This was the spot. On 19 September 1945, two youngsters climbed the roof of Oranje Hotel (Also known as Yamato Hotel) and ripped the blue out of the Dutch flag. Leaving the red and white, the color of Indonesian flag, fluttering the sky of Surabaya. Later, the fighting between Indonesian and Allied force was inevitable. At the end, Indonesia has the world recognizing its independence, after three and a half centuries of colonialism by the Dutch, British and Japanese.
I took Lulu and Lilo to Surabaya to re introduce myself to the city where I was born and also to help Lulu learning about Indonesian independence struggle first hand. To do so, no better place to start than staying at the one and only Oranje Hotel. Now, the hotel is called Majapahit Hotel, however it still keeps its original feature.
It is a beautiful hotel.
In a cloudy morning, with some friends, we began our tour by visting Submarine Monument.
The submarine was built in 1952 and involved in the liberation of West Papua from the Dutch. It was manufactured by the Rusian. In the old days, Indonesia was very closed with the Sovyet Union.It is good that we could get inside the Submarine, we could feel how tight the situation was (and how uncomfortable it was). But the kids had a blast in it!!
Then we went to the Heroes Monument or 'Tugu Pahlawan'.
(Some Westerners may question: Why, in 1945, instead of welcoming them, Indonesian wanted the Allied force to leave after the Japanese surrendered. Well, we have enough hundred years having other people dictating us what to do. No more. Thanks for making the Japanese loosing the war though ....)In the monument complex, there is a museum called 'Musium 10 November'. 10 November 1945 is a historic day for Indonesia, as on that day Indonesian fought its biggest battle after the independence 17 August 1945. In the museum we found diorama of the fighting, weapons, even old movies capturing the war.
The sun was high, and because it was Friday, we have to go to the mosque to do our Friday pray. So, our next destination was to Sunan Ampel Mosque.On the way to the mosque, we passed many parts of the city. Many buildings stood like telling the story on how the city has been struggling to keep its identity.
We also went pass 'Jembatan Merah' or Red Bridge.
Even now it is very crowded and not so red anymore, the bridge kept the memories of the battle between Indonesian and Allied force. A lot of people loose their life on that bridge.Then we arrived at Sunan Ampel Mosque. It was originally built in 1421 and having Javanese and Arabian architecture.
As it was Friday, the mosque and its area was packed with people who wanted to do Friday Pray.
I really wanted to join the pray, but I did not have my praying robe. So, while waiting for my friends, I took the kids and my other friend to a nearby cafe.I don't know, somehow the call for pray seemed to encourage me to think, 'Here I am, in a historic mosque. There may be no other chance for me to be here. It would be a pity if I dont do my Friday pray here.'
What I did was, I asked the cafe owner to lend me her praying robe and asked my friends to look after the kids in the cafe. Then I ran back to the mosque, thru the crowd.
Finally, I could have my Friday pray in the Sunan Ampel Mosque.Our last stop is the Suramadu Bridge. The bridge connects Java and Madura islands. It is 5.4 kilometres long, the longest bridge in Indonesia, some even says the longest in South East Asia.
The project was led and constructed by Indonesian. What an accomplishment, one among many that we have achieved during the 65 years of independence.I love you Indonesia, keep it up.
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