Hot Springs - Nha Trang

Just outside of Nha Trang was a hot springs and spa centre. It must have taken me and Rob about five seconds to decide to go! We thought we would go for the whole health experience and decided to hire bikes and cycle the 5km to the centre. I was very lucky on this occasion with my bike, as it had full working breaks, gears, a saddle that was firmly attached to the frame and tires without punctures. The same, however, could not be said for Rob, who sustained a double puncture shortly after setting off and ended up cycling the whole way there and back on the rims of his wheels! This did mean for once I led the ride while Rob worked hard to keep up!

The spa was wonderful. The centre not only had volcanic mineral water, but it had thermal mineral mud too. We opted for the package where we could experience both. Firstly we were led to a 2 person wooden tub, which was very much in the style of an old tin bath.

Our attendant turned on the tap and out poured this gooey, gloopy warm mud! It reminded me of melted chocolate but unfortunately didn't smell like that!! We climbed in so we were sat opposite one another and the attendant handed us a large wooden ladle and then scuttled off. We covered each other in mud for about half an hour - I particularly concentrated on pouring it over Rob's rather pink sunburnt head. Once showered, my skin felt wonderful, and Rob no longer resembled a fresh beetroot! Next it was to a set of open topped corridors of water jets, the idea was you stood in the corridors and the jets would blast you at different heights, it was especially nice on the lower back. After these we soaked in a heart shaped private pool of lovely warm water, before moving on to explore the rest of the complex.

There were maybe 4 or 5 large pools of varying temperatures (from 35 - 43C), one pool for the children with a fountain in the centre and then the rest for adults. Most of them had some kind of waterfall/ running water feature and one area was just a waterfall to stand under! It was already a hot day - 34Cish - and I found that I couldn't last anywhere as near as Rob in the various pools and was a coward when it came to the freezing cold jets you were supposed to subject yourself to between soakings, so I spent a lovely time instead lounging on the many deck chairs placed poolside.

We spent a full afternoon there, and then glowing, we jumped back on our bikes and cycled back to our hostel. It was a wonderful experience and my skin definitely appreciated the pampering! If I had been stressed I'm sure it would have been washed away too - hard life this travelling lark!!