More soaking

We went back again to the hot springs today. Apart from getting clean and soaking our sore muscles, the hot springs are an interesting place. We like watching the macaques up on the rocks watching the humans. There were also humans up on the rocks watching the humans (us) in not such a different pose. The locals can’t stop staring – there were a dozen expressionless faces looking at us at any one time. Yesterday it was all men, today there were a couple of girls and an old lady. The pools look really murky and when you get out, there are bits of black sand all over you and a kind of greasy feeling. Is this because so many sweaty people use the baths? None of this scrubbing before you get in business here like in Japanese onsens. I think the monkeys also use the pools when the humans aren’t around. The waterfall was a good way to wash off all the bits sticking to you and was very refreshing. We felt refreshed, but out legs were not quite ready for another grueling walk….