Australian traveller’s shock find on Bali services list

When a tourist was handed this price list at her Bali hotel, she was so bewildered that she begged for help from fellow Australian travellers.

An Australian traveller has been left stunned by a price list she was handed by hotel staff in Bali.

The tourist took to a popular Facebook group for Australians in Bali, called Bali Bogans, to share her bewilderment and to ask for an explanation.

“Just had a foot massage across from our hotel but can someone please tell me what this is,” she asked.

She posted an image of a services list from Teratai Spa and Beauty Salon, which has quite the extensive list of massage options, along with some extras.

The list started off fairly routine, with Thai massage, hot stone massage, foot massage, manicure and facial all included.

However, the tourist circled an option tucked away near the bottom of the list called “ratus vagina”, which costs Rp100,000 ($A9.60).

While some fellow travellers couldn’t resist the opportunity to crack a joke, others gave a detailed run-down of what the service involves.

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A woman was shocked to see this item on her hotel list. Picture: Bali Bogans/Facebook

Vagina steaming chairs in Bali. Picture: Bali Bogans/Facebook

Ratus vagina is an ancient steaming practice for women’s genitalia that’s said to decrease vaginal stress, aid infertility, help manage the menstrual cycle and also fight a number of infections to the area.

“I have had this done … I was with my soul sister and we laughed all day,” one tourist wrote.

“As long as it’s not like ear candling,” another commented.

While a third suggested: “May be to get rid of the spider web?”

Other Australians insisted the treatment is effective.

“It tightens the muscles and cleanses you. A lot of Balinese do it before marriage and after their period,” a helpful commenter said.

“I had this treatment and so did five other girls a few years ago,” another tourist wrote. “One of the girls had thrush and normal medication wasn’t working. The day after the ratus the thrush was gone.

“So I guess it works. It is just a bunch of herbs that they light up and it makes smoke which wafts around your private parts. Doesn’t hurt it is not a fire. Give it a go.”

Kourtney Kardashian also tried out vaginal steaming. Picture: Hulu

For the treatment, rocks are lit so they smoulder and smoke, mixed with a few herbs at the bottom of a stool with a hole in the centre of it.

The customer then takes off their pants and wraps a sarong or towel around their body while they squat ot sit on the stool, the steam rises and gives a warm sensation.

Inside Teratai Day Spa in Bali. Picture: Chara Farah/Facebook

Vaginal steaming is quite popular amongst locals in Indonesia.

In recent years, it’s been embraced by some celebrities including Kourtney Kardashian, Chrissy Teigan and Gwenyth Paltrow. It came after a Goop guide to spas a few years back raved about the “V-Steam”, even claiming it could rebalance hormone levels.