Bath Houses

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Has anyone ever been to a bath house in another country? Or even in the US? ... I have heard there are ones in the US, but have never been. I spent one summer in South Korea. Let me first say that it is amazing to be able to spend an extended amount of time in another country.. to live there and get to know the people and social norms. Anyhow, the last few weeks I lived there, I decided to move out of my apartment and into a house with a family. I found a website online that matched travelers with families in Korea. I had to pay a nightly rate... which was actually quite high compared to my downtown dorm-like apartment. $15/day. My apartment was $18/day and in one of the most expensive districts in South Korea. Anyhow, I was more going for the experience. I had read about and heard from others of the bath houses in Asia. I had my first experience with the family. The mom took me to their local bath house where we paid, were separated by gender and given towels and a locker. The bath area consisted of 5-8 baths of varying temperatures as well as several sauna rooms - also at differing temperatures. It was unlike anything I had imagined. Nothing like showering in gym class. Girls would sit in rows and scrub each others' backs. People scrubed for extended periods of time... I noticed they were clean compared to other Asian countries I had visited, but this was a whole new experience. Of course being from America and being used to showering in the comfort of my own home, alone in my bathroom, I was not ready for the group shower thing. I felt shy... as though people were looking at me. Indeed people do look, but its definitely not in a bad way. They are just used to it. They also had massages and other services. Food, etc... I heard from a friend about one bath house which offered cleansing of the private parts. She told me you would sit on a toilet like device, but instead of water underneath, there was steam. I guess it cleans you... do they put any type of products in there? I wanted to go to something called a 'jim jil bang' which is more for younger people and families to go and have a relaxing day. They give you clothes and there are coed parts where you can hang out together on the internet, watching movies, karaoke even. Sounds pretty bizzare.. but people go even when they have their own personal showers. You can even stay overnight for a fairly cheap price. Good way to save money traveling if you are a backpacker. Many kids go there after drinking... when the subways are closed. Oh I almost forgot.. apparently the saunas have health benefits. There are different ones that have certain woods and coals or rocks such as jade. Does anyone know any more about this? Or just want to share your own experience as a foreigner in a bath house? What is the mens side like? Also with reference to American bath houses. I have heard that there is a type which is for predominatly homosexual populations - they are used to pick up other men and what not. Also I once read in the new york times about an elitest club/bath house. Men there swim naked, its an old tradition I guess. Anyone been or know about these?