DAWN.COM Logo

Indonesia's snake massage

AFP Published November 5, 2013
While many people who get the massage at the centre, called Bali Heritage Reflexology and Spa, are thrill seekers or just looking for a new experience, a handful, like Tilukay, are trying to get over a life-long fear of snakes.
While many people who get the massage at the centre, called Bali Heritage Reflexology and Spa, are thrill seekers or just looking for a new experience, a handful, like Tilukay, are trying to get over a life-long fear of snakes.
“We are angry to hear about any kind of animal exploitation, including snakes,” group spokesman Benvika, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP.
“We are angry to hear about any kind of animal exploitation, including snakes,” group spokesman Benvika, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP.
Pythons slither over Indonesian customer Ferdi Tilukay, a 31 year old accountant, for a “snake body massage” session at the Bali Heritage Reflexology and Spa located in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta.
Pythons slither over Indonesian customer Ferdi Tilukay, a 31 year old accountant, for a “snake body massage” session at the Bali Heritage Reflexology and Spa located in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta.
Before the 90-minute treatment, which costs 480,000 rupiah ($43), the snakes are taken out of the plastic boxes where they are kept and cleaned with anti-septic.
Before the 90-minute treatment, which costs 480,000 rupiah ($43), the snakes are taken out of the plastic boxes where they are kept and cleaned with anti-septic.
The spa, which is decorated with wooden furniture in the style of a traditional house on the resort island of Bali, keeps five snakes which are fed a diet of live rabbits.
The spa, which is decorated with wooden furniture in the style of a traditional house on the resort island of Bali, keeps five snakes which are fed a diet of live rabbits.
Animal rights groups have raised concerns, with the Jakarta Animal Aid Network describing the treatment of the snakes as “exploitation”.
Animal rights groups have raised concerns, with the Jakarta Animal Aid Network describing the treatment of the snakes as “exploitation”.
The spa’s general manager Paulus Abraham insisted that the snakes were not being ill-treated -- and that they enjoyed the contact with humans that came from the massages.
The spa’s general manager Paulus Abraham insisted that the snakes were not being ill-treated -- and that they enjoyed the contact with humans that came from the massages.

Lying on a massage table at a spa in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Feri Tilukay closed his eyes and smiled blissfully as three enormous snakes slithered all over him. He is one of a small band of customers brave enough to try the “snake massage”, where the gentle hands of a professionally trained masseuse are swapped for the cold, scaly skin of six-foot (1.8-metre) pythons.

Read more

On DawnNews
Dawn News English

Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.

Latest Stories

dawn images site

Most Popular

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

Must Read

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...