Go fly a kite over Jakarta -- but watch out!

Go fly a kite over Jakarta -- but watch out!

In these difficult times for the great metropolis of Jakarta it
is good to see that so much of its population is still able to
indulge in the simpler pleasures of life. All over this vast city
evidence of these pleasures can be seen, all one needs to do is
look to the skies.

There will be seen a cacophony of activity that immediately
reveals dozens, probably hundreds of people engaged in simple
pastimes. What may be seen in the skies is a variety of flying
objects -- each one put into the sky by people on the ground, in
among the urban sprawl of the city.

Jakarta, with its huge traffic flow, has high levels of
pollution that in turn limit the number of birds that choose the
city as their habitat. However, certain birds can be seen
swooping across the skyline.

Homing and racing pigeons furiously flap their way across and
around the city. At street level, pigeon enthusiasts can be seen
carrying their feathered friends in all manner of containers.
Carefully, they will remove the birds from boxes, baskets and
even bags; or an owner riding pillion on a motorbike will simply
hold them in his hands.

Lovingly, they will stroke the feathers, slowly place the
wings in perfect symmetry and meticulously check the animals'
feet and legs. Then, often with a parting kiss, they will throw
the bird into the sky and happily watch as it sets off on its
way.

These birds are highly animated as they vigorously beat their
wings to gain height and speed. Other flying objects in Jakarta's
skies are, though, less animated but may be rather more colorful
than the gray pigeons. When the winds are right, dozens upon
dozens of kites may be seen in the sky bringing a kind of traffic
congestion to the sky that reflects the road congestion below.

In Europe or the United States, kite flying would usually be
associated with notions of calm and relaxation. Taking a break
from the stresses and strains of life one might take up a kite,
head for an open field or beach and, with a good wind, lift the
kite into the sky to enjoy the soothing experience of watching it
rise and glide on the air currents above.

"Take a break, go fly a kite."

In Jakarta, however, flying a kite does not always equate to
such notions of peacefulness and calm.

Indeed, here kite flying may be an intense, dynamic and even
hazardous experience. Kites in Jakarta are cheaply but quite
ingeniously made with thin paper and splices of bamboo.
Consequently, half a dozen or more may be purchased for just a
few thousand rupiah, (and a half a dozen or more may be needed!).

With the intensity of development in the city, there are few
open spaces from which a kite may be launched and thus some
vigorous tugs and skillful maneuvers are required to get
airborne. But vigorous action does not stop once the kite is up;
in fact, quite the opposite is true.

Soon other kites will surround your kite and they will not be
friendly company. They will be aggressive interceptors, each one
ready to enter into a dogfight. The aim of this dogfight is to
wind their way around your kite until, with a violent jerk, the
"opposing" kite is able to cut your string and carry off your
kite to an unseen, new and victorious owner.

The frustration of losing a kite in this manner is great. Just
getting a kite airborne in Jakarta's intense sprawl and
fluctuating air currents feels like something of a success, but
to have the kite snatched away from you no sooner than it is
finally high up above is highly annoying.

Even with the knowledge that the kite was only cheap there is
annoyance. The value of buying a half dozen or more soon becomes
clear as having lost one you are keen to get another airborne to
avenge the loss in a new dogfight.

But considerable skills are required to be successful in kite
dogfights because, as a rookie in such challenges, half a dozen
kites can and probably will soon be lost to more experienced,
skilled "kite-fighters". Having lost your kites, you can console
yourself in the knowledge that they were inexpensive and, in the
short time that you had them, they did manage to get your
adrenaline pumping as you vainly tried to keep possession of
them.

Some kite fliers in Jakarta, though, will not so lightly give
up possession of their kites, perhaps because they are rather
more than the typical, cheap but cheerful kites that fly. These
kites are elaborately built and intended to fly to greater
heights. With intricate designs and flowing tails they take on
the appearances of birds of prey or mystical dragons. If one of
these should break from its owner or be snatched in a dogfight, a
manic and often hazardous chase may ensue.

Near to the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta one
such chase was witnessed. The people trying to recapture the lost
kite were running and throwing weighted lengths of string into
the air in an attempt to snag the loose kite string.

Eventually one of them successfully caught the string and was
able to reel in the kite but the chase was dangerous. The
chasers' eyes were fixed on the sky; what was going on at ground
level was entirely secondary. This meant that they were running
recklessly into busy roads and willingly bringing traffic to a
standstill as they pursued the itinerant kite.

People driving cars must have been perplexed by this, perhaps
fearing that a riot was underway as people wildly ran into the
road, but they were able to stop and avoid the "kite-runners".

One motorcyclist was less fortunate. He was unable to see what
was going on in time to avoid one of the runners and with a nasty
screech and crack of his motorbike on the asphalt road he slid to
a halt. Angered but unhurt, the unfortunate motorcyclist was soon
engaged in a furious argument with the runner. Thus, kite flying
in Jakarta may be a dangerous and quite obsessive, simple
pastime.

The obsession of kite flying can also be seen in competitive
kite challenges. These competitions offer money prizes to the
winners and thus the fliers wear serious expressions as they vie
with their opponents to achieve the greatest distance and height
with their kites. Often lined up in ranks of twenty to thirty
kites, the fliers work with partners to launch their large and
uniquely designed and constructed kites. Small but significant
crowds gather to watch and admire the craftsmanship and skill of
the competitors.

In the intense and frenetic life of the city there are signs
that people are looking up to the skies and trying to see beyond
their everyday problems.

Even though kite flying in Jakarta is not particularly
relaxing it can definitely entertain and challenge but if you are
new to the challenge -- watch out and be prepared for losses.

-- Simon Marcus Gower