Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Day 6: Korean Saunas (Jjimjilbang) Part 2: Dragon HIll Spa

After the first sauna experience, we couldn't get enough of it! This time we went to the most popular and famous one with tourists, Dragon Hill Spa, which is very near Sinyongsan Station.


This spa is much easier to locate than the Siloam. Once we got out of the exit and walked straight in front, the iPark Mall is on our right. Walk further ahead and we saw a huge "24 hours" sign with an LED screen. It took less than 5 mins walk from Sinyongsan Station.



The pathway to the entrance of the spa was REALLY beautiful! We felt like we were entering a garden of paradise! The admission fee is also Won 12,000 (SGD13) for entry after 8pm. We were given a piece of towel and a wristband (with a locker key attached to it) which is used to pay for all the other facilities inside! This is so cool and convenient!



Beautiful pathway!
  


The wristbands

Similarly to Siloam, i first put my footwear inside the locker and walk further inside till I saw the archade and take a lift (for women) or walk straight (for men) to the gender-separated room. Here the footwear locker and my barang barang locker shared the same number. I went for a quick shower and change into the grey costumes and ready to go up to the first level to meet my hubby.

We realised that there are more young couples here than at Siloam which has more families and aunties/uncles.



Advantages
- easy to locate
- the place is beautiful and has nice scultptures/interesting places for phototaking
- has an outdoor heated pool
- uses a wristband to pay for all facilites

Disadvantages
- fewer options of sauna rooms here (compared to Siloam)
- no temporary lockers to put your valuables like camera while you are inside the saunas

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Day 5: Korean Saunas (Jjimjilbang) Part 1: Siloam Land Fire Pot

Going to a sauna (jjimjilbang) was another highlight of our trip especially for my hubby who love it so much!! After shopping, it is a good place to go to relax and detox. Saunas are usually opened 24 hours and charge a higher rate after night time. There were some saunas in Myeongdong but they do not allow both genders to be together or is gender-specified. Luckily I had done research before going to Seoul. The first sauna we visited was Siloam Land Fire Pot which is located near Seoul Station. On reaching the station, we realised that the map I have printed out was different from the one at Seoul Station. It was too brief, showing only the main streets. Luckily there was a kind soul who came to us seeing that we need help and even brought us there! Koreans are so helpful!!

We walked towards Lotte Mart and through it and ended up on a traffic lights below an overhead highway. And yes, we can see the word " Siloam" just across the road! Tha man was really helpful as he brought us ALL the way to the entrance and even told the staff we want two tickets which costs us 12,000 Won
(SGD 13 for entry after 8pm) !! So nice of him!! Gamsahamnida!



The fees range from 5000 Won (SGD 5.50) to 12,000 Won (SGD 13)

Once we got our locker keys and clothing we had to go to the gender-segregated room for our lockers. After stepping into the room, I had to remove my boots and socks and place them in a small locker just enough size for your footwear. Next I went to the counter lady who exchanged my footwear locker key for another locker key to put my other barang barang. I took 2 pieces of towels beside the counter which I will use later in the sauna. We were supposed to take a shower at the basement where the bath area is also located and change into the orange costume for our sauna experience. Do not worry as only the basement level and the locker area has naked people. All the other levels are unisex and we are allowed to be dressed.

Siloam has 6 levels. Sauna rooms such as oxygen room, salt room and white/blue jade room can be found here. You can enjoy many facilities such as massage chairs, manual massages, pc and games room, restaurant, fitness room etc. All of these are charged individually.






  
blue jade room


The hottest sauna room..


You can enjoy massagess here but they are SUPER expensive!!

Our overall experience at the Siloam was quite good. Our body aches seemed to disappear after the experience! We felt refreshed and energetic too! My husband suggested going for another trip on another day. That shows how much he love it! However we did not return to Siloam but went to a different spa for another experience (read about it on the next post)

Summary of Siloam Sauna:

Advantages

- they have many sauna choices
- the massage chair is cheap (Won 1000, SGD 1.10) and good!
- the clothes are cleaner and newer
- there are free mini lockers for putting your valuables like camera while enjoying your sauna

Disadvantages


- location may be a little tricky to find
- you need to pay CASH for using other facilities like the games room, pc room