Having fun at shopping malls

Having fun at shopping malls

T.Sima Gunawan, Contributor/Jakarta

Malls have become more than shopping destinations. People go
to malls for relaxation, to meet their friends -- "to see and to
be seen" -- to dine or to drink coffee. For many children, malls
also provide them with somewhere to play.

In the corner of a children's game center in one of Jakarta's
shopping malls, a little girl fiercely clenched a rubber hammer.
She eyed the target, then ... bam, bam, bam, she quickly hit the
small creatures that popped out of the holes before they
disappeared.

"I did it...," she hollered.

In just a few seconds, the fun was over and she grabbed the
coupon that came out of the machine. She had collected several
other coupons from different game machines, which could be
exchanged for a small gift at the counter.

Her brother was busy playing another game. He jumped from one
square to another in accordance with the light that switched on
and off. The more illuminated squares he managed to stamp on, the
more coupons he would get. The light switched off so fast that he
often missed. But he laughed a lot, and enjoyed himself.

Such games became popular here in the early 1990s, and are
installed in many of the capital's malls. In order to play a
game, a child must buy a coin. One coin usually costs Rp 1,000.

Smaller children may prefer riding the electric-powered
horses, big birds or cars that come to life with the insertion of
a coin. Those looking for a "fight" always have the option of
video games, through which, at the push of a button, they can
throttle the enemy. Alternatively, they could drive at full speed
along a virtual highway.

Children enjoy themselves at shopping malls and, let's face
it, there are few other places in the city where they can play.
Unlike the capital cities of some other countries, Jakarta lacks
playgrounds and parks, while more and more shopping centers are
being built. In order to cater for the needs of children, as well
as in the business interests of malls, such facilities are
increasing in number.

Those who want to ride a jet coaster do not have to go to
Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta. An indoor jet coaster, albeit
smaller in size, is offered at Fun World in Puri Land, Puri Indah
Mall, West Jakarta, and at Time Zone in Lippo Karawaci Supermall,
Tangerang.

In Puri Land, children can also have fun riding dodgem cars,
as well as enjoying over 100 game machines.

Fun World can also be found at several other shopping malls in
the city, like Pondok Indah Mall and Blok M Plaza, while Time
Zone has outlets at, among other places, Mega Mall Pluit in North
Jakarta, Taman Anggrek Mall in West Jakarta, Kelapa Gading Mall
in East Jakarta and Plaza Senayan in South Jakarta.

Time Zone in Lippo Karawaci Supermall covers a 3,304 square
meter area and is possibly the biggest indoor children's
entertainment center in Greater Jakarta.

"We pay great attention to facilities for children," said Eni
Rohaeni, the mall's advertising, promotion and public relations
officer.

The mall is organizing a special program for children called
the Kids Lebaran Extravaganza from Oct.15 through Nov.30,
offering various attractions, such as Tales of the Prophets, a
musical drama, talk shows, and a drum-beating competition.

Other facilities for children, as well as adults, include the
outdoor swimming pools at the Dragon Waterpark, located on the
west side of the mall compound.

Another spacious outdoor waterpark is situated in the Pondok
Indah Mall compound in South Jakarta. Plaza Senayan, also in
South Jakarta, has a bowling center, and Mal Taman Anggrek in
West Jakarta has an ice skating rink.

There is another ice skating rink in Istana Plaza, Bandung,
while the ones at Mega Mall Pluit, in Medan and in Surabaya have
already closed down.

The 1,248-square-meter ice skating rink in Taman Anggrek Mall,
opened in 1996, and is the biggest in South East Asia. It can
accommodate up to 500 people.

On weekdays, the ice skating rink has about 200 visitors daily
-- mostly students -- while on the weekend that number could
reach 700.

To skate under the supervision of an instructor, half and hour
on a weekday costs Rp 75,000, while on the weekend there is an
additional fee of Rp 10,000.

Those who want to skate without an instructor can pay Rp
29,000 for unlimited time. On the weekend, the charge is Rp
33,000 for two hours, with an overtime charge of Rp 8,000 per
hour.

"Children as young as four years old can have fun at the ice
skating arena under the supervision of our instructors," said
Agustina, the assistant marketing manager.

"Of course, there is always a possibility that you will fall,
but you can learn how to fall in the right position and how to
get up," she added.

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