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Places of Interest
The City
Surabaya
is a busy port town, and a walk to the old harbour
should not be missed. Filled with a variety of
vessels ranging from brightly painted schooners to
aging warship, there are always sights to see at
the harbour.
The most
interesting areas of Surabaya are the old Arab and
Chinese quarters at the northern end of the city,
not far from the harbour.
Spend some time
wandering the narrow lanes to the east of Jl. K.H.
Mas Mansyur, around the mosque and the Holy Grave
of Sunan Ampel, one of the nine saints who
propagated Islam on the Island.
Many stalls around
the mosque sell handmade textiles from all over
Java.
Just to the south of here, at Jl. Dukuh II/2 is
the Hong Tik Hian Temple, where Chinese
hand-puppet (potehi) performances are put on daily
for the benefit of the assembled deities. And just
across Jl. Kembang Jepun, on Jl. Selompretan,
stands Surabaya's oldest Chinese shrine-the 18th
Century Hok An Kiong Temple-built entirely of wood
in the traditional manner by native Chinese
craftsmen.
The temple's
central deity is Ma Co, the protectress of
sailors.
From the Chinese quarter, walk West-ward along Jl.
Kembang Jepun to the famous "Red Bridge"
straddling Kali Mas canal. This lies at the very
heart of the 19th Century commercial district,
where many dilapidated Dutch ware-houses and
office buildings still stand.
Majapahit
Sculpture
Named
after the bitter (pahit) maja fruit, Majapahit,
made Singasari in the late 13th century as the
dominant power and became the most powerful
kingdom ever in Indonesia, where during the 14th
century became the golden age of cultural and political
development which until today, historical figures
and Hindu and Buddhist influenced motifs remain
popular.
Located south west
from Surabaya and around 10km from the town
Mojokerto lies Trowulan, where it is surrounded by
100 square kilometers of archaeological site.
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