Another long day

What a day it was for me.

It started on Tuesday when Amelia and I went to Ampang Park during lunch for a spot of Raya shopping. On the way to the bank, we were stopped by a lovely girl selling spa treatment vouchers. Amelia and I who absolutely love being kneaded and scrubbed stopped to listen and was even treated to a demonstration of one of the treatments they offer.

The offer was really good because for RM 129, they offer a Jacuzzi bath (or soak), body scrub and an hour long body and face massage. And….. if you bring a friend, you only need to add RM 1. Great !! RM 65 for an hour and a half of total bliss. We bought a voucher and planned to try the facility that Thursday itself because we were scheduled to berbuka with the Bs at Planet Hollywood.

Thursday came and Amelia picked me up for work at an ungodly hour of 6.30 am. Was introduced to Yasmin’s very nice uncle. Arrived at KLCC around 7.30 and at 8 Sue came to pick me up and off we go to our office.

When we got there, suddenly I remembered that I have a day old stubble on my legs. I was suddenly transported back to 9 years ago when Amelia and I went for a spa and I was hugely embarrassed because I resembled a monkey. Showed Sue the state of my leg and she graciously agreed to accompany me to Pasar Rakyat. We decided to walk.

Bought a shaver from a dodgy brand but no shaving cream. Sue suggested 7-11 and first went to one that was 10 minutes away from Pasar Rakyat then went to the 7-11 on Jalan Imbi itself, pun takde. Walked to the end of the road to Jalan Walter Greenier where The Kiosk is but nada.

“Tak boleh guna body lotion je ke ?” Said the very pregnant Sue.

“Okay lah.. nampak gayanya aku kena ikut nasihat mung (Sue ni mek Terengganung…. He he).

On the way back, Sue saw one sundry shop and we went in. Ada !! Yeay and I quickly did the deed as soon as we got back to the office. He he… I felt refreshed somehow.

Anyway, Amelia picked me up at 4.15 and we arrived there at 4.35 (tersalah building. Nasib baik the real building was just nearby). We were impressed with the deco and the ambiance they created and therefore were really excited.

We were asked to fill in a form (the question included how long how have you been overweight ? Aii ? Spa ke slimming center nih ?) and a lady came to ask the kind of treatment we wanted. We chose milk bath, Amelia took a milk and honey body scrub and I chose the Javanese spice scrub to dispel all my angins.

We were escorted to our room where we passed luxurious surrounding and saw equally luxurious treatment rooms. I was excited when I saw a room with 4 massage beds, mentally counting friends that I could enjoy the experience with.

Our room was very nice and calming with 2 massage beds, a gurgling Jacuzzi filled with milk, a shower cubicle, 2 lockers for our stuffs and 2 sinks with large mirrors. We were introduced to our masseuses and then the first trouble began.

We were asked to undress which was fine because that was the norm but before they left we saw only towels and disposable panties on the bed. Amelia and I looked at each other. “Kain tak de ke ?” The masseuses’ turn to exchange looks. “Kain apa ?” one asked. “Kain untuk tutup badan lah…” Said I. “You ada ini kan ?” One said while, grabbing the now very small and insignificant looking panties.

“Mana boleh….kena ada kain…” Said Amelia. “We do this naked ke ?” Asked me, horrified. “ You dua orang perempuan kan… tak pelah…” Said one while the other said, “Tak pe… tak pe… saya bagi bra aaa…” and left.

I didn’t want to spoil the experience, decided to start stripping. “Takpe ma…..” Said the one who was still in the room, “Nanti masuk Jacuzzi sana tak nampak ma…. Itu dalam ada buih….” Amelia and I looked at the palm sized buih. When she also left we started giggling.

“Apa depa ni….” Said Amelia. “Tak pa, Melia. Nasib baik kita dok besa pi swimming dua orang dulu-dulu…” Said me. We laughed and giggled and chuckled the whole time. Tak jadi lah nak bawak kawan kalau macam ni.... he he

Then one entered to give us the so-called bras. Amelia and I looked at it, ho-hummed on the ways and hows to use it for a long time before Amelia reminded me that the masseuses are coming back in 15 minutes. We had better jumped in the bath. So we did giggling and laughing as girls are bound to do.

The bath was great, sweet smelling with hard jet streams hitting our backs. We talked and exchanged stories and after 15 minutes they girls in black came back. We were asked to lay face down on the bed and we did so shivering to our bones. It was so cold. I was lucky though because I asked for the spice scrub and before long I was already heated up by the wonderful spices. Amelia though was shivering until they turned down the air-conditioning.

The scrub was wonderful. The scrubbing action plus the small grains of the spices left me feeling clean. I swear I could feel all the dead skins stripping away. Amelia was done first and she had her bath while I waited with all the spices on me. HEATY !! But it’s okay as I was more aware of the stickiness then the heat. Then my turn to bathe and I kept looking at the swirls of the orange water at my feet. Felt so good but still very warm.

We were asked to lie down again. Then the pounding and kneading began. It was marvelous. We didn’t talk to each other much as were we enjoying the wonderful feeling of being massaged to the core of our bones ( if there is such thing ). Amelia kept asking me if I was still warm and toasty and all my yes-es impressed her. My only complain is that they didn’t rub my feet. I was waiting for that as my twinkle toes were tired. The facial massage was good, too and we were enjoying every minute of it.

We talked to the two nice aunties who massaged us. We exchanged stories about life, family and so on but when they kept asking us to come back, I suddenly dreaded our journey out of the spa center.

“Melia, depa ni sure nanti suruh kita beli macam-macam lagi…..” Said I when were dressing ourselves again and very much alone.

“I thought I sorang dok pikiaq pasal tuh….” Said Melia.

“Hmmm….. jenuh le kita nak elak letak down payment untuk ntah apa-apa lagi….” Said I and Amelia agreed. When we opened the door we were met by the auntie who massaged Amelia. “I tak sembahyang lagi….” Whispered I to Amelia as I just had a brilliant idea.

As expected, we were put into a room with a small table and 3 chairs, the room where they will force for our money and where we will try to hold on to it. There was a paper stand on the table with “Raya Promotions” written on it. Amelia looked closer to read while I answered the phone, my mom updating me on Elsa’s condition (she had a fever).

“Myra…” Amelia whispered. “Package 4 ribu, Myra…!” Said Amelia, eyes wide.

“What ?” I mouthed back. “Lari nak ?” We were very much alone and I figured we had a good chance escaping.

Amelia got up and we sprang out of the room. Unfortunately the auntie who brought us to the room was at the lobby. I kept on talking to my Mom so Amelia had to talk to them. “Surau mana ?” Asked my brilliant friend. “Kami tak sembahyang lagi….” The ladies were shocked but a Malay girl managed to give us directions. I did not stop to hear and my mom on the phone was the perfect excuse to just leave and head for the lift.

“Cepat, Myra ! Tekan ! Tekan !” Ordered my fellow figutive. We couldn’t get into the lift fast enough. What a relief. We giggled nervously in the lift, faces red from the adrenalin. “Depa tercengang-cengang tengok kita pi, Myra….” Said Amelia with a big smile on her face. He he….

The boys wouldn’t understand the problem but us girls who have experience with beauticians forcing us to get this treatment and that therapy would know how difficult it is to extricate ourselves from paying for something we don’t really need. Fights with spa and slimming centers reps are normal. They can be really pushy, especially if we came on a discounted offer.

Shazmi sms-ed to say that he and Nadia were already at Lot 10 while we were in the surau. We quickly rushed to KL Plaza, expecting traffic jam but were pleased when there were none. The journey was less than 10 minutes. Our friends were already there with food on the table. As we sat, the boys were fighting if we had a facial or a full spa treatment. Amelia who malaih nak kena usik pasal pi spa told Shazmi earlier in the morning that we were going for a facial only but I had already described to my husband the day before the details of the treatment scheduled for us. He he… lantak korang lah…

Food was good. Had always liked Planet Hollywood buka puasa buffet and was glad that my buddies thought so too. Had fun talking and teasing (about Amelia and toner buyer cum chef , about how I smelt of curry from the spices etc etc) and…. oh yes, they managed to separate Amelia and I this year. Oh well… we did enough whisperings while we were being pampered… he he…

All the uruts made me sleepy for some reason. I was trying my best to stay awake but my body was already in resting mode. I had one of the best sleeps I ever had that night. Bliss…..