Jakarta

[QUOTE=Xdentx]... can anyone here recommend a great legit massage place or spa that one can use during "down" time in Jakarta? Thanks. I just arrived here yesterday and am staying in the Blok M area, hotel Ambhara...

...By the way, I need some cultural diversions for the daytime while I'm her for the next 4 nights. May have a look at the Central National Museum, but any other suggestions?[/QUOTE]
Try:

[B]Jaspa Family Spa[/B]
inside Mal Ambasador, 3rd floor
Jalan Prof. Dr. Satrio - 1 km. due east of Hotel Le Meridien (Jalan Sudirman)
and Fortune Spa, and around 10 minutes north of Hotel Ambhara
Kuningan, Jakarta

Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tel: (021) 576-0480
Has an external entrance at the front of the mall, next to the Al Fresh fruit shop, take the elevator to the 3rd floor.

Don't be deceived by the word "Family," the spa does offer massages for women, but on a different floor (2nd floor), separate from the men's floors (3rd and 4th). I've never seen another "bule" (foreigner here), most customers are Chinese Indonesians.

Price: a 1 hour massage is 90,000 rupiah, 90 minutes for 135,000 rupiah. The girls prefer and request that you choose the 90 minutes rather than the 1 hour session. The house fee is discounted if you have a session between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

There appear to be 15-20 girls working here. You do not get to see them ahead of time, nor do you see any photos; instead, the receptionist at the front desk shows you a list of the names of the available girls, along with the adjective "Strong" "Medium" or "Soft" to describe the type of massage they give. The receptionist will describe the girls to you and try to answer any questions you may have about them.

Yes, it is possible to have only a legitimate massage here, especially if you choose a "strong" masseuse such as Poppy, who I recommend highly.

Until six months ago, it was easy to also get a HJ here, with tips starting at 100,000 rupiah for a HJ, although it was almost impossible to get a bj or full service here. However, the most recent reports I've read suggest that even a HJ may not be available any more.

The spa is relatively new (7 years old) and is spotlessly clean and modern. The massage rooms have a mattress on the raised floor, with a thick curtain covering the doorway, and the walls only go up 2 1/2 meters or so, not all the way to the ceiling. The men's section has a locker room, sauna, jacuzzi and showers on the 3rd floor (where the front reception desk is) as well as a small lounge with a bar and TV.

The routine here is that you check in at reception (3rd floor) where you are given a locker key and the opportunity to choose a girl for a massage. Then you proceed to the locker room and change into shorts and a top (that they provide). You can then use the sauna/jacuzzi first, or else walk straight upstairs one flight (to the 4th floor) where the massage rooms are.

Convenient location, not far from Jalan Sudirman and the Karet bus stop on the Transjakarta. Definitely a better location than Unique Spa, and cheaper than the somewhat-comparable Fortune Spa.

Here's a run-down on some of the girls:

[B]Poppy[/B] has worked there since the place opened seven years ago and is probably 30-32 years old. Average face, extremely nice personality, and she gives the best "strong" massage of anyone working here. Poppy is my top choice here, unfortunately she's pretty popular so she's not always available. Note: you can call ahead to book a girl at Jaspa, and I now always call ahead if I want Poppy.

[B]Tuty[/B] is only 20 years old and extremely tiny, her body matches the classic definition of a spinner. Although she's quite thin and weighs only 35 kgs., she has strong hands and gives an excellent "medium" massage. She also has surprisingly large, firm breasts (relative to her body type). I was so surprised the first time I saw them that I thought that she had had implants, but no, they're all real. Note: Tuty does not have an especially attractive face.

[B]Fitri[/B] is in her early 20s, short and very cute, with huge breasts, but is pretty chunky which might be a turn-off for many members here. She also gives a good "medium" massage.

*******************

Cultural? Head up to Fatahillah Square to check out the History Museum, located inside the old City Hall built in the 1730s. Nearby are the Arts Museum (in another 18th century building) and a puppet museum. And stop by the Cafe Batavia directly across from the History Museum on the same square, interesting bar/restaurant inside a building built in 1810 - a good place for a drink and a break.

[QUOTE=Raverboy]Try the branch of 'Bersih Sehat Family Massage' located at 106 Jalan KH Wahid Hasyim near Agus Salim. As the name suggests it is a clean, well-run massage place popular with the middle-class-and-up locals.[/QUOTE]

For a regular good massage with no hanky-panky, the Besih Sehat is a good bet, except that if you are staying in Ambhara then the Bersih Sehat branch at Pasar Mayestik is even closer than the one on Jl Wahid Hasyim. Moreover, the Bersih Sehat at Mayestik also has a sauna room that operates on Saturday and Sunday.

[QUOTE=SE Asia Joe]May I perhaps give you - and also others who may be wanting to try - my suggestions. I monger quite a bit of time in China and thus am quite familiar with the routine in China.
1. That price you paid is outrageous by China Standards. For what - US$200, you had to settle for "pleasant faced buxom gal" (with a guy's name nonetheless - but that's besides the point!) while you would have gotten some real beauties here - especially in Southern China where you could get FULL services for RMB238 up (US$40) and would have been given as many choices as offered in Lines after lines of 5-6 gals at a time, until you get what your heart really desire. Sugestion - save your $$ by going for the usual service that I do know is available quite cheaply there; and when you've saved enough, come here to experience the real deal!
2. If this place is modelled after the China method, then each gal would have been issued with a "menu card" which is like a credit card and lists the whole gamut of services that the gal MUST follow, and which you can instruct her to "name the service" when she is actually doing it. This way, if you don't like a certain service, you can skip it and go to the next on on offer which you think you will like....without having you to have your own ideas or suggestion which may or may not be pleasurable after all.
3. Remember, the gal has been trained to do these things on the menu which had been field tested for "pleasure acceptance" by at least a majority of mongers thru the years! And these menus runs anywhere from 14 items to as much as 28 different services that they are to offer in the 2 hours (I just had a 26 item last week and DID skip at least 10 of them - things like when they start trying to violate my backside with other things than their tongue!!). Stop her only after she starts something on you and you don't like it. She'll skip it and go to the next item. I cannot over-emphasise the suggestion to let them get on with their own program and just stop them when it's not to your own liking - as this way, you get to experience things that you never even imagined could happen between 2 regular human beings!
4. Prior to the session, establish how many times you can come during your time there - most saunas in China will program at least 2 pops/session, whilst some will even allow as many pops as you can manage within the alloted time period. Again this will let you figure out your own program.

Just my humble suggestion and hope nobody here takes offense to them

SEAJ

DISCLAIMER - Hope to God that the service on offer there is modelled after the Chinese one!! And that the "house" there would be as service minded/client satisfaction guaranteed as over here!.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your comments SEAJ. Sure I paid too much and if I was in China I would have paid one-fifth the amount and could have chosen a stunner and, sure, if I lived on the moon I could have eaten green cheese for free! But the fact remains that I am in Jakarta with no prospect of going to China to sample its delights.

I posted the field report of my experiences for the benefit of other mongers who might like to try what is available here because there was no report on the services available on the 5th floor of Alexis on the Jakarta thread. For those who want the "real Mcoy" and can manage to go to China, I wish them a great experience based on the info contained in your post and what is given on the China forum and its threads.

[QUOTE=FieldMouse]Theres a drive-in-and-hide transit hotel at Halim, on the way to Halim airport, Tirta Sanotosa its called, its the closest one I know of to bekasi, but it is still a long way to go, probl 15 mins in good traffic. It works on same principle as Pondok Nirwana, you drive in and someone closes the door behind you so noone sees your car, but as I said, its not close, then you have to get back to bekasi to return your catch. Let me know if you find anything closer, I'll also keep an eye/ear open next few visists there.

Fieldy[/QUOTE]
Pondok Tirta Sentosa...

I attached their telp number long time ago in thread info, correct....on the way to Halim airport (on the left side). This place is run by retired airforce organization. The safest and cleanest place in East JKT area.

Other Mall destination to get easy gal is Kalibata Mall - South JKT, the closest hotel I think Hotel Kaisar (Duren Tiga raya) with transit hours.

cheers...

[QUOTE=Spice Lover]Thanks for your comments SEAJ. Sure I paid too much and if I was in China I would have paid one-fifth the amount and could have chosen a stunner and, sure, if I lived on the moon I could have eaten green cheese for free! But the fact remains that I am in Jakarta with no prospect of going to China to sample its delights.

I posted the field report of my experiences for the benefit of other mongers who might like to try what is available here because there was no report on the services available on the 5th floor of Alexis on the Jakarta thread. For those who want the "real Mcoy" and can manage to go to China, I wish them a great experience based on the info contained in your post and what is given on the China forum and its threads.[/QUOTE]
Awww.... come on Spicelover.... I wasn't knocking or belittling your report or your experience at all. In fact it was a great report and all I was trying to....without causing any offense - is to give pointers for the next guy who wants to try the service you had.

Anyway.... Peace dude.... and out

SEAJ

The first time visitor to Jakarta has some limited options for daytime cultural diversions...especially if cruising malls for hours on end doesn't satisfy your intellectual curosity. The huge size of the city coupled with language and sineage issues complicate self discovery. The hotel concierge recommended GreyLine Tours and I was so pleased with my first tour that I signed up for a second one the following day. For between $30 and $40 you get your own driver, guide, and small van. Each day there were only two people on the tour, so interaction between you and the guide is maximized. There are brouchures in the hotels showing available tours and sights to be seen. Museums, ship harbor, art market, and Chinatown are some of the options. You are picked up at your hotel between 8:30 and 9:00am and returned around 3 or 4 pm. My female guide was personable, spoke good English, and did a good job showing us the sights. Considering the large distances covered, I don't think you could duplicate the tours in a private taxi much more cheaply. Highly recommend for those of you with time to kill and photos to take. Not to be missed on a tour is a lunch break at the Cafe Batrava with first rate food and a unique ambiance. I returned there on a subsequent day for another lunch and more photos. Cab fare from the Ambhara to the cafe approached 100,000 IDR, so the tour is a good value in my opinion.

Can anyone confirm if the Maribaya/Melawai 6th floor massage has reopened. I know the place has been on its last legs for a long while but its difficult to beat the location. Anyone been there since the Labaran break? Any new good talent?

Confirm that Maribaya is open.

Just went there tonight (night shift), counted around 10 girls.

[QUOTE=Mojito]Confirm that Maribaya is open.

Just went there tonight (night shift), counted around 10 girls.[/QUOTE]Hi bro,

Yes, I think still open but they close at about 11pm every night.

My humble two cents.

[QUOTE=Oyenk]Pondok Tirta Sentosa.

Other Mall destination to get easy gal is Kalibata Mall - South JKT, the closest hotel I think Hotel Kaisar (Duren Tiga raya) with transit hours.

cheers...[/QUOTE]I was at kaisar last week with my regular friend, still 210, 000 for transit. Rooms are ok, but a LONG way to take a girl frm Bekasi, and there is no easy way to get to it, both Jl Pasar Minggu and Jl Kalibata are very congested for most the day after 10am.

Fieldy

[QUOTE=FieldMouse]I was at kaisar last week with my regular friend, still 210, 000 for transit. Rooms are ok, but a LONG way to take a girl frm Bekasi, and there is no easy way to get to it, both Jl Pasar Minggu and Jl Kalibata are very congested for most the day after 10am.

Fieldy[/QUOTE]
So the price has raised, two years ago around 170,000 rupiahs and 190,000 rupiahs. I meant from Kalibata Mall...not from Metropolitan Mall (usually gals pronounce it with metmall).
Hunt them in the afternoon or evening, most Mall in JKT open around 12am, the best time to hunt in Kalibata Mall around 3pm until evening.

Hotel Kaisar belongs to Maharaja group (Hotel Maharaja, Hotel Maharani, Hotel Sentral / central JKT and Kaisar).

Guys,

Could you please let me know at what time girl are available in Stadium? Is there some action during daytime? Is my understanding correct that the MP is on the 3rd floor?

Thanks a lot

[QUOTE=Spider916]Guys,

Could you please let me know at what time girl are available in Stadium? Is there some action during daytime? Is my understanding correct that the MP is on the 3rd floor?

Thanks a lot[/QUOTE]Hi Bro,

Stadium do not have any much actions in the afternoon, disco on the 4th floor and 2nd floor is the lounge. Try the 2nd floor everynight.

My humble two cents.

[QUOTE=Spider916]Guys,

Could you please let me know at what time girl are available in Stadium? Is there some action during daytime? Is my understanding correct that the MP is on the 3rd floor?

Thanks a lot[/QUOTE]

Yep, the 'MP' is on the 3rd floor, although i am not sure if massages are on the menu! Walk through the bar area, past the cashier and you end up near the fish bowls. I think this floor has daytime action but i can't be sure as i only went during the evening.

Is it just me or has Jakarta lost its buzz all of a sudden?