Jakarta Prepares Wayang Bharata for Asian Games Delegations
By INGE KLARA SAFITRI TEMPO.CO MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018
A performance by Wayang Orang Bharata (human puppet troupe). TEMPO/Agung Pambudhy
JAKARTA, Indonesia – The Jakarta Tourism Agency offers tourism and entertainment packages for for the 2018 Asian Games athletes and officials, providing history, arts and cultures, and shopping destinations. The tour includes visits to the National Monument (Monas), Kota Tua (Old City), and shopping centers in Jakarta.
The Indonesian human puppet show Wayang Orang Bharata has also been listed as one of the destinations of the art and culture tourism. Tempo paid a visit to the Bharata building in Senen, Central Jakarta, on Saturday, August 18.
Paguyuban (traditional community) Wayang Orang Bharata head Marsam Mulyoatmojo, commonly called Mbah Marsam, said his team had prepared two agendas to welcome Asian Games athletes on August 25. The package will commence in the morning with a Gamelan (the traditional music of Java and Bali) workshop and two dance performances.
“If the guests want to try the Gamelan ensemble, we will teach them,” Mbah Marsam said, adding that the human puppet show themed Mahabharata will be held in the afternoon. He deliberately opted the theme considering the participants’ countries of origin. “The story of Mahabharata is widely known in Asia,” he added.
Meanwhile, city transportation company PT Transjakarta spokesman Wibowo said his staffers had prepared buses to accommodate the guests. Every bus route starts and ends at the Athletes Village Kemayoran.
A total of five buses are mobilized for the shopping route Athletes Vilalge-Monas-Grand Indonesia-Plaza Senayan/Senayan City-Grand Indonesia-Monas-Athletes Village and three buses for the route Athletes Village-SMESCO-Grand Indonesia-Monas-Athletes Village. “The buses operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” Wibowo explained.
As for the art and cultural tourism package, five buses will ply the routes: Athletes Dorm – Monas – Athletes Dorm at 4 pm to 10 pm and Athletes Dorm – Batavia Cultural Center Setu Babakan – Athletes Dorm. The bus to Wayang Orang Show will only operate on August 25.
ASEAN Digest 
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