Harapan Rainforest staff and local community members celebrated Indonesian Independence Day together on August 17th.

After raising the national flag, singing the national anthem and reading of the declaration of independence, the fun began. Bathin Sembilan children enjoyed a number of games, including an uproarious race to eat krupuk (large prawn crackers) hanging by strings – no hands allowed! No matter who was fastest - everyone was a winner, taking home a Harapan Rainforest rucksack.

Grown-ups (including visitors from the RSPB) tried their luck at retrieving a prize placed tantalisingly at the end of greasy pole suspended over the lake next to camp. Everyone got a dunking of course – but that’s all part of the fun!