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Top Seven Massage Cities in the World.
 Floral Bath and Massage, Bali Indonesia
Bali may be small in size – you can drive around the entire coast in one
long day – but its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully so. Ask
travellers what Bali means to them and you’ll get as many answers as there are
flowers on a frangipani tree. Virescent rice terraces, pulse-pounding surf,
enchanting temple ceremonies, mesmerising dance performances and ribbons of
beaches are just some of the images people cherish.
Small obviously doesn’t mean limited. The manic whirl of Kuta segues into the
luxury of Seminyak. The artistic swirl of Ubud is a counterpoint to misty treks
amid the volcanoes. Mellow beach towns like Amed, Lovina and Pemuteran can be
found right round the coast and just offshore is the laid-back idyll of Nusa
Lembongan. As you stumble upon the exquisite little offerings left all over the
island that materialise as if by magic, you’ll see that the tiny tapestry of
colours and textures is a metaphor for Bali itself.
And those are just some of the more obvious qualities. A visit to Bali means
that you are in the most visitor-friendly island of Indonesia. There are
pleasures of the body, whether a massage on the beach or a hedonistic interlude
in a sybaritic spa. Shopping that will put ‘extra bag’ at the top of your list.
Food and drink ranging from the freshest local cuisine bursting with the
flavours of the markets to food from around the globe, often prepared by chefs
and served in restaurants that are world class. From a cold Bintang at sunset to
an epic night clubbing in Kuta, your social whirl is limited only by your own
fortitude.
The Floral Bath
It has been practised for centuries, passed from generations to generations -
the secret of beauty of the Asians, and sometimes as a mean for a good fortune -
Floral Bath
Floral bath is famously known by the Asians. People from Malaysia, Thailand,
Indonesia, and China practice them as a ritual for beauty, good future, to
dispel bad luck, to help refreshing the mind and body, and to overcome body
ododr problem. As with the different countries, the methods for floral bath also
vary.
The Chinese practiced it for good fortunes. When one is feeling unwell, or
facing hardshp and misfortunes, or even when one is need for better luck, floral
bath is one of the option to restore their good fortunes. The types of flowers
used is not an important matter - as long as the ingredients include kaffir lime
fruit (Batavian lemon) and pomelo (Chinese grapefruit) leaves. These two
ingredients are believed to have the ability to dispel evil and to exorcize bad
fortunes.
In Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailands, floral bath is performed as a ritual to
enhance a person's beauty. Ritual includes recital of incantation by the bomoh
(the medicine lady) and a few hours of traditional beauty treatment.
Several ingredients are needed to be prepared before the ritual begins, that is
just before midnight comes. These ingredients are usually include different
types of fragrant flowers, coconut leaves, betel leaves, betel nuts, limau purut
(Citrus hystrix) and akar sintok (Cinnamomum sintok). They are to be used
together with other materials which include wax, unprocessed thread, chalk, and
face powder made from grains.
 The ceremony begins with the bomoh weaving four strands of coconut leaves into a
shape. Then the wax is melted with the thread used as a wick. When that has been
prepared and put aside, eight pieces of limau purut, some of its leaves, seven
types of flowers, akar sintok, four betel leaves rubbed with a little chalk, and
some ripe betel are kneeded thoroughly and placed in a special vessel filled
with water. The bomoh then recites an incantation over the prepared ingredients
while sprinkling grains of uncooked glutinous rice around the maiden.
After the incantation has been recited, the bomoh bathes the girl with prepared
liquid (it should be mentioned here that the maiden is usually dressed in a
sarong while the bathwater is poured over her, and the entire ceremony is
conducted with a selected audience).
Over the years, different variants of floral bath have immerged transcending
cultures. Now, floral bath can be enjoyed without having to think about
tradition and ritual, and it is done not only to enhance one's beauty, but also
as a therapy. Where and how they want it to be done is optional - whether to go
to Asian spa resort or by doing it themselves.The reason to practice it is also
less mythical - to have fresh skin or to refresh mind, body, and soul.
One of the variation that is commonly done now is to select a few types of
flowers that have fully bloom. Suggested flowers including red rose, white rose,
jasmine, purple orchid, lily, cananga, lotus, and michelia. These flowers not
only pretty, but also possess positive scent or energy that can refresh mind and
soul and stabilize one's aura.
In preparing the floral bath, these flowers must first to be soaked under the
sun in an ember filled with warm water (you can also use crystal or glass
container), until the flower looks a little wilt (about 3 to 4 hours). When the
bath is ready, you can soak in your body into the water and let the flowery warm
water pampering your skin and indulge your mood.
It is not suggestible to let other people keeping you company while preparing
your floral bath - their negative energy might interfere with the positive
energy of the flowers.
No scientific evidence as to how effective these baths are in achieving the
desired result or if they do really work. However, several researchers had found
that flowers do have 'energies' to cure illness and to enhance mood. For example
Edward Bach, who was the founder of Bach flower remedies, found that remedies
made out of flowers are able to affect one's soul to be stable and harmony. It
is not scientifically proved, but whatever it is, there is no harm trying - at
least it is fun, refreshing, and smells good!
Mandi bunga (Floral Baths) are practiced by the Malays, Chinese and Indians in
Malaysia. As with the different cultures, the methods of the mandi bunga also
varies.
The mandi bunga is performed to dispel bad luck (bad vibes) - "buang sui" or "buang
sial". The rationale is that once a person is void of bad luck, he's able to
attract good fortune.
Kaffir Lime (limau purut) and pomelo (the Chinese grapefruit) leaves are
commonly used ingredients in the mandi bunga ritual.
The Chinese believe that pomelo leafs dispel bad luck. The Chinese has been
practicing mandi bunga for centuries - when one is feeling unwell, or facing
hardship and misfortunes or even when one is in need for better luck, he/she
should wash his/her hands, face or take a bath with boiled pomelo leaves with
water.
Common name: Pomelo.
Scientific name: Citrus grandis.
Malay name: Limau bali, limau besar, limau tambun, limau abong (Malaysia), jeruk
bali, jeruk adas, jeruk machan, limau kibau, limau balak, limau besar, limau
betawi, jambua (Indonesia). Other common names: Shaddock, Batavia lemon.
The Malays and Indians believe that bathing with kaffir lime can dispel evil and
bad luck. The fruit is cut and blended with plain water and then bathe with as
part of spiritual cleansing to "buang sial".
"Limau purut", the Malay name for kaffir lime, or its scientific name citrus
hystrix is of the rutaceae family.
Over the years different variants of mandi bunga have emerged transcending
cultures. There is a practice of having a bath fusing both kaffir lime and
pomelo leaves together.
Another variation is to select one flower for every color of the rainbow. It
doesn't matter what type of flower it is, and it need not have a fragrance.
Different colour flowers are used because in Tibetan Buddhism it is believed
that each color carries a specific energy or vibration. Healing using colors is
'supplementary' to other types of healing.
First, run your bath water. Then, add whatever other ingredients you desire into
the bath - it could be pomelo leaves and kaffir lime. Lastly, place the flowers
in your bath water with their stems on; or, you can pull off the petals and
place only the petals in the water. Don't place the flowers them directly under
the water. Instead just sprinkle them around the entire tub.
Leave the flowers in the water for at least 15 minutes prior to your getting
into the bath. After soaking the flowers for 15 minutes, completely soak
yourself and stay in the water for at least 15 minutes - you can even completely
submerge yourself in the water. After the 15 minutes, you can either choose to
remain in your flower bath or you can get out.
Balinese massage
Balinese massage is an approach to massage developed in the Indonesian province
of Bali, with influence from the traditional medicine systems of India, China,
and Southeast Asia.
Balinese massage techniques include acupressure, skin rolling and flicking, firm
and gentle stroking, percussion, and application of essential oils. The
practitioner may also apply stone massage. The combination of manual therapy and
aromatherapy is intended not only to relax the patient and loosen fascial
restrictions, but to stimulate the lymphatic system and the flow of blood and qi.
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Dated 08 May 2013
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