Jakartans take time out for lark in the park

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.