A trip to a hot spring is a favorite activity in Taiwan during the winter months. Depending on whom you ask, it can either be a fun day out or a healing treatment for any number of illnesses. However, Taiwan is not the only place that has a bathing culture. Let’s look at a few examples from around the globe.
Russia
In Russia, the banya is the center of bathing culture. A banya is a steam bath with a wood stove. It can be a large public bathhouse or a small wooden hut. The banya is considered a place to bond, whether that is to catch up with friends or meet with business partners. Most banya are composed of three rooms: a wash room, relaxation room, and steam room. In the steam room, water is poured over heated stones to create steam, and temperatures can soar as high as 90ºC. Bathers may wear felt caps to protect their head from this burning heat. They also use a bundle of dried leaves to massage their body and promote circulation. When the heat becomes too unbearable, bathers may jump into a cold bath or pond. If it is winter, they may run out and roll in the snow.
Iceland
Bathing in Iceland is all about geothermal water. There are pools throughout the country where people can come to bathe, relax, and gossip. People have the choice of going to a large, man-made pool or seeking out natural hot springs. In both cases, the water is heated far below the ground thanks to the numerous volcanoes that dot the landscape. The geothermal water originates some 2,000 meters below ground, where fresh water and seawater mix at extreme temperatures. Most pools are high in minerals and salts, which is why the water is believed to be extremely therapeutic and restorative.
