The Race to Samblong Bridge

It was 9 AM when I arrived at the Sea Corm Bridge, located outside my village. Some people stood in line along the bridge side looking down to some wooden boats voyaging on the river underneath the bridge.

The wooden boats were the racers who would compete for the first position in a traditional boat race. They slowly took their position near a building by the river bank few hundred meters away from the bridge.

I was standing on the bridge along other people. I started a conversation with people beside me who I found very friendly. He told me that the the race would not start very soon since the water on the river was still shallow. Probably it would start in another one and half hour, he said.

I kept on waiting under the morning sun that turned hotter minute by minute. I saw the water got gradually got higher, and I saw more and more people coming to watch the race.

At 10 AM, there was an announcement from the loudspeaker located in the building by the river. It's the race committee who asked the racers to take their contestant number from the desk in the building. Meanwhile three members of the committee check the water depth around the bridge.

The river had a very weak current. And 10.20 the water height has significantly increased. Thank God, the race could start soon.

Finally, at 10.30 the committees called the racers to get ready behind the start line. The start line was actually a rope stretched from one side to the other side of the river. (little white and red plastic flags were attached along the rope.)

All the racers took their positon on the start line. And the voice in the loudspeaker shouted," Ready, get set, go!"

The racers started to peddle their little wooden boats to move forward. There were two persons in each boat working hand in hand to speed up their boats.

The boats passed underneath the bridge where I stood. Then, I ran quickly to the other side of the bridge to follow the boats. All other spectators also did the same. They did not want to miss the sight of the boats either.

People shouted and cheered up to the racers as if to boost their spirits.

After few seconds, the boats disappeared into a turn. People hurriedly walked out of the bridge into their motor cycles to go to the finish point. There was no other way to see the racing boats since they had already vanished into the mangrove forests.

I quickly walked to my motor cycle. I also wanted to catch those boats before they arrive in the finish line. I had to race those motor cycles and the boats to Samblong Bridge, where the finish line was situated.

You could imagine a lot of people taking their motor cycles or cars at the same time. It created a traffic jam. Minutes felt like hours waiting the traffic jam to finally dissolve.

The bridge is called Samblong Bridge since it is located in Samblong Village. It was about 5.9 kilometers away from the starting point through a small road between villages and rice fields. The boat race route itself was estimated around 5-6 kilometers length through the river through mangrove forest.

When I arrived at Samblong Bridge, I realized I was not the first to arrive. Well, it's to be expected. What matter was I arrived before all those little boats get to the bridge.

And again, I parked my motor cycle (along with hundreds of motor cycles) by the side of the road near Samblong Bridge. This bridge was also packed with people waiting for the boats to cross the finish line underneath the bridge.

Not easy to find a spot to stand on the bridge side since it was already full with people. Luckily, on average, I am a bit taller with other fellow Balinese so I managed to see from above their heads.

There was also people who stood by the river banks along with the racing committee.

Suddenly, the people on the river bank clapped their hands and shouted. The the first racing boat, followed by the second boat, were finally approached the bridge. All people (including me) were become excited as the boats cross the finish line.

Few minutes later, more boats came across the finish line. All contestants looked happy. I did not see any disappointment in those who lost the race. All seemed to enjoy the race.

The winner suddenly became a celebrity as people approached them and take their photos. They were asked if they have raced professionally. No, they replied, they were just sellers in the local market. And, the winner smiled.