Visiting Oriental Circus flips with flair for fun<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Claudio bravely approached the large feline and patted it on the
\nhead, then sat on a wooden bench with the tamed beast trailing
\nbehind. The 49-kilogram leopard put its large paws on the chubby
\nthighs of the boy, who will turn three in December, and posed for
\na photo-op.<\/p>\n
The 6.5-year-old Ocol is one of the feature attractions at the
\nOriental Circus Indonesia, which has unfurled its tents in a
\nvacant lot in Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, which is reached
\nvia the turnoff to the Palm Court apartments.<\/p>\n
Running from Sept. 2 through Sept. 29, the circus -- which is
\nunder the joint management of the Indonesia Air Force Cooperative
\nCenter (Puskopau) and Taman Safari animal park in Cisarua, Bogor
\n-- has seen a good season this year.<\/p>\n
According to circus manager Yulia, the show was only slightly
\naffected by the Sept. 9 blast outside the Australian Embassy in
\nKuningan, about one kilometer away.<\/p>\n
\"We only suffered a slight decline in the number of visitors
\non Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 from the usual weekday turnout. We were
\ntold many people canceled their visits because of the severe
\ntraffic congestion to reach this place, as access roads to Jl.
\nRasuna Said were closed for the investigation -- not because they
\nfeared another bomb attack,\" she told The Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
On weekdays, Yulia said, visitors only filled 30 percent of
\nthe red-and-yellow striped circus tent, which can seat 2,500
\npeople. On Fridays, the visitor rate increases to 50 percent,
\nwhile on Saturdays, the tent is 80 percent full.<\/p>\n
The sole national traveling circus performs breathtaking
\nfeats, such as the high trapeze and trained animal shows. Pert
\npoodles, lazy yet sharp-eyed Bengal tigers and African lion cubs,
\ndancing elephants and a chimpanzee motorcyclist receive warm
\napplause from visitors.<\/p>\n
This year, the Oriental Circus contracted the world-renowned
\nSichuan Acrobatic Troupe, whose artists are adept at amazing
\nmaneuvers that require not only accurate timing in catching large
\nporcelain jug on their heads or with their backs, but also the
\nagility and strength of martial artists to fall gracefully from
\nan eight-meter tower of chairs.<\/p>\n
The 1.5-hour show is open to visitors of all walks of life,
\nwith ticket prices ranging from Rp 10,000 (about US$1) for the
\npeanut gallery and Rp 75,000 for VVIPs.<\/p>\n
Weekday performances are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday has an
\nadditional matinee performance at 2 p.m., while Sunday features a
\nfourth performance at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
\"The next show will be in Bintaro, South Jakarta. We will be
\non the road to Sukabumi and Bogor until the end of this year,
\nthen tour Sumatra next year,\" Yulia said.<\/p>\n
The Oriental Circus' hot-line service is: Tel 021-70961156,
\n70966227; or Fax 021-7690587.<\/p>",
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