Korean Curio #1: The Jimjilbong
The jimjilbong, or sauna, is a great place to relax and rejuvenated. It's sort of like an egalitarian spa--cheap and open to most everyone though it is mostly a do-it-yourself experience.
The jimjilbong (let's call it the JJB for short) consists of three main areas: the women's showers and baths, the men's showers and baths, and the sauna area. The sauna area is open to both men and women; however, the showers and baths are separated by sex.
For Westerners, the greatest culture shock happens in the bath areas. Everyone is naked, all the time. It's a little like a locker room, only without all the jocks and it smells better. There's nothing scandalous about it; everyone is soaking, showering, or just hanging out.
Here's a typical JJB experience for me. First, I'll usually shower and then soak for a while in a hot tub. Then I'll go to one of the scrubbing stations (I don't know what they're actually called); it's a nice little setup with a movable shower head, a faucet, a mirror, and a short stool to sit on. Scrubbing cloths are provided for exfoliating (big here in Korea) and I usually spend a few minutes scrubbing off.
After getting good and clean, I'll go upstairs to the dry saunas. There are typically several saunas built of different materials (crystal, charcoal, wood, stone, etc.) and set at varying temperatures. The warmest at our local JJB is 77 degrees Celsius (171 degrees Fahrenheit) but there are some that go as high as 95 degrees (or 203 F). Besides the saunas, the upstairs also has a snack bar, an arcade, a movie room, two sleeping rooms, and a big screen tv. Going to the JJB is a common family activity so I've seen people of all ages there and there's something for everyone. The JJB is also open 24 hours a day and people will often stay overnight and sleep on the floor. I guess it's not that big a deal when you sleep on the floor all the time...
Anyway, I'll try out a couple of saunas and sweat for a while (it helps rid the body of toxins). After that, I like to cool off and watch some TV (usually a crazy Korean game show that I can't understand) before going down to the showers to rinse off.
Most times, I spend about 2 hours showering, soaking, sweating, and getting clean. It's always a nice feeling to step out of the JJB feeling refreshed and clean. The JJB is kind of its own little world, secluded from the craziness of the city streets. It's good to "get away" without having to go far from home.
The jimjilbong (let's call it the JJB for short) consists of three main areas: the women's showers and baths, the men's showers and baths, and the sauna area. The sauna area is open to both men and women; however, the showers and baths are separated by sex.
For Westerners, the greatest culture shock happens in the bath areas. Everyone is naked, all the time. It's a little like a locker room, only without all the jocks and it smells better. There's nothing scandalous about it; everyone is soaking, showering, or just hanging out.
Here's a typical JJB experience for me. First, I'll usually shower and then soak for a while in a hot tub. Then I'll go to one of the scrubbing stations (I don't know what they're actually called); it's a nice little setup with a movable shower head, a faucet, a mirror, and a short stool to sit on. Scrubbing cloths are provided for exfoliating (big here in Korea) and I usually spend a few minutes scrubbing off.
After getting good and clean, I'll go upstairs to the dry saunas. There are typically several saunas built of different materials (crystal, charcoal, wood, stone, etc.) and set at varying temperatures. The warmest at our local JJB is 77 degrees Celsius (171 degrees Fahrenheit) but there are some that go as high as 95 degrees (or 203 F). Besides the saunas, the upstairs also has a snack bar, an arcade, a movie room, two sleeping rooms, and a big screen tv. Going to the JJB is a common family activity so I've seen people of all ages there and there's something for everyone. The JJB is also open 24 hours a day and people will often stay overnight and sleep on the floor. I guess it's not that big a deal when you sleep on the floor all the time...
Anyway, I'll try out a couple of saunas and sweat for a while (it helps rid the body of toxins). After that, I like to cool off and watch some TV (usually a crazy Korean game show that I can't understand) before going down to the showers to rinse off.
Most times, I spend about 2 hours showering, soaking, sweating, and getting clean. It's always a nice feeling to step out of the JJB feeling refreshed and clean. The JJB is kind of its own little world, secluded from the craziness of the city streets. It's good to "get away" without having to go far from home.
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