Tell the Tales: adventure bathing

Showing posts with label adventure bathing. Show all posts

Thanks to Cinthol

Towards the end of last year (2012), I received an invitation to participate for Cinthol’s 'Alive is awesome' adventurous bathing experiences advertising project. The requirement was to do a series of blog posts (at least 8), two each week. Was surprised and reluctant to participate in the beginning, however since the blog posts were related to travel finally agreed to do so.

This was quite a challenge for me as I was not used to write on any strict guidelines. However, this gave me the opportunity to research a bit on this side of adventure travel plus recollect my memories. 50 travel bloggers were selected for this campaign to write about the amazing 'Alive is Awesome' bathing experiences. I was glad to be a part of them and this was a whole new experience for me.

Gift Hampers - First Week

The campaign went on for 4 weeks. For the first 2 weeks, Cinthol sent all the participants Godrej Cinthol gift hampers, shopping voucher and more.

Gift Voucher and Hamper - Second Week

For the next two weeks all the bloggers were put through a competition and finally 10 bloggers were selected. There was one first prize: A trip to Andamans. Professional cameras and smart mobile phones will be rewarded to top ten bloggers and top 2 bloggers will be awarded with iPads.

Never really imagined to win any of the prizes as there were seasoned bloggers but having a chance to participate was more than enough for me. Gift hampers and gifts was a bonus for me. :) You can read my blog articles and enjoy how alive is the experience. This opened a new side of travel for me. Hope you all will feel the same.

Thanks to Cinthol for giving me the opportunity to take part in such a lively event...

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Blog Posts on 'Alive is Awesome' Bathing Experience

Towards the end of 2012, Cinthol introduced a campaign to revamp its brand image with a complete range of soaps, shower gels and deodorants. In order to do so, they started a blogging campaign cum competition and invited travel bloggers to participate.

My Blog post for 'Alive is Awesome', Cinthol campaign were as below:

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Expanding experiences - Elephant Bathing

For the last 3 weeks, I have been writing on the different bathing experiences which I had in the past or would love to have in the future. These are part of the Alive is Awesome Bathing experiences - an initiative of Cinthol.

Alive in literal sense is continuing in existence. But is that enough? For me, living like a 'Frog in the Well' is not enough. The essence of being alive comes when you can enrich your knowledge and this is when you are able to fill your life with experiences and adventures. Alive is Awesome gave me that opportunity to explore and expand the experiences.

Splash

In the search of such experiences the concept of Water Parks have become so popular nowadays. Couple of decades back who would have imagined someone going to a water park to get themselves wet. Not only water parks, nowadays resorts also have variety water sports like Wave Pool, different types of Slides, Rain Dance with DJ's playing the hot numbers, Surfing etc.

These have become quite common and I at least experience it 3-4 times a year, if not more. I am sure, anyone will agree with me. So we hope to get something different each and every time and the same experience can became boring after a point of time. This was the case for me too..

I have always been willing to travel to Kerala due to it variety in natural landscape and experiences like Staying in a Boat House, Roaming in the Backwaters, Connect with the wild in the Wildlife Sanctuaries etc. Now, when it comes to connecting with the wild, elephant rides are the most common.

Last by not the least, the experience which I would love to experience is the Elephant Bath. Its a bath where you sit perched on its majestic trunk, and the elephant douses you in fresh river water as if you are having a natural shower. Kannur is the place in Kerala where you can have this experience. Elephants by nature is human friendly, but they can be dangerous at times so one should be careful enough in treating them as well. While bathing ourselves we can also rub their back with a brush or probably help them to bath as well.

Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department have also started some eco-tourism packages which has elephant bathing included along with rides and feeding of elephants. I have heard friends telling awesome stories about how they enjoyed taking dip in the water with the elephants and spending hours without knowing how the time went by and longing to have this pretty soon.

Note: One should take care that Elephant is not hurt while doing this.

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Zoobie Doobie @ Taptapani

The place Taptapani is coined from 2 Hindi words “Tapta” means hot and “pani” means water. Rather to say in simple words, the place is famous for its Hot Water Spring. It is situated in the surroundings of a dense forest in the Ganjam district of Orissa.

Way back in August 2006, we planned for a trip to this place along with Gopalpur, the nearest beach location. From Behrampur, we hired a car for the rest of the trip and reached Taptapani in the afternoon. It was rather easy to find our way to the Forest guest house as it was the only one of this sort in the whole area.

Curvy Roads on the way to Taptapani Hotwater Spring

Having late lunch we made our way to the much awaited Hot Spring. We heard that the hot water from the natural spring of Taptapani are attributed with medicinal properties and can be bathed in at the pond created next to the hot spring. It was at a walkable distance from the guest house. Reaching the spot we were rather disappointed to see the hot water spring in such a bad shape. We were hoping to have some amazing experience in the pond.

As night went dark, the rooms booked inside the jungle started getting crowded by varieties of insects and our girl gang refused to stay there. We had to convince the officials to arrange for another room and ultimately got the VIP room with a huge bedroom, a dressing room and a bathroom. Thankfully that room was vacant at that moment.

To our surprise, we came to know that the room had a chamber which had a direct line from the hot water spring. We were still not hoping it to be the best part of the trip until we went inside to see. It was like a small 5x5 foot swimming pool with a dept of about 3 foot which had a tap connection from the hot spring as if a Geyser was connected to the swimming pool.

Image taken from Orissa Tourism Site

The pool was small enough for all of us at the same time and so we decided to go 2 at a time. We realized how bad our decision was after the first turn. Once they were inside the pool locking the main door of the bathroom, they started playing like a kid splashing the water over each other. We had no option to pull them out of the pool. After a lot of shouting and knocking the door they were out after an hour to make way for the other lot. When our time came, we realized why one would not like to come out of the pool so early...Aah!!! It was really refreshing.

Ultimately, when all of us finished we were dead late for the next part of our journey. But, we did not repent though knowing that we had the fun we were hoping to get.

It would however be unfair to relate my experience at Taptapani with any natural geycer after watching the Geycer Bath video below from Cinthol. Like each and every bathing videos posted by Cinthol, this also aroused in me the zeal for such an alive is awesome experience.

To sweat from pores you never knew existed is awesome.

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Desire for new Swimming experiences

Dolphins are amongst the most intelligent animals, and their friendly appearance and seemingly playful attitude have made them very popular in human culture.

The popularity and other interactions with dolphins greatly increased in the later part of the 20th century. This was simply because of the learning that human experience while swimming with them. It is told that this activity helps to treat depressions in humans. Don't ask me how?

There are various activities which different dolphinariums offer. Below is a link of a wonderful video where someone can actually act as if he/she is a pro in training and playing with a Dolphin in a dolphinarium.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVDLW2S-WpY

Some of the activities are termed as below:

Swirl: several dolphins swim in concentric circles around swimmers, generating a lot of energy and movement.
Kiss: with delicate movements, the dolphin poses its snout on the cheek or mouth of the swimmer.
Hug: upright and with more than half of the body out of the water, the dolphin hugs with their pectoral fins.
Footpush: two dolphins push the swimmer from the feet.
Jump: dolphins are masters in jumping out of the water. During the swim they perform tricks in the air.
Dance: into the beat, they move their body while the swimmer hold the pectoral fins.
Singing: with order and as in a chorus, dolphins emit their characteristic sounds.

Last but not the least, they also shake their fins to bid goodbye at the time of leaving. Amazing nah...

You can as well swim with Dolphins in the wild to experience the Alive is awesome experience.

Unfortunately we do not have any dolphinariums in India, though we can see them in large numbers in various beaches of Goa like Coco Beach, Ashwem beach, Palolem beach but however haven't heard of anyone swimming with them. Definitely I have this awesome experience in my wish list and hope to fulfill this in my trip to either Dubai or Singapore sometimes next year.

Echoing Cinthol's word, 'When I’m out in the wild, I feel like a child and it’s awesome'.

Note: However we should be careful enough not to hurt ourselves as well as the Dolphins.

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Snorkeling in the Andamans

Andaman Islands better known as the Emerald Islands is a very popular tourist destination due to its varieties - World-class Beaches, Coral Reefs, lush green rainforests, Volcano, Swimming elephants, Giant fish etc. It has pretty much as anyone can wish. This was in my wish list since my childhood and I added this to my travel bag this year.

Beach activities like water sports can be experienced anywhere in India, but Snorkeling is something which we cannot. Snorkeling is an adventure activity where one can enjoy the under-marine life and view the rarest varieties of corals - both live and dead. It was told to us that in the Elephant Beach of Havelock Islands, you will have the opportunity, however my personal experience says that in case you want to explore the different varieties of corals; North Bay Islands is a better option. Havelock however have a huge variety of marine life.

Guides are available at North Bay who would provide you with the mask and the floating tube. This is something which anyone who doesn't know swimming can also experience. I also do not know swimming but had a great experience and enjoyed to the fullest. My personal opinion is to take a guide since it would be more interesting to know the names as you see the corals and the fishes.

There was a word of caution from our guide - 'Sir, aapka payer nahi lagna chahiye corals per' as in 'Your leg should not touch the corals'. This was primarily due to 2 reasons - the corals are live and it can destroy them, on the other hand there are certain corals which can hurt us and the cut will not be cured by any medicine.

Our guide explained the different corals in the sea bed. It was an out of the world experience getting to know and see the marine life from so near. One of my co-visitor was so excited with this Alive is Awesome experience that he wanted to touch the mushroom corals in the sea bed and asked our guide if he can do so. Getting a nod, he dived deep and had a touch to the corals. There was a beautiful pink coral which remains open until you disturb it. It closes all by itself and our guide mentioned that if by any chance our hand comes in between, it might even cut our fingers.

Not only limited to corals, we could also see variety of fishes roaming around beneath the surface. Who would like to leave this Alive is Awesome experience so soon but alas we had to come back to let others the chance to experience the same. We had a time constraint, else I would have bought the equipment from the beach and tried this myself alone. Knowing the details and the varieties would definitely help the second time.

For someone who are unable to go for the underwater experience via Snorkeling they can take Glass bottom boats and see the marine life upto about 10-20 fts below sea level. This can be exciting as well. Scuba Diving or Sea Walk are a little advanced stages of Snorkeling where one can literally swim with the fishes and go as shallow or as deep as you like.

To lunge into the depths of sparking unknown waters, is awesome.

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Monsoon at Pune - Feeling Alive

Overcast skies, low temperatures, clean and fresh air, lush green landscapes comes to life during the monsoons. And if you wish you have a long drive with a fun filled day, Pune is the right destination. Pune and its surroundings are must visit on a Monsoon if you are a adventure lover.

Though I have been to Pune a number of times, a trip in the perfect monsoon season was yet not in my travel bag until 2009 August. Initially setting out for a trek to Lohagad Fort, we lost our way as the rain starting pouring heavily and we came to the side of Pavna Dam and Lake.

Along the entire route, there are series of waterfalls - named and unnamed. Get down at any one and start climbing. This is the beauty of Pune. It was like getting lost is a blessing in disguise here. We could see lot of groups doing the same all the way.

Since it was already raining and we were wet, we decided to move on towards Bhusi Dam, 5 kms from Lonavala in search of more fun. Bhusi Dam is adjacent to the Lake and water overflows through the steps creating a man made waterfall. When we reached, there were already hundreds of people jumping on the steps and getting themselves drenched. We too joined the party.

Just like a mini fair, there were various hawkers selling tea/coffee, corn, juice and other eatables. Getting wet and then having a sip of Garam Chai (a cup of hot tea) would again give the energy for another hour...LOL...This time each of us took a baked corn in our hands and sat on the steps to let the water flow over us and soak us to the bone.

My bet, visit Pune in the monsoon and experience such a Alive is Awesome experience. There are several such places like Mulsi Lake, Malshej Ghat, Kolad, Amboli and so many others. Recollecting the fun we had on that day, I am still eager to visit some other place again on a similar rainy day. Just waiting for the right chance to take a break.

When I feel the thrill of water spraying and the chill, I feel awesome

When I’m splashing about and just want to shout, I feel awesome

When I’m soaked to the bone but made it all on my own, I feel awesome

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Adventure Bathing - Some amazing experiences

All Fun

Na fik-re jab sataye aur bachpan laut aaye, its Awesome.

Seeing the picture above, there will be many who would recollect the childhood days when such a fun was feasible. No one would probably expect a grown up to have this... :-) Nevertheless this is nothing but an adventure bathing which probably suits the children. However, the idea behind this is when one awakens the child within themselves and feel like a child without any barriers, it is then when we feel Alive.

Waterfalls are always an attraction to anyone. Some only visit the falls and capture them through their eyes or grab a moment with their cameras. There are still others who want to go an extra mile and experience the natural shower. This is something which everyone might have already experienced at some point or the other in their lives.

I still recollect my college days, where we were fighting over an idea of having a plunge in the Dharagiri falls of Ghatshila. Some were of the opinion of having the bath while others objected and ultimately the plan ended up in a flop show and we returned. Years later I visited Ghatshila again but with a different group and enjoyed a similar bath in a Waterfall created by the Subarnarekha. It was raining heavily and so we did not bother about our clothes getting wet. It was fun throughout and we stayed there for few hours jumping in the flowing water.

When it comes to adventures people always have crazy ideas. It is the case when it comes to bathing adventure as well. Can you imagine a person having a frozen dip in the ice cold water of the Arctic? This is not only a crazy idea, but a reality and people do experience this. This is called Arctic spa and is conducted by Arctic Adventure Resort, Norway. People wear a survival suit, and slide down into icy water having temperature between 0 and 6 degrees Celsius. One floats around in a “weightless” condition enjoying the peace and tranquility of the lapping of the waves with varieties of sea world around. This is an adventure of a lifetime. Indeed Alive is Awesome. Hope I can make it some day.

Above is a picture of Frozen Waterfall in the hills of North Sikkim. You can find a lot of these in and around Sikkim on the way to Lachen or Lachung during the last week of December when the surrounding temperature goes in minus. Drench yourselves in the dripping water flowing through the frozen waterfall. Each and every drop will make you feel alive, though you will shiver at the first drop. Believe me you will not feel the next drop as it goes past your body and you will feel awesome. This can give the Alive is Awesome experience as shown in the TV commercial for Cinthol showing kids jumping in the ice cold water of Iceland.

When the cold makes me shiver and the rush makes me quiver, I feel awesome

Hope you too feel the same... :)

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Adventure Bathing - Is it Just for Fun?

I have been doing quite a bit of research on this now since I have come across this new concept. Just as anything else, breaking the rule is always fun. Adventure bathing is also of course all about fun and fun. This depends on how one wishes to experience it. Though it is all about fun and being crazy, it has other advantages as well. Often in our hectic schedule, we tend to hurry our daily activities and bathing becomes a part of one of the many.

It is the feeling of being alive every time you take a bath/shower. Allowing ourselves to do whatever we feel like doing gives us the mental strength and refreshes the body.

Steam bath opens pores in the skin, soothes sore muscles, increases blood circulation, and provides a relaxing and healthy experience. Steam bath is nothing new but it has come from very olden days. During Victorian era, Turkish Bath became popular.

In a Turkish bath, a person first relaxes in a room (known as the warm room) that is heated by a continuous flow of hot dry air, allowing the bather to perspire freely. They are then moved to even hotter room (known as the hot room). Ultimately they are plunged into cold water. After performing a full body wash and receiving a massage, bathers finally retire to the cooling-room for a period of relaxation.

However, while enjoying the fun in whatever way, we should also be careful enough not to hurt ourselves since like any other adventure there is always a chance of danger if we are not careful enough and too casual.

Jab Chinte Fa-ware mein dil to chu jaye, its Awesome. - Alive is Awesome

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Adventure Travel Vs Adventure Bathing

Adventure Travel is a term we often come across among various groups especially the young generation. Not that this is only limited to them but it is often seen that they are more interested. It is an outdoor leisure activity which involves low or high levels of physical activity.

Trekking or Hiking are other popular adventure activities. Parts of Western Ghats in India is popular for trekking in the monsoon season when the lush green outfields refreshes the mind of the visitors. Himalayas or the Karakoram ranges attracts thousands of trekkers and climbers in the different parts of the year. Ladakh and similar locations on the hills are famous for Rafting where the winding mountain streams join to form the main stream river. It is a challenging recreational activity which can be dangerous at times.

Skydiving is one of the most visually stimulating aero sports and is fast becoming a popular activity amongst adventure enthusiasts. However there are only few places in India where Sky Diving happens. Even there are few places where Paragliding opportunities are available. Few others are also interested in Bungee jumping. However all of these have to be performed carefully and there are tests which are conducted before going on such an adventure.

Winter sports can be another form of an adventure sport. Not that it is played in winter; This is primarily played on snow or ice. Most such sports are variations of skiing, ice skating and sledding.

Popular destinations in India like Goa is famous for Adventure Tourism in the form of Watersports (e.g. Jet Skiing, Banana Rides, Para-sailing and many others). While Andaman and Lakshadweep is the hub of another sort of adventure - Snorkelling, Scuba Diving and Sea Walks. The zeal to know life under water attracts people to these adventures.

Most of us already know what these are all about, so why repeat?

This is just to differentiate between what we know and what we might not know about i.e. Adventure Bathing.

Adventure Bathing is something which I have recently come across and is becoming popular day by day. This is nothing but getting wet in an unique way. The definition and the way people would like to enjoy might differ from person to person, place to place, but it is all about having fun with water however crazy it might be.

Getting excited about the Alive is Awesome adventure bathing experience !!! Why not? From the time I have heard about this, I am excited and feel like recollecting all similar experience I might have had experienced before but never realized that it could be such an unique nature of its own.

Keep watching this space for more in my next post...Coming soon in a few days :)

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