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.
Set in A-Square (opposite to K-Village), just a few steps away from Flow House Bangkok, what drew me in wasn't only the fact that this is the first authentic Japanese onsen in Thailand, but also the outer appearance of the place: the grand bamboo wall is, to my imagination, how Japanese castle walls might have looked back in the day; its height and thickness somehow give the place a sense of mystery, making you want to know what's inside.
If you are the kind of person who browses in Muji store for hours with absolutely no intention of buying anything, just being there for the sake of appreciating its decor and trying out its furniture for free (but acting like you're buying one for sure whenever the staff happen to walk by), Yunomori's welcome lounge is the perfect spot to start.
But everything can't be perfect. What appeared at first to be absolute onsen relaxation turned out to be an ultimate physical confrontation as well. Although I got a yukata robe at first to use in the changing room, no matter how desperately I begged the staff to let me take a towel into the onsen area, I was firmly refused over and over again with the tone that seemed to say, "This is how we do, this is how the real Japanese roll!" I was given, instead, a small blanket the size of a five-year-old's handkerchief which gave me no moral support at all.
For the first time of my life, I was completely naked in public.
If I decided to protest one day by going naked in the streets, this would be a good place to start. Taking off all your clothes in public is hard enough, but talking to other people in there without accidentally lowering your eyes down to their nether regions is even harder. One just has to wonder how the Japanese can act so natural, with all smiles and repeated bowing, despite being totally naked.
It is not only a place for the relaxation but also, as I realized later, a great source of authentic Japanese culture. Along with other people in a row, there I was, sitting on a little stool, taking a shower. It was probably the most awkward and yet most comfortable shower I have ever taken in my life, while other people just kept scrubbing themselves as if they were alone. Having taken showers in a standing position all my life, this takes the experience to the next level. I believed I could never get any cleaner.
As suggested by the staff earlier, I started from the bath with the lowest temperature, the soda spa that is about 38 degrees Celsius. It took quite some time for my body to adjust to the extremely hot water, but once you could get in there, somehow you feel lighter in a relaxing kind of way. After staying still for a while, little bubbles started to form all over my body. I was told that this will help stimulate circulation, and though I only felt relaxed in a ticklish kind of way (having no special ability to feel my own blood circulation), I chose to believe that my circulatory system was getting much better anyway. Then I moved onto Ranong mineral water onsen which is a little hotter (the mineral water was transported from hot springs in Ranong province).
Personally, the garden bath outside is the highlight. After making sure that there was no one using it (being naked in the same bath with another dude is too much), I stepped into the open air and started dabbing my foot into the water. Surrounded by the garden and soaking myself in the hot bath, it was hard to believe that Bangkok was right outside.
After getting massaged in a sleeping jet bath and giving your body a finishing touch in a sauna or steam room, a soak in a 17 degrees Celsius cold bath freshens up the body and prepares you to return to reality.
While the onsen is its main attraction, the place also offers Thai and aromatherapy massages for your post-onsen delight on the second floor. Also, there are unbelievably a few more spots hidden inside: from Gastronom cafe where you can enjoy a light meal, desserts and a cup of latte art coffee, to Torajiro Japanese restaurant, a beauty clinic Bino Mori, and, most importantly, a beer terrace which is situated nowhere else but right at the exit of the onsen, waiting to give the finishing touch to your relaxed body.
And considering this is the first authentic Japanese onsen in Thailand, and that it is conveniently located at the heart of Sukhumvit, the price is rather reasonable. Nobody gets naked for free after all.G
Bangkok Post online classifieds
Try buying selling goods and properties 24/7 in our classifieds which has high purchasing power local expatriate audience from within Thailand and around the world.
Source: http://www.news.thethailandlinks.com/2012/09/21/raw-deal/
0 comments:
Post a Comment