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Semarang, my hometown

Welcome to my hometown, SEMARANG!

The city of Semarang, the capital of Central Java province is located on the north coast of Java Sea. The Northern part of the city is lying across on the plain coast and the Southern part is on the hilly side from Candi Baru area upward to the town of Ungaran.

Semarang is a busy administrative and trading city, most of the offices, business centers, industrial estates are concentrated in the low land, where as in the hilly side, there are many houses with the beautiful gardens with a superb view to the town and the sea.

The old records of this city date back to the 15th to the 18th century AD in where captivating ancient and colonial monuments still standing to present date.














ride the three wheeled "becak", stroll along the old town part of Semarang!














the old town part, the view from the train station

MEMORY OF THE OLD TIME
Around Candi, the upper part of the city, Bergota from Hindu era, the fortification of Prince Puger from MATARAM, the grave of Ki Ageng Pandan Arang and Kyai Saleh in Mugas street attract many pilgrims.In the west part of Semarang, a temple SAM POO KONG or locally known as Gedong Batu (Stone Building) was dedicated to Chinese Moslem Admiral Cheng Ho, his fleet arrived in the first time at 1406 AD The other Chinese Buddhist temple is Tay Kak Sie at Lombok Street built in the year 1772. (you can see the photo in "pretty places" link on this page).

GEREJA BLENDUK This is the eldest Christian Church in Central Java built by the Dutch community in 1753. It shows the Church architecture of the 18th century with its huge dome and a baroque organ inside the building. Nearby the Church, there are some buildings from the Dutch colonial time.














gereja Blendhuk

FOOD
Semarang is famous for its Lumpia (Chinese Spring Rolls), Pia, Wingko (sweet cakes made of rice flours), Bandeng Presto ( Tendered Fish ). All are yummy... You can also easily finding the sea food stalls everywhere in this nice warm city!









enjoy the foods at the food stall along the street

STASIUN TAWANG, the main railways station with its "Old Time" architecture located also in this area.

LAWANG SEWU, (Thousand Doors), In the downtown of Semarang is also a remarkable building from the "Old Dutch Time". You can even stroll down under the basement and find some surprising secrets of this building from deep under: the jails in the water...













Lawang Sewu















view of Semarang from Gombel in the night

GOMBEL, A favorite place on the hill with its fresh air and picturesque landscape. In the evening, people like to be here to relax while enjoying the panoramic vista to the city and the harbor.

THE NEW CITY
Today Semarang has few relics of an illustrious past, which shows the activities of business conducted by Dutch, Chinese and Javanese Moslem traders. The City is prospering, many new constructions rise, it is likely preparing to be a metropolitan town which keeps properly its precious memory of the by gone days. The busy street Jl. Pemuda in the downtown has some places of interest.


















Tugu Muda, Semarang's landmark

TUGU MUDA (THE YOUTH MONUMENT) is a nostalgic remembrance for the heroic fight for independent and commemorated on October 14 and 15 every year.











Simpang Lima, the city square, and the tower of Baiturrahman mosque

SIMPANG LIMA, it is a square with many shops and cinemas around. In the evening a lot of people are here taking a walk or window-shopping. Early in the morning, people are jogging along the street.

BAITURRAHMAN MOSQUE, showing a mixture of old and new design. Other places worth to see among other are :
RONGGOWARSITO MUSEUM, it is a place displaying a systematical education of cultural historical development of earth and human life. A brief history of the country is also exposed. JAMU ( HERBAL MEDICINE ) MUSEUMS
Jamu or herbal medicime has always been used in this country since ancient period, it is very popular here, it is sold almost every where by different means, from JAMU GENDONG (jamu that is sold from kampong to kampong, carried on the back of a woman) to the special shops in modern malls. Just like modern western medicine, jamu has a large range of products to cure different diseases. More than that it has also specific products to keep a healthy life. Two Museums dedicated to jamu are :
Nyonya Meneer, on Jl. Raya Kali Gawe.
Jago, on Jl. Setia Budi No. 273.

THE INDONESIAN RECORD MUSEUM is also located at Semarang. It is in the some building with Jago Museum. It shows some pictures of special records in Central Java e.g: the tallest man/woman, the shortest, the fastest etc...

PURI MAERAKACA
It is a well arranged park on the beach exhibiting traditional houses of every central Java regencies. In these houses, specific crafts of each regency are displayed.

TINJOMOYO (NEARBY GOMBEL)A public entertainment place where different shows performed such Kethoprak (Traditional Theater with stories of Javanese Kingdoms period ), wayang, as well as band music. There are restaurants, and souvenir shops.

THE CITY ZOO
There are various local animals here.

THE ENTERTAINMENT
There are two famous groups of Wayang Orang (Wayang Theatre) belong to this city :
1. NGESTI PANDOWO
2. SRI WANITO, from these words, which mean queen of women, all players are women.

Recently these highly valued groups as many others cultural traditional groups are facing the decreasing of public's attention... The Ngesti Pandowo group sometimes performs at Taman Budaya Raden Saleh (TBRS) and Gedung Kebudayaan (Cultural Building).

WAYANG KULIT ( SHADOW PUPPET ) regularly performed twice every month in the town of Semarang.
1. On the 17th day of the month in The Governor's office.
2. Every Friday Kliwon in TBRS.

CULTURAL EVENTS
DUGDERAN FESTIVAL
Organized in front of grand mosque in Pasar JOHAR area marks the beginning of fasting month. The name Dug-der, came from the sound of the mosque drum and sound of firecrackers. There is a BAZAR for several days.

So, that's a little story about my city!

Sources:
www.joglosemar.co.id
www.kompas.co.id
personal photos