Jimjilbang'n

Remember that D.C. bucket list I made?

Well, unfortunately I was only able to cross-off three of those things during my last few weeks in town. 

Fortunately, the thing that I was most looking forward to became a reality-- Molly and I spent an entire Sunday pampering ourselves at Spa World!

Centreville/Annandale, VA is known as Koreatown in the D.C. metro, and for good reason.

There are TONS of tasty-looking Korean restaurants, exotic grocery stores and local businesses with signs featuring more Korean than English. 

When we first pulled up after our 45-ish minute drive, it looked like we were in the parking lot of a Costco. "Oh. Neat." we thought. Once we stepped inside, however, we walked down the long, quiet, softly lit hallway to the reception area, and all thoughts of the outside world  completely disappeared...

The $40 general admission fee was well-worth it, as we received unlimited access to the pools, saunas, and poultice rooms for up to 12 hours. (Traditionally, jimjilbang's are open 24 hours, so you essentially can stay as long as you like. Spa World changed the time limit in April.) We were there for nearly seven hours. 

You are given a little bracelet that holds your electronic key- this gives access to your locker (where you put your clothes, because you are naked for much of your adventure), and allows you to charge all additional spa services and food to your account that you then settle up at the end. 

We both signed up for the full body scrub (an additional cost, but basically a necessity)-- this was an experience that I will never forget, as long as I live. When it was time for our appointments, we were led to the "scrubbing area" in the bade pool room. A couple of older Korean women donning what else but   matching bra and panties greeted us and directed us to our respective tables, where we were instructed to lie on our backs. These women were seriously amazing at what they do. They spend 45 minutes scrubbing down every inch of your body with enough force to borderline hurt but also feel really relaxing. I felt so clean and fresh afterwards and my skin was impossibly soft. 

We spent the rest of the day sipping bubble tea, (wherein I quickly realized I do not like the tapioca balls-- I just can't with that texture), eating kimchi and bibimbap, and casually rotating between poultice rooms. Each room is like a little hut-- some, like the "ice room" you had to wait your turn for because they only held about 8 people. 

It was such fun getting to go with my friend Molly, because she spent a year teaching English in Korea. She told me so many interesting stories about her time over there, and I got to learn a ton about Korean culture. We spent some quality, and very naked, time together.

I'd recommend this place to anyone living near DC, or visting for an extended period of time. I honestly can't wait to go back!

please excuse my hair. 

Actually, I guess that's the least of my concerns in these outfits. 

My DC Bucket List

The countdown to the move has begun. Our official date has been set, the moving company has us on the calender, and we're making plans.

I've been bumming a little lately about leaving, because now is absolutely the best time to be in DC. Mother Nature has finally flipped the switch to spring (or rather, summer, seeing as how it topped 90 degrees yesterday), Nationals baseball season is in full swing, and it is peak bloom for the cherry blossoms.

I've done a lot of amazing things during my nearly three years living here, but the other day my friend Molly asked me what else I had left that I wanted to do. So here it is- with t-minus five weeks to go:

1. Visit the Korean day spa in Centreville, VA (www.spaworldusa.com)
This is no ordinary day spa. The gender-segregated public bath house, (by the way, nudity is required when utilizing the pools) or jimjibang as it is called in Korea, features hot tubs, saunas, massages, body scrubs, basically anything you can think of to relax your mind and body. For a $35 entrance fee, you can stay as long as you like- utilize the gym or savor some delicious Bibimbap in the cafe... you can even stay the night. On a mat. On the floor.

Molly, (who lived in Korea) says that we HAVE to sleep there. I don't think I'm quite ready for that.

2. Have Afternoon Tea at the famous Willard InterConitnental Hotel
#fancytime- I wanted to organize a group to go around Christmas time, but this place gets so packed around holidays and big events, we couldn't get a reservation time that worked. Right now, they've got a special Cherry Blossom Tea (see pictures here) with live Japanese Koto music and beautifully scented blossom decor.

3. Take a dome tour of the US Capitol building 
They're tough to get, but this is actually happening! My Cousin works at the Capitol and organized a tour for D and I. Gonna take the tour and meet my other Cousin at the Congressional Office building that he works at for lunch on the Hill.

4. See a show at Ford's Theater (fords.org)
This landmark is a must see for tourists of DC, and so I've been many times. What a lot of people don't know, is that it is still very much a working theater. They hold shows there year-round. I feel like I'd get to take a step back in time watching a live production there- I think Hello Dolly! is running from now till the time we leave.

5. Brunch at the Tabard Inn (1739 N St. NW, Washington, DC)
c'est parfait, non?

     (image via ispythingsDC)

6. Take in an Orioles game at Camden Yards
D used to live in Baltimore when he first moved to the East Coast. I am dubbing him my personal tour guide for a quick day/night trip.

7. Visit Gettysburg
History, history, history. Can't get enough of it. It's a quick 1-1/2 hour drive to our Nation's most famous battleground.

8. Check out Passport DC- Open Houses of Washington, DC Embassies
In 3 years, I have never been in town for this! It happens once a year in May, and is such a fantastic opportunity to step inside those seemingly secretive Embassy Row homes and take a mini-tour of the world by sampling local foods, and enjoying each countries culture, art and music.

Honestly, I just like the idea of being free to snoop around. :P