Any suggestions on places to visit in Surabaya?

Answer 1

From sea, the dock at Tanjung Parak is as it was save that of a two storey air-conditioned passenger terminal addition to the complex. Alternatively, a bus trip en route to East Java may offer a chance to a spectacular view of mount Bromo, an active volcano.

A becak ride to the south brings one to the dilapidated Jembatan Merah neighbourhood. This was once the centre of Dutch Surabaya. Rush hour in 1920 was described as an “indescribable press of four- and two-wheeled carriages, carts loaded with merchandise, traveling sailors, (some very loud) native and Chinese merchants, coolies.”

Traffic since then is much louder with the vehicles of modern design; transportation patterns seem otherwise unchanged. The attraction about Jembatan Merah is its Dutch warehouses and governments buildings.

Chinese and Arab quarters have also retained many of their individual characteristics and, in the latter, the muezzin’s sonorous call to prayer begins each day.

In the hotel district stands the old pavilion-style Hotel Majapahit. Originally named Hotel Oranje, it was Surabaya’s finest, with an elite clientele of ship owners, colonial administrators and planters. During the second World War, it became the Japanese administrative centre under the name of hotel Yamato. An attempt was made after the war to rename it Hotel Oranje. Scholars say this precipitated the Battle of Surabaya which proved to be the turning point in Indonesian revolution.

With Surabaya’s contribution to Indonesia’s independence, the city is often honoured with the title “Kota Pahlawan,” or City of Heroes. In its heart stands the Tugu Pahlawan, a commemoration of the warriors who fought in that battle. Artifacts of the revolution are show cased at Angkatan military museum.

Arguably, the city’s most important contribution to Indonesia is the classical performances and the regeneration of folk cultures. This unassuming city has elevated and preserved East Java’s specialized dance and drama forms; the whole range of theatrical cultures is to be found here.

One of the dances unique to this place is the ludruk. This dance is set in a contemporary urban household with the dialogue in the local arek dialect. Another is the ancient trance dance, Reog Ponogoro, a spectacle of orchestrated derangement. TheKuda Kepang is performed by men enacting the behaviour and movement of horses.

Taman Budaya, the city’s thriving performing arts centre, provides a bewildering choice. The repertoire of classical dances and dance dramas taught include Gandrung and Chinese historical dramas. Aspiring musicians are trained in bamboo kolintand music, Javanese singing and the lilting gamelan orchestra.

Indonesian graduates of Taman Budadya used to begin at THR, the city’s popular amusement park, where nightly the open staged Javanese comic and folk dramas are performed based on East Javanese legends, accompanied with kroncong bands playing their gentle, melancholy music.

THR, if it is sill there, is a two-in-one amusement park that was considered the country’s best. An adult theme park with cinemas and an amphitheatre joins with a children’s theme park, Taman Ramaham, Surabaya’s answer to Disneyland. Complete with carnival stands, ghost house, merry-go-rounds and the safest bumper car arena in the world. Children here refrained from hitting each other’s bumper out of politeness.

The city’s other prominent attraction is the zoo. This was long considered as one of the largest most complete and oldest zoos in Southeast Asia. While it has a selection wide selection of nocturnal creatures and unusual birds, Komodo dragons drew the most attention. These creatures are the subject of David Attenborough’s book, Quest for a Dragon. Their feeding time is its biggest crowd-puller.

Interestingly, the local industries do not produce any textiles or batik, Indonesia’s most famous craft. Instead, its trumpeted claim to fame in the garment industry was Jalan Embong Malang, otherwise known as “street of a thousand tailors.” Although there is really far fewer than that, the tailors are amazing to watch as they sew made-to-measure trousers in an hour or so. This reputation evolved into a game with each tailor tearing away at the sewing machine, peddling furiously trying to break the speed record.

Along the side streets whilst scrutinizing the antiques and curious of ceramics and beads, one of the ladies disapprovingly said ,“I hope you don’t tell people about Surabaya. Shopping will be ruined for us.”

Shopping remains largely a case of caveat emptor. Sensing disappointment that an old teak chest was already sold, the ever grinning shopkeeper offered to get another. Happily he said, “No problem, I can make you antique chest in ten days.”

The promotion of East Javanese handicrafts include a much more assured investment of income in gold, silver and brassware at Dinas Perindustrian Jatim. Traditional crafts include janur, an arrangement of young coconut leaves. An exhibition used to be held monthly drawing folk from around the region.

Away from the broad streets are hidden walkways squeezed between rows of simple houses. Life in these quiet neighbourhoods is slow-paced and basic. The locals, not accustomed to strangers stumbling into their backyards, appear more amused than annoyed and will often take time to converse.

The people of Surabaya neither fit the preconceived notions of city folk nor does the city itself; despite modern amenities, the East Javanese culture and character have not been diluted by foreign influences.

That was then. What is now, one should refer to the references provided below to decide your destination.

Answer 2

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