Resort Offers Unique Bath Treatment

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. flock / ˈflɑːk / (v) – to arrive at a place in a large group
    Example:

    A lot of tourists flock to the 100-year-old castle.


  2. submerge / səbˈmɚʤ / (v) – to go below the surface of water or other liquids
    Example:

    The diver submerged quickly.


  3. therapeutic / ˌθerəˈpjuːtɪk / (adj) – having characteristics that can heal
    Example:

    Ginger has a lot of therapeutic properties.


  4. credit to / ˈkrɛdɪt ˈtuː / (phrasal) – to acknowledge something as the cause of another
    Example:

    The oil’s health benefits are credited to the substance’s natural ingredients.


  5. rejuvenating / rɪˈʤuːvəˌneɪt ɪŋ / (adj) – making a person look or feel young
    Example:

    I will go to the spa to have a rejuvenating facial treatment.


Article

Read the text below.

Naftalan [nuhf-tuh–LUHN] Resort in Azerbaijan /ˌæzɚˌbaɪˈʤɑːn/, a country in Eastern Europe and Western Asia, offers an unusual bath treatment.


Established in 1926, the resort lets guests bathe in crude oil or unprocessed petroleum. Approximately 15,000 guests flock to the resort each year to experience the treatment.  While adults around 40 years old are the usual patients, young children are also allowed to receive the treatment.


Guests can take the treatment for three days up to three weeks. Before taking the treatment, guests are required to complete a medical checkup. Once they get permission from the doctor, guests can submerge themselves in oil, which is heated to 39 degrees Celsius, for 10 minutes.


Crude oil is known for its ability to relieve over 70 illnesses related to the bones, joints, and skin. The therapeutic properties of the oil can be credited to its high concentration of naphthalene [NAF-thuh-leen], a substance used by dermatologists to cure skin conditions like psoriasis / səˈrajəsəs / and eczema /ˈɛgzəmə /.


Like the Naftalan Resort, Yunessun Spa Resort in Hakone, Japan, also offers unusual bathing treatments such as drink-themed baths. Guests can bathe in pools filled with actual beverages like sake and green tea.


Apart from having relaxing effects, these drink-themed baths also provide rejuvenating health benefits. For instance, the sake bath can help solve skin problems like freckles and age spots. On the other hand, the green tea bath is not just good for the skin but also for the immune system.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Would you be interested to try the crude oil treatment? Why or why not?
• Do you think Yunessun Spa Resort’s drink-themed baths will become popular in other countries? Why or why not?

Discussion B

• What are some unusual services that establishments in your country offer? Discuss.
• If you were an owner of an establishment, how would you convince customers to try unusual services that your establishment offers?