The morning sun of Jakarta shone brightly, yet for the Corr quartet, the world still felt a little tilted. The combination of jetlag and the euphoria of their spontaneous month-long vacation meant they woke up with mixed feelings: a mix of adventurous spirit and a desperate urge to pull the thick, super-comfortable blankets back over their heads in the Palace guest rooms. For Day Two, Nisa and Reza deliberately designed a super-light schedule, dubbing it "An Acclimatization Day Full of Question Marks," where the main focus was relaxation and a continued introduction to the wonders (and oddities) of Indonesia in small doses.
The most anticipated (and slightly dreaded by Andrea) morning agenda was the Traditional Palace Massage session. After a successful Bubur Ayam breakfast that got Caroline instantly hooked ("This is like porridge, but the savory version, full of cool toppings! Why don't we have this in Ireland?") and Jim asking if the chicken used was organic and raised listening to classical music, Reza ushered them toward a beautifully carved wooden pendopo (pavilion) nestled in a shady corner of the Palace garden.
Unlike a luxurious five-star spa, this pendopo exuded an aura of authentic tranquility. The floor was made of cool, antique tiles, a gentle breeze carried the scent of jasmine from the garden, and the subtle gurgling of water from a nearby small pond was soothing. Four simple yet sturdy wooden massage tables were neatly arranged, each draped with soft batik cloth. Beside each table waited four middle-aged women, wearing simple kebaya blouses and radiating motherly smiles. They were the Palace’s senior massage therapists, whose fingertips were rumored to possess "magical powers" to eliminate all types of aches and pains—from the stressed-out minister after a budget meeting to the stiff Presidential Guard who stood at attention for too long.
"This place... it's beautiful," Sharon whispered to Andrea, admiring the pavilion's ambiance. "But the therapists look... strong, don't they? Maybe Andrea was right about the broken bones scenario?"
Andrea was already standing guard-style. "I did my research last night," she whispered back. "They said there’s a 'creaking' massage technique. I refuse to hear a 'creak' from my own bones!"
Reza, who overheard the whispers, simply smiled with amusement. "Don't worry, The Corrs. These ladies are very professional and gentle. This Palace massage is more about relaxation and boosting blood circulation. No smackdown involved."
With slight hesitation (except for Caroline, who looked the most relaxed), they changed into special batik massage wraps and lay down on their respective tables. The warm aroma of coconut oil mixed with spices like lemongrass and clove began to fill the air.
The massage session began. The therapists worked in silence, their hands moving with steady, skilled precision. Caroline, as predicted, was sound asleep within the first ten minutes, her gentle snoring providing an additional soundtrack to the pendopo. Sharon, who genuinely loved massages, seemed to enjoy every pressure point, occasionally murmuring happily in Irish, which slightly confused her therapist but was met with a continuous smile.
Jim, the philosopher, initially tried to analyze. He felt the pressure on specific points and attempted to connect them with an acupressure map he’d once seen in a book. Hmm, this is the kidney meridian point... pressure here should affect the 'water chi' energy in my body... but why do I feel a bit sleepy? Is this drowsiness a manifestation of overly dominant 'water chi'? That was roughly the complex content of his head. However, after half an hour, the furrow in his brow slowly disappeared, and he looked more relaxed, though his eyes occasionally opened, observing the pendopo's ceiling as if searching for answers there.
Then, there was Andrea. Her massage session was a performance in itself. Every time the therapist's fingers moved to a slightly sensitive area, like her lower back or the soles of her feet, she would let out a small, suppressed yelp, followed by uncontrollable, high-pitched laughter.