Random questions from Jakarta newcomer

[Banana72]

To be clear, when I said "street massage" I meant indoors, Thailand style: you walk on a street, you see a massage place, you make sure it looks like a professional massage (not extra-oriented one), you walk in, you choose a foot massage, and you sit in a chair. Professional massage means women are well trained for the actual massage, not just a sloppy rub hoping to sell extras in the end. Getting foot massage in a chair ensures there will no extras upsell (which can still happen even in a professional places) since you are in the room with other people.

I'm well aware of all kinds of the special/extra massage an spa places in Jakarta in the areas mentioned above, it's those places I actually don't want to go when I just want a normal massage, and foot massage is the one I get most of the time.

So - is "reflexology" is the keyword for the foot massage and other professional theraputic massage here, correct? I did see a number of such places in malls, yes, for some reason they put me off looking bit too "spa-like" to me, where I was afraid even for a foot massage I would have to undress, lay down on a table in a separate room etc. etc. as opposed to informal walkin/sit down/get rubbed/walkout kind of places I'm so used to in Thailand. So I guess next time I will just go in and see what happens

Yes reflexology is the keyword for foot massage. and nooo you don't have to undress for a foot massage. Usually they have separate areas strictly for just foot massages in a big room with lazy boy type chairs.

 

[Shadrach]

Yes reflexology is the keyword for foot massage. and nooo you don't have to undress for a foot massage. Usually they have separate areas strictly for just foot massages in a big room with lazy boy type chairs.

I'm glad you pointed this out! I always wondered why those Pretty girls would look at me strange, when I got naked for a foot Massage!

 

[pantaiema]

Yes reflexology is the keyword for foot massage. and nooo you don't have to undress for a foot massage. Usually they have separate areas strictly for just foot massages in a big room with lazy boy type chairs.

Alternatively, I have also seen barbers in Jakarta offering foot massages. In these places, you don’t need to undress, but they might ask you to change into shorts to prevent your trousers from getting wet. You are highly likely to get a male therapist. It seems there aren’t many offering this service, possibly due to lower demand compared to the income they can earn solely from barbering.

This is what I was able to find on YT. The video includes the address. If you are searching for similar places, you might come across more places like this.

A more affordable option is also available on the street in pedestrian areas. In this case, people definitely don't need to undress. By choosing this service over the more luxurious ones, you are also helping this guy make ends meet.

Foot massage, reflexology is almost certain available in any spa, and you do not need to get naked if you do not want to. All you need is just to explain what you want. They might just charge you a standard price.

 

[xplorsky89]

Yes reflexology is the keyword for foot massage. and nooo you don't have to undress for a foot massage. Usually they have separate areas strictly for just foot massages in a big room with lazy boy type chairs.

Alright, I got it. Walked into a reflexology shop in a mall today, and yes, back to Thailand right there, foot massage chairs and all in order. Mystery solved!

The last question, I do prefer a female therapist, even for a normal massage, so would it be alright if I asked for a female in case they offered me a male? I hope it would not be frowned upon to make such a request

 

[xplorsky89]

I'm glad you pointed this out! I always wondered why those Pretty girls would look at me strange, when I got naked for a foot Massage!

Bro, I think they just misunderstood you when you told them you wanted a footjob, not a foot massage

 

[pantaiema]

Alright, I got it. Walked into a reflexology shop in a mall today, and yes, back to Thailand right there, foot massage chairs and all in order. Mystery solved!

The last question, I do prefer a female therapist, even for a normal massage, so would it be alright if I asked for a female in case they offered me a male? I hope it would not be frowned upon to make such a request

If they have female therapist I am almost certain You could do that and will do for you. All you need is just to explain clearly (no ambiguity) what you want and better to do it before they present you a male therapist.

 

[Shadrach]

If they have female therapist I am almost certain You could do that and will do for you. All you need is just to explain clearly (no ambiguity) what you want and better to do it before they present you a male therapist.

Hey you had better be Careful what you ask for! I've seen some Pretty Ladyboys in Thailand that You thought for sure was a Woman? They might be Here Also?

 

[xplorsky89]

This is what I was able to find on YT. The video includes the address. If you are searching for similar places, you might come across more places like this.

Got it.

Foot massage, reflexology is almost certain available in any spa, and you do not need to get naked if you do not want to. All you need is just to explain what you want. They might just charge you a standard price.

Alternatively, I have also seen barbers in Jakarta offering foot massages. In these places, you don’t need to undress, but they might ask you to change into shorts to prevent your trousers from getting wet. You are highly likely to get a male therapist. It seems there aren’t many offering this service, possibly due to lower demand compared to the income they can earn solely from barbering.

This is what I was able to find on YT. The video includes the address. If you are searching for similar places, you might come across more places like this.

A more affordable option is also available on the street in pedestrian areas. In this case, people definitely don't need to undress. By choosing this service over the more luxurious ones, you are also helping this guy make ends meet.

Foot massage, reflexology is almost certain available in any spa, and you do not need to get naked if you do not want to. All you need is just to explain what you want. They might just charge you a standard price.

Thanks for that. It's not an option I would typically choose, but good to know it's there. I like to think by choosing a professionally looking reflexology shop I would be getting a therapist who actually went to some formal massage training. I know it might not be always true though.

If I go to a hotel spa providing services to men, they'll do a regular massage too but I might not be getting a professionally trained therapist there.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

In Jakarta you don't walk down the street like you do in Thailand. There is no Sukhumvit. There are also none of those ones where you get bitten by fish.

 

[Wisnu]

There are also none of those ones where you get bitten by fish.

Here, they call it terapi ikan or Fish therapy. It can be found in several malls and Ruko, although the number is not as many as reflexology massage.

 

[Banana72]

I'm glad you pointed this out! I always wondered why those Pretty girls would look at me strange, when I got naked for a foot Massage!

Yep happened to me too, I asked her why am I undressing for just a foot massage, and second..you're my dentist, is this a normal procedure before a root canal?

 

[Banana72]

Alright, I got it. Walked into a reflexology shop in a mall today, and yes, back to Thailand right there, foot massage chairs and all in order. Mystery solved!

The last question, I do prefer a female therapist, even for a normal massage, so would it be alright if I asked for a female in case they offered me a male? I hope it would not be frowned upon to make such a request

No. You can ask male or female freely!

 

[xplorsky89]

It's almost as cheap to let a shop do it and you support a local worker in the process. They really do a nice job and you get them back folded.

I’d love to support a local worker, but not at the expense of hygiene. Example? While in Jogja, came upon a full-service + self-service laundry shop near my hotel. With the help of the attending lady, I load my clothes, trying to explain her I want a regular cycle wash, she pushes the “Favorite” button on the pad, then pushes Start, and I’m realizing the favorite is the Quick Wash: 15 minutes cold water, single rinse. So here we are, the shop uses the quickest 15 min wash and I am sure they use it as the default for all the full service jobs as well. It’s not enough, it should be regular cycle 30-45 min to wash the bacteria away, especially that they will likely throw in a few other people’s items into your load to max their time, and who knows maybe use minimal detergent, just enough to make it smell good. Those who live here can figure out trusted shops that do not cut corners like that, but for those of us staying here temporarily and moving around, giving clothes to a random shop will get the poor results above. Self-service laundromats exist for a reason, but unfortunately not around here.

Luckily for me, by the time the washer counted down the 15 minutes, the actual elapsed time was close to 30 min… a faulty washer timer, or maybe the name of the shop was Einstein laundry and washers spinning the drums at astronomical speeds slowing the time down, who knows, but I got my 30 min wash this time around.

 

[Hawk256]

I’d love to support a local worker, but not at the expense of hygiene. Example? While in Jogja, came upon a full-service + self-service laundry shop near my hotel. With the help of the attending lady, I load my clothes, trying to explain her I want a regular cycle wash, she pushes the “Favorite” button on the pad, then pushes Start, and I’m realizing the favorite is the Quick Wash: 15 minutes cold water, single rinse. So here we are, the shop uses the quickest 15 min wash and I am sure they use it as the default for all the full service jobs as well. It’s not enough, it should be regular cycle 30-45 min to wash the bacteria away, especially that they will likely throw in a few other people’s items into your load to max their time, and who knows maybe use minimal detergent, just enough to make it smell good. Those who live here can figure out trusted shops that do not cut corners like that, but for those of us staying here temporarily and moving around, giving clothes to a random shop will get the poor results above. Self-service laundromats exist for a reason, but unfortunately not around here.

Luckily for me, by the time the washer counted down the 15 minutes, the actual elapsed time was close to 30 min… a faulty washer timer, or maybe the name of the shop was Einstein laundry and washers spinning the drums at astronomical speeds slowing the time down, who knows, but I got my 30 min wash this time around.

I guess some of it could come down to luck. I have always had expectational experiences with outside laundry but I can see where a negative experience or two could turn you off the idea.

 

[xplorsky89]

I guess some of it could come down to luck. I have always had expectational experiences with outside laundry but I can see where a negative experience or two could turn you off the idea.

You're right, I've also used full service many times when self-service was not there, and just keeping good faith that most of them do a good job. But I prefer self-service for the reasons above.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

That's very interesting. I had always wondered why self service laundries still exist.