Pond of pigs

I longed to go to an authentic onsen in Japan. The travel brochures to the famous onsens looked so inviting. With such pretty names too. 金の湯Pond of Gold... 銀の湯Pond of Silver... Their steamy waters reflects the full moon above, and the surround cherry blossom tree swayed gently in the background.

After repeatedly hinting to Tonton, he pointed out that:

(1) it's not much fun to soak in hot springs in high summer,

(2) children are not conducive to onsen experience,

and most importantly (3) onsens hotels are notoriously expensive.

So I had to find an alternative.

Once we got back to wintry Sydney, I took out the bath sachets we bought in Tokyo shops. The blue packet advertises: "Hakone Onsen! Feel revived with the minerals of the onsen. This can cure lethargy, coldness, muscle ache... etc etc." EggEgg and Cola are excited seeing the water turned blue. Cola kept pulling me to the bathtub. "浸!浸! Soak! Soak!" I hurried them into the bath, "豬の湯! 豬の湯! Pond of Pigs! Pond of Pigs! Who wants to soak in the famous pond of pigs?"

A few days later, when it's bath time again, EggEgg asked, "Mami, I don't want the usual bath bubbles. Can we soak in the Pond of Pigs again?"