The Jimjilbang

I did it, it took me ten months to get up the courage to do so, and I did it. I went to a jimjilbang today. A jimjilbang is a public bath house. I had woken up to go hiking with a bunch of friends this morning. We climbed for a couple hours and it was the most beautiful day. Not too hot, not too cold, with a pleasant fall breeze. Afterward we had du bu (tofu) salad and pajeon (kinda a pancake with lots of green onions). Elly and I then went to the bathhouse. No one else was able to get their mind around going. I had wanted to go since I came to Korea as I was told it is the thing to do if you go here. Elly had been numerous times, and so she was a good introduction to it. We bared all. Everyone was there in what their momma gave them. There were naked ladies everywhere from all ages. The jimjilbang is a very social thing, there were groups of friends there all hanging out in the tubs. There were showers, and then a series of pools all ranging from cool swimming pool temperature to 43 degrees. We started in the middle, went to the hot, and then jumped in the cold. The Koreans go from hot to cold, hot to cold. Apparently, that's the way to do it. There were saunas there too, which we took advantage of.

Then I paid a little extra to get a "mini massage". So I'm on the table, wearing absolutely nothing. The lady, only wearing a bra and panties, pours vinegar on me. Then she starts scrubbing me down with something that smelled like wint-o-green (the best lifesavers flavour ever). She scrubbed everything. I mean everything. Between the cheeks front and back, boobs, everything, and she scrubbed it for a long time. There is no way there is a dead skin cell on my body. Then she put mashed cucumber on my face and scrubbed more front and back. Then she started to crack my shoulders, etc and smacking me all over in some kind of rhythm. She put hot towels on me and kept splashing hot water over me. After all this, it was time to oil me down. There was a considerable amount of oil used, and it smelled like white chocolate. The whole process took over a half hour, and I felt great.

When that was done, I had to shower again to get all the oil off and then I put on the lovely little suit they gave me at the front desk and went upstairs. There are dry saunas there, massage chairs, TVs, restaurants.... This building is a place where you could spend hours. Elly and I were there for two hours, and the lady at the front desk asked why we were leaving so early. We had to go because we needed to get to work! I honestly could have spent so much time in the baths. It's a good thing Elly wasn't shy! I think I am going to do it again, it was such a relaxing time. Due to a lack of bathtubs in Korea, this is the next best thing. Whole families go there. There are the men's and the lady's pools which are in separated areas, but then there is a floor where the whole family will just hang out for hours, having a nap, enjoying the sauna, or watching TV.