Thousands flock favorite city holiday spots

Thousands flock favorite city holiday spots

JAKARTA (JP): The mood of Idul Fitri yesterday and Sunday was
brightened by thousands flocking to favorite spots like Ancol
Dream Land, Taman Mini, Ragunan Zoo and the Bogor Safari Park.

On Sunday in the North Jakarta coastal resort area of Ancol
people were rocked by dangdut music with veteran singers like A.
Rafiq and Hamdan ATT, local Betawi comedy group Si Doel..

The number of Sunday visitors was 50,612 -- 11.5 percent more
than last year, Ancol Dream land management said. "But 25 percent
less than our projection," an official said yesterday.

He said the number of visitors yesterday, Idul Fitri's second
day, was expected to be 120,000. "A sharp hike in the number of
visitors on the second day of Idul Fitri happens annually," he
said.

For parents and their kids the Riang Ria Anak-Anak at the Art
Market was the favorite place with clowns and a puppet show.

Fantasy World was also packed. Visitors spent two hours to get
entrance tickets.

The attractions in Ancol caused traffic chaos in North
Jakarta.

East Jakarta's Taman Mini was a favorite spot with almost
42,000 visitors on the first day.

Heavy downpours Saturday stopped more people visiting the
park.

"We are optimistic we can get 100,000 visitors on the second
day as thousands have flocked to this park since it opened at
8:00 a.m. On the second day of last year the park was visited by
106,629 people, " park spokesman Dandoel Hardjono said.

The ticket fee was Rp 2,000 for adults and Rp 1,000 for
children.

Animals

South Jakarta's Ragunan Zoo had 25,795 visitors Sunday.

People came very early and the zoo opened at 7:00 a.m.

Zoo spokesman Eddy M. Rasjid said thousands started queuing at
ticket counters soon after they opened.

"We collected 106,845 visitors on the second day of Idul Fitri
and we recorded 3,173 vehicles entering the zoo's vicinity," Eddy
said yesterday.

"The number of visitors increases each year. Visitors use the
place for family gatherings or reunions. Many families have been
here several times," Eddy said.

Emi, a resident of Jembatan Dua, West Jakarta, said she came
to the zoo because her grandchildren liked it.

"I cannot recall how many times I've visited this place. As
far as I can remember more than four times," the 70-year-old
said.

For Badri and her husband of Halim, East Jakarta, the zoo is
the best and cheapest entertainment.

"For Rp 1,000 one can enjoy the beauty of the place and the
animals for the day," she said.

While Emi, her grandchildren and Badri were moving from cage
to cage, many sat on the grass with radios and guitars.

Garbage was dumped on the grass and on the paths but this
would be collected at 3:OO a.m. and processed for compost, Eddy
said.

He said more visitors from Lampung, Cirebon, and Central Java
usually came days after the holidays.

Last year 106,651 people came on the Sunday five days after
Idul Fitri.

Bogor's Safari Park with its Safari Night program also lured
holiday revelers.

"On Saturday 20,000 people visited the park. Until noon today
(Monday) we got 30,000 visitors," park director Frans Manangsang
said yesterday.

He said Safari Night was most attractive to the visitors.
"People love hanging around in the park until 11 p.m.". (team)