Local businesses prepare for Halloween

JAKARTA (JP): Halloween does make things go bump in the night in Jakarta, but away from the capital it's still an unfamiliar celebration to many.

"I think basically for Indonesians nowadays Halloween is more popular because western influences are easily digested by Indonesians -- it's cool to like the western lifestyle," said Planet Hollywood sales and marketing manager Kiki Rizki.

She said the restaurant's children's Halloween party on Sunday, to be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., would include a "mix" of expatriate and local children.

"There are a lot of baby boomers who will bring their children here because they know about Halloween. For our celebration on Tuesday night, however, we expect young local people."

Halloween is often seen as a holiday to celebrate pagan rituals; human sacrifice and midnight orgies in dark woods. In reality, the celebration of Halloween, which started as a harvest and fire festival among the Celts, has been co-opted by America, with its gift for mass-producing everything from its food to its holidays.

Still, it is sometimes a hard sell.

Behind the Cira Food Court on the third floor of Plaza Indonesia is the usually raucous Kids Club. Seated at the entrance last Sunday was Yasmin, the coordinator, and several assistants waiting for registrants for the "I Like Halloween Party".

But there were no little ghosts or goblins to be seen.

"It must be because there are holidays this week," Yasmin said.

The lack of little monsters meant the contest was canceled, but curious parents and children continuously popped around the corner looking for the little devils.

Yasmin said last year's costume party was a success. With 15 participants masquerading as scary characters, and over 200 people watching, the former area of the Kids Club in Sogo was packed, she said.

Sogo is among the outlets in Jakarta that sells costumes, but the winner of the contest was an Egyptian mummy who made his own outfit.

"He was wrapped in bandages, and he walked just like a mummy," Yasmin said, adding that points were given for masqueraders who also acted like their character.

The three judges also gave points if the costume or ideas were unique as well as if they were scary, with winners receiving a trophy and gift vouchers from Plaza Indonesia.

The only stipulation to enter the contest was that the child was already a member or else they would have to apply to be one first, Yasmin said. The Kids Club currently has 300 members.

Yasmin expected a good turnout on Sunday afternoon when nighttime talk show host Hughes makes a guest appearance as the storyteller of the tale Once Upon a Time There was a Jolly Ghost. Children can act out the story afterward as well as play games, Yasmin said.

Halloween fun

"Halloween is not Indonesian. It is American," said one young Indonesian woman.

But when asked if she would be willing to go out to a Halloween-themed night at a bar for some drinks and fun, she was quick to say yes.

A young Australian executive working in Jakarta had much the same to say about Halloween.

"We never celebrated Halloween at home, no one did. I go out now on Halloween to bars and clubs, but I don't wear a costume."

If you are hell-bent on having a howling good time on Halloween, regardless of your feelings for the holiday, there are quite a few options in the capital. By the time this is published many of the Halloween parties will have long ended, many establishments choosing to hold their Halloween celebrations on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28, such as the Oriental at the Hilton Hotel and Front Row sports bar and restaurant in the Taman Ria recreational complex in Central Jakarta.

Many might consider it the clearest sign that Halloween as a holiday is meaningless, so much so the date can be changed to accommodate people who have jobs they have to wake up for during the week. Others would argue it is only good sense to hold Halloween bashes on the preceding weekend to allow Jakarta's little ravers to let their hair down.

As well as Planet Hollywood, the Regent Jakarta will hold a Halloween Brunch at Seasons Cafe on Sunday. There will be face painting, a costume competition and a "trick or treat" parade for the youngsters, with prizes as well.

The hotel will have a special set menu on "Witch Night" on Tuesday at its Steakhouse and it will be happy hour all night long in the bar.

Tiga Puluh club at Le Meridien will be putting on its Halloween festivities on, of all nights, Halloween. There will be fortune-telling, fire acrobatics and the requisite costume contest with prizes on offer. (David Eyerly/Maria Kegel)