This is a follow-up to the previous article Hot Springs Hotspots.

1. Grisek Hot Springs, Johor
Grisek Hot Springs is probably Johor’s best kept secret yet. Not many people out of Johor know about this quaint spot, but today, the VM team is here to bring this interesting hotspot out of the closet.

Located in the district of Muar and about 10km from Parit Jawa, Grisek is a favourite spot, frequent by local visitors, who believe in the benefits of hot mineral waters that soothe aching muscles and relieve skin ailments. On the way to the hot springs, there is a scenic rural view that gets you into the mood before dipping yourself into a medicating bath.

The hot springs also have facilities such as chalets, bathing and parking amenities, children’s playground and shops.

While you are on a trip to Grisek, don’t miss out on this chance to visit Muar that is famous for its delicious food menu. Stop by Parit Jawa for their fresh seafood dishes, as well as kuah asam pedas, a famous Malay cuisine amongst the Johor locals. Whereas in Muar, try the local food otak-otak (a fish cake made from a mix of fish paste and spices), mee bandung Muar (spicy rice noodles), and many more.

2. Kerling Hot Springs, Selangor
In the outskirts of KL city, there is the Kerling Hot Springs some kilometres further north of Batang Kali, and about 2 kilometres away from the “New Village”. It is not a spot that is greatly advertised, so if you don’t keep an eye out for the signboards along the Federal Route 1, you might actually be passing by one of Selangor’s hidden gems.

As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. It will not be a pleasant ride on the way to Kerling. Once you are off the beaten track, you will be going down an unpaved road, where farmers and workers go about their routines in the rubber estates, and timber trucks passing by with huge logs. After that, you would have reached Kerling River and the hot springs will just be nearby, waiting for you to sink in for a relaxing dip after a long and exhausting journey.

While you are in the midst of the greater nature – especially after going through a rough terrain just to get there, it would be a waste not to – take time to visit the Kerling Waterfall, a common spot known to the public for swimming and picnicking. At the bottom of the cascade, there is a large pool measuring at roughly 18 metres in diameter, and deep enough for you to jump in for a quick cooling plunge.

Kerling would be a good place to spend a day out if you are one for discovering nooks and crannies at your own pace, for there are not many signage to direct you to hither and thither. So, while you are escaping the city life into the great outdoors, take time to find out a little more of Selangor’s wild side. You will never know what is just right at your doorsteps!

3. Gunung Tapis Park Hot Springs, Pahang
This hot springs spot is snuggled in the embrace of the beautiful nature park, Gunung Tapis. Situated about 16km away from Sungai Lembing, a major producer of underground tin before the 1970s, Gunung Tapis is a well-kept nature park that offers a number of outdoor activities for every eco-enthusiast out there, such as shooting rapids on one of the several rivers, or go fishing for the delectable ikan kelah (Malaysian mahseer, or River carp).

The nature park also comes along with relatively good camping spots, in case you would like to stay overnight. Do remember to make prior arrangements with the Persona Adventure Camp. And, of course, not to mention the hot springs area, perfect for those after a bout of strenuous activities.

Also, take a hike up Gunung Tapis, the 18th highest mountain in the peninsula at 4,957 feet. It is a favourite challenge for climbers and trekkers alike while visiting Pahang, as high fitness level is necessary for the long trekking hours through the undulating trail, which is uphill all the way to the summit. Once you have reached the top, take in the fresh air and the breathtaking view: a sea of white clouds obscuring the view of the lowlands. The temperature at the peak ranges between 18°C to 8°C, and if the weather is good, you might actually catch a glimpse of Gunung Tahan in the far distance.

To get to Gunung Tapis Park, those coming from Kuala Lumpur may take the Karak Highway to Bandar Temerloh, where taxi services chartering to the nature park are available.

4. Gadek Hot Springs, Melaka
Drive out about five minutes from the district of Alor Gajah, you will come upon the natural hot water well complex of Gadek Hot Springs, where it is believed that instead being discovered by locals, it was the English soldiers that stumbled upon it during the war.

Gadek Hot Springs is another one of Melaka’s many tourist attractions, with its spewing steam that warms up the surroundings in cold mornings, and never ending gushes of hot water.

Other than that, there are shower cubicle facilities by the local government’s privatised project after a rejuvenating bath in the hot springs, as well as a thrifty restaurant serving local delicacies to fill up your tummy before heading off.

5. Tambun Hot Springs, Perak
No, Tambun Hot Springs is not where they cooked the famous Tambun seafood. And no, it is not a place where only the psychologically challenged go, although it is on the way to Tanjung Rambutan, where Malaysia’s oldest mental hospital, Hospital Bahagia, is.

A mere fifteen minutes drive from the Ipoh city district, Tambun Hot Springs have been an important tourist destination in Perak, where at the foot of a limestone hill a rejuvenating experience from the natural spring awaits you. Opens daily from 3PM till 12AM, and with a small fee of RM5, visitors get to enjoy the natural waters, as well as the surrounding facilities set up for convenience’s sake, such as hot water pools, saunas and rest rooms.

Not far from the hot springs is the Tambun Caves, where visitors can feast their eyes on wall paintings from the Neolithic period that are close to 2,000 years old! The paintings were first discovered in 1959, and they are proof that there were early dwellers existing of another era in the Malay peninsular. Come dusk, visitors can enjoy a panoramic sunset view of Ipoh city perched high among the hill peaks.