Subang Hot Springs, Kuningan, near Waduk Darma

Here in a small village right in the heart of Java there is a small river with some natural hot springs. From the village it takes about 20 to 30 mins walk through some nice padi fields. When you get to the river there is a 3 tier waterfall falling around some massive boulders with a couple of cool pools to jump into. As the river goes down it becomes shallow with small streams of hot water coming through cracks in the rocks. This is a lovely spot to chill out for an hour or 2. The road to reach this place is really beautiful. At some points there are drops on either side of the road but the it is a pretty good road until Subang. If you go further than here then the road becomes really difficult in a small car, you will need a motorbike or a car with a high clearance. I have yet to explore further down this route but have heard from locals there are more hot spring and waterfalls.

|Google map link;

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=104565379205516503616.00048f691c4e59579da04&ll=-6.92779,108.446045&spn=0.43897,0.883026&t=h&z=10&iwloc=000491ad04fedcec39364

Tespong Lake (Telaga Tespong), Cibujangga Spring (mata air Cibujangga) and Fish Therapy.

        Within a few hundred metres on the same road you can find all 3 of these places.
Tespong Lake
        This is a pleasant untouched lake right off the beaten track. There are 2 small waterfalls and the lake is surrounded by forest on 3 sides. To get there you will have to walk down from Padaherang Village. It's a nice walk about 20 mins through stepped padi fields and forest. Quite steep but not difficult.There is a plan to build a path from the main road in this coming year.

Link googlemap; http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Jalan+Siliwangi&daddr=Tespong+Lake+%40-6.8015222347005055,108.40545773506165&hl=en&geocode=Fd6zmf8dQXJ4Bg%3BFY43mP8d0iJ2Bg&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=-6.710641,108.545866&sspn=0.031114,0.055189&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=14

Cibujangga Spring
           This is a nice place to stop and have a coffee, just relax a bit or even jump in the spring water. This is only a small spring which flows along in a small river for about 25metres before going down the mountain. The water is crystal clear and cool. So very refreshing if you have just had a hike or it's a hot day. There is a small warung (food/drink stall) here and the young guys that run it are very friendly and ever so happy to see a foreigner stop here. Actually, I'm the only foreigner who has ever stopped here. Good little place to relax for a while and practice your Bahasa.

Link to googlemaps: 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Jalan+Siliwangi&daddr=Cibujangga+Spring+%40-6.805213599497369,108.41195404529572&hl=en&geocode=Fd6zmf8dQXJ4Bg%3BFSIpmP8dMjx2Bg&mra=ls&doflg=ptk&sll=-6.804787,108.411782&sspn=0.000972,0.001725&ie=UTF8&ll=-6.806103,108.412056&spn=0.015554,0.027595&t=h&z=15

Fish Therapy 

          Today, about 30 metres before Cibujangga a swimming pool opened. Here they have the fish which eat dead skin. They call it fish therapy, it's good for excma and other skin disorders. I will post more info when I have it.

Sangiang Lake (Telaga Sangiang)

         This is another natural mountain spring lake up on the slopes of Ciremai mountain. The lake is about 1000m above sea level so often surrounded in cloud by the afternoon. Surrounding the lake on 3 sides is some nice tropical forest. If you visit on a quiet day you can hear the animals across the lake. There is a nice path through the forest to circumnavigate the lake. It will probably take 1 n half hours.
         In the lake are thousands of cat fish, goldfish and nila fish. When you arrive you will be approached by loads of old women trying to sell you bread or cakes to feed the fish. It's worth spending a dollar or two to feed them. You can wade in the water an feed them by hand. The cat fish are massive up to about a metre long with big gaping mouths. The goldfish too are pretty big as are the nila fish. They say your not allowed to swim but I will question that next time as I think it could be fun to have a snorkel with the fish.
        There is a myth about the lake. Hundreds of years ago 2 sultans from nearby Panjalu and Sumedang were at war. One of the armies went missing. The local myth is that they went into the lake a became the cat fish that are found there. Whatever to believe, the fact is it stops the locals from eating them so the lake is full of fish. There is also a grave of one of the sultans at the site. This is revered as a sacred Islamic site so be aware and be respectful if you visit.
         The location of this lake is high up on the South slopes of Ciremai Mountain.It is about 2 hour journey from Cirebon or an hour or so from Kuningan. Note; the final approach is probably best done on a motorbike or 4-wheel drive. There is some renovations going on as this was posted but the road hasn't been started yet. Apart from that there are some amazing views and you will probably be stopping to take pics every hundred metre or so. On a clear day you can see the volcanoes between Cirebon and Jakarta.

         The directions to this place would take ages to explain. I am trying to iron out some issues with my google map now. I will post the link as soon as I have sorted the problem.

Try this temporary link;
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Jalan+Siliwangi&daddr=Lake+Sangiang+(Telaga+Sangiang)+%40-6.938866507948674,108.34012985229492&geocode=FdCvmf8ddnR4Bg%3BFQ0flv8doiN1Bg&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=13&sll=-6.704674,108.559685&sspn=0.061887,0.110378&ie=UTF8&ll=-6.844624,108.531189&spn=0.494951,0.883026&z=10

Gua Sunyaragi (Sunyaragi Cave)

Even though this place is called Sunyaragi Cave, it isn't really a cave. This is a man made building but it has a very unique construction. It was built in 1703 by one of the sultans of Cirebon as a water palace to relax with his harem. The locals say it is built from coral but I've yet to find out if that's true. In the 1800's the place was renovated by a Chinese architect and they say he was killed after so as not to reveal the secrets of the palace. Anyway, there are many stories surrounding this unusual building which I will translate and research some more. If your in Cirebon it's definitely worth taking an hour or so to look around this maze of man made madness.

This is located on the ring-road (by-pass). Easily reached by pedicab from the town centre. By car head North on the by-pass and you will see the building on you left before a set of traffic lights. Turn left at the lights and the car park is on the left as soon as you turn.

Google map link;

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Jalan+Siliwangi&daddr=Sunyaragi+Cave+(Gua)+%40-6.7365112279992925,108.54281902313232&hl=en&geocode=FdCvmf8ddnR4Bg%3BFYE1mf8dYzt4Bg&mra=ls&doflg=ptk&sll=-6.733123,108.545051&sspn=0.007735,0.013797&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=13