A German Oktoberfest in Jakarta - Wunderbar!!

I was born outside German-influenced Pennsylvania Dutch country in Pennsylvania; in high school, my classmates and I had to take a semester learning German; in college, I traveled with a friend 

through Germany; and yet the funnest, craziest, and most extravagant Oktoberfest event I have ever been to, was a few weeks ago in Jakarta. Whodda thunk it?

These beer steins were given to us at the entrance.  As we ate, drank, and sang, women would come around the hall with pitchers of beer and were constantly refilling the steins, so no one had any idea how much they had drunk!

Yeah this guy in Lederhosen was doing a jig up on the tabletops. He was the first to start dancing on the table, but later dozens and dozens joined him.

A real, live Bavarian band. And, they were really good, singing a good assortment of German drinking songs, Abba hits, and American songs like YMCA, Hotel California, and I Will Survive.

The dancing on the benches and tables has begun . . .

Many of the women in our group went to a local tailor and had a German "dirndl" costume made. Cost of the tailor-made shirt and vest: $12. Also, notice my feeble attempt at doing my hair in
"Heidi braids."

This was just a small fraction of the delicious food at the event: there was a huge shmorgasboard of delicious German food: Bratwurst, shredded pork, schnitzle, Spätzle, sauerkraut, braised beef, large pretzels, apple strudel, etc. 

Having fun and dancing on the benches.

Darren, Steven & Colin

Clearly the beer is starting to take effect.

They had many contests throughout the evening.  One of the contests involved seeing who could hold a pitcher of beer the longest, arm straight, without smilling any beer.  According to the announcer, "in Germany, spilling beer is a National crime!"  The woman who won this contest was . . . . the woman in the green and brown striped shirt!

There was also a beer-drinking contest for both men and women.  The guy who downed this huge pitcher of beer in under 10 seconds is the little guy in a black shirt (near the center of the picture).

This party was SO MUCH FUN, we're already looking forward to
Oktoberfest 2013!