Jeonju’s Old Town

Morning walk

Despite sleeping around 2300 last night, I woke at 0530 and went out for a walk around 0645.  The sun was out but the forecast was for cloud and showers so I had to make the most of the weather.  I found an elevated platform on a hillside where I had hoped to get a good look of the old town.  Disappointingly, from that vantage point, I realised there were more modern buildings tucked behind the street-frontage where I had walked all around.

The streets were deserted at this time.  Soon enough, the weather turned dark and gloomy.  I returned to my guesthouse for breakfast and then stayed in “bed” (rolled up padding on the floor) for a while.

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Korean sauna experience

In the afternoon, after a walk in the now busy streets, I went to a local jjimjilbang or sauna for KRW7000 (about NZD8.50).  I had been some 11 years ago but had forgotten how it worked.  I first stored my footwear in a small locker and used the key to unlock a corresponding large locker (of the same number) for my clothes and bag.

I then showered myself clean before enjoying the sauna and hot pool.  It would have been better yesterday when the weather was wet and cool but it wasn’t exactly hot today either.  I opted for a scrub down for KRW10000 (about NZD12).  I was a bit wary of the scrubbing mitten having been used on other people before but I did it regardless.  The 10 min experience on both sides and all limbs came with a very cursory but strong massage.

Just to clarify, this is a small local neighbourhood sauna.  Not the gigantic super-luxurious ones that one could spend a day in.  In fact, this small one didn’t even have a lie down heated-floor room where people may have a nap.

Afternoon and evening walks

The weather was fine by the time I emerged and I did another walk around to absorb the atmosphere of old Jeonju once again.  Instead of a sit-down meal for dinner, I opted for street food because I can.  I couldn’t last night, while holding an umbrella in the rain!

I finished up with ice cream at perhaps a quarter of the New Zealand price.  When darkness fell, Jeonju wasn’t as enchanting as I had expected.  Many old buildings weren’t illuminated to highlight their beauty.  Instead, it was commercial signage that lit up the old town.