Traditional Sauna in South Daegu

I've never been to a sauna even while I was still in the Philippines. I don't think there was one near the place where I used to live.Well, if there were any, I don't think I would be so bold enough to wear just a towel around my waist and mingle with other people while my chest stare point blank at them. (lol). I was pretty much firm with my belief that I wouldn't like sauna until yesterday.

David, our good friend, dropped me off at Sunny's place in South of Daegu. We were (I believe) scheduled for some good slow hiking up in the mountains but it didn't fall through. The rain prevented us from doing the activity. So we had tete-a-tete instead. We talked about the weather, movies, music, until our conversation trickled down to relaxing activities that Sunny liked doing. Among them was sauna.

Road leading to the Traditional Sauna in S. Daegu

Sunny told me that she goes to public saunas quite often or whenever possible. The only information I have about saunas came mostly from movies and soap operas such as in the Sopranos (where men go together with small towels to cover their crotches lol). I know.. I know.. I should have just simply looked it up on the internet while I had the chance lol.. but hey.  Sunny, being a great host, described to me how saunas are done in Korean style.

First right off the bat is the public sauna. Without beating an eye lash, Sunny told me that  people go  there nude. Mind you though, men and women are segregated for obvious reason. Of course, I couldn't imagine myself in a place where even the slightest patch to cover the exposed crevice or two is sort of 'a no-no' (even unusual to most Koreans) for sauna goers.

The other type, which I can find myself comfortable with, is called Sutkama (traditional sauna) and they are usually found in the mountains.  It uses specific trees to heat up the different bang or rooms. The sutkama, according to Sunny, is the only one traditional sauna in South Daegu. Unlike the public saunas, people wear robes and both sexes can stay in a bang (room) of their choice. There is a certain temperature set in each bang. The one we had gone to has 4 bangs. And yes your guess is right. Each bang is equipped with certain temperature -  from low heat, mild, hotter to hottest.

Without dillydallying, Sunny and I bolted right out her house and drove to the traditional sauna house.

A man stepping out from one of the bang in the house.

It took us about 15 minutes or less (from Sunny's house) to get to sutkama house. Once we arrived, Sunny went to see the lady at the counter and handled the rest. She gave me a small towel and robe (courtesy of the sauna house). We marched into the ladies' room. Without much ado, we removed off all of our clothes and took a  fast, clean shower. The bathroom btw was big and can hold as much as 10 or more persons all at once. Nudity of the same sex is not a big deal among Koreans.

We put on our robes, took a bottle of water with us and got in the bang with the lowest heat temperature. We were welcomed with musky scent plus hot temepature coming from all sides of the room. We sat on the wooden slats spread across the room. This was done so that we wouldn't make (or hurt our skin) a direct contact with the (hot)pavement. Minutes later, we were joined by elder Koreans who were supposedly set for hiking but held back by the rain.

Sunny introduced me to them and started talking about the Philippines. I would say I was one one odd ball from the group but it feel like that to me. I was pretty much at home with the crowd. I shared with them tidbits of my country and Sunny acted graciously as my translator. We chitchatted while sweating ourselves out. After 5 minutes or so, we stepped out from the room in order to cool ourselves down.

The second time we went back in the bang, the sweating came out much easier. Sunny said that sauna is good for removing harmful toxins from the body, curing muscle aches and cramps. She also added it was also good for complexion.


We went back in the room for our last sauna of the day. I sweated profusely and it was a very good sweating. I felt lighter, relaxed and revitalized. After that we rested for a few outside the bang and then took a hot bath together with other female Koreans before finally saying adieu to the sutkama.

I loved it.. and I wouldn't mind going back in there... like everyday. Tee hee 

Ps: The Traditional Sauna such as in South Daegu is more affordable than the public saunas in the city.It roughly costs about ₩5000 or less per person. This comes with clean towels, robes, slippers, and hot showers. As for drinking, the house also provides potable water. They are placed in ceramic jars where you can scoop up as much as you want to drink. The house also has its own restaurant were it serves authentic Korean dishes (e.g. BBQ and daenjang jjigae .)

Life in Korea: Things I have learned after few weeks

When I first landed in Seoul few weeks ago, I was welcome with a very cold breeze. The last week of May up to August is supposedly dry / summer season. Just as the same as in the Philippines, Korean weather could be really a fickle friend. Good thing though, the hotel we stayed at in Seoul, always kept us informed how the weather was going to be like throughout the week. And since I've grown accustomed to checking Pag-asa  (in the hopes of class suspensions in the Philippines ----sorry but hey, who wouldn't want it?) I've done the same thing too in Korea. Their weather website is very accurate and reliable (and dependable, please forgive my redundancy here).

Apart from weather,  I've learned a number of things in Korea in just a matter of weeks. These are: 

1. I ain't apologizing nothing. Along sidewalks (especially in Seoul), expect no apologies when people brushed your arms rather hard, or literally bumped into you. I've had my share of experiences. At first I would just quickly stop at my pace and expect that assailant to say sorry. But alas, not a bow nor mianhamnida's can be heard. Life continues (lol). Don't get pissy too at them as this has become a natural additive into their culture. 

2. Spitting spree. Yes, most of them would spit on the street, at the alley or in public places.  In the Philippines, this kind of behavior could otherwise be said as 'something common.' But I (not sounding too provincial), never expected to be done so prominently here in SK, most especially in Seoul.  So.... watch where your feet are threading.

3. Steer clear from achoo. Most that I've seen when we were in Seoul wouldn't bother covering their nose or mouth when sneezing. I guess it is quite safe to say that this is 'normal' in the country but apparently to me and to almost everyone else, it is not. I remember one time, when I was standing in line in a shop in order to get some food samplers, a lady behind me just vehemently coughed. That was enough a reason for me to back away from the samplers and virus as well.

I have to add that when I got in a bus, some frenzy achooers  just whistled away their coughs and sneezes. They didn't bother to cover their mouth. As a result (I  firmly believed) that is where I caught my cold.

4. Bikers along sidewalks. The side walks in almost all of Korea are catered for pedestrians and citizens on bikes. They are placed together, with the bike trail on the outer lane. That, I believe, is a kind of cool but at the same time not. Wouldn't it be nice to walk freely, where you can just maneuver your hands up high to hail a taxi, at the same time not worry about hitting an incoming biker?

Now, another thing that should be noted here is that there are delivery guys on motor bikes(that use the lane as well. I've seen plenty of them in Seoul.  With boxes at the back of their bikes, they'd pick up their speed and swish swashing on the road to get to their destination. The lesson here is always stay alert. Keep your eyes glued not only on the road but also on the lane you are walking along.


6. Serve yourself up. Most restaurants and food chain (not the high end though), obligate their customers to pick their food up from the counter. There is no waiter standing by to deliver the food or condiments to your table.You serve yourself up.

And when you are done with your food or want to take the remaining portion back home with you, you do it yourself. You can't leave your nearly emptied out plates and cups on the table. I can't tell you though what would happen if you would do it otherwise. Both me and hubby have been both good customers (lol). You throw out disposable plates and cups at their proper bins. There are some food court though like in Lotteria
or Dong-ga where you would have to return the plastic or breakable dishes back to the shop you have ordered your food from.

If only we can introduce this concept in the Philippines, eh?

 7. Chance of robbery, almost 0%. What I really love about Korea is it tries to keep you safe. You can place your bag on a table, leave it for some minutes and then expect to see your stuff untouched when you get back. Koreans, generally speaking, do not pry, pinch or pilfer any stuff in front of your door, shopping push cart that is unattended, etc.

This is not to say that SK is 100% free from evil doers. But you never hear of robbery here like it is there in the Philippines.

Anna in Korea