Little thumbs up for this year's Jakarta Fair

Katherine Nugent , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 07/01/2008 10:24 AM | City

Children attending the Jakarta Fair this year have been far from disappointed with the range of activities for them to take part in.

The fair has given families from Jakarta the opportunity to take a day out of their weekly routine to enjoy a fun family day out, while celebrating the city's anniversary.

There are a number of rides and events for younger visitors in the fairground full of colorful attractions, like bumper cars, a roller coaster, a jumping castle and a flying fox.

"My children can't wait to try out the different rides," said a mother of three children Wednesday.

With young smiling faces and laughter, which could be heard throughout the entire fair ground, it is clear people were having fun at the festival that day.

BUBBLES OF BLISS: Children take turns to bob up and down in giant plastic bubbles along a small lake at the Jakarta Fair on Wednesday. (JP/Katherine Nugent) BUBBLES OF BLISS: Children take turns to bob up and down in giant plastic bubbles along a small lake at the Jakarta Fair on Wednesday. (JP/Katherine Nugent)

On top of the generic bumper cars and carousel, the fair offers a few more interesting activities. Children can hire a huge plastic bubble to sit in as it floats down the lake.

By 6 p.m. Wednesday, the fairground was packed with people of all ages and the ride queues grew longer and longer.

A young boy complained he had been waiting "since forever" to get on the flying fox.

"But it was worth it," said the boy nodding with a large grin before running to his mother to ask for another token.

A ticket for a five-minute ride is Rp 10,000 (US$1).

Highly anticipated daily musical performances are another main attraction.

The fair's main stages are always graced with local bands, like Nidji and Raja.

As well as providing a platform for local talent to promote themselves to the public, the music provides a lively atmosphere.

Nidji lead singer, Giring, said he had always loved the fair and its festivities.

"The food is great and the haunted house is fantastic," he said.

Giring said Nidji normally plays 10 or 11 songs at each performance but played sixteen songs that day, as they "really wanted to satisfy the Jakarta fans".

The writer is an eleventh grader at British International School, Bintaro.

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