Video of the pole with the younger men climbing.

The experienced climber was on the left pole, and the youngsters were on the right pole.

Indonesian flags at the main Penestanan intersection.

Independence Day celebration - Kids eating keropok from a hanging string.

The climber on the youngsters' pole is about to make it.

Success! He unhooked the goodies and tossed them down.

The experienced climber is in the blue shorts.

The experienced climber making his way up.

The experienced climber making progress.

Like Jeff in 2013, they coopted a tourist to help.

Scenes from Penestanan during my wandering on 8/17. This is a doorway decorated for a wedding.

Scenes from Penestanan during my 8/17 wandering - roosters in rattan baskets.

Scenes from Penestanan during my Independence Day wandering.

Independence Day Celebration

August 17, 2017 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

I remained near Santra Putra on Indonesia's Independence Day, August 17. The highlight of the celebration was the villagers (and a Caucasian tourist volunteer) climbing two greased poles to get goodies at the top. The team that climbed the shorter of the two poles was made up of mostly teenagers and it was fun to watch them work together. The other team was dominated by an experienced pole climber and once he was hoisted up to a certain height, he pretty much did everything himself. It was far less fun to watch him. Of course, nothing beats the time Jeff volunteered to help at a similar celebration during our 2013 trip.

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