(Part 1) 
What a Day! 

Dear friends.

Did you go to Indonesia Day 2011 in San Francisco? If you didn’t, you really missed something, and you have to wait for another year to make up for what you have lost.

Indonesia Day that was held on Saturday, July 23, at Union Square, successfully gave us what was promised: “Indonesia Treasures: Thousands of Islands, millions of treasures.” 

You don’t get the thousands or millions, but you get a very nice picture of Indonesia, full of bright colors, songs, music and dances, rich Indonesian culture, and of course Indonesian cuisine that everybody savored.  Long lines in front of the many food booths were the undeniable proofs. People did not go to one of the hundreds of restaurants around the Square, instead they choose to stand in line in front of the food booths even if it took ages to get the Indonesian mouthwatering food.

What a Crowd!

    

The Indonesian festival conquered Union Square; visitors who could not get seats had to stand elbow to elbow, Indonesian music sound and strong percussion vibrated the air, hitting the walls of the skyscrapers surrounding the Square, and smell of Indonesian food filled the air that made everybody hungry. The whole day was full of exciting experience, and before you know the festival was over. At dusk Union Square resumed its normal life.

My Indonesian friends, 

Did you go to the Indonesia Day 2011 festival? If you didn’t, definitely you missed the great opportunity to refresh your memory and update your knowledge about your homeland that you can be proud of and tell your friends and neighbors here in America what and how Indonesia really is and what she has to offer.

Read what San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee wrote in Indonesia Day program book:

Let me quote the first three paragraphs.

Dear Friends:

On behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, I am pleased to join the Indonesian American community in Northern California and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in welcoming you to the 18^th annual Indonesian Day. 

San Francisco is enriched by the diversity of our people. Our history as a City of immigrants is part of what makes San Francisco strong, and today, we celebrate the vibrant heritage and culture 

Indonesian Americans have brought to our region.

Indonesia Day 2011 provides an exciting and important opportunity for Indonesian Americans to share their proud culture with the Bay Area. Today, you will be treated to the vivid sights, lively sounds and superb tastes of Indonesia without having to travel further than our very own Union Square.

Please enjoy yourself and all that Indonesia Day 2011 has to offer.

      

And for all you, my friends, who went to Indonesia Day 2011, AND who did not go, following are some snapshots and video clips of the event that was held to celebrate Indonesian independence August 17. Enjoy!

 

Indonesian National Dress Parade (1:22 minutes video)

Indonesia Betawi Dance

Top attraction, Indonesian antique fabrics.

A 2 minutes sneak-preview.  

Indonesia Day (Part 2)

videos follows very soon.

Photo: Mask Dance. The video will follow in Part 2, where you will find 

other Indonesia Day video dances and more photos.

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