So I have now decided that this 3-part blog will turn into a 4-part blog. Korea just keeps handing out these peace offerings and making me happy.

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Sunday was 찜질방 (Jjimjilbang) day. Jjimjilbang are basically public bathhouses/saunas. And yes, you are naked. And yes, it is separated by gender.

Met up with Gina, Anika, Bethany and Grace and we headed off to Paradise, located just south of Suseong Lake. Take bus #410-1 south towards Apsan, and get off at Suseong Tourist Hotel stop next to the lake. Behind the Angels-In-Us Coffee shop, look for a big black building with the 찜질방 symbol (the camp fire!)

Expecting a front desk with a receptionist, we walk in and are surprised that there is none. Just ticket machines. All in Korean. Thankfully another young woman was behind us and helped us. She spoke pretty decent English and would serve as our jjimjilbang guide the rest of the day!

For 7,000 won ($6.26), we had full access to the showers, spas, saunas, and common room.

Step 1: Prep. Get towels and pajamas from the receptionist in the girls room. Get locker key.

Step 2: Get naked. Side-by-side we stood at our lockers and stripped. Considering our various ethnic backgrounds (Anglo, Italian, African-American and Korean), we looked like a NuvaRing commercial.

Step 3: Shower. Now this is where we were ill-prepared. You are supposed to bring your own shower stuff. Luckily, they had cheap shampoos/conditioners/soaps/scrubbers to buy at the front desk. We entered a huge showering room where dozens of naked Korean women sat or stood, scrubbing away. I mean REALLY scrubbing. So when in Korea, do as the Koreans do. Scrubbed and washed until I was red. It was also the first time in Daegu that I've had wonderful water pressure and various temps. Usually my shower at home has so-so water pressure and 2 temps -- warm or freezing. No hot.

Step 4: Soak. After the shower, it was off to the hot tub. Freakin hot, but wonderful. The water was high enough that it covered the nakedness if u were still uncomfortable. By this point, we no longer cared. After soaking in the hot tub, we jumped over the railing into the ice pool. No ice, but ice-cold water. This is where I was glad I am a girl. Can't imagine the shrinkage goin on over at the boys' side.

Step 5: Bake. With the advice from our Korean tour guide, next was the sauna. But really, it was an oven. 158ºF (70º C). We couldn't tell if we were still wet from the pool or if it was sweat. It hurt to breathe. I kept a towel over my head the whole time just to try and maintain some sort of enjoyment. Would have been able to stand it a little longer had it been possible to get a tan. I don't like being hot if I'm not gonna get a tan. So needless to say, I made a quick escape after 5 minutes.

Step 6: Cool. After the baking, the ice room was next. Literally, icicles on the walls, and cool cool air that was much welcomed after the previous barbecue.

Step 7: Enjoy. The rest of the jjimjilbang includes a large common room (both genders, so be sure to wear your pajamas!), other various saunas, TVs and masseuses. I got a 30-minute full body massage for only 25,000 won ($22). Full asian-style massage, where the tiny little asian lady climbed on top of me, walking up and down my legs and butt; kneading my muscles with her knees; spanking and pounding my butt and back. Also in the jjimjilbang was a cafe area where you could grab some traditional Korean food and relax.


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So while it is usually pretty awkward for foreigners, it is a large part of Korean culture. It is very natural to see naked women scrubbing each other or washing each others hair. Nudity has no sexual connection here in a jjimjilbang -- it is men and women in their most natural form just getting clean.
I had had previous experience with this type of thing in a Turkish hammam in Istanbul, but I was surprised at the number of patrons at the jjimjilbang. The shower room was packed, dozens of Korean girls tangled on the floor of the TV room, some even asleep.

It was such a nice relaxing day with the girls that we have vowed to do it at least every month! And with such a cheap price, there's no reason why we can't do it.

After about 4 hours, we decided to call it an evening! Who knew relaxing could be so exhausting!!!!