4 photos
Out and About, Grand Imperial.
Like others here, I'm a connoisseur. Some focus on erotic photographic escapades, like Asian Rain and Dorman; others relate an amazing breath of experiences and encounters, like Offshore Swell and Smoothy and Montana). As for me, these days, I find myself exploring the world of spas and so I've become a connoisseur. Of pricey handjobs.
Cut me some slack. I have a history of posting rambling reports that show I really just like getting out of the house more than I do a serious, mission-oriented approach to our hobby. Anyway, since my transition from "mas" to "om", I am done with a regular diet of fast food. Sure, I will have a Big Mac from time to time, but more often than not I regret going to MacDonald's in the first place. What I really look forward to is a fine meal. The same holds true for my massage experiences.
These days, I spoil myself with a man's day out. A shoeshine at the little stand under the Fairmont Hotel, then a haircut and a head massage from a barber (not a stylist) at Paxi (now Premier), followed by a full massage at Mitra Sehat (which has many happy ending and plus plus opportunities, which is a story for another day).
However, I end my man-about-town days at Grand Imperial on Jl. Wijaya I. I've spent four, five, even seven hours there (which is almost as much time you'll spend reading this report).
The Venue: Grand Imperial is an Asian style spa, open early, around 11 am or 1 pm, and catering predominately to Japanese and Koreans, with a smattering of Javanese and Western dudes. It is a genteel, polite and low key. Next door is a Korean restaurant. Across the street, there's an upscale bakery. It's the proverbial clean, well-lighted place.
Enter: Approach the reception podium and the ladies will give you a menu, but don't fuss about it until later, after you're inside. These gals handle payments and will give you a number to wear on your wrist.
Layout: The locker room is immediately to the right. It is smaller than the one at Classic Spa but larger than the one at Kimochi. It's clean, clean, clean and your number is a keycard that opens your locker. How technologically savvy! Times are changing! There are two small rooms off of the lockers to be used as private changing areas, although one is now a musholla. Times are changing! Put on the pair of shorts you're given. If you wish, give the locker attendant lad your shoes to be polished (and tip him Rp 20,000 or whatever when you leave).
Immediately outside the locker is the booking counter, although I usually walk straight to the showers first, then to the large, heated pool for a soak, then to the sauna, then to the steam room. I grab cold towels from the freezer. The pool is at the center of the large room. It's ringed by a bunch of tables and then the sauna, steam room, showers and scrub rooms. I spend about an hour soaking and sweating, etc. When I am ready, I approach the booking counter. There you can look at the menu of services. The full package runs between Rp 475,000 and Rp 575,000, depending on the size of the room you choose. For that you get free use of the spa and sauna, an hour-long scrub and a 90-minute massage that culminates in a "happy ending", automatically and without asking.
Yes, it's expensive for what you get.
Yes, you can go the full magilla for less.
Yes, some people don't like striding around in towels.
Yes, this is aimed at Koreans and Japanese, who appreciate the quality of the experience.
I do, too, and don't feel it's overpriced.
I typically get the paket with the scrub and maasage (see pic).
Choosing girls: You don't get to see the girls before choosing, although the attendants, in their tight batik dresses, will do their best to find a therapist that meets your desires. Apparently, there are therapists, who give the full 90-minute massage, and boom-boom girls, who just give a few tweaks and then a 20-minute wham-bam. I've always asked for a good massage, and have always gotten a winner. On all fronts. Don't be shy. The booking girls know why you're there and are eager to help.
You'll have to wait for the therapist a few minutes. I like to wait upstairs, in the dark second level (see pics). There's a bunch of leather sofas by the stairway leading to the third floor, where the girls hang out, so I can scope the ladies in their super-short skirt uniforms and high heels tottering up and down stairs. Your girl comes to greet you and takes you to one of the curtained tatami massage rooms. The ladies I have met are between 21 and 28, all sexy or beautiful, in their own way. There are ones with bathtubs, but I usually take the smaller rooms that are farther from the street. Inside the room, she'll take your clothes off an start the massage.
No one really speaks English there, so Indonesian helps. The massage is serious, including shiatsu and oil, and they're not shy about getting you excited. I remember one girl who would massage my legs, facing my feet, hiking her skirt up over her white panties. Another very bosomy girl kept popping out of her too-tight uniform shirt. By the end of the massage, she'll start with the included happy ending. Typically, this involves hoisting your legs over hers as she squats between your legs. It gives her good access to you, above and below, but pins you down.
You can shift position, though. I've discovered that a tip will get her shirt off. Or whole kit off. Or even more. The massage girls don't **have** to do anything more than a HJ, but a little cash and a pleasant attitude can get you the world. The girls have generally been amenable to whatever I suggested and aren't too stressed by playful lust-driven pawing. ("You're a man, you're getting massaged. It's normal," said one girl). I typically extend for a third session (for Rp 150,000) so as not to rush this.
OK, so you've got your happy ending after maybe two-and-a-half or three hours. But wait, there's more! Now get your scrub! Or first order some food and eat your friend rice gangster yakuza style, in your robe and slippers, sitting on the leather sofas on level two.
The scrub rooms are down on the first floor. They're small and have a bunch of steel hoses and a therapy table. Lighting is dim. Your scrub therapist meets you at the door, tells you to take off your clothes and sit face up on the table. Face up! The women who work there are generally older, though. This is where massage therapists have their old timers day, I guess. And by that I mean over 30. They will give you a scrub for an hour that leaves you exfoliated. You'll get washed down five times, with oil, lotion, soap and milk. There's an optional cooling cucumber mask. Some tell you quite clearly scrub only. Some will offer happy endings, boobs to be squeezed and even more. I know some folks do the scrub first and then the massage, but I have learned to go massage then scrub, as it takes off all the massage oil and I leave feeling fresh.
Tipping: You can bring cash or tell the girls how much you will leave as a tip when you check out. Scrub women get Rp 50,000 from me, the massage therapists get much more. I have no idea what's standard as I am a poor negotiator, so have paid anywhere from Rp 300,000 for kit off to much more for the whole enchilada, maybe Rp 700,000.
Fun Fact: Apparently there's a senior police officer who frequents GI and serves as its guardian angel. They get free beer and food and massages, but tip well, according to one of the girls.
There you go. People say there's nothing to do in Jakarta in the daytime.
Au contraire, I say. Au contraire.
Something similar to Delta Spa?
I enjoy Delta Spa and My Place but the prices seem much too high for just L-1 finish. I do enjoy the sauna and the real massage. What are better options for legit massage with extras?
Thank you for any info. I'll be staying at Four Points Hotel.
