I could spend my life in a Korean Sauna.

  Our Korean Teacher,  Ms. Diane,  decided it was time for us to experience some real Korean culture.  You would think this would mean a trip to a palace from the Up-de-ump dynasty or the Fortress from the way back hundred's but no.  We end up going to a regular, extremely common Korean Sauna also known as a Jjim Jil Bang.  It was fantastic!  Everyone was there, from whole family units with small children, to teenagers out on dates.  It was an amazing social scene.

  Here are the details:

  You walk in and remove your shoes like most places here in Korea.  You put them in a locker. You remove the key and head towards the counter.  Stepping up to the counter you pay an admittance fee (for this place it was 7,000 wan per person or about $6).  For the price of admission you received special clothing and a locker.  The clothing was a cotton t-shirt and drawstring shorts.  Everyone was color coded.  Pink for women, blue for men, green for younger kids and white for those under 8.  From the counter the genders split to the changing rooms.  We changed and joined up on the other side.

  Once on the other side, we were in one large room with smaller rooms off the sides.  There was a complete restaurant, juice bar and massage room.  There were several smaller rooms to watch different channels of TV/movies as well as numerous sleeping rooms.

  The saunas were very interesting.  There was the warm room at 40C the hot room at 60C and then the very hot room at over 80C.  There was also a room completely covered in Amethyst crystals that was warm and soothing.  A pebble room was next with hot jade pebbles.  There was even a forest room that looked like a Korean log cabin and smelled like, well, a forest.  The ice room was cold but also covered with ice like your freezer before you defrost it.  The kids had the most fun in this room and of course the pebble room.  I preferred the 60C hot room where I think I finally thawed out from winter!

All of us in the Amethyst Room.

  The big room was a complete social scene.  People were lounging everywhere playing games, watching TV the whole thing!  Massage chairs lined the walls along as well as comfy chairs with foot massagers.  The entire place was designed for social interactions with relaxation in mind.

Judging by the look on my face, I think I am warm and relaxed!

  Once your time was complete in the big room, genders separated and went back to the locker room.  Here you could take a plunge in a cold pool or lounge in a wet sauna.  Showers and sprayers were everywhere.  Full body massages and all kinds of facials were available too.  Since it was late we elected to just rinse off and head home.  Yes, it was almost 11:00pm when we left but since the place is open 24 hours there were some people just arriving.

  All in all it was an amazing experience.  I was so relaxed on the ride home I almost fell asleep. Since Jason missed out (he was in Osan getting the oil changed in the car and didn't make it back in time) we will HAVE to make another trip to show him....  Wahoo!