Originally Posted by
gaobest
i have this idea that the massage or haircut in Indonesia is $1 or $10. I can’t recall. So I’m trying to compare the yummy Chinese (HK) pricing with the haircut pricing. Some carryout places in sf STILL sell dumplings cheaply and I assume it’s a loss leader, plus I’ve spent decades seeing restaurant servers making dumplings (won ton and up) during afternoon downtime. Or any downtime. When I definitely paid $1 for 3 dumplings in the 80s, a haircut then was a $20 bill including $4-6 tip.
While I did get an hour long foot massage in Jakarta 15 years ago for $2, that wasn’t a good experience. I swear the guy was trying to torture me. I enjoy a deep massage, but this was something else. I’ve gotten many massages in Bali for $6-7 an hour. I got a 2 hour massage this morning at my house for 165k IDR, including tip. Which is about $11.50.
Haircuts can be cheap here. I think I pay about $1, or $1.50 total if I want a straight razor shave, at a neighborhood place. A shoulder massage is sometimes included. Service is good, as long as they’re not smoking inside. I can’t tolerate the smoke. I haven’t gotten a haircut at this barber in 11 months.
I still lament my favorite dim sum place in Jakarta being sold years ago. $4-5 for AYCE lunch of 30+ varieties of some of the best dim sum I’ve ever had. Freshly cooked to order.