What comes to mind when you hear these two words of the opposite nature? Conflict? Confrontation?

How about the idea of taking a hot spring bath in winter?

The day on which we arrived at the Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone at sunset was the last day of the park was open for winter season. Everybody was supposed to leave the internal park. The temperatures were forecast to drop so low that the cars won’t start. The snowmobile did not take a chance and we left ahead of schedule. On the few stops for photographs, the engine kept on running. We couldn’t afford to have a stalled car in the middle of the park.

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It was in such a survival mode that we arrived at the edge of the park. Taking a risk that the road may be frozen over (which is disaster for us Southern Californians that can’t even drive in rain :-) ), we took a detour onto the Palette Spring. Getting out of the car takes courage. Seeing the steam from the geothermal feature, I drew closer and closer, picturing exactly the idea above - taking a hot spring bath in bone-chilling winter.

”That outfit looks familiar”, says someone that recognized the clothes from the company that we went to the Antarctica with.

”That’s right. And you know what? This cold beats Antarctica!” I replied.

I don’t know about you. We just survived an extended period of heat wave. I thought a little (visual) coldness will bring comfort to you. Me, on the other hand, enjoy the beauty brought out by the contrast of cold and hot.