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)