JJIMJILBANG (찜질방)

After a stressful week we went to a Jjimjilbang. It is our first time to try a sauna and spa for relaxation so we first read the reviews so we would know what the do's and don't's and what to expect when we get there.

A Jjimjilbang  찜질방 is a large, gender-segregated public bathhouse in Korea, furnished with hot tubs, showers, Korean traditional kiln saunas and massage tables. Jjimjil is derived from the words meaning heating. However, in other areas of the building or on other floors there are unisex areas, usually with a snack bar, ondol-heated floor for lounging and sleeping, wide-screen TVs, exercise rooms, ice rooms, heated salt rooms, PC bang (internet café’s), noraebang (music room), and sleeping quarters with either bunk beds or sleeping mats. Many of the sleeping rooms can have themes or elements to them. Usually Jjimjilbangs will have various rooms with different temperatures to suit guests' preferred relaxing temperatures. The walls are decorated with different woods, minerals, crystals, stones, and metals. This is to make the ambient mood and smell more natural. Often the elements used have traditional Korean medicinal purposes in the various rooms.

Most jjimjilbangs are open 24 hours and are a popular weekend getaway for Korean families. Jjimjilbangs are always kept in a very sanitary condition for the overall health of patrons, and most are cleaned continuously. No harsh chemicals are used in the waters or saunas.

Upon arriving we were given our locker key which is very essential inside since this key can be used to purchased food inside and it keeps track of the time of your stay. We were also given a matching clothes which I find the color cute cause it's pink (shirts and shorts) to wear inside, and two towels.

Before entering the area we have to take off our shoes. We look for our locker first and changed in our clothes. The locker area is near the wet area so no photos/videos should be taken in here. Because in the wet area it is strictly no clothes allowed. Don't fret men and women have a separate area. Yes, no clothes at all. So you'll see naked people around the locker area and the wet area which does not surprise us at all cause we have learned about this before going here. It's all about mind setting hahaha anyway at first it's awkward but eventually we get used to it. 

All wet areas prohibit the use of clothing for safety reasons.

With the extreme heat of the baths and steam rooms, It is believed that toxic chemicals can leach out of apparel and into the body. It is also believed that if you wear a swimsuit or cover up you may be trying to hide a disease. 

We did try the sauna first so we go inside the lowest temperature which is 52 degrees Celsius, then the 55 degrees Celsius then up to the highest temperature which is 75 degrees Celsius.

The Oak and Clay Sauna has yellow earth mud which when heated neutralizes poisonous effects of metal and stimulates our metabolism. It helps with alleviating symptoms of skin problems such as atopic dermatitis and respiratory problems such as asthma.  It is also good for women who have recently given birth. The temperature here is around 52 degree Celsius

The Salt Charcoal Sauna contains soot that is said to have “holy powers” by traditional Koreans. The Salt charcoal is made by slowly burning the wood of an oak tree and the result is a dark charcoal that contains carbon, and several minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron. The effect in the body are providing good metabolism, helps on detoxification, and produces equilibrium between acid and alkali. The temperature here is at 55 degree Celsius

The Dome Clay Sauna features a mineral called Chungito also commonly known as the miracle mud. It is an alkali mineral mud produced from volcanoes that is said to contain crystals that invigorates the body and releases negative ions. This mud is self warming and balances the energy in the human body. This mud can also be used to make a mild coffee drink which has a smoky taste. The temperature here is at 75 degree Celcius.

TIP: Take 10-15 minutes on a room, rest outside for 5 minutes, then go again to a different room and so on. After that routine, rest outside for 10 minutes, and then proceed to the ice room. 

The Ice room is around 0 to -10 degrees. After sweating out from the heated sauna, stay here for a few minutes and allow your pores to close after detoxifying.

If you get bored (and I assume you will especially if you go alone), bring something to read with you. There are comics in the common room but everything is in Korean. There's also sleeping areas in the common room and an entertainment section which has tv. As mentioned earlier they have internet room and music room.

We didn't know how long we stayed in each steamed rooms but they have this sand time so we stayed in each room after turning the sand time twice. When we were on the Dome Clay Sauna, an ajhussi told us that it is around 5mins. We talked to this ajhussi for a while he seems nice and he said that he is been in the country for  a long time and he knows some Tagalog words. His English is good too.

So before going home I decided to try the wet sauna, good thing that when I entered the wet area nobody is around. Perfect timing since it is really uncomfortable to go naked in a public bathhouse.

The Hot Ginseng Pool has a temperature of 40 degrees or so. The Green Tea Pool only had 42-46 degrees. Both these pools are said to help on preventing cancer and reduce cholesterol in the body.

WHAT TO EAT:

  We had ramyeon for lunch. 

Then in the afternoon we had Iced Sikhye which is a popular drink sold in jjimjilbangs. Baked eggs (맥반석) are another popular snack. These are slow-cooked in the hottest sauna. They are eaten like a hard-boiled egg (삶은 계란). And Mandu. They also have patbingsu and iced coffee.

iced sikhye and baked eggs

mandu

How to make Korean Lamb Towel Bun (Sheep Head (양머리))

-otherwise known as the “Princess Leia towel doo”.

Get an ordinary towel! It should be bigger than a face towel and smaller than a body towel. Lay it out on the floor and divide it into thirds.

Fold the bottom and top thirds into the middle! The end result should be a long, narrow towel strip.

Roll up each end like you're rolling up the leg of your jeans. Try and keep the ends together so they won't fall apart!

How to get there?

So to experience the Korean way of bathhouse and sauna no need to wait to go to Seoul. 

Lasema Jjimjilbang is located at 7232 Malugay Street, Bel-Air, Makati.

Me and my friend just commute going here. So from Pasay we took the bus with Ayala Levereza sign then get off at RCBC. Since we are not familiar with the place we asked for Google Map to show us the way. So from RCBC we walk some blocks to get there. It is not a long distance walk from RCBC. Landmarks are Alphaland and the Makati Golf Club.

We really had a great time. We feel refreshed after. So we will definitely go back.

TRIVIA

 The first public bathhouse was built in 1925, with many more to follow throughout the 1900s.