6 Ways to Soak in Ardent Spring in Camiguin

Part 4 of the Camiguin Green Travel Series

They are called semantic pleonasms and there are plenty in Camiguin. In grammar it means redundancy – the use of synonyms to describe something. I don’t know why but Camiguin is full of redundant phrases. A small cafeteria we passed by is called Kan-anan Eatery. The name of the old mountain volcano is, guess what, Mount Vulcan Volcano. And Ardent Hot Spring – ardent of course means hot or blazing.

(But in fairness, this is more original than Mainit Hot Spring in Tayabas, Quezon and the other Mainit Hot Spring in Batangas. Or the Busay Falls in Bohol and almost every island in the country. Laguna Lake is another pleonasm). So, we can forgive Ardent Hot Spring because the full name of the one in Tayabas is Bukal na Mainit Hot Spring Resort! Dear God.

One of the best attractions in  Camiguin, Ardent Hot Spring is in Esperanza Tagdo, Mambajao,  6 kilometers southwest of of the capital. It is a natural pool of about 39 °C geothermal water – mostly heated by the molten magma of  Mt. Hibok-Hibok. The resort per se is government-owned (and so you have an idea what to expect) and is positioned as a health spa (redundancy alert). Because heated water contains more minerals, it is believed that the waters of Ardent Spring are therapeutic and healing (yes, that is a redundancy).  But perhaps because the water’s healing powers are not enough, the resort offers massage and aromatherapy as well.

Backpackers and green travelers will love the resort. It is as natural as you can get. The attempt to landscape mercifully failed so it looks like it has not been landscaped at all, which is more attractive.

But, there is only one thing to do in Ardent Spring – soak. Remove your stresses, relieve your pains, relax those muscles. Soak in the warm waters. It is too small and narrow for swimming and too pristine for washing your clothes. So, soak! Here, my nieces Lourymae and Jezza demonstrate the various ways you can soak in Ardent Spring:

There are various to soak while sitting on the rocks like this one.

You can soak with crossed legs. Either from the ankles like what Lourymae (left) did or cross legs from your knees as what Jezza (right) did.  This is dependent on which anatomical parts look darker and wrinkled. If your ankles are darker – then do Lourymae style, when your knees are ugly, imitate Jezza.

You may also soak with folded knees, either lotus style (Lourymae) or royal-style (Jezza). Only do these if you are afraid to show your legs when good looking guys are around. The body is still relieved of stress but your scars will  not be exposed to the public.

Soaking can also be done with one leg folded – either inward (Lourymae) or outward (Jezza). This does not have any relevance to therapy at all but is good for picture taking.

Another way to soak is by lying flat with your head resting on the rocks. This is good for the back pains but afterwards your head will ache because the rocks are hard, so don’t take too long.  You can do it with hands inward (Lourymae above) or hands extended ala ballerina (Jezza below)

You should also try soaking in the waters. The experience of buoyancy is excellent for lower and upper torso. Lourymae did it floating style while Jezza demonstrated the frog position.

Don’t forget to end your therapy with soak in peace gestures. You can do it with power (Lourymae) or with a smile (Jezza).

Happy soaking everyone. And oh, no need to tell you how to get there. All Mambajao drivers know. So ask them. Or better yet, walk. You won’t get lost in Camiguin.

Also see:

Five Ways to Take a Bath in Camiguin

Postcard from Vulcan Daan

Prayers for the Dead of the Sunken Cemetery

Things to Do in Katibawan Falls