Relax, Happy Time at The Jimjilbang (D-a-i-y-e Spa)

 Relax Day Spa Scene - Zoolander

After a quick fitting and a casting, Meekus, Rufus and myself headed to a Jimjilbang. (Okay end of the Zoolander references). These are very popular in Korea. For a small sum of 10 000 won you can spend up to 24 hours in the public bathhouse and sauna.  

Not once in my life have I ever had an experience remotely close to this.  The facilities include an arcade, a pc room, a snack bar, a restaurant, amongst the standard spa services (which are extra of course) there are 9 different sauna rooms, and in the private bath part 4 maybe 5 tubs. Ranging from 5 degrees to 90 degrees the rooms can give you a full range of experience.

As if I don’t get enough stares in this country, walking around the Jimjilbang with 2 other tall white dudes; people can’t help but look out of curiosity. The sauna area is littered with mats and little blocks of wood to rest your head. The highly fashionable colour coordinated shorts and t-shirt, let you know your gender if you are ever confused (blue is for guys).  Many people will take a few hours out of their day to just stay there and nap, which is certainly easily enough to do when you don’t have silly ignorant foreigners interrupting the purity of silence. 

                                                 

After a few hours darting between hot and cold and lounging around, I partook in the bathhouse experience. Once you get over the fact that there are dudes walking around naked everywhere, this is easily the best part. Hot tub, cool dip, hot tub, cool dip, 90-degree sauna, hot tub, and shower are the optimal routine I discovered in my random quest to find psychological oasis.  The humidity is great for cleaning up your skin and scrubbing off all the dead dry skin. It’s been almost unbearably dry around lately so this just added to the experience.

Following the showers, I decided to indulge myself further. Each week we receive approximately 106 000 won. When I take out my pocket money I only ever take out 100 000. Slowly building up is that total. I used this additional money as a way to pay for quite possibly the best massage in human existence.  From head to toe, my entire body was relaxed (I actually drooled a bit), the intense pressure to release those stubborn knots in my back was much needed, along with the standing on my back, and crazy cooling face stuff.  

5 hours after I first walked into Central Spa Jimjilbang, I walked out in a state of euphoria. The ultimately relaxed form of myself was now ready to take on the world, or in this case some Korean BBQ. 

Restaurants have become more fun as well lately. I have taken to sharing soju shots with random people around the restaurant and the response has been wonderful. Every time we make new friends.