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Foreign tourists participate in Independence Day festivities
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Tourists participate in a cracker-eating contest during independence festivities at the famed Jl. Jaksa in Central Jakarta on Aug. 17. (JP/Winda Charmila)
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mong dozens of Indonesians celebrating the 71st Independence Day on Wednesday in the tourist area of Jl. Jaksa, Central Jakarta, 15 foreign tourists also joined in the festivities by participating in games organized by local residents.
Despite the heat, the foreigners enthusiastically participated in traditional games, such as balap karung (sack race) and makan kerupuk (cracker-eating contest) held outdoors in the location famed among foreign backpackers.
"I enjoy it and am so glad I took part in the games," said a US backpacker named Julia on Wednesday after competing in the sack race.
Another traveler named Lou from France gleefully participated in a cracker-eating competition in which participants eat the crackers hung at mouth level without using their hands.
"I have never done this before. It is really great for Indonesian people to share such games with foreigners," Lou said.
Jl. Jaksa in Central Jakarta has scores of cafes, restaurants, bungalows and hotels charging moderate rates. The street is well-known for attracting domestic and foreign tourists traveling on limited budgets. (wnd/rin)
