Mindful Traveling

We Can’t Travel but We Can Dream

A day of relaxation and dreaming of past travels

Every time I travel, I have at least one soak in a hot spa or therme. Sometimes one every second day! I love them: the combination of hot water and spa jets does wonders for my back, and my whole body feels revitalised. I asked around. Does anyone have a hot tub or jacuzzi they could let me use once a week? I was prepared to pay $20 for the privilege. There were no takers.

A Christmas gift

I started searching online and found Cenote Casa Bathhouse, a little piece of heaven tucked in amongst old buildings at Woolloongabba. With international travel off the table for the foreseeable future, I decided I’d buy myself an indulgent Christmas gift. $400 would buy me 10 two-hour sessions.

The magnesium pool

Floating in the magnesium pool, watching the clear blue morning sky turn to grey as clouds move in to obliterate the sun, I remember other places I’ve floated looking up at the sky. The Dead Sea — now that was a unique experience — like swimming in jelly.

The Blue Lagoon on the last day of my week in Iceland ( and the first sunny day). An onsen in the mountains looking up to a Japanese night sky. Floating in the Ligurian Sea in Riomaggiore in December! The seawater was unbelievably warm.

I imagine the magnesium soaking into my muscles and joints and loosening them oh, so gently.

The hot tub

Relaxing in the hot jacuzzi reminiscing about the thermal spas we’d visited in New Zealand. Aahhh hot spas! Thermes in Europe, onsens in Japan, all with 42-degree pools — I’ve been fortunate enough to experience a few. Some with my eldest daughter, some with my youngest daughter, some with both.

The steam room

Sitting in the steam room brought back memories of the Thermae Bath Spa in Bath — which had four steam rooms; each with a different aromatherapy oil infusion. Steam is great for opening the pores and really making you feel squeaky clean.

The cedar sauna

Wanting more, I head to the cedar sauna… mmm, I love that woody fragrance. Smiling to myself, remembering the last sauna I’d visited where clothes of any description were not permitted. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, I say, but in this case, it was when in Germany, do as the Germans do — parade around naked. I comforted myself with the thought that no one knew me! I’ll wear my togs* in Australia — thank you very much!

The mud mask

The last piece of the pampering treatment is a mud facial mask to rejuvenate and tighten the skin. The experience of the mud masks in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon bubble to the surface as I dream of travelling again and discovering more thermal spas around the world. But until then, The Cenote Casa Bathhouse will have to do.

Togs* — a word referring to a swimming costume used in Queensland, Australia. In other parts of the country, people say swimmers or cossies. Men’s speedos are called budgie smugglers or DTs.

What do you call your swimming attire?

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