Paul in Bali: Palembang Debating Championship (Part 1

As mentioned in my last brief post sent from my iPhone, I was in Palembang for a week. It was both an interesting and a difficult week (I came down with Bronchitis), one in which there was a lot of waiting around.

Palembang is the capital city of the province of South Sumatra and is situated on the River Musi, approximately 100 km from the sea. It is the 7th largest city in Indonesia and has a population of about 1,7 million people. In 2011 the city co-hosted the 26th Southeast Asian Games. Some 1500 years ago it was the seat of power of the Srivijaya empire which stretched across much of the modern states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. That's enough history and geography for now.

I went to Palembang with the University Dhyana Pura debating team and its 2 accompanying teachers. We left campus at Dalung at 04:30 on Sunday 26th August to catch a dawn flight to Jakarta. All 4 flights on this trip were in Boeing 737-900ER series aircraft of Lion Air, so I added a new airline and new aircraft type to my travel list.

Almost as an "omen" for the rest of the week the flight was late departing. Because of thick cloud and the low angle of the sun there was little to be seen from the very smeary windows, but for a couple of minutes I did spot the massive crater and peaks of Mt Bromo in eastern Java. Jakarta lived up to its reputation as a vast smoggy metropolis and although I could just make out the high rise skyline, views were very hazy and unclear.

The rising sun catches the wingtip before we
enter the cloud cover. Glare on the dirty
window, cloud and fog limited views for the trip.

Through the haze it was hard to be certain, but I
think that is the massive crater and peaks making
up the famous Mount Bromo park and heritage area.

Just about the only view I got of Jakarta. Lots of smog.

Even on the ground the smog was evident by sight and smell. We were bussed to the new terminal where we completed our "transfer" procedures. There was plenty of time to go outside and look for a lunch spot as we had about 4 hours between arriving from Bali and departing for Palembang. In the old terminal we waited, and waited, and eventually left for Palembang.

The departures building was decorated with
several of these massive "chandeliers".

In the "old" terminal the waiting areas were
open sided passage ways with very few seats.

Cloud again limited views from the aircraft. In 55 minutes we were at Palembang.

Our team with 2 colleagues from another university in Bali

The Palembang airport building is modern and well equipped as it was built for the recent games and other large gatherings. Although we were met by organisers and student "liaison officers" our arrival coincided with the departure of a loaded bus of debaters and we had a long wait until the return of the shuttle buses. Wait, wait .... yes, we had done quite a lot of that.

The mascot gecko in local costume greeted us at the airport

This is the closest I've been to the equator

The signs gave the latitude and longitude of the airport. At less than 3 degrees latitude south this was as close to the Equator as I had been (apart from Singapore, but there I was just passing through and didn't leave the transit area). Naturally it was hot and humid.

The roofline of the Palembang airport terminal building

At 4:15 (Western Indonesian Time), almost 12 hours after leaving campus in Bali we reached the building at the Politeknik Negeri Srivijaya ("Polsri") where the debating competition was to be held.

Venue for the Debating Competition

Banner welcoming teams and observers

Competitors assemble in the main hall.

The main hall easily accommodated the competitors, hosts and visitors. Unfortunately the acoustic properties left a lot to be desired. At the front of the hall the sound was deafening, but those at the back experienced booming resonance. A demonstrate debate was in progress as we arrived.

As the only "foreigner" present I was just as
much an attraction as the dancers were to me.

A dancer displays the elaborate finger decorations used in local dances

In times past the headdress would have been made of real gold and silver

Eventually most teams had arrived and dignitaries had taken their seats. The Opening Ceremony began with a display of traditional dancing. In my 4 visits to Bali I've experienced many opening ceremonies with associated traditional dances. The Palembang costumes, music and dance forms were very different to what I had heard before.

The ensemble performs traditional dances

Students play a traditional instrument resembling a xylophone.

The Opening Ceremony hosts dressed in traditional costume

Perhaps the most intriguing of the dances was the one where the dancers take to the stage behind cloth screens. I had no idea of the significance behind the "props" but enjoyed the dance. After a short time the cloths were folded up and the dancing took a more vigorous form.

The dancers moved onto the stage behind the screening cloths

This turned into quite a vigorous dance, with much leaping about. During the dance the dancers removed their masks, but they kindly donned them for a photograph at the end of the dance.