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.