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.