Animal attractions top of visitors' mind at FLONA fair
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Fair, Jakarta
To have pet animals can be a healthy alternative for Jakartans to ease the stress of work. And like fashion, the most sought after pets change each year.
But Ruslan, 40, a resident of Meruya, West Jakarta, is unwavering in his choice.
"Raising ayam pelung (long crowing roosters) has been my hobby since I was a teenager. My late father also raised many of them," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Along with thousands of people, who swarmed to Lapangan Banteng park in Central Jakarta to visit FLONA, an annual flora and fauna exhibition, Ruslan came to find the finest of the species.
The employee of a private company in Central Jakarta bought himself two long crowing chicks (Gallus domesticus var Pelung), although he already has five at home.
"Listening to them each morning, noon and night makes me happy. It's like listening to my favorite song," he said.
The ayam pelung vendor, Sjofian, who always takes part in FLONA exhibition, said he had sold at least 40 roosters since the exhibition was opened on Friday evening.
He said he could sell the roosters for between Rp 50,000 (US$5.60) to Rp 1.5 million.
"The longer the crowing, the higher its quality is. The price is also higher," he said.
Hundreds of species of ornamental plants and unique pets, both local and imported ones, are displayed at the fair, which is held from Aug. 6 through Aug. 30. The event opens at 10 a.m and runs through to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
Various kinds of fruit trees -- apple, jackfruit, sawo (Acrhras zapota), kelengkeng or longan, durian, guava and rose- apple -- could also be found at the event organized by the City Park Agency.
Besides the roosters, stalls with various pets like iguana, hamsters, turtles, snakes, monkeys, white mouse, long crowing cocks as well as various ornamental plants like orchids, cacti, and medicinal herbs were the favorites of visitors.
There are 300 participants in the event -- the same number as last year, and include relevant administration agencies, plant and animal breeders, hobbyists and other related businesses.
Pariman, an orchid seller, however, said most of the visitors, only came for sight seeing.
"There are many people that come to my stall but there were only about 50 buyers yesterday," he said, adding that he has 200 kinds of orchids with prices ranging from Rp 5,000 to Rp 200,000.
Many of the visitors come with family members and admit that they were just seeking an alternative recreation sites or enjoying the leisure strolls around the park.
Unfortunately, the organizers failed to provide enough restrooms. Long queues in front of the two toilets at the park seemed to have no end, as the other two mobile restrooms provided by the City Sanitation Agency were out of order.
"We are really sorry, we could add more toilets in the next couple days," secretary to the fair organizer, Heru Bambang Ernanto, said.