Java Jamboree: Jamboree in the Air!

Towards evening just as we got off the frenzy of visiting one Indonesian traditional house after another, suddenly, I realized there was quite a crowd there at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. At the Riau house for instance, a group of youngsters had gathered for a dance. Elsewhere, boys and girls were performing on stages under the watchful eyes of their dance instructors. There was a jamboree-like atmosphere and a promise of a big jamboree to come and no wonder, the next day would ben17 August. It would be Dirgahayu Indonesia or Independence Day for Indonesia.Netherlands which colonised Indonesia had actually granted the country independence in 1947 but at 10.00 a.m sharp on Friday, August 17, 1945, the Indonesian Declaration of Independence which was drafted by Indonesians Sukarno, Hatta, and Soebardjo was officially proclaimed to mark the start of the five year diplomatic and armed-resistance of the Indonesian National Revolution which fought against the forces of the Netherlands. It was only in 2005 that the Netherlands declared that they had decided to accept 17 August 1945 as Indonesia's independence date. My friends and I were there in Java 63 years later...


At Taman Mini Indonesia Indah...


Indonesians were preparing for Independence Day...

Traveling Tip: Be in the mood!