How's your luck today? Ask Nyai Salmah's bird

TEGAL, Central Java (JP): It drizzled in the morning and the earth was slightly wet. But this did not stop the people crowding the traditional market.

A middle-aged woman stepped from a public transport vehicle and walked purposefully along the rows of shops as if looking for something particular. A happy look came to her face upon seeing a woman with a bird cage walking towards her. "I want to know about my luck," she said while extending her arm to shake hands.

The woman carrying the birdcage is Nyai (Mrs.) Salmah, 52, who lives in a village in Bumiayu, Brebes regency, some 80 kilometers south of Tegal. She is a fortune teller who uses a bird in her telling, locally called tukang ogan.

"Last night I had a terrible dream. I want to know what will happen to me," said her customer.

Mrs. Salmah gave her predictions and the customer was relieved to learn that nothing bad would happen to her.

"You will receive something unexpected. I myself don't know, but in a short time you will receive a surprise, just wait," said the fortune teller.

Happily, the woman left after handing over several Rp 1,000 banknotes to the fortune teller as an expression of her gratitude.

Regardless of the accuracy of the forecast, many people visit Nyai Salmah, the mother of eight children. They come from different walks of life - even village chief candidates have reportedly asked her to forecast whether they would win or lose in the election for village head.

Nyai Salmah said that sometimes she is confused by her customers' demands. She admitted that she does not know anything, because she only translates what is done by the pair of gelatik (paddy birds) she carries with her. "These two birds tell the future, I am only their operator," said the woman with a smile.

"Therefore, these two birds are quite essential. If I lost these birds, I could no longer do this business. Fortunately these birds are well trained, so they can't possibly become lost," she said.

To forecast someone's luck, Nyai Salmah just asks one of the two birds in the bird cage to get out. Before opening the cage, she prepares dozens of colored sheets of paper with different drawings on them. The bird then choose one sheet. It is this sheet of paper that is then translated as the fate of her client.

For example, if there is a drawing of a sword on the paper, she would tell her client to be careful because there might be danger ahead. On the other hand, a drawing of rice or cotton means prosperity.

Whether the forecast is correct or not, only Nyai Salmah's clients know. But one thing is sure, there has never been any complaint. And her customer base is growing.

From the work inherited from her parents, who were also fortune tellers, Nyai Salmah admitted she earns a fairly good living. She refused to mention the amount of her daily income, but, "I can support my family," she said. (Gin Kurniawan)