La Source de Spa

We went to Thermes de Spa in the evening, the water in the pool is extracted from the SPA spring sources and it contains high minerals. The water temperature is just about the body temperature, so even if you are not moving/swimming, one can still enjoy the spring water comfortably. I didn't swim much tonight as I am already tired from the two walks. But just soaking in the water itself is already great especially I was sitting on a spot with bubbles.

The main indoor pool, not many people at that hour, which is perfect for us to relax without the crowds...

The red area behind is the solarium... There is also a huge sauna on the first floor which I went briefly and completely

The indoor pool looking out to the outdoor pool but it is already dark at that hour. Having said that I went to the outdoor pool for a short while to recollect the Japanese onsen experience, there is enough steam due to the air temperature and the water temperature differences, there is a superb view of the town of Spa from the top but the water is just not as hot as the hot spring in Japan.

Johannes enjoying his swim....

All in all, an active Saturday, 2 walks and a swim....

Sauveni�re Walk

We attempted another walk in the afternoon, starting from one of the Spa spring water source - Groesbeeck in search for another spring - Source du Tonnelet

Starting from one of the spring source - Groesbeck, the walk is not clearly signed and thus difficult to figure out at first where to start and end...

Later we noticed the path is signed with white paint, and it led us along a very small stream descending to the deep forest woods...

Capturing some shots

Johannes in the middle of the woods

Definitely a walk to remember in October

We didn't make it to Source du Tonnelet as the path suddenly ended up at the normal road and the air suddenly turned damp and becoming cold. We just turned back to the same path and got back to where we started. The return route was quite a challenge for me as it involves quite a ascend...

Still to me, is not about finding another spring source but it is about the walk itself, enjoying the nature, the Autumn scenery, breathing in the fresh air with a crisp of pine, hearing the fallen leaves crush under our feet and observing the leaves falling from the tree when the wind shakes the trees....

.sometimes.

Sometime we have to pamper ourselves....

Last night after the swim, jacuzzi and steam bath, we wind down at the hotel bar...

A chilled beer for Johannes and a glass of house red for me

Yummy olives

Some Ardennen sausage to dip in sweeten mustard sauce. Some cubed cheese (which I don't fancy)

This is what we had for breakfast at the patio of the restaurant this morning, surrounded by the nature...

My breakfast - first round, consists of bacon, 4 mini chicken sausage, a scope of baked bean, 1 soft boiled egg, sauteed mushroom, 2 slices of bread and some sliced cucumber

My second plate - Wasa crackers with chorizo, assorted yummy French cheese... stinky but taste like heaven!!

Johannes 2nd breakfast plate, a confluence of sweet and savory ....

The mid afternoon snack after the walk, the club sandwich is not great but the Belgium fries is soooo go-od!! I am not a fries fan, but this one is crisp but not oily... we both fight for the small portion of fries.

Balmore Walk

The day started with a relatively bright and blue sky...

The morning view of the hotel surrounding...

We decided to check out the woods behind our hotel at Balmore area...

The front view of Radisson SAS Balmore

Let's start the walk....

I will follow his footsteps...

Although there are plenty of withered and fallen leaves, but the trees in the woods are not as yellow/orange

The brown leave in contrast with those on the ground and the green trees behind...

Walking and keep walking... a bit of overcast but that didn't stop us from walking....

There are plenty of nice and stand alone villas/bungalow houses everywhere in the woods and along the trails. Most of them have big woods compound that marked private/priv�. There must be a lot of rich people hiding in Spa and living a good life...

Another hugh and big mansion along the trails...

Although unauthorized trespasser are not allowed in the compound but hey, I don't understand French :p....

It was a short and easy walk but a good start on Saturday morning ...

:hello.from.spa:

After we woke up from the Kyoto's dream (or rather after we visited the Japanese Garden at Clingendael), we embarked a southbound journey to Spa, Belgium. It took us 4 hours to arrive....

Radisson SAS Baltimore - the hotel we are staying this trip, just a few minute drive to Spa city center

At the compound of Radisson SAS Baltimore, just behind a thick yellow orange foilage woods, yet to check them out tomorrow....

The twilight of Spa city center in the evening

Last year we stayed at this hotel, right in the city center and has a lift connecting to the Thermes de Spa...

The plan is also to soak in the spring water tomorrow... but need to be realistic....

Tonight we enjoyed a good swim, sauna, hot steam bath and jacuzzi at our hotel. It's a complete relaxation and followed by a few drinks to unwind the week that leading to a significant 7 years....

It's late now, it's time to catch up with sleep and I hope you have a excited weekend ahead of you...

Greetings from SPA....

.dreaming.kyoto.

Last night I had a dream, in the dream I saw myself wandering in a beautiful Japanese garden in Kyoto like this ....

What else can I say... tranquility....

Look at the sun ray that penetrating through the trees.. The visible sun ray makes a rather big contrast to the red maple leaves and a pond with lotus leaves....

Johannes is back to Japan, a scene that we really thought we are at Kyoto once again....

While in reality, we just visited the Japanese Garden at Clingendael, Den Haag this morning. There is even a viewing platform at the end of the garden, I was enjoying the autumn view from the viewing platform (the only difference is here you are allowed to enter with your shoes on, whilst in Japan it is a no..no...)

The lookout from the viewing platform, there were not many people when we were there this morning so, we could feel the quietness and serenity that a Japanese garden should offer.

I got to know that the Japanese Garden is reopen to public through radio west. The garden is open until this Sunday 25th October 4pm, so catch it while you can, it is definitely worth a visit.

.wassenaar.trail.

Although the temperature is decreasing each day but the solace factor is still relatively high today. We drove to Wassenaar for another autumn for me, but it is actually the first walk with Johannes. I was expecting woods (as I still seeking foliage) but Wassenaar has not much woods to offer but plenty of sandy dunes ...

We started our walk from the car park and having only rough idea on where we want to go...

Encounter a green side path, dunno where it is leading to...

The weather is getting better and better in the afternoon, autumn sky, blue and high clouds

As we approaching the center of the area, I picked up a yellow leaave and try to play with my point-and-shoot camera, the effect is not very clear. I was thinking of bring my other camera but then I dropped the idea as I don't want to carry too much weight on the walk...

Meijendel another nice font type in front of a barn, this area has a cafeteria and a visitor info center.

The start of a yellow signed trail, which we didn't follow, we took another route to the beach

On our walk to the beach, we walked up a prohibited side track to the top of the dune to take this photo.... In fact this was the only moment I feel total enlightenment or rather a vacation feel came back to me. The view is not extra-ordinary but superb...

Meijendel Beach, it was very windy... and I could feel that I am very close to the nature, although the wind is cold, but the short stay there was very refreshing... and I feel my creator was close to me too...

Then we walk back to the center of the park where there is the one and only cafeteria and we stopped by for a rest.

A cuppa cappuccino and we share this apple compote and cheese pancake. It is very delicious... the saltiness of the cheese and the sweetness of apple complement each other very well...


This is the sky view from where I am sat at the terrace, the orientation of the photo is not manipulated...

We spent about 4 hours at that area with probably 45 min where we were resting (at the beach and the cafeteria), we walked for almost 3 hours. What a good way to enjoy the autumn scenery and nature and yet a physical activity that I very much needed...