'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.