It's a different day in Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Most of the 10 million Jakartans and the people
\nliving in surrounding areas celebrated the 50th anniversary of
\nthe country's independence yesterday in their neighborhoods in a
\njoyful, family atmosphere.<\/p>\n
As in the past, this year's celebration was financed and
\nsponsored locally. The programs included serious activities, as
\nwell as much humor and various competitions.<\/p>\n
The celebrations mostly started at 11 a.m., after the civil
\nservants and students returned home from the ceremonies held in
\ntheir offices and schools.<\/p>\n
But all of those interviewed by The Jakarta Post said that
\nthey enjoyed the local neighborhood celebrations more.<\/p>\n
\"We could really enjoyed all the events held at our RT
\n(neighborhood unit) as the festivities brought us closer to one
\nanother,\" said a pilot of a private airline company in Curug,
\nTangerang, 30 km west of here.<\/p>\n
Like other residents of urban centers, many Jakartans have few
\nopportunities to mix closely with their neighbors because of busy
\nschedules.<\/p>\n
Competitions normally held at the neighborhoods to mark
\nIndependence Day on Aug. 17 range from sack races, marble-on-the
\nspoon races, eating-hanging-chips contests, dangdut dancing
\ncompetitions and wooden pole climbing, which is the most popular.
\nDangdut is a local music strongly influenced by Indian songs.<\/p>\n
In the wooden pole climbing competitions the participants must
\ntry to reach the top of a tall pole made from a palm tree. Prizes
\nare placed on the top of the pole, which is greased.<\/p>\n
Slum residents in the Bungak Kecil area in Tugu Utara, North
\nJakarta, held the climbing race for women.<\/p>\n
\"The prizes are probably worthless to other people, but not to
\nus,\" said Bang Joni, the neighborhood leader.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, we just want to say that even the poor can have an
\noriginal idea and also have an opportunity to rejoice on this
\nparticular day,\" added Usmanto, a member of the local committee.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the operator of the Ancol Dreamland amusement park
\nalso held a pole-climbing race, but with more expensive prizes,
\nincluding motorcycles and television sets.<\/p>\n
Because of the wide range of activities held in the
\nneighborhoods yesterday, many main streets here were deserted.<\/p>\n
The Kramat Tunggak red-light district in North Jakarta, which
\nis normally crowded with visitors and annoys residents of the
\nsurrounding areas with blaring dangdut music, was also deserted
\nby its \"working girls\" and their clients.<\/p>\n
Local residents said that most of the more than 1,800
\nprostitutes had gone to hometowns because the complex was closed
\nfor three days starting Wednesday.<\/p>\n
A few of the prostitutes who stayed behind told The Post that
\nthey were quite happy to take part in the sports races within the
\ncomplex.<\/p>\n
With all the activities in the neighborhoods, however, some
\npeople also flocked entertainment centers.<\/p>\n
\"My children forced me to take them to this Dreamland because
\nI failed to take them during the recent school holidays,\" said
\nMurawi, a civil servant, said at the Ancol Dreamland complex.<\/p>\n
Early in the day, thousands of uniformed students and civil
\nservants took part in National Day ceremonies. (bsr)<\/p>",
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