Yet another parade

Before Independence Day recedes too far into the rear-view mirror, I need to note a rather extraordinary (to our eyes) parade we encountered a week ago.

We had driven to Gianyar to visit the famous night market, but encountered heavy traffic as we drew close to the centre of town. A side street or two later rather surprisingly found us a place to leave the car, and after a short walk we were back at the park that we had visited several weeks earlier. Rather than just a few boys with kites, this day the park was packed with families, balloon and ice-cream sellers, and had a covered, raised viewing area full of very important looking, uniformed spectators. In the surrounding streets were team after team of young marchers. All boys of primary school age, all dressed to the nines, and, to our astonishment, all wearing makeup.

We had happened across the Gianyar Regency's annual schools Independence Day marching display. Forty-three primary schools from across the Regency, including Ubud, were participating, with the girls due to parade the following day.

We had seen the practice parades through the streets earlier in the month but this was the culmination. I imagine it is a great honour to be selected, as there were only about 25 marchers per team, oldest at the front and littlest at the back. A leader, who seemed to be quite young in all the teams, blew the whistle and called the shots. Uniforms varied enormously, although plaid seemed to be popular, but a hat of some description was essential, and most teams had gloves and some, tights.

Precision marching was interspersed with a performance in front of the crowd. Obviously a performance of choice as it was as varied as a traditional kecak to gangnam style. Proud parents followed their boys around the streets - by the time each team completed the circuit they must have marched a couple of kilometers, stopping to do their special thing every 100 meters or so. Poor little boys must have been exhausted by the end, but oh, so proud.

And the makeup? We had noticed it before on male MCs at events, so think that it might be part of a performance persona, just as an actor would prepare for a stage appearance. Unusual to our 'bule' eyes, normal for Indonesian people.

We were the only 'bules' there and were warmly greeted by everyone. Little children delighted in coming up and practising their English.

Isn't it the way that the most memorable times are the unexpected ones? We weren't able to return to see the girls, but can only imagine how much effort went into their appearance. I am finding it difficult to imagine anything more removed from the activities of a typical Australian boy of the same age, but long live our differences.