Sex workers reveal creativity using magic to attract customers
Sex workers reveal creativity using magic to attract customers
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Life is tough for most people these days. Whatever their
profession, they must be creative to survive.
Prostitution, called the oldest profession in the world, is no
exception. Sex workers try hard to attract clients in their
competitive business. To boost their performance, they do as best
they can, including using the services of psychics.
"You wouldn't survive if you didn't make use of the services
of a psychic," said Lia, a waitress at a dingy bar in Kota, West
Jakarta.
The 25-year-old woman, who originates from Bandung, West Java,
claimed that she had six susuk (small pieces of gold or diamond
inserted under the skin as a magic charm) in her body.
She put one in her upper lip, her neck, each of her breasts,
her vagina and one in her bottom. Each susuk was placed in the
part of her body whose attractiveness she wanted to boost.
"A psychic in Bogor installed the susuk for me. Why am I
wearing six susuk? Because I want to look as attractive as
possible, otherwise, clients might choose younger and sexier
waitresses," said Lia, who has been in the business for about
five years.
She refused to reveal the cost of the susuk.
According to Lia, most waitresses -- the term she uses for sex
workers -- use magic charms. Each has at least two susuk in her
body, usually positioned in the face and vagina.
"Those two parts of the body are the most important for us. A
susuk in the face will make it more attractive and one in your
vagina will make it tight and fresh. Your clients will never
forget it," said Lia, with a knowing smile.
Wearing a see-through red tank top, a black mini-skirt, black
stockings and red high-heeled shoes, Lia seemed a little
overweight.
However, more than three clients were waiting to be pleasured
by her on Wednesday night when interviewed by The Jakarta Post.
According to her friends, Lia was one of the most sought-after
waitresses at the bar.
"She does not have a good figure but the clients are crazy
about her. Her psychic must be the best, but she refused to
reveal the person's identity," said 21-year-old Meysi.
Meysi also wears susuk in her body. She got two of them from a
psychic in Kramat, Central Jakarta, a year after she entered the
business.
"I bought two susuk for Rp 1 million as they are made from
gold. I'm currently saving up for another," she said proudly.
One can easily find susuk and other magic charms, not only
from word-of-mouth recommendation, but because they are widely
advertised in mysticism magazines like Misteri, which has a
circulation of 100,000 copies, or Surabaya-based Liberty, which
prints 80,000 copies for each edition.
Separately, Nova, a waiter at a dangdut cafe in Blok M, South
Jakarta, said that possession of a susuk alone was not enough to
fend off the competition from other among prostitutes.
"I have to perform other rituals too. I bathe once a week with
a special fragrant potion, treat my vagina with ratus (fragrant
incense) and use powder, which has been given magical powers by a
psychic," she said.
She spent Rp 1.5 million on the two susuk and about Rp 200,000
per month for the mystical beauty treatment.
Nova was formerly a prostitute in the Malvinas brothel in
Bekasi, but the 32-year-old woman left it five years ago due to
tough competition from the other sex workers there.
"I was getting older and couldn't stand the competition. The
prostitutes there were crazy; I mean, they used black magic on
each other," she remarked.
According to Nova, a prostitute used black magic on a younger
newcomer, who was able to attract the former's long-term clients.
"She (the younger sex worker) was ill for about a week. Her
pimp took her to a noted psychic in Banten and she recovered.
The prostitute who'd used the black magic was later dumped and
the newcomer became the star," Nova said.
Nova felt happier in her new place now despite the lower
income. She could earn about Rp 200,000 per night when she worked
at Malvinas but now she could earn only Rp 50,000 to Rp 100,000.
"But I am now the mistress of a vendor, who supports me. I
know we shouldn't use magic but I only did it to improve my
earnings," she remarked.