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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