In Reply to: Sprints posted by drjulian on Wednesday, 8. August 2007 at 08:37 Bali Time:
I have also seen another variation of the Jakarta Sprints - the Jakarta Steeplechase!
Many years ago I bought a ticket to travel in the cargo hold of a Haji ship from Tanjung Priok to Padang.
We were held back from boarding the ship by a 6 metre tall gate. At a signal from the starter, the steeplechasers climbed up over and down the 6 metre tall gate and sprinted up the gangplank. The fastest steeplechasers then chose the best bunks in the cargo holds. The double bunks were made from flat steel sheets and were 25 cm apart.
I came last in the Jakarta Steeplechase and ended up in the cargo hold above the engine room. It was extremely hot as we travelled along the equator.
When we reached Padang, we met the Padang Pickpockets. They exhibited similar sleight of hand to the infamous Kuta Magicians aka the Kuta Money Changers.
As we descended gangplank with our arms full of luggage the Padang Pickpockets welcomed us to Padang. The the Padang Pickpockets aka the Padang Stevedores climbed up the gangplank in the opposite direction and cleverly inserted their hands in all of our pockets.