A Thai woman rests after being vaccinated against Covid-19. The above decision was made at a meeting of Bangkok’s Communicable Diseases Committee on May 31. The commission said the reopening was intended to ease the burden on business by allowing it to operate under strict conditions. The Thai government’s efforts to control the outbreak of Covid-19 in residential communities, markets and worker housing are continuing. Five types of businesses are allowed to reopen in Bangkok from June 1 including: museums, learning centers, science parks, historical sites and art galleries (no group tours). ; tattoo parlors and nail salons (must close for 14 days if any Covid-19 cases are detected); beauty/weight loss clinics and services; spas, massage parlors and wellness-related locations (no saunas or facials); and public parks, botanical gardens and flower gardens (no eating or gathering). Other businesses in Bangkok will remain closed until June 14. On May 31, Thailand recorded a record high of 5,485 new cases of Covid-19 within 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections so far to 159,792. The whole country recorded 19 more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total number of people who did not die from this disease to 1,031. Bangkok continues to lead the list of localities with new cases, with 1,356 cases recorded on May 31. (according to VNA)

People in Bangkok go shopping. (Photo: Ngoc Quang/VNA) The capital Bangkok will allow the reopening of five types of businesses from June 1 in the context that this locality still leads the country in the number of new COVID-19 cases. The above decision was made at a meeting of Bangkok’s Communicable Diseases Committee on May 31. The commission said the reopening was intended to ease the burden on business by allowing it to operate under strict conditions. Efforts to control the outbreak of COVID-19 in communities, markets and worker housing are continuing. Five types business allowed to reopen in Bangkok from June 1, including: museums, learning centers, science parks, historical sites and art galleries (no group tours); tattoo parlors and nail salons (must close for 14 days if any COVID-19 cases are detected); beauty/weight loss clinics and services; spas, massage parlors and wellness-related locations (no saunas or facials); and public parks, botanical gardens and flower gardens (no eating or gathering). Other businesses in Bangkok will remain closed until June 14. While, Thailand On May 31, the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded within 24 hours reached a record high of 5,485, bringing the total number of infections so far to 159,792. The whole country also recorded 19 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total number of people who did not survive this disease to 1,031. Bangkok continues to lead the list of localities with new cases, with 1,356 cases recorded on May 31, followed by Phetchaburi (555 cases), Samut Prakan (358 cases), Saraburi (327 cases) and Pathum Thani (211 cases). Assistant Situation Center Spokesperson COVID-19 (CCSA) Apisamai Srirangson said Bangkok detected two new outbreaks, a residential area for construction workers in Bang Na district and a community in Sathon district, bringing the total number of clusters under close supervision in the capital to 45. .

In the Italian territory, this is a Finnish sauna. This place is located on the top of Lagazuoi at an altitude of 2,700 meters, overlooking the Falzarego Pass and majestic alpine scenery. The sauna is located in a resort complex, with a bar, restaurant and 74 beds in private and dormitory rooms. The house’s name is “Takasugi-an”, which in Japanese means “a teahouse on high”. Located in the middle of a lush green forest in Chino, Nagano Prefecture (Japan), this building was designed by architect Terunobu Fujimori. Voted by Time magazine as one of the 10 most precarious houses in the world, this is the perfect place to enjoy tea and enjoy a minimalist life. Nestled in the middle of a dense forest, this craggy house is a popular check-in point in the Thuringia area (Germany). This was originally a stop and entertainment during hunting trips, built in the early 20th century by a duke. From here, visitors can visit ancient towns and Wartburg Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Sky Den resort in Kielder, north-east England, has appeared several times on TV shows, such as Amazing Spaces. The building is very creatively designed, with friendly materials and open ceilings, making it easy for guests to watch the stars from their bedrooms. This cottage in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park is the perfect place for an isolated stay, if you can get to it. The area is surrounded by the picturesque Czech Republic, with its sandstone formations and ancient stone villages. This glass room with amazing views is located on the island of Manhausen, off the coast of Norway. Here, every morning you will be awakened by the sparkling sunshine and then go out to experience outdoor activities in the fresh air. This interesting stop is located in a tree-lined forest, about 30 minutes from Seattle (USA). With a private location and cozy space inside, this is an extremely romantic dating spot. Many couples choose this place to take wedding photos, or simply check-in and rest for the weekend. Located at an altitude of 100 meters and leaning against a cliff, the mountain restaurant Äscher (Switzerland) is the perfect stop for the intrepid traveler. The restaurant is located on a hike through the Alps, across the beautiful Seealpsee lake. This structure is located on Mount Skuta, the highest point in the Kamnik Alps. Designed to withstand the rigors of the high mountains, this is an extremely attractive site in Slovenia. Many adventurous travelers see this as the destination of a hike, with the reward of a beautiful view and a night’s sleep under the stars.

From legend to reality In the summer of 2020, the owner of the pub Cervercería Giralda decided to renovate his property during a time of absence due to road construction and the impact of the pandemic. After layers of paint, plaster and ceiling, characteristic colorful geometric patterns and stars gradually emerged. The 12th century Islamic-style sauna was discovered in a famous pub in Seville, Spain. Photo: El Pais. Before that, many local legends and some historical documents suggest that the site may have been an ancient sauna. However, the majority of respondents believe that Giralda’s nostalgic architecture has a hint of neomudéjar style (a type of Moorish architecture commonly found in the Iberian peninsula), or Islamic style. This pub and hotel was rebuilt by architect Vicente Traver on the structure of an old building in the early 1920s. Antonio Castro, one of four co-owners of Giralda, said: “It is rumored that there are many old bathhouses here. However, not all historians agree with that hypothesis, some people did not accept it until later. We are doing some reconstruction work, some archaeologists have participated, and that’s how this bathhouse was discovered. ” “A fateful arrangement of differences” Archaeologist Álvaro Jiménez was one of those who believed that ancient bathhouse rumors were just myths. However, in July 2020, his team was gouging plaster on the ceiling when they discovered many eight-pointed star-shaped skylights. “As soon as we saw the openings in the ceiling, we knew immediately what the precursor of this room was. It cannot be anything but a bathroom, ”Mr. Jiménez said. Eight-pointed star-shaped skylights characterize 12th-century Muslim bathhouses. Photo: Álvaro Jiménez. According to the Guardian The design dates back to the 12th century, when the Almohad Muslim empire ruled much of what is today Spain, Portugal and parts of North Africa. “Generally speaking, this bathhouse has more intact decorations than any known bathhouse on the Iberian peninsula,” said archaeologists. “Everything here is decorated, and fortunately, they still exist today. The base of the wall is white mortar, engraved on it with geometric lines, circles and squares. The most characteristic of the bathrooms is the paintings of red ocher painted with stars and eight-pointed asterisks. These two motifs are interleaved with each other, corresponding to them are sky well holes of similar shape ”, Mr. Jiménez described. The star-shaped pattern and the eight-pointed asterisk that decorated the bathroom were covered with plastering lime. Photo: Álvaro Jiménez. Currently, Giralda still needs to be chiseled out of the lime coating to be able to reveal all the underlying architecture. This old sauna and pub is undergoing further maintenance and repair. It will reopen within two or three weeks. Mr. Jiménez described this finding as “a fateful arrangement of differences”. He said Giralda is reborn to become a miracle. Mr. Castro and his partners expect this discovery to open a new chapter to Giralda’s history. They also hope the pub will bring a new experience to customers. “This place used to be just a pretty famous pub. But now, people will enjoy beer or wine in a 12th-century pub and sauna. It’s great that the architect who built this pub in the 1920s respected the architecture of the bathhouse. . Had it been in someone else’s hands, this place might have been leveled and rebuilt. We are grateful to him, ”he shared.

From Lucretia Gather, SWR “One two Three …!” The three-year-old Elian jumps again and again from the edge of the pool into his mother’s arms, turns a short lap in the water with his armbands and gets out again, ready for the next jump. His parents and a family friend rented a swimming school “Flip” in Meisenheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, and a whole indoor pool for themselves for two hours. “It’s really great,” says Elian’s mother Nina Köberlein-Bareiß, “not exactly cheap, but we’ll just take a break.” The water fun costs 75 euros per hour.

Pumps have to keep running

The swimming pool is operated by Stefan Nerbas, and in addition to the one in Meisenheim, he also runs a second one in Bad Kreuznach. Both are owned by the Kreuznach Diakonie Foundation. The pools have been empty for months, only water therapy for people with disabilities is still offered here from time to time. But the fixed costs remain. Nerbas calculates that the maintenance of a bathroom alone costs 10,000 euros per month. The water must be kept clean, the technology must continue to run. “I can’t just switch off the pumps,” says Nerbas.

By renting the swimming pool by the hour, pool operator Stefan Nerbas wants to pour some money into the empty cash register. Image: Lucretia Gather / SWR

Grant business swimming pool

According to the “Bäderatlas” published by the German Society for Bathing in Germany, there are around 9,000 swimming pools and public bathing areas. The majority of them, around 6,000, are run by municipalities. Sports economist Lutz Thieme from the Koblenz University of Applied Sciences is leading a federally funded research project that is collecting reliable data on pools in Germany for the first time. Almost every bathroom that is operated privately is dependent on municipal subsidies, according to the expert. “There are perhaps a handful of private investors in Germany who manage to operate a bathroom at break even,” says Thieme. Sooner or later, the high maintenance costs will bring every investor to their knees, and subsidies from cities or municipalities will be necessary. Thieme fears that the Corona crisis will further worsen the situation of bathroom operators in Germany. Because if the financial strength of the municipalities decreases, they are forced to make savings. Since the field of sport is not one of their compulsory tasks, the red pencil is often applied precisely there, says the sports economist. “And what’s most expensive in sports? The swimming pools.”

Many closings feared

Christian Mankel from the German Society for Bathing also predicts that many pools that are dependent on municipal subsidies could get into trouble. He fears that the direct and indirect consequences of the corona pandemic could lead to a large number of pool closures in the coming years. Mankel calls for an open perspective and would also like the municipalities to acknowledge that baths are an indispensable part of public services and that they are financed.

Many bankruptcies among sauna operators

Sauna operators are also suffering from the corona pandemic. The managing director of the German Sauna Association, Martin Niederstein, says: “We fear that a large number of the smaller, private sauna businesses will have to close permanently.” 45 percent of public sauna baths in Germany are run by the municipality, more than half are privately owned. The challenges in this sector are similar to those in the baths: Due to the personnel and energy-intensive cost structure, it is particularly difficult to run an economically successful sauna business without municipal subsidies. Well-known operators should have already closed due to insolvency. The second lockdown, which has lasted since November 2nd, falls in the middle of the main sauna season. Despite government economic aid, the financial reserves of many saunas have been exhausted. If they are allowed to reopen, it will be difficult to compensate for the loss of income in the summer. The bathing and sauna landscape in Germany will probably be thinned out after the Corona crisis. There are enough people willing to swim: The swimming pool rental in Meisenheim is well received. Operator Nerbas says he was surprised by the huge interest himself. “We put the call on the Internet and within 24 hours the whole of April was booked out.”

Taking a sauna while enjoying the artwork has become one of the new relaxing experiences in Japan. (Photo: Ken Kobayashi) The above exhibition will last until August 31st at Roppongi – one of the famous entertainment destinations in the country of cherry blossoms. The TeamLab team describes it as a “breathtaking experiment” that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the artwork after experiencing a hot sauna. This activity will help the participants relax and improve their mental well-being. Admission is 4,800 yen (44 USD) on weekdays and 5,800 yen (54 USD) on weekends. After changing into the free swimwear provided by the organizers and taking a warm bath, guests can choose the sauna according to their preference, temperature, humidity and aroma. The teamLab team encourages visitors to relax in the sauna five to ten minutes before participating in the exhibition, then bathe for up to two minutes to cool off. According to teamLab, the way to perceive the beauty of a work of art is to repeat the process three times. Mr. Yasutaka Kato, a lecturer at Keio Medical University, supported the idea of ​​enhancing the senses while relaxing, and indicated significant brain function changes before and after the sauna. Kudo, a member of teamLab said, he “felt the color and light of the artwork more vivid than usual, even though I saw the exhibition many times at different locations”. The keyword “Reconnect” in the exhibition title means a lot to Kudo and the other teamLab members. “Covid-19 created a division, both physically and mentally. Many people now feel isolated when they cannot mix with others. Therefore, I hope that reconnecting with works of art and with the world can reduce the fear in us, ”said Kudo. Lan Phuong (According to Nikkei Asia)