'Mandi oukup' is more than just a bath

'Mandi oukup' is more than just a bath

By Apriadi Gunawan

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): A traditional spice-scented steam
bath is much more than a means of keeping clean. It's a complete
beauty and health treatment to be taken and enjoyed at leisure.

Looks that last cannot be slipped over the head with a party
dress. Real beauty is obtained by constant attention to our
individual needs. The skin especially will respond to the right
treatment over the years. A regular personally tailored beauty
regimen to retain a youthful look will bring ever-increasing
rewards.

Until three years ago, there were only a handful of parlors
for mandi oukup( a traditional spice-scented steam bath) in
Medan, North Sumatra. At that time, the practice of scented
bathing was not as popular as sauna although they both have
something in common; one difference being their location -- the
traditional saunas are located on the outskirts of the city and
they can be enjoyed at a very low price. This spice-scented steam
bath is definitely different from the regular morning wash as
when the client gets into it, he can enjoy the scent and vapor of
traditional spices which seep into his skin.

Mandi oukup, known also as mar-tup to the Batak Toba tribe and
North Tapanuli people, was originally a customary bath taken
after childbirth by women in small villagers in Tapanuli and
Tanah Karo. Now, this particular bath, however, is rarely
practiced by Batak Toba mothers but is still used by Karo women
after they give birth. That explains why this steam bath is
better known as mandi oukup -- particularly to the people of
Medan city.

Greater interest exhibited by increasing numbers of people
visiting the saunas has spawned the emergence of new locations in
Medan. According to some oukup owners, Medan currently has some
60 parlors scattered throughout various places such as on Jl.
Jamin Ginting, Sunggal, Martubung, Deli Tua and Tembung. Some of
them are in regencies such as Binjai, Tebing Tinggi and Pematang
Siantar.

The current craze for the relaxing, stress-relieving steam
bath is triggered by the belief and the owner's assertion that
the spice-scented vapor can keep many kinds of ailments at bay.
The ingredients in the steam are said to cure illnesses or
ailments such as acne, rheumatism, excess uric acid and stroke.

"But, actually there is no medical research confirming that
oukup is beneficial for health nor references stating that it can
cure illnesses" said Dr. Datten Bangun, a pharmacologist of the
Faculty of Medicine, North Sumatra University.

A 55 year-old Djupri confided in The Jakarta Post that two
years ago he had a stroke but now he feels better after regularly
stepping into the steam bath at the BOSS parlor. " I could not
even move my legs and hands, but after a regular twice weekly
steam bath, now look, I can move them", Djupri, an air force
pensioner, said.

First oukup

Oukup bath was first introduced in Medan by a man named
Syamsudin. Teaming up with Herry Pinem, Syamsudin, 50, embarked
on this business in 1992 using a 10,000 square-meter plot of land
on Jl. Ginting, Simpang Selayang. The parlor was named BOSS
(abbreviated from Bobby Oukup Simpang Selayang), with Herry Pinem
acting as manager and Syamsudin in charge of preparing the
concoction of herbs and spices.

Initially, Syamsudin focussed his attention on the steam bath
as a post delivery treatment. To their surprise, the business was
warmly welcomed and gradually gained recognition among the
locals. In just one month, the place shot to prominence. The
parlor, formerly frequented by customers of the Karo tribe, is
now not only jam-packed with locals of mixed descent, high-
ranking officials and executives but also by tourists from
Malaysia, Australia and even Germany.

It goes without saying that BOSS is now one of the most-sought
after and lucrative establishments in Medan. The BOSS' success
story has spurred the owner to expand into similar businesses in
other cities in Java." Hopefully, we will expand to other places
in the near future" Syamsudin remarked.

According to Syamsudin, development of such a business does
not require much capital outlay. "Rp 5 million would be
sufficient; 3 million for rent, a heater costing Rp 1.5 million
and another Rp 300,000 for a business permit". He further
explained.

"We can run such a business even at home or we can make use of
our own yard or even rent a space." He said that the most crucial
aspect was to possess the knowledge of making the concoction of
herbs and spices to produce the special vapor for bathing.

He spends some Rp 35,000 daily on ingredients consisting of
ginger root, fresh turmeric root, pepper, anise, wild ginger
root, paris leaves and other medicinal roots and leaves. Daily
operation costs amount to Rp 15,000. BOSS only charges a client
Rp 5,000 for a single bath, Rp 12,000 for traditional massage and
Rp 16,500 for physiotherapy.

Employees are paid on a commission basis, each receiving Rp
6,500 per massage and workers in charge of preparing the
concoction of spices get between Rp 4,000 and Rp 7,000 each.
Let's say 20 people come each day for a bath and just two others
come to have a massage, the owner can easily pull in a net income
of Rp 100,000 a day.

To produce the vapor, the first thing they do is to boil all
ingredients in a huge kettle. The resultant steam is channeled
into chambers for customers to enjoy. To breathe while bathing,
the clients obtain fresh air through small 10cm by 20cm holes
made in the walls of the rooms which at the same time function to
prevent excessive perspiration.

The Oukup business in Medan is very attractive and indeed
flourishing owing to high demand and the relatively easy
acquisition of a business permit. Abdul Hasyim Batubara, a member
of the local legislative council in charge of tourism, said that
such an enterprise needed support as it could attract visitors to
Medan.