Massage and Music in Batavia

Most diaries containing notes of daily activities. Diary of Dr Strehler (Batavia en wegens Bijzonderheden deszelfs omstreken: dagboek uit het gedurende twee reizen van Dr. derwaarts in 1828-1830. Strehler. Haarlem: de Wed. A. Lossjes pz. 1833) not only contains the author's expression of heart, but full description detailed information on everything you saw and experienced in Batavia.
In Batavia, everyone slept in between the hours of 13:00 to 4:00 p.m.. If not married, a man who felt tired but no sleep can also call one or two female servants to squeeze. The women began to massage it slowly.
In the Dutch East Indies, massages is a skill in itself. First of all, do what is called "pidjit": arms, legs, back, neck and head of the Great Toean given subtle pressures. Pidjit followed by sapoe-sapoe, that is fine with rub-rubbing your palms.
After the Great Toean body relaxed, the aide went on: rubbing, which is wiping the body with warm towels. This is followed by tombok, that is fine with fists pressure. Tjowit, pinch-small pinch on the skin and ramas, namely pull your toes and hands up to cover the whole barrage of crunched-kneading massage that day. When finally, the second maid shut the door, only heard snoring Sang Toean as a thank you.
In the afternoon, people getting ready to go. In 1828, every Thursday and Saturday, Music Corps Military exercises held in front of the palace Weltevreden. After sunset, from all directions coming in horse carriages. Each train filled with beautiful women. Trains were stopped side by side in a semicircle around the line of Military Music Corps.
The passengers remained seated on their respective trains. The horses are ridden by soldiers approached the handsome occasional trains that contain beautiful women. Events such as this is an opportunity eagerly awaited by European ladies nation and the Indo-Europeans to show off her beauty and the beauty of their clothing and jewelry to the world. And the world, (represented by the men of Batavia!) Did not waste the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of God's creatures!
Music that was played no less with music in Europe. Community (European and Eurasian) in Batavia embraces musicians and artists from Europe. In our own country, not many musicians who can be earning his living with his expertise. In Batavia, music education expensive and people are willing to spend money on a few guilders to be able to learn to play music. The atmosphere in the open air it felt good. (Frieda Amran, a graduate of the Faculty of Anthropology, University of Indonesia, lived in the Netherlands)