'Tis Highland Gathering time, grab your kilt

Remmy Faizal, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

This year's Highland Gathering, the 28th since 1975, will be held on June 5 in the New Imperial Island Park Showground in Lippo Karawaci, about 30 kilometer west of downtown Jakarta.

Jakarta residents, local and expat, are set to participate in a day of fun and games, music and dance, food and drink, and especially the traditional Scottish strength contests.

Tickets cost Rp 25,000 per adult, and all proceeds will go to charity.

"One hundred percent of the money will be given to orphanages to help the Indonesian people and it will be audited by an independent auditing company," the event committee's spokesman Ronald Mullers, said on Wednesday.

Mullers added that the Highland Gathering in the country is the largest one outside of Scotland. It usually attracts more than 20,000 visitors, 25 percent of whom were expatriate residents.

He also explained that the event was held outside Jakarta because they required at least five acres (approximately two hectares) of space, which couldn't be found in the middle of the city.

"This is a big event with a big crowd and a large number of expatriates. That's why we have to secure this event as well as possible," he said.

Indeed, the location is sort of an island which only has one entrance so visitors can be checked properly.

He also thinks that the number of people this year will be pretty much the same as last year or maybe a little more.

The committee will be working together with event promoter PT Eatertainment International (EATT) and the Amigos Group, which is one of many restaurants that will be selling food and drinks.