Korean Spa Adventure

The only thing that really prepared me for King's Spa & Sauna in Dallas? Early James Bond films, the ones with Sean Connery. This was my first real life experience in a Korean spa complex. After some initial confusion, however -- more Mr. Bean than Mr. Bond -- I started to become more accustomed to the layout and flow of it all.

It's spectacular, starting for a limited time with a special rate of $15 for 24 hours thanks to a Mother's Day deal. If you happen to run over 24 conescutive hours in one long stretch, they'll add the princely sum of $2 to your bill.

Imagine this: any other place open in North Texas 24/7! (Besides, say, Café Brazil, 7-11 and other short stops, certain roadside eateries or a large box store with a chain name that begins with "W" and ends with "T.").

In any case, King's Spa and Sauna is much better than the gym that I usually go to, one that closes at 8 p.m. on weekends. Unquestionably, I will add King's Spa and Sauna to the list of repeat journeys. This is a way cool, fascinating experience. The changing area is more like a gym, but the rest of it's nothing like any gym I've ever tried.

Typically, men are issued gray outfits and women, orange ones. There's more to the color scheme for staff and probably there's even more to it than that, but I haven't figured out all the nuances yet.  

Many of the sauna rooms are fairly small, but you can rotate around and hit all of them as much as you like. The very names are intriguing, and even more so the interiors: Fire Sudatorium; Bul Ga Ma; Charcoal Room; Aroma Room; Base Rock Room (very hot, use towel as a mat and probably consider some sort of footwear unless you like hot feet); Yellow Soil Crystal Room; Oxygen Room; Pyramid Room; Ice Room. There's also a Pine Room, which may double with one of the aforementioned spaces.

There's a movie theater, flat screen TVs, wifi access, massage areas, and "half-bath." And more. Like other Jjimjilbang (찜질방) style complexes in Korea, there's also an excellent food area where you can order up fresh Korean dishes; and there are flowing spaces where you can just sit around and space out a while.

I felt a wholly different sense of time, as if it had expanded and slowed into the moment. That alone was worth its weight in gold.

King's Spa and Sauna in Dallas (2154 Royal Lane, Dallas, TX 75229) is expanding to include a lot more water, as in indoor swimmng areas and additional spaces. There's also a King's Spa and Sauna in Chicago (809 Civic Center Drive, Niles, IL 60714). Website for both here: http://kingspa.com/ 

Today's Rune: Fertility.