Friday 10 June 2011

Melaka's Gadek Hot Spring: Testing the waters.

My first trip to a hot spring was to Gadek Air Panas, Melaka. I was told that it has therapeutic values and can heal multiple illnesses, from simple stress to solving skin problems. Thus, when I was first asked to accompany a family member to Gadek's Hot Spring, I submitted, anxiously.

Gadek's Hot Spring is situated in Alor Gajah, Melaka. It is one out of three hot spring spots in Melaka Bandaraya Bersejarah. The remaining two being the Jasin Hot Spring and the Cerana Putih Hot Spring (also in Alor Gajah).

The Gadek Hot Spring is open to public from 7 am to 9pm, daily. According to the locals, Gadek's hot spring was discovered by English soldiers, during the British rule in Tanah Melayu. Today, it houses 2 large pools and several smaller 3 feet tall above-ground pools, runs, operates and maintains by a local private company.

What was my impression? Gadek's Hot Spring was a total disappointment, at least to me. Although the entrance fees were well within our means, neither the service, nor the facilities impressed me. The tiled private rooms were dirty and clogged with left-over human hair. Yikes!

Nevertheless, i stayed and tested one of the smaller hot spring pools. I wouldn't dare taking deep, full-body dips, instead prefer to test the lukewarm spring water with...only my legs.

So, at the end of the day did it help ease my stress or arthritis pain? Nope. Not at all. Instead i came back...with itchy legs!

That was all history now. I stayed clear of any hot spring pools, from then on. Until...i came across and tested Sungkai Hot Spring and to top it all...Tambun Hot Spring. Everything changes ever since...