Dinner, drinks, and a show? Nah, how about ear picking as a date night activity? Apparently, that’s a thing in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of East Asia.
Ear Picking In Kuala Lumpur? I’m Strangely Tempted…
As I was meandering through Bukit Bintang in central Kuala Lumpur, I came upon a business with a big blue sign called Jing Er Wellness. The whole city is full of reflexology and massage places, but this was different…as I looked closer, I saw television screens displaying zoomed-in live camera footage of ear canals being cleaned.
Traditional ear cleaning services, sometimes known as Asian ear cleaning or ear flushing, involve a professional using various tools to clean the ear canal. This is quite different than the cotton swabs I use at home!
What cracked me up was the couple standing outside. They were speaking in English and debating whether to go in. The guy was more hesitant than the girl, calling it gross, but she said, “Oh come on, it’s our night out. Let’s do something different.”
I had to laugh.
And I have to be honest…I thought about trying it myself and may well have done so if there hadn’t been a wait for treatment. I think (hope?) my ear canals are fairly clean, but like most people I also use the cotton swabs even though those can harm the ear and also push wax further in.
The cost for the treatment was 80 Ringgit (about 20 USD).
I think it’d be interesting to get my ears cleaned out like this… though I’m not really enamored by the fact that it is broadcast for everyone walking by to see. I understand the technician (is that the right word?) has to see what s/he is doing, but it is a little gross.
One guy’s ear was full of wax, and it was mildly amusing watching the technician struggle to pick it out like she was mining for gold.
Ultimately, I walked back to the hotel and skipped it, but maybe next time? As for the young couple, I hope they enjoyed their date night!
I’m sharing about my whirlwind trip through Asia.
Come back with Heidi and the kids and it can be a family outing.
I had this done to me in Thailand. It feels terrific! It scratches an itch you didn’t even know you had, and feels like they’re going all the way down into your neck. Just hope your technician knows what they’re doing.
Lol. Enjoy your evening of ear cleaning and pimple popping videos on YouTube. Xiaomanyc has a “good” uh… entertaining… ear cleaning one. It’s one way of doing a detox after too much Taco Bell I guess…
I would have done it!
Re: “…cotton swabs … can harm the ear and also push wax further in …” Correctamundo, it’s called Cerumen Impaction. The old adage “never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow” is absolutely 100% correct. Using cotton swabs is like ramming a Civil War musket, packs wax (cerumen) in deeper and harder. And only takes 1 small twitch or miscalculation or bump to rupture an eardrum, which heal properly only sometimes and can cause permanent hearing loss even once healed.
Only correct way to “clean” ear canals is GENTLE irrigation with almost any liquid; water, peroxide, half water half peroxide, soapy water. Warn liquid is most comfortable for most people. Ear bulb syringes are commonly available. Professionally I recommend keeping in the shower a small to medium plastic container (I use a cleaned empty 32 oz hummus container) with an ear bulb syringe and spoapy or shampooy warm water once or twice a week. (No charge for this consultation :-).)
Thank you, Doctor!