Besides regular recreational sites, it turns out that Srengseng City Forest (HKS), West Jakarta, is also favored by people to spend their Eid ul Fitr holiday. In this season holiday, the forest as wide as 15 hectares is always crowded by visitors who took the children to play in kid’s playground and enjoy the beautiful scenery around the lake.

I’m only a labor. If I took my wife and kids to Taman Mini, Ancol, or Ragunan Zoo, I don’t have money. So, I’d better come here (to HKS) because the entrance ticket is very cheap

Bambang (40), one of the visitors, admitted that he deliberately took his wife and two children to HKS because they wanted to breathe fresh air and the cost is cheap. “I’m only a labor. If I took my wife and kids to Taman Mini, Ancol, or Ragunan Zoo, I don’t have money. So, I’d better come here (to HKS) because the entrance ticket is very cheap,” said the man who lives at Kelapa Dua Urban Village, Kebon Jeruk Sub-District, West Jakarta, Friday (8/1).

According to Bambang, HKS entrance ticket is only Rp 1,000 per person and Rp 2,000 for parking motorcycle. “Added with snacks for my wife and kids, it would only cost me for about Rp 150 thousand. If I go to Ancol or Ragunan, I would probably spent Rp 500 thousand. Whereas, in here, (the atmosphere) is good and comfortable because there are many shade trees,” he uttered.

Meanwhile, Setiawan (30), an officer guarding at HKS’ entrance gate, stated that the forest is getting crowded by visitors since D+3 Eid, with approximately 300 people coming every day. “In regular days, HKS visitors were less than 100 people. But during this Eid holiday, the forest is visited by 300-500 people. It is predicted that HKS would still be crowded until upcoming Sunday (8/3), which is the last day of Eid holiday,” he said.