Tuesday 2 May 2006

Of traditional uruts and bad back

I think I’ve done it again. A sharp twinge in the back when I bent down to pick up something yesterday told me I should be back on my back and contemplate the ceiling once again. Instead, I have other things to do.

A massage would be good, so I am told. But the very thought of hands; foreign, alien hands up and down my ample body – oh TIDAAAAAK!!!

I remember times when Mak needed a massage. With a bottle of minyak angin Pak Awang loceng, which soon reeked throughout the whole house, we’d rub it down her soft white skin. Mak worked hard, from morning she’d be preparing kueh to sell and then there’s all of us to look after.

When we were smaller, she’d ask us to step on her back. And we’d do so ever so gingerly lest we break her back. Right now, I wouldn’t dream of asking my children to do that. They’d break my back into half.

Talking about massage, even after each childbirth, I refused to have any massage, raising quite a few eye brows that I should be so bold as to disregard such practice. However, now I see a lot of my younger friends here, who would pay an arm and a leg to get some mak ciks over and do the traditional massage after they gave birth. All they needed to do was pay for the flight of the Mak Cik, give her a room and pay for her services. Once the word gets around that there’s a mak cik urut, she’d be doing the circuit, with more than enough money to take back – in sterling!

Anyway, with my bad back and all, as soon as I publish this entry I’d be ouching my way to Harrods. No, not to shop. But, as chance would have it, Harrods is launching its Malaysian Spa at Urban Retreat at 4pm today. It is a week long festival which brings together the spas from Spa Villa Kuala Lumpur, Tanjung Jara and Pangkur Laut – all in Knightsbridge.

This is what you get at Urban Retreat:

Campur-Campur
The name Campur-Campur means “a blending of varieties” in Malay. Combining the best techniques of Malay and Thai massage, our special creation uses touch, tone and aromatherapy to deliver a memorable and sensory experience. The scent of lemon grass and pandan leaves fills the air as steamed herbs are pressed along the body using a traditional steam pouch.


Traditional Malay Massage
The art of traditional Malay massage is passed on from generation to generation. The technique consists of long kneading strokes that focus on the muscles and specially selected pressure points in the body. This treatment uses oil made with local herbs such as turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, onion and citronella blended to invigorate the circulation. The treatment is concluded with an ancient remedy mixed in an earthen pot filled with scented herbal roots and flower buds. This special tonic is believed to be the secret of Anti-Aging.

Ulik Nyiur (Malay Hair Treatment) 50 minutes £xxxx
This therapeutic traditional Malay hair treatment begins with a head and shoulder massage using specially brewed herbal oil, followed by an application of freshly blended coconut crème. This treatment helps condition the hair and scalp, maintaining its lustre, condition and colour.

Bamboo Tapping Tui-na An Mo
One of the major differences between Chinese massage and other massage techniques is the emphasis on the acu-points and directional flow of the subtle channels in the body. Tui-na massage is more than a system of relaxation and tension release. Although attention is also placed on the tendo-muscular system, the focus on subtle channels allows one to influence the organs on a deeper level and treat complex complaints. Bamboo Tapping is well-known in martial art circles. It is believed that by tapping the body with bamboo bundles, it will bring energy to the surface and improve the immunity of the body.

Chinese Pearl, Rice and Egg Undulation Facial
A perfect complexion is prized by the Chinese and so this traditional and effective treatment was quickly annexed by the Malay people from their neighbours. In keeping with ancient Chinese tradition, warm hard-boiled eggs are rolled on the face simultaneously with focused and specific strokes. This treatment quickly soothes facial breakouts and settles inflammation. The egg massage is followed by a pearl and rice facial for a superior clear and complexion.

During the Malaysian Spa Festival additional exclusive retail items will be available at Urban Retreat, create your own Malay Spa experience at home with Aroma incense cones (£9), Minyak Puteri or Princess Oil (£14), Baros Rapi Herbal Scrub (£24) and Malaysian Scented Soaps (£12).

The Malaysian Spa Festival runs from May 2nd—28th for bookings call 020 7893 8333.


Will certainly update once I am back from there. If I dont break my back further at Harrods, it'll be my already very fragile bank account.

25 comments:

Nazrah Leopolis said...

waaaa....

mak bidan senusantara would now dare to have big dreams eh.

Anonymous said...

Kak tehh...
Put up pictures lah of the minyak2 and the sabun! Aduhai tak larat nak pi knightsbridge, sure nak kena pikir nak parking mana dulu *gelak*...

Idham said...

am proud ...very proud to know malaysian urut is making waves on international circuit....and to do that sort of thing in Harrods...wallaaa...that is called class!
Go for it Kak Teh...citer ye nanti!

IdHam<---ururt sendiri je bila away from home ..huhuhu

Anonymous said...

Padanle...kak Teh nampak muda selalu...(sebab geli-gemam foreign hands merayap kat badan...) Hm..tambah menggiurkan lagi kalau dgn baju kedah hm...or is it baju 'kasmah-booty' or is it 'sarimah' in Madu Tiga....

UglyButAdorable said...

woww..launching at harrods..not bad at all.. btw boleh amikkan bau donuts dier..yumm...yummm..marvellous.. once a week i'll get my nephews or nieces do jumping jack on my back..masih larat lagi laa.. give it another year..i'll prolly be on a wheelchair if suh buat lagi..

simah said...

if i ask people here, they will relate massage with thai massage (wonder why)..glad to hear malaysian massage is making its way internationally..bangga bangga..

anggerik merah said...

Kak Teh, rasa macam nak turun ke London for the urut2 at Harrod. But thinking abt the cost it will incur for such treatment here make me think twice.

All this massage thingy is my norm back in Msia. I really missed it. With my previous backache, I had physiotherapist recommended by GP to take care of me. That was how I ended up with Yoga & Pilate until now. It does help me a lot for my acking body, backacke, muscle pain etc etc. Yes, please share yr story abt Harod trip! Take care..

Alinlai said...

kak teh,
Ulik Nyiur (Malay Hair Treatment) 50 minutes £xxxx - ingatkan urut guna minyak nyok tanak ke ke ke...

Mama Rock said...

bring conservative, I'd go for the traditional urut laa...ni good prospect ni, belajar urut then i go London and offer my service for a week or two :)

Kak Teh said...

nazrah, ya - big prospects lah...why not!
mar, bukan saja nak pikir mana nak park, nak pikir macam mana nak bayark! so the very expensive.
idham -yes - it is very classy. the rooms were all fully booked yesterday. Locals are really into it now.
orang kampong, ish, memang geli punya tu!
uglybutadorable, yes, the doughnuts are worth the sniffs. I left quite late and the store was aleready closing. tak sempat nak beli krispy krim donuts! After two of those, i dont think the mak cik urut can find any urat2 in the body!

Kak Teh said...

simah - true! yes, urut has come a long way eh?
AM, if you want to come down to London,let me know. I think I can take you to a cheaper place. Holiday Villa pun offer cheaper balinese massage.
alinlai, kak teh terlupa nak erase tu. kalau letakkan real price memang terkejut den!
mama rock, u do the training and i do the marketing!

AuntyN said...

Kalau macam ni nak suruh Angah (my second doter) tukar ambition dia tu from nak jadi doktor to jadi tukang urut. Boleh nanti join force dengan Kak Teh pi megurut kat London, Paris, New york. Tu ha!! Mak oiii tingginya cita-cita (read : angan-angan) hehehe

ROYAL JESTER said...

Kak Teh, betul tu, u might as well take up the trade.Boleh buat byk duit jadi tukang urut. Even here in Malaysia. Since u geli diurut, y not u become the uruter.hehehe..bestnya a massage....

Atok said...

KT,

I got an email of this spa event last week; forwarded it to madam. Dia kata, "nak belanja ke?". So, I guess, we might be making our way there too. Ada discounts for Harrods cardholders tak?

Takpalah, madam gi try yg ni, I gi HVilla je lah... lepas urut boleh isi perut.

anggerik merah said...

Kak Teh, kat HVilla ada Balinese massage ke? Glad that you told me. Will let you know if I turun London. We can meet up. ;-))

KakNi said...

kak teh, seronok wo pi urut, lepas urut rasa macam nak pi tidoq (relax)

Ely said...

waaaaaaaaaaa...best nyeeerrrrrr!

KT, jgn takut lah, pergi jer urut tuh! go for ALL!

for me, i wont be getting any urut after birth this time...no such makciks lurking around SF! maybe mak will urut me a little :(

mama irma said...

Kak Teh, urut in Harrods!! Wah...an experience you should not miss!!!!

Anonymous said...

Urut in Harrods? Hmmm...tempting. Jane Sunshine

MA said...

Uh, baru lepas kena urut masa balik Johor last week - semua urat bersimpul.

Aisehman, I tak pandai mengurut - kalau tak, boleh bukak booth kat Harrods....

Kak Teh said...

hehehe auntyN, best tu - Makcik Urut -London, Paris, new York!
putri, i cannot be uruter, nanti i pun tergeli-gelaman.
atok, i cant afford gharrods price. Holiday Villa boleh ler.
Anggreh Merah, yes, di Holiday Villa ada, Let me know when you are coming.

Kak Teh said...

cikni, kak teh nak try urut masa balik malaysia lah - depa kata lebih murah.
ely, you want me to send one over? hehe!
mama irma, kak teh tak pergi harrods untuk urut, just for the launch and coverage - that is all. tak mampu lah!
jane, go and have a massage there - u deserve it.
mak andeh, belajarlah - buat crash course in urut and then we get a stall - hehe!

Queen Of The House said...

I'm just wondering how much that traditional Malay urut costs at Harrods. Kalau di Alor Setar, murah ya amat!

Kak Teh said...

Queen, yang paling murah is £75!!! Mak Oi, patah belakang kerja dapat duit banyak tu untuk urut for one hour! Memang, di alork stark mesti murah!

bibliobibuli said...

the massage sounds good fun ... but if it's in harrods bet it costs the earth ...

i don't like going for malay style massages - i find them a bit ouchy - would rather just have lovely smelling stuff just stroked on me

i gave up massages here after one masseur suddenly gave the most terrific belch ... i thought how rude, she didn't even say "excuse me" ... later she said it was because i had too much air in my body and she was expelling it for me ... sure, and i wasn't born yesterday