[2 Dec] Just before the pandemic began, I was very fortunate to go on a holiday trip with my family to Kagoshima, Japan. As I do not go abroad often, I decided to make the most of my opportunity. I told myself, “I must try something new at Kagoshima. I should experience something that I would never be able to in Hong Kong – ideally, something that would put me out of my comfort zone, so I could expand my horizons and challenge my limits.”
This mentality set the stage for one of the most memorable moments of the entire holiday: experiencing a Japanese-style hot sand bath!
We arrived at the Ibusuki Natural Sand Bath Centre at the beautiful seaside of Ibusuki, a city within the Kagoshima Prefecture. We all changed to traditional Japanese robes (also known as ‘kimonos’). Next, we walked down to the beach, where many hot springs naturally formed.
We then walked to our designated sand baths on our sandals – but even with the sandals on, my feet felt scorching hot already! I tried hard to keep my feet from touching the sand for too long, resulting in a chicken-like dance! My parents, who had thicker skin on their feet and didn’t feel the heat as much, couldn’t stop laughing at me!
This mentality set the stage for one of the most memorable moments of the entire holiday: experiencing a Japanese-style hot sand bath!
We arrived at the Ibusuki Natural Sand Bath Centre at the beautiful seaside of Ibusuki, a city within the Kagoshima Prefecture. We all changed to traditional Japanese robes (also known as ‘kimonos’). Next, we walked down to the beach, where many hot springs naturally formed.
We then walked to our designated sand baths on our sandals – but even with the sandals on, my feet felt scorching hot already! I tried hard to keep my feet from touching the sand for too long, resulting in a chicken-like dance! My parents, who had thicker skin on their feet and didn’t feel the heat as much, couldn’t stop laughing at me!
Next, I had to lie down completely on the hot sand bath with my robes on, whilst attendants used shovels to ‘bury’ me in the scorching hot sands! Only my head and neck were not buried. The moment the sand touched me through the robes, I felt a stinging sensation from front to back, like a thousand needles piercing my skin! My heart was pounding in my chest – I panicked and almost shouted out from the pain. I wanted to stop and leave the bath immediately. However, at this torturous moment, I reminded myself of my mission to challenge my limits – so I gritted my teeth and continued the agonizing treatment.
Strangely enough, a few minutes later, my body did something amazing. It adapted to the heat! I could feel the pain gradually subside, and it was even replaced by a comfortable, soothing sensation. My body started to relax, and I let out a sigh of relief.
Strangely enough, a few minutes later, my body did something amazing. It adapted to the heat! I could feel the pain gradually subside, and it was even replaced by a comfortable, soothing sensation. My body started to relax, and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Time’s up!” said the attendant. I slowly opened my eyes – I didn’t even realize I had fallen asleep! The ten minutes in the sand had flown by.
The hot sand bath ended up as a very relaxing experience, and looking back, it taught me a good lesson of perseverance. I was wowed by how relaxing the sand bath felt in the end. I was also quite proud of myself for not being a quitter – if I had jumped up and quit at the first moment of pain, I would never have understood nor experienced how soothing the sand bath could be.
Boys, have you ever experienced a moment where you wanted to quit at the start, but you held on, and in the end, you were satisfyingly rewarded?
The hot sand bath ended up as a very relaxing experience, and looking back, it taught me a good lesson of perseverance. I was wowed by how relaxing the sand bath felt in the end. I was also quite proud of myself for not being a quitter – if I had jumped up and quit at the first moment of pain, I would never have understood nor experienced how soothing the sand bath could be.
Boys, have you ever experienced a moment where you wanted to quit at the start, but you held on, and in the end, you were satisfyingly rewarded?
