It was Sunday, and in the Dahl household, that usually means one thing: family time. We decided to head out to Malabuyoc to visit what Jessa calls the "Mainit" springs—the local hot springs.
We had a bit of a healthy start to the day. I was sticking to my soup and vegetables, while Liam was having his rice. He’s still in that phase where he refuses to touch a vegetable, but he’ll eat fish, which is a win in my book since it's much healthier than the fast food he usually begs for.
Once we got to Mainit Hot Springs, we found out there's a small entrance fee—100 pesos for adults, and of course, nothing for Liam since he’s still our "baby" (though don't tell him that; he insists he's a "big boy" now). I realized I’d actually forgotten my wallet, so Jessa had to be the one to treat us for the day. I tried to negotiate a cold beer out of the deal since she was driving, but she shut that down pretty quickly!
The springs themselves are nestled in a beautiful, natural area. They say the water helps with blood circulation, stress reduction, and natural detoxification. Liam was incredibly excited the moment he saw the water; that’s really all he needs to be happy. He was also carrying around an egg he’d picked up earlier—he didn't even want to eat it; he just wanted to "play" with it. I had to keep a close eye on him to make sure that egg didn't end up as a permanent resident of the springs!
Now, let's talk about the temperature. There are several different pools, and we started with one that was labeled as "warm." Let me tell you, "warm" is a massive understatement. To me, it felt like it was burning! My feet were actually stinging just from stepping in. I don't know how the locals sit in there so calmly; I felt like I was being cooked. We quickly retreated to the "cold" pool, which was much more manageable and actually quite relaxing. It was a beautiful spot to just sit and take in the nature around us.
It was a classic Dahl family Sunday—a bit of chaos, some minor "injuries" from the hot water, and a lot of good food. It’s these simple trips that make living in the Philippines so rewarding. If you're ever in Malabuyoc, definitely check out the springs—just test the water with your toe before you dive in! Thanks for following our journey. See you in the next one!
