#thermal pool

[angelnumber27]

The Devil’s Bath (Wai-o-Tapu) in Rotorua, New Zealand

By Andrea Lai on Flickr

[jarredspec]

Forbidden falls. Rotorua, New Zealand

Instagram | Vero

[raaaaandd]

feeling like a turkish princess

[arl3kinka]

thermal baths 🌬️

[kumimonster]

2020 October 28 - Hierapolis

[everyday1photo]

Gelert Bahts

[fromrusttoroadtrip]

The swirling thermal waters alternated between hot and cold as they washed thinly over the surface of our bodies, while the curious villagers looked on, smiled and waved as they passed.⁣

We’d come to Lukovska Banja in search of a hot spring, and what we’d stumbled upon was an entire thermal park. Water spurted from springs at temperatures varying from ice cold to well over 70°C, throwing clouds of steam up into the crisp valley air.⁣

We’d had no idea that this little town on the border with Kosovo was in fact the only sign of civilisation for miles. The road that twisted and wound its way here through the foothills of mountains gradually deteriorated as it became more remote. We’d been confident we could find a supermarket somewhere en route to buy dinner but on arriving in the town we were doubtful we could even find a shop.⁣

We left our van at the roadside and ventured past the oddly-placed spa hotel and into the village’s only residential street.⁣

As we neared the end we were growing doubtful that we would be able to find any food at all, until we stumbled across a small shop with men huddled on benches outside sipping beer in the freezing temperatures. Inside the tiny wood burner-heated shop we found the basic provisions we’d need for the night, then ventured over, relieved, to investigate the thermal pools.⁣

As we were dipping our fingers into the water we were approached by two men from a nearby city who immediately struck up a conversation, excited to be meeting English people for the first time. They were surprised when we told them how much we’d enjoyed Serbia, how we’d love to return again, then they snapped a few quick photos with us and left.⁣

Nothing makes you feel more welcome in a country than genuine intrigue from its people, not feeling like you’re one of many or part of a problem. It adds light to our day and a fondness to our memories of a place, and we went to bed after bathing in the pools feeling quite content... Until someone started firing their gun into the air outside our van at 6am.⁣ Oh well, that’s the Balkans for you.

[acidpool]