GlobeRovers Magazine, Dec 2019

on silky luke-warm mud makes the trip
worthwhile.
The entrepreneurial local men have
realised that tourists are happy to pay a
dollar or two for a mud-rub as they lie
drifting on the mud. They generally won’t
ask permission to render their services, so
just take it as it comes and let them mudrub
you. Make sure not to let your face get
all muddy as you’ll be sorry if the mud gets
into your eyes.
Once you have become a mud-monster,
you may leave the pit and pay the lady
down below the mount. It is recommended
that you let the mud dry before washing.
At this time, don’t be surprised if busloads
of Colombian tourists come around to take
photos of the strange muddy foreigners,
probably wondering how people can do
this to themselves!
“The local lady pulled off my
swimsuit under the water and
started to wash my crevices!"
As you stand to dry, several people
will have pointed you to the nearby lagoon
where you will find a few local ladies wading
in the water to wash the tourists. Now,
this is another part of the bizarre experience.
These ladies also won’t ask permission
to wash, so just lay back and let her do
her job. She most likely will be digging her
fingers in your ears and nose to clear out
the mud.
Some ladies will even remove your
swimwear to rinse out the mud, scrub your
crevices, and put back your swimwear. She
is used to doing this so just go with the
flow. Once she is convinced that you are
clean, slip her a few coins in the hand.
As you sit in the minivan with your
clean mud buddies, you certainly will get
the sulphuric smell of mud. Don’t despair.
Just believe that the healing and therapeutic
powers of the mud are hard at work
rejuvenating your skin.
Article • Colombia |113