Shopping mall gets into the spirit of things

Shopping mall gets into the spirit of things

By I. Christianto

JAKARTA (JP): On the third floor of the Mangga Dua Mall, one
of the crowded shopping centers in the capital, don't be
surprised to find an area decorated "mystically" and suffused
with the perfume of incense.

It's the place where about a dozen fortune tellers and
practitioners of various alternative treatments are available for
the needy, interested or just plain curious.

The unique idea to gather fortune tellers, psychics,
astrologers, healers and so on into the mall was introduced by
Gunawan, who opened the Traditional Medicine and Spiritual
Consultation Center, in December 1997.

It's a good business. Clients flock into the waiting room in
the 150-square-meter space, not only on the weekends but also
during weekday lunch times.

"It's human nature, people are always curious about life. They
often want and need to know more about their lives," he said.

The Mangga Dua Mall or M2M (2 is dua in Indonesian), is well-
known as the place to go for cellular phones, electronics and
computers.

"I had a small stall here in M2M. In 1997, the management
asked me to hold a special event to attract more customers. I
organized a fortune telling event. It wasn't a new idea, I copied
it from a similar event held in Blok M Plaza," Gunawan said.

As the event was very successful, he decided to organize the
more permanent presence of fortune tellers, healers etc. in the
mall. This lead to the Traditional Medicine and Spiritual
Consultation Center. Initially there were 15 fortune tellers who
practiced at the mall, but now there are only 11. Four of them,
who have been there since the center opened, have stayed because
they have a good business, while others have quit due to a lack
of clients.

"It was their own decision (to quit). But this made me very
careful about the selection of new participants," he said.

Among the members currently practicing at the mall are fortune
tellers Johnson and Tine, psychics Arif Chang, Naga Farid Djohan
and Singalodra, traditional healers Etty Hendrawati, Saidin S.,
Tony Lesmana and Eko Wiyono.

According to Gunawan, each of them has their own special
services to offer.

On average there are about 30 visitors a day to the center. A
client has to pay Rp 30,000 (approximately US$4), which will be
equally shared between Gunawan and the practitioner. Half of the
clients come to find out about their destiny, while the others
seek alternative medicine.

Eko Wiyono, one of the practitioners, said that he received
five or six clients a day.

"Most of them are diabetic men with sexual complaints, others
have cancer," he said, adding that a consultation took about 30
minutes.

Another practitioner, Etty, used to have up to 30 clients a
day, but now the number has dropped to 10. "It's probably due to
the economic crisis," she said.

She said that most of her patients were men who wanted to have
better sexual performance and potency.

Many visitors seeking alternative treatment usually have to
come repeatedly to buy traditional medicines mixed by the
healers. The cost of the medicine usually starts at Rp 100,000
(about $13).

"Usually a client has to come three times before they begin to
see the effects of the treatment," Eko said, adding that his
clients included top military and government officials.

Etty said that for healing sexual problems, such as to extend
sexual intercourse or to lengthen the penis, traditional medicine
is a prerequisite.

A client named Ida saw a healer for the treatment of her gurah
(excessive throat phlegm and nasal mucus). "I visited the healer
three times, and the result was good."

She said that she also saw a fortune teller to help her in her
business and household. "I've come four times and so far it has
been helpful," she said.

Irwan, a 24-year-old executive, said that he decided to see
Etty because he wanted to have a longer penis.

"It's so I will feel more confident," he said, adding that he
was not married yet.

He said that he was in doubt when he first registered at the
reception desk, as he was afraid he would have to pay for
expensive medicine. However, he decided to go ahead with the
treatment once he was told that he would not have to buy any
medicine. He got a massage, instead.

"I don't know if I will come again for a second consultation.
But Ms. Etty has told me how to do the massage by myself," he
said.

Igus, a business manager said she came to the mall to see four
different fortune tellers.

"It's good and I have fun meeting someone who can tell you
what to do and what to avoid. In my experience, they are all very
clever. Several things they have told me have come true," she
said.

What did a physic at the mall say about Indonesia in the near
future?

"The General Assembly will face many barriers. Megawati will
be the winner, as her character is already well known and her
name is popular internationally," said a physic.

The psychic preferred to stay anonymous because Gunawan did
not like the members of the center being interviewed about
politics by the press.

We will just have to wait and see if the prediction comes
true.