Jakartans take time out for lark in the park

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A fun event was offered at the greasy pole climbing contest in Ancol Park, North Jakarta, on Sunday to mark the 57th anniversary of Indonesia's independence.

Eight hundred people from many parts of the city participated in the event, which featured a hundred greasy poles that had been covered with thick black oil.

The participants raced for the first prize of a bicycle, which hung on the top of each pole, as well as many other prizes including plastic buckets, flasks and books.

Each group had four members and took turns to climb the pole to reach the prizes.

Many funny things occurred in the race, which made the crowd burst into laughter.

The climbers were soon covered all over with black oil and often slipped and fell onto other team members.

The funniest scene of all was when one player's leg slipped, pulling his friend's pants down.

The hot, piercing Sunday afternoon sunlight did not seem to hamper the hundreds of visitors who had come to see the climbing race.

Samin, 30, a construction worker from Ancol was the first player to win the race, when he and his group managed to team up to reach the prize.

While many other groups needed three five-minute goes to reach the prize, he only used two chances to conquer the greasy pole.

"I am very satisfied at being the first to win the race. Last year, I also participated in the same race but came second," recalled Samin who was born in Indramayu, West Java.

Samin, however, complained the game was less interesting than last year's race, which offered a motorbike as the top prize.

Similarly, Abdullah, a resident of Pademangan subdistrict, which is located only two kilometers from the venue, said he had traveled by foot, along with dozens of his friends, to join the race.

"We have been lining up here since 9 a.m. to register for the race," Abdullah said.

The race was open to all visitors on condition they show their admission tickets and ID cards.

Abdullah, who comes from Tegal, Central Java said all prizes won in the race would be immediately auctioned off.

"The money collected from the auction would then be divided equally and fairly to all the team members," said Abdullah, adding he also participated in a similar race last year.

Anas, a committee member, also remarked on the large number of participants this year.

"Registration began at 9 a.m., and by 10:30 a.m., all tickets had been sold," said Anas.

The climbing race was only one among numerous other popular games held across the city to celebrate Independence Day. Many kampongs held traditional games such as tug-of-war and cracker- eating races, and a number of unusual games such as adult men sucking at baby bottles.