Gravel crunched under my feet, as I began the hike through one of the youngest eco-systems in the world – the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Geothermal areas were marked on my map, as well as native plants and bird-life, to look for.
Feeling grounded, I breathed in the fresh mountain air, imagining the breeze was really the forest exhaling along with me. I rounded the corner and saw steam rising from the aptly named baths in front of me. Glaring sun broke through the canopy.
Out of the fire and into the “Frying Pan Lake“? Shinrin-Yoku at its best! I thought.
By Sarah ©2018
Image credits By Sarah ©2018
Prompt: Daily Post Daily Prompt – forest; and also, Carrot Ranch, Flash Fiction – April 19,2018, Task – In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about forest bathing. You can use the Japanese term, Shinrin Yoku, or you can make up your own ideas about the phrase. Go where the prompt leads.
By Sarah 
The Frying Pan Lake looks well-named Sarah. I enjoyed your flash learning about a place I hadn’t previously known. Well done.
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Thanks so much Norah 😊
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Breath taking pictures.
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Thank you, it’s a breathtaking place
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Connects for me, as I love the Forest Bathing or breathing movement of that name, wonderful photos
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Totally agree. Nothing grounds me more than a walk with nature
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Wonderful interweaving of pictures and words!
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Thanks so much. Appreciate your comment
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Woah, you married the story and the awesome pictures so well.
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Thank you so much 😊 appreciate your kind comment
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Lovely flash to go with your photos. Lovely place.
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Thanks so much. I felt such a spiritual connection at this place, so it was easy to write
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Perfect! Nature provided the tub for this forest bath!
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Absolutely!
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