Senayan Sports Center, a place to hang out<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Senayan Sports Center in Central Jakarta,
\nwhere tens thousands of President Abdurrahman Wahid's supporters
\nwill hold a mass prayer this Sunday, is indeed a popular site.<\/p>\n
Every Sunday morning, people from every corner of the city
\nswarm the area to do their weekly exercise. For a few hours -
\nfrom early in the morning until noon - the site turns into a
\nfair, with dozens of vendors offering various kinds of
\nmerchandise, from food and drink to souvenirs and clothes.<\/p>\n
On weekend nights, try to effortlessly pass the sports
\ncenter's east parking lot, which is located opposite Taman Ria
\nSenayan Amusement Park.<\/p>\n
You will see dozens of cars lining up in a long queue to enter
\nthe venue. It can take you up to ten minutes or more to get
\ninside, and then even more time to find parking spot.<\/p>\n
Nope. People are not coming to exercise, watch sports or see
\nconcerts. They just come to have some fun and food.<\/p>\n
There are many tents in the parking lot providing food and
\nbeverages for mostly teenagers and young adults.<\/p>\n
Surrounding the Gelora Bung Karno indoor stadium and the
\nswimming hall, the car park is a strategic place for several
\noutdoor activities.<\/p>\n
The car park used to be teenagers' favorite space for learning
\nhow to drive a car, or for children to go roller skating.<\/p>\n
Starting around four years ago, when the country was facing
\nthe economic crisis, the venue started to become a place to hang
\nout.<\/p>\n
Not only in the parking lot at Senayan Sports Center, but all
\naround the city, food stalls, better known as kafe tenda, emerged
\nlike mushrooms in the rainy season, offering food and space to
\nhang out with cheaper prices.<\/p>\n
Although there are few of them remaining, the Senayan site has
\nnever lost its enthusiasts.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people park their cars there. Some only have
\nsnacks before going to discotheques, night clubs or to cinemas
\nfor midnight movies.<\/p>\n
Some stay there all night, or until early in the morning.
\nGroups of friends hang out together, play guitars, or crank out
\nloud music from their stereos, giving the city another outdoor
\nfiesta.<\/p>\n
Erik, a 27-year-old from East Jakarta, said for the last two
\nyears he has sometimes hung out with his friends there for a
\nsnack before or after going to nearby Diva Bar.<\/p>\n
\"There is nothing really special about the place, but it has
\nbecome widely-known as a nice place to nongkrong (hang around),\"
\nhe told The Jakarta Post on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Initially, Erik said, the car park was used by car-lovers to
\nexchange tips and information. Because of its spacious area the
\nvenue was perfect.<\/p>\n
\"After a while, they ganged together and formed fan clubs for
\nthe particular types of cars they owned,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Everywhere around the car park there were rows of Volkswagen
\nBeetles , old Fiats, Suzuki Ferozas and the vintage 800 cc Honda
\nmotorcycles.<\/p>\n
According to Erik, some of the guys hanging out there used to
\nnongkrong in front of the Plaza Senayan shopping mall every
\nweekend, but then moved to the Senayan Sports Center for the sake
\nof convenience.<\/p>\n
\"They used to hold drag races along Jl. Asia Afrika after the
\nstreet was empty at around midnight, until the police started to
\nraid them one-and-a-half years ago,\" he added.<\/p>\n
However, for those who want tastier food, the car park may not
\nbe a good option.<\/p>\n
Reta, a student, said she doesn't go there anymore.<\/p>\n
\"My friends and I usually went there by car. It was just our
\ntransit point before going to other places on weekends. We just
\nordered drinks. But now, I prefer to go to Jl. Bakti in Kebayoran
\nBaru. The food stalls there offer better food,\" she said.<\/p>\n
According to the vendors, the site is not as crowded as it
\nused to be.<\/p>\n
\"Two years ago, when I started selling food here, it was more
\ncrowded. But it's still not bad,\" said Sofyan, 27.<\/p>\n
He said he used to earn more than Rp 100,000 (US$9.1), but now
\nhe only takes in around Rp 60,000 to Rp 100,000 at the most.<\/p>\n
However, it is not only the Jakartan youths who think that
\nSenayan Sports Center, which is almost 40 years old, is a
\nstrategic place to gather.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, has
\nalso chosen the site for their mass prayer.<\/p>\n
About 350,000 NU members and supporters from various regions
\nin the country are expected to participate in the mass prayer,
\nwhich will be held at Gelora Bung Karno. They will gather at the
\neastern parking lot before entering the indoor stadium. The event
\nis scheduled to continue all day.<\/p>\n
The organization's leaders affirmed that the mass prayer was
\nnot meant as a forum to garner and publicize support for their
\nformer chairman President Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid, but to
\nperform a ritual for the security of the nation.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur is now facing the threat of impeachment following
\naccusations that he violated state guidelines and his
\nconstitutional oath as president. (bby\/hdn\/rbw)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/senayan-sports-center-a-place-to-hang-out-1447893297",
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