Here I am, in Korea, wanting to experience the culture as much as I can and there is no better way to keep it going than to go to a Jjimjilbang. Jjimilbangs are Korean bath houses filled with many different things. There are multiple baths that are of different temperatures or filled with green tea or some other kind of herbal remedy,massages of all sorts, amazing saunas, and a treatment that includes fish nibbling at the calluses on your feet (yummy).
I went with my friend Sonja, neither of us being absolutely confident in what to do at one of these places, I mean I am sure there is some kind of bath house etiquette, but we decided to just throw ourselves into the situation because theres no better way to learn.
We learned quickly of the nakedness that Jjimjilbangs contain. The entire bath house is filled with naked women of all ages showering, soaking and getting their skin rubbed with a coarse loofah to get all the dead skin off ( I know that sounds gross, but I hear its actually amazing and leaves your skin baby butt soft..and who doesn't want that!?). I did not get to try that, but I did indulge in some naked bathing. I had to put all insecurities aside and live as the Koreans do. I would lie if I said I didn't stick out like a sore thumb being the only white girl in the joint. I knew what I was getting myself into, obviously, and embraced the time we were there.
After we bathed we decided to get relaxing massages. Relaxing was definitely not the word for it though. All I can remember is my jaw hurting because she pushed so hard on my body that my giant cheeks could not hold my face in place, the lady getting on the table for more push leverage, getting yanked like a rag doll and having my armpits slapped. Yes, my armpits, it hurt so dang bad that I tried counting the first round to get myself prepared for the next pit slap.
It was quite the experience and one I will never forget. I did visit another one in Seoul, so this one did not scare me off completely! It feels good to let go, go into an unknown and potentially uncomfortable situation and conquer it. I highly recommend it!
lovin you all!
Ab
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