Historical Buildings and Sites in Jakarta : The Traces of the Freemason Movement in Indonesia.

As an old city, Jakarta has many buildings with high historical values. One of the many buildings is Kimia Farma Building located in Jalan Budi Utomo, Central Jakarta.  It was the first building in Asia ever built in Batavia, later known as Loge La Choisie meaning the chosen loge. 

The building was also known as Logebouw De Ster in het Oosten. Locals call it the house of Satan, as the visitors keep secret what they were talking about and do in the building decorated with pilasters and portikus and in the Doric style.

The building was originally built in 1761 by Petrus Albertus Van der Parra and initiated by Jacob Cornellis Matthieu Rademacher, a member of Freemasonry Movement (Vrijmetselaarl)  as a meeting place. In 1848, the building was then renovated to change its front structure from doric style into Indisch Empire style of architecture.At certain moments, Freemasons often held ceremonies with burning candles and wore strange clothes like the clothes of Halloween.
 

Today, the logo of star in the head of the building symbolizing the East Star, "De Ster in het Oosten", or a symbol of free thinking movement is replaced by a rising sun, the logo of PT Kimia Farma, a stated owned pharmacy company of Indonesia. After the independence of Indonesia, the office belonged to NV Pharmciutiche Handels-vereeniging J Van Gorkom & Co was nationalized to become the head office of Bhinneka Kimia Farma, then PT. Kimia farma.The building itself was the location of the convening of the first Indonesian Youth Congress which was on April 30 to May 2, 1926.

The front part of the building remains original but the interior was partitioned by the management due to the office needs, and modified ts indoor space into two levels. The roofs, aged 195 years old, still looks original with golden yellow paint. 

The former name of Jalan Budi Utomo where the building sit was Komidie Burt. The name was given because it was opposite to the theater Schouwburg (now Gedung Kesenian Jakarta or Jakarta Art Building) which established in 1821. After the building erected in 1837, the road name was changed to Vrijmetselaarweg or Freemason Street. Since then, the building became the quarter of Freemason in the East Indies.

Actually, the member of Freemason from Netherlander had lived in Indonesia before 1756. Institutionally, Freemason was formed after the member of Freemason from England entered.  The buldling measuring 20 m x 27 m was initially as a place of worshiping La Vertueuse. 

The building was erected on a plot of land granted by the East Indies Government and designed by a Netherlands Engineer,  J Tromp, the Head of Public Works and Government Buildings. The funds spent on the building were 12,000 guldens. 

The building consisted of three large spaces and six rooms. One of the spaces was functioned as the room of throne. Initially, the building was used for two space of worshiping, La Vertueuse  and La Fidele Sincerite. Previously, the worship place of La Fidele Sincerite located in a logement at Tambora, West Jakarta, then moved to Jalan Kopi, Bandengan Utara, West Jakarta, in 1773; then moved again to Jalan Pos Kota ( formerly called Tijgersgracht), Kota Tua Old City of Jakarta.

Since the establishment in 1769, the worship place La Vertueuse moved many times. In 1780, it resided a house of one of freemason members named Daniel Kreysman, in Jalan Gajah Mada, Gajah Mada Street. From there, La Vertueuse moved to Jalan Budi Utomo. In 1937, two worship places merged into one with a new name Lodge Ster in het Oosten. In 1934, the worship place was moved to Adhuc Stat building, the office of Bappenas, the National Development Planning Agency in Jalan Taman Suropati, Menteng.

Source: cited from Kompas, Monday, 7 November 2016.

Jakarta, Once Upon A Time in the Old Days.

Old Map of Batavia, Old City or Kota Tua Jakarta Today.

Jakarta as the capital of the country has a very interesting historical relics to visit. History of Jakarta is long, as one of the major port city in the archipelago, Jakarta has become one of the main entrance even since prehistoric times, has also been used as a major port by the Dutch in the colonial period before it became the capital of the Republic of Indonesia at the time of independence.

Batavia is a former name of Jakarta where sit the capital city of the Dutch East Indies. As the center of the colonization in the East Indies during the period of 1610 to 1949, Batavia had witnessed the progression of area occupied extending inland ward from Northern Jakarta toward Central Jakarta.

From  a wooden warehouse and small settlement in the east bank of the mouth of the Ciliwung river in 1610, currently in North Jakarta, following a treaty signed by the Prince of Jayakarta and the VOC (the Dutch East Indies Company) representatives, the City of Batavia began developing along the banks of the Ciliwung river - the east and the west bank.

The Ex-Palace of Governor General, across Lapangan Banteng to the east.

Toward the end of the 1700s, the old city of Batavia became an unhealthy place to live and then in 1808, Governor-General Herman Willem Daendles moved the center of government to Weltervreden.Daendels' decided on March 7, 1809 to build a new palace for governor generals at Weltevreden, now in Central jakarta. The site would also be used for the construction of a new city center of Batavia to replace the walled city, now deteriorated, overcrowded and suffering from bad sanitation. 

The progression of Batavia as the city center across centuries had left many historical buildings and sites in Jakarta today as the legacy of  western colonization in Indonesia. The buildings and sites worth of visiting are as follows: 

 Northern Jakarta

• Sunda Kelapa Harbour;
• Menara Syahbandar;
•  Pasar Ikan; 
• Mesjid Luar Batang
• VOC Shipyards;
• Jembatan Kota Intan;
• Toko Merah;
• Ancol;
• Ereveld;
• Makam Kapiten Jonker;
• Rumah Si Pitung;
• Mesjid Al-Alam Marunda ;
•  Gereja Tugu;

Central Jakarta  

• Kota Tua;
• Café Batavia; 
•  Museum Seni Rupa dan Keramik;
• Museum Fatahillah;
• Museum Wayang;
• Stasiun Kota;
• Gereja Sion;
•  Mesjid Jami Angke;
• Vihara Dharma Karya Ansapura;
• Mesjid Jami Annawir
• Gedung Kesenian Jakarta;
• Gedung Arsip Nasional;
• Lapangan Banteng;
• Gedung Pancasila;
• Gedung Departemen Keuangan;
•  Gedung Kimia Farma
• Ragusa Ice Cream Palace;
• Gedung Mahkamah Agung;
• Museum Nasional;
• Istana Negara
• Istana Merdeka;
• Geredja Katolik;
•  Gereja Inggris;
• Menteng;
• Historic Houses of Menteng;
• Menteng Pulo;

Source: The Jakarta Explorer, Cultural Tours In and Around the City by Indonesia Heritage Society

Visit Batam City: Come and Enjoy the Tranquility of Nongsa Beaches.

Nongsa Point Marina & Resort Batam, northeast of Batam Island.

Batam City is known as an industrial city, but it has a number of interesting spots to enjoy including Nongsa. Nongsa is a district in the city of Batam, Riau Islands, Indonesia. This district is famous for its beaches. Some famous tourist beaches include Nongsa Beach, Coastal Maimun, Pantai Tanjung Bemban and Sekilak Beach. 

Nongsa Beach is located in the northeast part of Batam Island, precisely in the District Nongsa, Batam, Riau Islands Province. The name of this beach is the same as the name of his district. While Nongsa name itself is taken from the Malay name of a character who first developed this coastal region. 

Formerly this area is only vacant land covered by scrub, but thanks to the cold hands of the Malay leaders of this region has now turned into a tourist area with huge potential and managed to make investors build various resorts in the vicinity.Nongsa Beach, better known by the name of Nongsa Tua by people around the gorgeous beaches with calm waves and white sand. Interestingly, Nongsa Beach is very close to the southern coast of Singapore, even so close it only takes half an hour to use a motor boat to go to the south coast of Singapore.  

Ferry Terminal to Singapore from Nongsa.

Due to its proximity, at night when it is in the Nongsa Beach, you can enjoy the views of Singapore very beautifully decorated with lights. Not only that, this beach overlooking the northwest so it is perfect for enjoying the sunset. Nongsa Beach also has underwater scenery, which is not less beautiful. You can try snorkeling to enjoy it. In the vicinity of the beach there is also a traditional Malay village that can be visited.

Nongsa sub-district also has a number of resorts and golf courses of international standards with the goal of domestic and international travelers. there are at five hotel and resorts you can find in Nongsa : Montigo Resort, Turi Beach Resort, Nong Point Marina & Resort,Batam View Beach Resort, and Nongsa Village. You can also play golf in Palm Spring Golf & Resort, a golf courses wit international standards.

Visit Batam City: Come and Enjoy the Tranquility of Nongsa Beaches.

Marina in Nongsa Point Marina & Resort Batam, northeast of Batam Island.

Batam City is known as an industrial city, but it has a number of interesting spots to enjoy including Nongsa. Nongsa is a district in the city of Batam, Riau Islands, Indonesia. This district is famous for its beaches. Some famous tourist beaches include Nongsa Beach, Coastal Maimun, Pantai Tanjung Bemban and Sekilak Beach. 

Nongsa Beach is located in the northeast part of Batam Island, precisely in the District Nongsa, Batam, Riau Islands Province. The name of this beach is the same as the name of his district. While Nongsa name itself is taken from the Malay name of a character who first developed this coastal region. 

Formerly this area is only vacant land covered by scrub, but thanks to the cold hands of the Malay leaders of this region has now turned into a tourist area with huge potential and managed to make investors build various resorts in the vicinity.Nongsa Beach, better known by the name of Nongsa Tua by people around the gorgeous beaches with calm waves and white sand. Interestingly, Nongsa Beach is very close to the southern coast of Singapore, even so close it only takes half an hour to use a motor boat to go to the south coast of Singapore.  

Ferry Terminal to Singapore from Nongsa.

Due to its proximity, at night when it is in the Nongsa Beach, you can enjoy the views of Singapore very beautifully decorated with lights. Not only that, this beach overlooking the northwest so it is perfect for enjoying the sunset. Nongsa Beach also has underwater scenery, which is not less beautiful. You can try snorkeling to enjoy it. In the vicinity of the beach there is also a traditional Malay village that can be visited.

Nongsa sub-district also has a number of resorts and golf courses of international standards with the goal of domestic and international travelers. there are at five hotel and resorts you can find in Nongsa : Montigo Resort, Turi Beach Resort, Nong Point Marina & Resort,Batam View Beach Resort, and Nongsa Village. You can also play golf in Palm Spring Golf & Resort, a golf courses wit international standards.

Water Castle, Taman Sari in the Sultane Palace of Yogyakarta.

 Gedong Gapura Panggung,The front door of Taman Sari.

Next to Bali,Yogyakarta is today the  most desirable tourist destinations in Indonesia, offering a variety of tourist attractions ranging from natural attractions, historical tours, to culinary. One of the many historical sites in Yogyakarta is the Taman Sari,Water Castle located at Jalan Taman, Yogyakarta.

The gate into bathing pools.

Taman Sari is located very close to the palace of Yogyakarta Sultanate and only took about 15 minutes from the north square of the palace. This place was once a place of recreation for the royal family as well as the fortress was built in 1758-1765 by the Sultan Hamengku Buwono I. Now, Taman Sari Water Castle is one of the cultural heritage of Yogyakarta, which has become a popular tourist spot in the city.

Umbul Pamuncar,The Bathing Pool For King's Wifes.

Taman Sari was, or Beautiful Garden, used to for three functions, namely as : a defense area and a shelter as indicated by the high fortress which suroounded Taman Sari; the bation or a place to set the weapons; the gates equipped with the guard posts; and the underground tunnels that connects one area to others sych as from Margi Inggil to Pulo Kenanga, from Pulo Kenanga to Sumur Gumuling, Sumur GUmuling to Gerbang Segaran, on the western side of Taman Sari.

Taman Sari also functioned as a religious place. The buildings used by th Sulthan for religious service and meditation were Pulo Penembung and Sumur GUmuling, located in the middle of Kolam Segaram,. Pulo Penembang is located on the south of Pulo Kenangan and Sumur Gumuling is on the west of Pulo Kenanga.

Lastly, Taman Sari as a recreation/ Resting place. There are many facilities for recreation and retreat such as a bathing place complex, pools, ponds, arificial lake, and gardens. During its era, the artificial lake was streching from Pulo Kenangan to Pula Gedong the east of Palace. Through a ditch called Kali Larangan, Segawan water was directed from the Bendalole dam at Winongo river,  Pingit, on the northwest side of Yogyakarta. Other facilities related to water are pools or ponds such as Umbul Binangun, Kolam Garjitawati, Pasiraman Umbulsari adn Kolam Nagaluntak.

 
The Buildings with initial area of 10 hectares  has 57 buildings, consisting of a complex of bathing pools, artificial lakes, artificial islands, suspension bridges, canals, parks, underground passageways, as well as several buildings with European architecture, Chinese, Javanese, Hindu, Buddhism, and Islam.  The compound is a make up of four complexes namely:  Artificial lake,"Segaran" located in the west, where you will find Pulo Kenongo, Pulo Cemethi, serta Sumur Gumuling.

Umbul Panguras,The Bathing Pool For the Sultan.

Pulo Kenongo is an island in the middle of an artificial lake complex of Taman Sari. Here there is a building named Gedhong Kenongo, the building which was once the highest place in Keraton Yogyakarta making it possible to view the region as a whole palace. In the vicinity there are air vents for underground tunnels that can be used if it will escape from the enemy.You can see the sunset here because until now, the place is still one of the tallest buildings in Yogyakarta. Against the backdrop of the city of Yogyakarta, the sunset will be very memorable.

Umbul Kawitan,the Bathing Pool For the King's sons and daughters.

Pulo Cemethi located south Pulo Kenongo sultan is ideally used for meditation. Pulo Cemethi To achieve this, you must pass through an underground tunnel. 

The Traditional Sauna  for the Royal Family.

Gumuling well is located in the western part of Pulo Kenongo and a place of worship Sultan who can be reached through an underground tunnel. Although intended as a mosque, the well is different from the mosque in general because of the circular-shaped niche. Gumuling wells consist of two floors, the first floor is the assembly of men, while the second floor is a place for female pilgrims. 

In the Gumuling Well, if you speak loudly so your voice will be heard throughout the building. In the middle of the well, there are five ladders that implies five pillars of Islam, four of them up and merge in the middle, while the fourth-fifth connecting the ladder to the second floor . Under the stairs, you will find a pool of water which is ablution for pilgrims.

The second complex of Taman Sari has several buildings, namely:
a. Gedhong Gapura Hageng;Gedhong Hageng Gate is the main gateway to the west, but now it is not used anymore and the main entrance for visitors has been transferred to the east. Gedhong Hageng gate has a two-level room decorated with reliefs to describe the initial years of development of Taman Sari, namely 1765.

b. Gedhong calyx-calyx (Gopok-Gopok);This building was once a 2-storey tower, but now the building is gone and replaced by eight square garden.

 c. Pasiraman pennant (pennant Binangun);Bannerman Pasiraman or commonly known as Bannerman Binangun a bathing place along with the daughter of the sultan and his harem surrounded by high walls on each side. Bannerman Pasiraman has 3 pools named pennant Muncar, Blumbang Kuras and Binangun banners emblazoned with mushroom-shaped fountain and can be accessed through two entrance gates on the west and east.

 d. Gedhong Sekawan;Located east Umbul Pasiraman and form pages with four buildings as a resting place sultan.

 e. Gedhong Gapura Stage;Currently Gedhong Stage Gate is the main entrance gate used by a visitor to enter the Taman Sari complex and is located east of Taman Sari Water Castle. This 2-story building has a snake reliefs on the walls, depicting the completed construction of Taman Sari, namely 1758.

 f. Gedhong temanten;The building is located in the east Gedhong Gapuro stage and used as a place of custody.

 

Gedong Gapura Hageng, the ex Front Gate of Taman Sari.

Source : Leaflet on Taman Sari Ngayogyakarta as based on Eka Hadiyanta, IGN., menguak Keagungan Taman Sari, Sumber Aksara Yogyakarta, 2012.

Exploring Museums in DIY Yogyakarta.

The most famous as well as unique museum of all in DIY Yogyakarta is the museum complex of Sultanate Palace of Yogyakarta or Keraton Ngayogyakarta. In Yogyakarta Palace complex is made of four museums, namely Batik Museum, the Museum of Painting, Crystal Museum, and Museum of Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX. Fourth museum is fused with the other buildings in the keratin and becomes part of the tourist attractions.  

Yogyakarta Palace Museum is really unique and unbeatable because it is located inside the palace complex that there are courtiers keratin, complete Javanese clothes they were good at playing the gamelan. Music playing gamelan which can be watched and enjoyed by visitors every Monday and Thursday.

Batik Museum occupies two unit building. Batik Museum Building Unit 1 contains a collection of fabrics, scarves, semekan, headbands, surjan and lonthong granting of the royal family. Batik collection in this room is dominated by brown color and motif parang. That said, batik parang motif is the motif of the royal family. Batik Parang Barong which is the coronation of the Emperor Hamengkubuwana clothing VIII in 1921 was one of the valuable collections displayed in this room. 

There is also a daily fashion Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX patterned Parang Rusak Cohong and headbands Parang Kestubo. One of the most attention is the motif Kawung Gringsing Box Puppet belongs and works Kray Retno Wilanten Hamengkubuwana VIII (concubine Sultan Hamengkubuwana VIII).

In contrast to the first unit, Unit 2 Batik Museum contains photographs of children and grandchildren of Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX when the wedding ceremony, ceremony mitoni, tedhak Siten, circumcisions and ceremonies droplets. In addition to display photographs in the Museum Unit 2 also displayed batik clothing worn in the photos.

Museum painting in keratin complex also consists of two buildings. In the first building, exhibited paintings genealogy of the kings starting from Lineage I. Hamengkubuwana depicted in the form of a tree with fruit that symbolizes the boy and leaves symbolizing girls.

Valuable museum collection was exhibited at the second building that used to serve as the home of the crown prince. The painting is a portrait of Sultan Hamengkubuwono VII, painted by Raden Saleh in 1868. These paintings are very European. Sultan Hamengkubuwana VI painting featuring the king dressed in Javanese batik parang motif, while the painting of Sultan Hamengkubuwono VII warrior dressed in full.

Goods, such as flower vases, urns, clock, gear sets eat / drink, and lamps made of silver, porcelain and crystal belongs to the king, on display in the Museum of Crystals. These objects are mostly from abroad. The most unique is the collection of ceramic wall clock whose numbers are written in Java letter.

In addition, the life story of Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX enshrined in its own museum which consists of four rooms. The most important collections in the room to-1 is a Charter determination of Soekarno regarding Yogyakarta as part of RI, also mandate that says that the Sultan of Yogyakarta Special Region RI is. In the 2nd room featuring photographs and relics of the Sultan when he was a child. In room 3, displayed photographs and relics of him as warriors, governors and vice-president of Indonesia. Valuable collection for the museum is a painting him as the crowning of Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX complete with all the tools during the coronation ceremony. Stories about the life story of Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX in the museum ends with a photograph at his funeral in 1988 and plans keletakan his tomb in Imogiri (room 4th).

Exploring Temples in Yogyakarta.

Buddhism Statue in Borobudur Temple.

Probably not many aware that DIY (Special Region) Yogyakarta has so many religious buildings  in the form of temples or candi, either Hinduism or Buddhism, apart from Mosques and churches. Yet,historically, Javanese in Yogyakarta in the pre-islam era were predominantly Hindus with minority believed in Buddhism.

The existence of a large number of temples in Yogyakarta and its neighboring region beckons the travelers, from other provinces in Indonesia as well as foreign countries to visit this tourism destination that is tolerant, spiritual and most of all diverse yet united.

Let us together get acquainted to a different side of the region and learn about these fascinating religious tourism places in Yogyakarta.  The famous of all temples here is Borobudur Temple. Although administratively no longer in Yogyakarta but In Magelang regency, Central Java province, most visitors prefer to get access into the temple from Yogyakarta since its location is conveniently situated close to Yogyakarta. Together with Prambanan Temple and Ratu Boko Temple, in order to better manage this World heritage site, Borobudur Temple is now under management of PT Taman Wisata Borobudur Prambanan & Ratu Boko. visit http://corporate.borobudurpark.com/for more information.

Borobudur was built around 800 AD or 9th century. Borobudur was built by the followers of Mahayana Buddhism during the reign of the Sailendra dynasty. The temple was built in the heyday of the Sailendra dynasty. The founder of the Borobudur Temple, King Samaratungga derived from the dynasty or the Sailendra dynasty. Likelihood of this temple was built around 824 AD and was completed around the year 900 AD during the reign of Queen Pramudawardhani who is the daughter of Samaratungga. While the architects who contributed to build this temple according to stories passed down through generations named Gunadharma.

Borobudur has 10 levels consisting of six levels of a square, circular level 3 circular and a main stupa as a peak. At every level there are several stupas. Altogether there are 72 stupas in addition to the main stupa. In every stupa there are statues of Buddha. Ten levels of Buddhist philosophy which ten levels of Bodhisattva who must pass to reach the perfection of the Buddha in nirvana. This perfection is symbolized by the main stupa at the top level. Borobudur structure when viewed from above form a mandala structure depicting Buddhist cosmology and human thinking.

Borobudur is one of the wonders of the world that should be preserved. Borobudur is currently designated as one of the UNESCO World Heritage.Borobudur has become a tourist attraction which attracts many tourists both local and foreign. Additionally, Borobudur has become a holy place for Buddhists in Indonesia and an annual celebration of the most important centers of Buddhist namely Vesak.

The next after Borobudur Temple is Prambanan Temple. Prambanan Temple, or Roro Jonggrang Temple, is the masterpiece of Hindu culture in the 10th century. Candi Prambanan or Candi Roro Jonggrang is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and dedicated to Trimurti, the three main Hindu gods Brahma as the creator god, the god Vishnu as the preserver, and Shiva the god of destruction.

This temple is also UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most beautiful temples in Southeast Asia. The architecture is tall and slender shape in accordance with Hindu architecture in general with the Shiva temple as the main temple has a height reached 47 meters towering in the middle of the complex cluster of temples are smaller. As one of the grandest temples in Southeast Asia, Prambanan temples to attract tourists visiting from all over the world.

The temple complex is located in the district of Prambanan, Sleman and sub Prambanan, Klaten, approximately 17 kilometers northeast of Yogyakarta, 50 kilometers southwest of Surakarta and 120 kilometers south of Semarang, just on the border between the provinces of Central Java and Yogyakarta. It is very unique, Prambanan temple is located in the administrative area Bokoharjo village, Prambanan, Sleman, while the entrance to the Prambanan temple complex is located in the administrative region Tlogo village, Prambanan, Klaten.

Other temple under the same management is Ratu Boko Temple.Ratu Boko or Boko temple (Javanese: Candhi Ratu Baka) is an archaeological site which is a complex number of the rest of the building which is located approximately 3 km south of the Prambanan complex, 18 km east of Yogyakarta or 50 km southwest of the City Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. 

Ratu Boko is an archaeological site in the form of royal palace of Mataram Kingdom from the 8th Century. Ratu Boko is situated on a hill, about three kilometer south of Prambanan Temple at an altitude of 196 meters above sea level. The area of the whole complex is about 25 ha. Administratively, the site is located in the region of two of Hamlet, namely Hamlet Dawung, Bokoharjo Village and Hamlet Sumberwatu, Sambireja village, Prambanan subdistrict, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 


Sources: cited from a number of  articles.