Taking one bus with 41 stops to a public bath hot springs. Greeted by “ don’t speak English “ I point pay and pray. Immediately greeted with nakedness. Imperfectly perfect bodies like mine with scars but in different places. I break the first cardinal rule. The loudmouth leader tells me to shower first and then two gals sit me down wrap my hair and place a shower cap on. Hand gestures and voices guide me into the hotter bath. 45 C and I realize this soak is for the pros. The last hot springs spa I went to here had lacquered teak decking, walnut wood from floor to ceiling, large canvas umbrellas and rich foreigners. I soak in the 40 C with a ph that stings your eyes. Ironically the loudmouth looked out for me and sent her ladies of leisure to tell me to sit out and drink spring water. I complied and closed my eyes to hear the humming of fans above the din. One of the gals had a plastic “slapper ” she used frequently “ slap slap slap against newly dilated skin tissue. I mimicked the slaps and then next thing you know “whack” whack on my back. It felt good. I could feel eyes upon me and it’s been confirmed because I’m asked to go back in the water. I feel insignificant in the best way but also brave by walking in to a place, where my friend says “ they spit over the side and talk shit about your body”. I know they got a kick out of the foreigner just as I did by the way they treated me. These bathing beauties are benevolent. Phonetically speaking I said “ Bahng bahng ma xie xie, got dressed and left. Oh em gee. You are right Cynthia.