4 Comments on “Free Stuff in Indonesia”

1. Chris says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 1:06 pm

   By the way, you can see a full-size version of each image by clicking on it.

2. David says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 3:55 pm

   You mention old graves, I like old cemeteries, which some find peculiar but never mind them. So in Surabaya there are two:

   Makam Kristen Kembang Kuning, which is a sprawling big old mess. There are three parts, the main part, which I don’t really have photos on my computer of, but much of it is an overgrown mess but interesting to wander around. Go early morning to avoid the heat, late afternoon sounds good as well but that’s when the weirdos start coming out in force and by nightfall the place is terrifying and turns into a bit of an open air brothel.

   - and a small Jewish section, here’s a pillbox sort of building just next to it:

   

   and then fenced off (boy it needs to be) from the public cemetery is a Dutch war graves cemetery which in stark contrast to what is over the fence is beautifully well maintained and just lovely.

   It’s not much of a ‘tourist attraction’ on the whole but the Dutch part certainly gets a steady trickle of Dutch visitors, judging by the names and dates on the guest book, which they always I think ask you to sign.

   Then there’s the older Dutch public cemetery called Makam Peneleh, which is in an even worse state than Kembang Kuning and has been thoroughly stripped of almost all things of value. There are some fascinating headstones though still there, here’s one where the writing is still legible, there’s a mammoth one of a Dutch admiral or such, and apparently the man who Joseph Conrad based his story “Almayer’s Folly” on is also buried there.

   

   Here are some artistic photoshopped photos of the place:

   http://kpr3tz.multiply.com/photos/album/2/Makam_Belanda_Peneleh_Surabaya

   Here are some plates (text in French)

   http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/arch_0044-8613_1992_num_44_1_2856

3. hary says:
   April 21st, 2010 at 10:14 pm

   Welcome monument aka Hansel and Gretel.

4. Winmar says:
   April 25th, 2010 at 8:03 am

   I went on the Surabaya Heritage Track bus in January, thanks to Chris’s recommendation. It was well worth it, as was a visit to the House of Sampoerna. Some days the route takes in more stops than others, so it pays to check that out before going, if you have the choice. It’s amazing how quickly the women work in the cigarette factory too.

   I was impressed by the zoo in Surabaya, for the trees are very nice and the animals plentiful. Unfortunately an elephant was also impressed by my t-shirt, and almost succeeded in ripping it off my back. Beware!

   The submarine is worth a visit. Watch you don’t hit your head on the way between sections. I saw a guy in the nearby river diving down to salvage things of value. Poor bloke – I wouldn’t wish that job on anyone.

Your view on “Free Stuff in Indonesia” :

Name

Email address

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.