It’s February 2001 and I’m a 22-year-old backpacker. Staring out at the Indian Ocean, I bury my toes into the burnt vanilla-coloured sand of Kuta Beach in Bali while watching the sky turn a pinkish orange. Suddenly, a woman approaches.
“You want massage? Only 70,000 rupiah,” she says.
Ooh, that sounds lovely, I think to myself. And right here on the beach for what was about US$7 at the time? “Sure, yes,” I reply.
“Manicure, too?” asks another woman, who seems to come out of nowhere with a basket filled with nail polish.
Hmm, I think. It has been a while ... “Sure, why not,” I answer, nodding and smiling with approval.
They lay out a sarong and dig a small hole in the sand under it for my face. I nestle down toward the Earth. One woman sits on my lower back, while the other takes my right hand. Just as I begin to lose myself in the sounds of the waves crashing onto the shore and the scent of coconut oil mixing with my salt-kissed skin, it begins to feel like there are more than four hands on me.
Is my hair being pulled? I wonder. Is someone braiding my hair? And my feet ... how can my feet be getting rubbed at the same time as my back?
I try to ignore the notion that something is wrong since everything should feel so right, but then I pick my head up to notice no fewer than six women gathered around my every limb: one on each of my hands, another two on my feet, one on my back and another up by my head.
Feverishly warm with embarrassment, I scramble upright wondering how many people saw me get “spaattacked” as I lay there like an oblivious tourist, but more on this later.
ON THE ROAD
It’s September 2019 and I’m a 41-year-old professional journalist.
This story is from the July 2020 edition of Tatler Malaysia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2020 edition of Tatler Malaysia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tech Talk
Rami Madani of ISKL discusses how AI is impacting education
Boarding Abroad
Elizabeth Marini and Mira Rosa Marini share parentchild perspectives of life at TASIS, the American boarding school in Switzerland that shaped a confident young woman
Gateway to Greatness
Three students share how Garden International School helped them reach their desired Oxbridge institutions
Choose Your Own Ed-venture
There are many noble academic reasons for undertaking a doctorate, but does having a PhD provide any career advantages a master's degree doesn't?
The Human Advantage
Can fresh graduates thrive in an Al-driven world? The future workforce is expected to move away from mundane tasks towards positions that demand critical thinking and interpersonal skills. Here’s what you need to excel in this dynamic era of human-AI collaboration
Join the Green Revolution
Redefine your digital footprint with the Acer Chromebook Vero 514, a revolutionary device that sets the standard for sustainability and performance
Not Your Average Joe
The Chromebook unlocks a seamless computing journey that merges style with functionality
Learning Unlocked
Gamification in education represents a paradigm shift in teaching and learning. By leveraging game-like elements to enhance motivation and engagement, the learning experience is transformed into an interactive and immersive journey
The Power of
What does this mean for our children's education and how can they benefit from it?
AS ABOVE
Dont forget to look up when you stay at these five-star hotels