Your letters SOCIAL TALK

Planning your 2019 trips: “Baja California whale spotting, Iran, Coast-to-coast walk in Northern England and Zimbabwe – all being well!” @baxterjeffs1

Dreaming of Singapore: “I would love to see the super trees in Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. A great example of a modern tourist attraction!” @binarytourism

Recalling a hairy time in Belize: “Being on top of the temple at Xunantunich scared the pants off me!” Chris Walmsley

Remembering a close call: “Hippos grazed about a foot from my head one night in Zambia. That’s about as close up as I’d ever like to be.” @anoasisinspace Alternative therapy In response to your piece on ‘7 of the Best Ryokans in Japan’ [ Dec 2018/ Jan 2019, issue 192], I thought that I’d write in about our trip to Kyushu, where I tried a hot-sand bath at the Yamagawa Sunamushi Onsen.

At the steaming beach, I bought a ticket and a towel and waited my turn. Finally, a yukata (light kimono) was handed to me and I followed some ladies to a changing room, then onto the beach where I was helped to wrap a towel around my head and lie down. Hot, damp sand was poured over me and I was told to only stay in position for 15 minutes.

The intense heat made it hard to fully relax but it was nice in the sun, lying under my parasol ( pictured). I emerged refreshed, then finished in the onsen. Finally, to complete the experience, I devoured a hard-boiled egg – as custom dictates – cooked in the steam of the mountain. Andria Palmer, via email

Your mail and missives: reaching new heights in Nepal, enjoying living the local life, taking a Japanese hot-sand bath and much, much more…

wanderlust.co.uk March 2019