We haven’t written a post for a while, which should be representative of how much fun we have been having since commencing this journey almost two weeks ago. We are currently lounging in a swanky love motel in Gyeongji, South Korea, after a fun night out on the town in oceanside Busan last night and some long bus rides through the beautiful mountains in the southern part of this country. South Korea thus far has been very colorful and friendly, filled with good food and peaceful experiences.
One of the highlights of this country that we have enjoyed thoroughly was the jimjilbang or traditional bathhouse in a northern suburb of Seoul. We entered this glorious place down an escalator from the street level around 11pm on a weekday and sort of entered into a parallel universe. The experience was quite awkward and intimidating at first because we couldn’t quite communicate the fact that we wanted to stay overnight to the non-English speaking receptionist. Once inside we knew we needed to shower off and then explore the vast array of spa options. The bath included many different pools at different temperatures and with different jetstreams– one that was even infused with green tea. We mistakenly entered the children’s bath at first and received a few awkward stares and finally a broken English explanation. While our evening spa experience was relaxing after a long and cold day, we definitely wanted to investigate the place further and at that point had absolutely no idea where we were supposed to sleep or enjoy the other amenities.
While bathing, a kind Korean woman sat next to Luthien and started speaking with her in English and was generous enough to later give us all a tour of the entire jimjilbang after we were cleaned up and dressed. The building was much larger and fancier than we were expecting from our just-over-$7 charge. She lead us through about 5 saunas, 3 sleeping rooms, and the ice room upstairs. There were places to use the internet, watch television, view films, play ping-pong, and exercise. We sat and chatted with the wonderful friendly woman in the ice room (her favorite) for quite a while, or at least until we were ready to fall asleep on the cold floor. She was curious to how we had heard of such a place (the answer was through a friend’s Korean friend) and explained that the reason she was so kind to us was because she was so impressed by the kindness of Americans she had met a few years back in Iowa in the states, knowing that someday she wanted to return the favor to Americans in Korea, and finally now having her chance. Her English was great, but even more impressive were her kind gestures, helpfulness, and curiosity about us. She just reconfirmed my philosophy about traveling with an open-mind and an accepting smile and receiving random kindness from strangers as a result. The Korean people we have met thus far have been extremely kind and sharing, but this woman really changed our spa experience to something comfortable out of a bit of awkwardness.
In the morning, the three our us sort of went different directions and utilized different areas of the jimjilbang. I fell in love with this ridiculous crystal sauna, a domed room covered in quartz crystals and huge cracked geodes. I also enjoyed the peaceful room with heightened levels of oxygen and the clay sauna infused with the smell of Korean tea and other herbs. The baths downstairs were great, especially when I rotated between hot and cold treatments and one that massaged my back with strong water jets. While I could go on and on about this affordable and wonderful spa experience, the point is that we had an amazing time attempting to integrate into this traditional Korean pasttime and much of that was because of the kind woman’s generous patience and explanations. We left the building before lunch to go off to the north to help teach in an all boy’s private middle school that Julie’s friend Christina Hanna works at; we rode the metro completely at peace with the world. Relaxed, refreshed, and inspired by someone’s kindness.
That’s it for now,
Anne
Posted by acdrehfal 
