Get away from it all, with a nice hot bath

Simon Marcus Gower ,  Contributor ,  Bandung   |  Fri, 06/12/2009 2:43 PM  |  Java Brew

Although Bandung is starting to resemble Jakarta at least in its development of similarly severe traffic problems, its residents don't have to go too far to escape the stress.

Not far from Bandung is a very welcome relief from the city snarls and other woes associated with big-city stress and strife. A mere 45 minutes' drive from Bandung (around 35 kilometers), are hot spring resorts that can effectively heal both the body and the mind of the weary city dweller.

The journey northeast out of Bandung takes the traveler past the national park area that surrounds the volcano of Tangkuban Perahu. The volcanic activity at Tangkuban Perahu is the same one that brings hot, sulfur-rich waters to the springs at Ciater, where the largest resort is found.

The road to Ciater rises and falls, twists and turns, through the foothills of the volcano, snaking between thick forested areas under the disapproving gazes of tall, slender pine trees. Eventually, the forests give way to the thick greenery of tea plantations and soon the road is weaving through more rounded and tumbling hills.

The greenery and the height to which the journey has taken us to above Bandung combine to make the air here cool and fresh - which can alone begin to refresh and reinvigorate. But the spas and resorts here offer far more than just the fresh air and scenery. They have been set up to expressly offer services to indulge and pamper the visitor.

The long driveways to the resort that lead off the country road are defined by the neatly trimmed fir trees, the clipped grass verges and carefully tended flower gardens.

The main attraction - the hot springs - comes into view quickly and amazingly. What appear to be small mountain streams have an unusual aspect: As the water trips its way down the slopes, steam gently rises from it. You can dip your hand into this water and feel its warmth tingle your fingers.

This tingling is a mere taster for the great sensations that await by partaking of the naturally heated sulfur-enriched waters. The spas here have been set up to pool the water, creating bathing areas for wading or complete immersion, with the massage and comfort that entails.

Part of what makes the experience of bathing in the hot waters here so pleasurable is the contrasts - the difference between the cool mountain air and the heat of the water, creating added delight in stepping between hot water of the outdoor pools and the cool surrounding air.

The pleasure comes from that tingling warmth induced by the naturally hot waters. Nature can, though, be fickle here: Depending on the flow of the water and the time of day, the water temperature can vary. For some people, the temperature can be too hot, but it is never less than warm and comforting. Nature is the star here - the main physical treatment - but there are other services also available.

Consider the many massages, such as a "Traditional Javanese Massage" or "Black Borneo Massage". Guests can benefit from such familiar treatments as aromatherapy, but more unusual therapies are also offered here, such as underwater galvanization, ultrasound therapy, infrared therapy and magnetic therapy.

A particularly relaxing therapy is the "Javanese Lulur Bath and Massage". For this particular treatment, the masseur quite firmly brushes a mixture of oils and lotions, which may include coffee, onto and into the skin of the guest. This warming, aromatic and soothing mixture is allowed to coat and soak into the body. The masseur then gently massages muscles and bones into much better condition.

If a massage is so invigorating as to give the guest a burst of energy, there are plenty of outdoor pursuits to amuse, from a golf-driving range to badminton and volleyball courts and horse-riding.

Of course, all this can work up an appetite - and the resort offers some fine dining on site, with elegant restaurants with a varied menu with an emphasis on the local Sundanese cuisine.

Yet with all this, the water itself remains the center of attraction. Their natural heat and minerals makes bathing in them a very pleasurable experience. The heat soothes the body and the sulfur seems to get into every pore of the bather's skin - cleansing, soothing and pleasing.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.