Spaland, Busan

Joe and I went to Busan this weekend, a coastal city, about an hour south of Daegu. We did a lot of things there, which we will talk about later, but first and foremost, we have to talk about Spaland. Ah, Spaland. Folks, America has nothing on this. Here's the deal...Spaland is a Jimjilbang. A Jimjilbang is basically a spa/salon that has every good thing in it that you could ever possibly want. Spaland is inside Shinsegae Mall...the largest department store in the world.

Here's how it works: we paid 14,000 won each (about $12) to get in. We were given keys for our lockers, and lounging outfits and towels. Men and women go to separate locker rooms. Besides lockers and bathrooms, the locker rooms have full-on Roman baths within them. Naked people are everywhere. There are multiple pools with differently temperatured water and multiple saunas and steam rooms. You can shower or bathe before you head into the spa; this is up to you. When you have disrobed and put on your spa outfit, you head out to the meeting room. Joe and I met up and walked into the jimjilbang. I can hardly describe how amazing this place was. There are lounge chairs and low beds everywhere for napping and eating, should you desire. There is a huge outdoor footbath with multiple pools of different temperatures, and cedar stools to sit on. There was a path of stone for you to walk over that massaged your feet.

This particular jimjilbang has three levels and on each level are different rooms for relaxation. There are steam rooms of different temperatures, a cool room (which incidentally had a tank of jellyfish swimming soothingly around), dry rooms, and more lounging rooms. Each room was decorated in a different theme. For example, there was a Bali room that had palm fronds and stone walls; a Hammam-inspird room (Turkish bath); a room completely made of salt blocks that glowed a beautiful pinkish/yellow color; a wave room, where a reflection of waves played on the ceiling, and on and on. On the third floor was a miniature theater where you could watch recent films, a full-service spa (you can get massages, pedicures, facials, etc. for an extra fee), a restaurant, a cafe, and a stretching room, amongst many other rooms.

Throughout the jimjilbang, you are free to lay wherever you want and do basically whatever you want. The whole experience is geared toward total relaxation and total release. You can buy food or drinks with your key, and then you pay afterward.

It was truly the greatest place ever. For $12 you can stay there for four hours, lounging, watching TV if you want, eating, drinking beer or refreshing teas, reading, listening to soothing music, steaming, soaking, etc. It's beautiful. Oh, and this particular jimjilbang is a pricey jimjilbang; in other words, you can pay far less for a similar experience, and some jimjilbangs are 24-hour affairs. In some cases, you are welcome to sleep there overnight for free.

This is one of our favorite things about Korea so far, along with internet and bathrooms everywhere. Ha. But truly, I think we are still in shock over the glory of this place. We will take everyone who comes to visit there. And you will be hooked.