Spa World (Korean Bath House)

This past Thursday I checked out this place called Spa World. Apparently the DC metro area has the 3rd largest Korean population in the U.S., and a popular thing to do in Korea is to go these "bath houses". I've been to something similar in Japan - public bath houses where everyone gets naked (no swimsuits allowed) to wash up and soak in very hot tubs. The similarity ends there tho. The Koreans seem to focus more on saunas and spa treatments. I've heard that their body scrubs take off every dead skin cell off of ya. I didn't go for it this time around, but it's something I'd like to try at some point. In Spa World, you enter sex segrated changing areas and washing areas where you can enjoy several different types of tubs (cold, warm, hot, very hot), as well as dry and wet saunas. There is also a coed section where you can go in wearing uniforms (shirt & shorts) provided to you. Here you can lounge around watching Korean TV and enjoy a snack bar and a little restaurant. There are also like 7 different sauna rooms with different healing properties. Or so they say. I particularly liked the one with red clay balls that you could lie on. Felt really good for the back. Otherwise, most of the saunas all pretty much feel the same (hot), but with different decors. I think I half expected something more along the lines of Tokyo's Oedo Onsen Monogatari, where you get many types of good restaurants, shops, shows, in a traditional village like atmosphere in addition to the baths. Spa World isn't as touristy tho, so I wouldn't say it is as fun, but instead it focuses more on the actual services I think. Definitely worth checking out for a unique experience. Just make sure you're prepared to strut your stuff in front of strangers. I've grown up accustomed to such Asian cultures, but might be a bit uncomfortable for those who are not.