Indonesia Reaches For The Prize In The Sky
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Indonesia celebrates their independence from the Dutch on August 17th. The streets are decorated in red and white — the colors of the Indonesian flag. Schools and offices hold flag ceremonies and pray for their late national heroes.
The biggest event on this day is Panjat Pinang. For Panjat Pinang, prizes are placed atop large poles or tree trunks. As many as ten men compete to out-climb each other and grab the prizes. What makes the game interesting, however, is the fact that the poles and the men are covered in oil. Tthe Dutch held a similar competition with the locals for entertainment during colonization.
