Semarang, when city jumping, this is a nice surprice.
When travelling across a large island, one definitely does not want the journey to be too long. So the trick is to find convenient places to stop. Semarang was one of these. Semarang is the largest city in Central Java. It was a significant port during the Dutch colonial era and remains an important regional centre and port today. The city has been named the cleanest tourist destination in Southeast Asia. From Bandung to Semarang, I took the train, and that was a nice change.
The joy of travelling by train
To travel by train can mean a lot of things, but in general, I find this one of the nicest ways to move from one place to another. When the standard is good, the seats are normally comfortable, and you can easily relax. Oversized windows provide a clear view of the passing landscape, and since the movement is usually smoother, it is easier to take photos while passing by. You can also get up and walk a little, and of course, there are toilets. On the train from Bandung to Semarang, the train changed direction, and then the staff came and turned all our seats to face the direction.
Did they try a scam?
The train journey was about five hours, and then I had a nice walk to the hotel. As I often say in my blogs, I try to stay in a mid-range priced accommodation. I usually also book most of my hotels in advance, from home. Therefore, I “trust” my judgement that has been made at home, and follow my planned booking. While I was sitting on the train, for fun, I looked up my next accommodation, and I saw that my hotel in Semarang would be one of the most expensive on this trip. So, I thought, “That will probably be nice.”
It was an absolutely nice hotel, and I went to the reception to check in. Since I had in my head what I had already paid, I was so surprised that the man said, “So, this is what you have to pay”. And I said I had already paid through Booking.com. And he said, ‘Yes, but only for one night; however, you have booked for two.’ I said that has never happened before. Either you pay the full amount online upfront, or you pay the full amount at the hotel. He said they would check it out, clicked around on his computer, and eventually gave me my keys without saying anything. I had to ask if I had paid the full amount, and he just said, ‘It’s okay.’ It annoyed me; no apologies, so did they try to fool me?
Out and about
I tend not to spend too much time on things I will never find the correct answer to, so now wast there a new city to explore. As in the previous post, I have shown pictures of buildings that were built by the Dutch East Indies company. In Semarang, it is known as the Lawang Sewu (Thousand Doors). Today, the building is used as a museum and heritage railway gallery. As in many places in Asia, the traffic was heavy, but the pavements were still very clean and wide.
Kampung Pelangi ( The Rainbow village).
By picking up a paintbrush, the people of the Indonesian village of Kampung Pelangi have transformed their community from a slum to a vibrant landmark. I always find it difficult to walk into these areas, because this is, after all, where people are living. Do they want to be a tourist attraction? However, as stated in the introduction, they welcome tourists here. And I did feel welcome; I knew it was going to be a viewpoint at the top of the village, and if I was uncertain about which of the narrow streets to walk, people smiled and pointed me in the right direction.
A little sweet story that happened on top. I know that in most countries around the world, it is said, ‘Do not give money to begging children.’ And I try to follow that rule, however. When I reached the top, after climbing all the stairs, I was pretty warm and sweaty. I was up there all by myself, and I sat down in the shadow for quite a while. As I started walking down again, on the last step of the viewpoint construction, I saw a small basket with a few coins inside. It was not there when I climbed up, so I looked around. Fifty meters away, I saw a child’s head in a doorway, trying to hide, at the same time as it wanted to see my reaction. So I put a little into the basket.
Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah
A little outside the centre of Samarang, you find the Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah Mosque. This mosque opened in 2004. In the central courtyard, there are six large, hydraulically operated umbrellas, which are used to protect worshipers. More than 15,000 worshipers can fit in the 7,669-square-metre prayer area. It has a very relaxed atmosphere and is a popular destination for Indonesians to visit from afar. Nearby is the 99-metre-tall tower, designed to resemble a minaret, which also has an observation deck.
Perhaps Samarang does not have many tourist hotspots, but it is a pleasant city and a nice place to stay between great experiences—next week in Yogyakarta, where the highlights are lined up.
