incorporated in India, probably at the end of Yumthang valley.

Just a short hop westwards, across the border, you'll end up in Bhutan:

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it~ Sydney J Harris.
#gasabhutan #gasatsachu #gasatrip #myfirsttriptogasa #hotsprings #hotspringbath
Peachy
But let's start with some news.

China Daily (May 5) mentions how soaking tourism is assisting Tibetan efforts at income generation:
'Born into a poverty-stricken household in Dagdong village, the Tibet autonomous region, Kelsang Jampa never imagined that one day he would own a new house with a neat courtyard. 
...
Tourists camp in front of the ruins of Tsangyang Gyatso's manor, visit the 900-year-old peach tree there and look around the ancient temples in the village'.
Ok, so what has hot springs to do with this? The article adds:
'The regional government hopes that by the end of 2020, all farmers and herdsmen engaged in tourism will be able to earn an average annual income of 16,000 yuan.
"This year, we will spend 90 million yuan to build a hotel and a hot spring resort," said Tobgye, head of the township.
It is estimated that Dagdong will receive 150,000 tourists this year, bringing 40,000 to 60,000 yuan in revenue for each family'. 
So not natural? Or natural but currently non-existent? I couldn't find any other references, so I'm a bit unsure. 
What the above does spell out, is how China (and with it many other Asian governments) hopes hot springs bring in money. Little conservation.

Below elsewhere (?) in Tibet:

This is how #everest2017 expedition day 35 looks like
#hotsprings #calmbeforethestorm
@marmot_mountain_europe @lyofood
The Economic Times reports (Jul. 27) on the political struggle:
'China and India have jockeyed for centuries over the Himalayas. The Chinese military invaded Tibet in 1950. India granted asylum to the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, in 1959. Three years later, the two countries fought a border war. Now they are in a standoff over an area disputed by China and Bhutan, the Himalayan kingdom whose claim is supported by India. The two countries’ latest struggle is over which one will be able to formally tie the ancient practice of Tibetan medicine to its national patrimony. The prize: international cachet and the possibility of significant commercial rewards. 
...  
China’s recent UNESCO application said that Tibetan hot-spring and herbal-bath therapies — known as lum medicinal bathing — were “developed by the Tibetan people” and are popular across much of western China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region'.
Unfortunately neither seems intent on the following, even though it seems a very Himal practice. Of the yesteryears? 

ueen_maedbh at Kheerganga:
Nudey Hot springs in India 💦💦🔮🚿🌏🙏🏽🙏🏽🌜🌞 with meh pal luceh. #india #travelphotography #hotsprings #himachalpredesh #jaimatadi🙏
Managed
The district of Myagdi central Nepal counts itself lucky. The Himalayan Times (March 19):
'Fourteen new sources of hot springs have been identified at various places in Myagdi district.
“Five new sources of hot springs were found along the Maygdi River bank at Beni
Municipality-13 in the district and nine others along the river bank of Kali Gandaki,” said Birendraman Shakya, Chair of Singa Tatopani Kunda  Management Committee.
The water from the hot springs is said to contain several minerals as calcium, magnesium and potassium. Because of the presence of these minerals, the hot springs, which measure to over 50 degree Celsius,  are believed to relieve ailments linked with joints, gastritis and  skin.
“Most of the newly identified thermal springs fall in the Annapurna trekking circuit and may serve as tourist destinations as trekkers can enjoy taking a dip in the hot spring,” said Shakya.
On an average, over 20,000 people take a bath in the old hot springs in the district annually, shared Shakya, adding that the newly-found thermal springs will have an upgrade.
There are over 32 identified hot springs across the country'.
दिर्घ राेगिहरूका लागि उचित गन्तव्य The natural medicament hot spring center Tatopani Kunda, Myagdi
source (half 'n hour of hot soaks of the Himal)
A short dip inside a small #hotspring in the outskirts of #lomanthang by the #kaligandakiriver. #colors #colorsofnepal #colorsoftheearth #colorsofnature #travel #trekking #nepalphotoproject #nofilter
Bear
An avid fan of Khamchatka, it seems like there's an never-ending source, source of hot water. A couple of examples:

A bear ate our gear [What? Read more here], but at least the hot springs were nice. 🗻🌿🌛#kamchatka #travel #russia #goexplore #friluftsliv #hotsprings #keepitwild #travelblog #adventure #optoutside
Дикие Озерки ) #озерки #источники #горячиеисточники #отдых #природа
Heading eastwards, what about Mongolia? And Kyrgyzstan?

bazze_ezzab at Tsenheriin Haluun Rashaan, Arhangai
Oasis during #roadtrip
#hotspring #Mongolia
 
А потом мы сидели в скальных ваннах и наслаждались видом гор и шумом реки 💕 🏞 #amazing #vacation #altynarashan #hotsprings #kyrgyzstan
Gems
Another favourite of mine is Tajikistan:

Four damaged guys relaxing their tortured bones in the hot springs of Bibi Fatima. To go there you have to survive 8km of extreme natural road. #bibifatima #hotspring
teisphotography (above and below, outside / inside):
Go inside the blue door and enter the amazing #hot #spring Isbulak. Finding it can be a challenge as there is no actual road taking you there. Driving through open field as far as the eye can see and ending up at this gem at an altitude of 4000m was another priceless experience on our trip. #hotsprings #travelphotography #travels #Tajikistan #centralasia #spa #desolate #remote

And now we're back where we started: India 

pooja14virgo at Munsyari Uttarakhand:
Photo edit by @basanti.t.rawat #goririver #hotspring