Everybody’s workin’ for the Weekend

When last we left our heroes, they were complaining about how boring everything was.  Well this weekend was a little different. 

With the Hunger Games finally having come out here Korea side, Rachel and I decided to venture to our local CGC cinema megaplex and IMAX Theater.  For those of you not in Korea land, this was a very simple process with more obstacles than we would have thought.  Firstly, tickets are done via an ATM style ticket window, and yes there was the option to make selections in English.  We could procure our tickets, soda, popcorn, and reserve our seats all with the touch of the screen.  Now that may sound simple, but then it came time to pay.  Apparently we couldn’t pay in cash because something was wrong, and we couldn’t pay with a card because of something else.  Finally after much confusion and headache we discovered that the machine we were working with didn’t have a credit card slot, and (I think) we couldn’t pay in cash because we don’t have LOTTE card.  But we eventually made it inside and sat down to watch the show. 

Now I can already hear the question budding on everyone’s mind.  “You mean they have movies in English?”  Yes, in fact they do.  There were subtitles, but even Rachel said that she forgot about them after a while.  Now the one weird thing about Korean cinema etiquette is that you have to reserve a specific seat ahead of time.  Rachel and I were forced to sit in the second row from the screen, however it wasn’t that bad.  I have to hand it to the architects.  My seat was comfortably positioned so that I could lean back naturally without doing horrible things to my neck.  Oh and the movie was great.  I am thinking of starting up my old routine of visiting the cinema at least once a week for some regular entertainment.  Wrath of the Titans and Conan are on, and the Avengers is on the way. 

Moving on.  Rachel and I have been trying to get into this spa for the last few weeks.  I talked her into it after some explaining and colorful descriptions.  And I must say that it was well worth it.  Korea has a massive spa culture, and these places are frequently visited by people of all ages.  Now this particular place is rather large, and even has an indoor water park near the top floor.  So with our shoes and clothes in lockers, we donned the uniform of the spa.  Yes you heard that correctly.  Every spa here will give you a set of clothes to wear when you enter along with a towel.  Now I was afraid of that they would have some difficulty for someone of my size, but the folks behind the counter came through in fine style.  I’ll admit that I am tempted to steal one of the shirts. 

Once inside there were a few places to go.  Of course, there is gender segregation, but down stairs there is a common area where everyone can grab a snack (or even a full meal), watch some TV played on the giant projector wall, or play some video games at the PC stations.  Along with all the food and fun, there are two activities that are the most popular here, sleep and sweat.  The numerous saunas of different heat, and style were wonderful.  Rachel and I met up and headed for the clay 70 degree Celsius sauna.  Then cooled down in an oxygen room, where I was tempted to take a quick nap (more than a popular activity).  Now I had heard the stories about how some backpackers would travel around Korea going from spa to spa, and I wasn’t sure how pleasant or possible that was until now.  After sweating like mad, it was off to the pools.  Yes they are communal and yes they are nude.  And in the Japanese style there is a place for you to sit and scrub yourself off, then hop inside any of the pools, or to one of the wet saunas.  The strangest thing I saw there was the massage station.  I didn’t have the cash or the time to partake, but I am tempted for next time. 

It was a wonderful day.  It all ended with Papa John’s Pizza (the best pizza in Korea in my O’ so humble opinion), and Mass Effect 3.  Ready to take on Monday…

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I don’t wanna’ go to work.