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94<br />

From here it’s up to you. Enjoy trying out the different pools and saunas. It’s a<br />

good idea to test the water temperature first before jumping in. Some are hot<br />

enough to cook you like a lobster. Others, I’m sure, could cause frost bite<br />

within five minutes. When you’re starting to resemble a prune it’s time to<br />

shower again and head out. Towels are kept at the door to the dressing room.<br />

This month I had the hard research job of trying out major bath houses around<br />

<strong>Ulsan</strong>. A tough job, but someone had to do it. Here’s a summary what makes<br />

each one good and bad.<br />

Family Spa<br />

<strong>Ulsan</strong>’s largest. The definite feature of this place are the individual hot tubs.<br />

There are also four small herbal hot tubs, water jet massage chairs and the usual<br />

saunas. If you bring a swimsuit you can join your friends in the mixed sex<br />

swimming pool area that’s reached by a staircase within the bath house area.<br />

Getting there : Behind Chunggu Homeplus.<br />

Geonguptop Rotary Sauna<br />

This place is fairly new. It’s smaller then Family Spa but they’ve packed a lot in.<br />

On top of the usual hot tubs there is a herbal tub, water jet massage chairs and a<br />

strange area that lets you sit on the floor with your legs in a trench of hot water<br />

(I don’t get it but the Koreans seem to like it). My favorite part would have to<br />

Living in ULSAN<br />

be the cool room; a place where you can get out of the hot steamy main room<br />

and cool off on a pool chair.<br />

Getting there: Take McDonalds exit from Geonguptop (towards Yaumdong<br />

Homeplus), its 200m on the left.<br />

Aqua<br />

This has to be my favorite of all. Aqua is fairly new and has many great features<br />

that make it stand out. As well as the usual hot tubs there is a medium<br />

temperature tub that you could comfortably stay in all day (the only one I’ve<br />

found in <strong>Ulsan</strong>). The TV facing it showing SBS Sports is great (the girls may<br />

get another choice in channel).<br />

Another great feature is the outdoor hot tub so you can escape the steam if you<br />

want. The saunas consist of the usual dry sauna and a wet “crystal” sauna. The<br />

latter has a bucket of salt so you can give yourself a good salt rub down (I have<br />

no idea why you would). For the smokers there is even an indoor smoking<br />

room.<br />

Getting there : From Sinbok rotary in Mugeodong head towards the university.<br />

Turn right after the Nike store, it’s 200m on the right.<br />

ABS Sports Spa<br />

The big neon signs outside seem to promise a lot but this is just a standard old<br />

fashion bath house. If you are just looking for a quiet place to sit in a hot tub or<br />

sauna then it’s perfectly adequate. I, on the other hand, like a few bells and<br />

whistles.<br />

Getting there : It’s on the main street of Hwabangdong. Look up for the sign.<br />

Others 95

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