After lunch, we headed straight for the Mataranka Hot Springs. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived there was a sign outside reception saying that they couldn't let anybody go swimming because the tropical storm was due at any minute. Nevertheless, we were still able to walk along the narrow path to the springs to take a look - although this wound through dense forest which was flooded and covered in bog in places so the journey involved quite a few unplanned excursions through the trees and getting covered in mud. Being a tropical area, the trees were alive with literally thousands upon thousands of Fruit Bats, all hanging upside down from every tiny twig or branch. The sky was almost blotted out by their little furry bodies, although unbelievably they blend so well into the background that you might not even notice them until somebody points them out. Of course, there's always one idiot in every group and our resident show-off was obviously unable to resist the temptation to clap loudly - this, of course, sent all the bats shooting into the air at once accompanied by the deafening noise of ten thousand tiny wings beating and the screams of several fellow travellers. The thermal springs are hidden away in the depths of the forest, and the natural hot water is so clear that you can see the mud at the bottom. I really have no idea why we were allowed to walk through the forest but not permitted to actually get into the pools, given that we wouldn't have cared much about the oncoming storm while up to our necks in hot water. In fact, there were already a few people bathing, obviously having arrived before the ban, and no sign of anybody telling them to get out. It struck me as quite unfair, and if our coach driver hadn't reduced the time we were staying to virtually nothing because of his wish to get the hell out of there before the storm struck, we probably would've got in anyway and stuck our collective tongues out at the management. It all looked very inviting - the trees hang over the pools, giving the springs a real back to nature feel. I dipped my foot in the water and it was the temperature of a hot bath, so I'm already trying to work out how I can get back here in the future to see what I've missed. Mind you, apparently the springs are considered something of a romantic destination, newlyweds and lovers being unable to resist the urge to come here and make love, so do I really want to get in there? Back at the gift shop, I had just enough time to buy an ice lolly - which they call ice pops over here, since lollies are what they call sweets - before the heavens opened up and the expected tropical storm arrived in Mataranka. It absolutely chucked it down as though it hadn't rained in centuries, and we all tore back onto the coach with our coats pulled over our heads. Those of us eating ice lollies must have looked quite strange in the pouring rain, but remember that the rain is warm up here and it doesn't get any colder just because it's raining. Several minutes later we arrived back at the highway, by which time the sun had come out and it was as though nothing had happened. But would the driver turn the coach around and go back to the springs? Would he heck.
You can read my complete travel journals at www.offexploring.com/globalwanderer and www.offexploring.com/globalwanderer2
