Loosely translated, it means “Chinese girl (or boy) has a floral bath”.
Indeed that is what I did today. My confinement lady recommended this traditional tukang urut (masseur) when I’d complained to her about my back ache less than one week after Kayley’s birth. I had a masseur during my confinement with Bradley but she wasn’t good so I did not engage her again. I was pleasantly surprised that Kak Ani spoke fluent English when I called her to arrange for a house visit, and was even more surprised that she was willing to come to my area despite her staying in Rawang. Later, she told me that she even goes as far as Kajang although her rates would had incorporated the mileage.
What is so special abour her massage is that it is traditionally-Malay, using the same techniques that her anchestors used many years ago. The 2-hour session starts off with a sauna, which really is steaming of the face and *gasp* vagina using water boiled with pandan leaves, serai and ginger. The purpose is to get rid of the excessive water in the face and body. It is heavenly, I tell you!! I can feel all my stress and tension slip away when inhaling the steam.
After that, the deep tissue massage starts. Kak Ani uses long, patient strokes to un-do all the knots in the body. She spends a considerable amout of time on problem areas (you don’t have to tell her, she knows where!) while bantering with you – she has many interesting stories *wink*. On request, she can even serenade to you, having been a singer in her younger days. In between the massages, she uses a heated up river stone to rub all over, providing instant relief to any muscle aches. I also requested for her to massage my boobs to clear blocked ducts. Painful, but effective and highly recommended if you are nursing. The milk flowed like a river after the message.
Today, after 3 sessions, I had a honey body scrub but before that, my entire body was slattered with egg white mixed with lime juice. After a thorough scrub-in, we proceeded to the much-awaited “mandi bunga” or floral bath. This is a standard ritual for brides-to-be, I’m told, although there are actually 7 different bath types (“mandi tujuh aura”), of which mine was “Mandi Seri”. See how pretty it is? There are roses, chrysanthemum, jasmine, thick slices of oranges, lime and kaffir lime. It is not only pretty, it smells refreshing!
First, a quick shower to wash off the egg white mixture and scrub. Then Kak Ani gives me a thoroughly relaxing hair wash followed by the floral bath, where the flowers are crushed in your hand and scrubbed against your skin. The oranges, lime and kaffir lime are also used as a scrub while the juices are squeezed concurrently. Nothing in that pail is wasted! I smell heavenly right now. Anyone wants free smells?
