On first impressions, the caves are like any other professional and super slick clinic. The doctors on reception are immaculately dressed in white coats and, on arrival, you are directed straight to the immaculate changing rooms. You are encouraged to leave any mobile phones and cameras in your locker so as to avoid damage from the high humidity. Then, donning swimming costume, flip-flops and dressing gown, you sit through a short introductory to prepare you for what was to come. Nothing unusual so far but it is at this point, that you venture into the realms of the surreal: gates slide open and everyone is invited to board a miniature yellow train to be driven two kilometres into the mountain.
We sat four to a carriage facing each other with windows open either side. Some of the trains have beds for patients with more serious health complaints. As the train trundles slowly into the mountain, the heat rises and by the time you reach the healing gallery, the temperature is similar to that of a sauna and the sweat is pouring.
There are some comedy moments since everyone from the train driver, to the attendant physicians are wearing bathing costumes. I would be lying if I said there weren't also some 'what on earth?' moments, however my usual claustrophobia didn't present itself. Sure, I had a moment when I could feel my chest tightening a bit, however it was only fleeting and it occurred just as we arrived at the Healing Gallery. Here we were invited to lie down on slatted wooden beds (they give you a towel) aligning each wall of the cave, and encouraged to relax. Talking is discouraged and the silence is only broken by the occasional stifled snore and the gentle footsteps of the attendant physicians. Then, it is back onto the train with a short stop en-route to enable everyone to put their dressing gowns back on and to adjust to the lowering temperature.
