Exploring Semarang, The Multicultural City

I was born in Central Java, but I rarely went to Semarang in the past. I only remembered my Dad made a work trip a lot to Semarang. But I had ever been there just for a night and didn't have a chance to explore much. True traveler never leaves a city unexplored. So, last independence day holiday, which was on August 17, I asked my friend who lived there if I could visit her. And she welcomed that plan. Then I asked my friend in Surabaya to join as well.

We stayed in Star Hotel and Apartment. It is the highest building in Semarang. We can see the view of the city from above. It is a cozy place to stay and it has sky pool. Too bad we couldn't swim there because it was under rennovation.

View from top of Star Hotel and Apartment

The places we visited were Lawang Sewu (built as the headquarter of the Dutch East Indies Railway Company), Kota Lama (Old City), Grand Masjid of Central Java, and also a Buddhist temple named Sam Poo Kong. We also visited an old railway station in Ambarawa, which was one hour journey from Semarang city and then we went to a hill there to see the view of Lake Pening. The railway station was the first station built in Central Java during Dutch occupation in Indonesia. Somehow Semarang reminds me of Manila. The city is full of old well-kept building, historical places and museum, and the same hot weather!

Semarang symbolizes unity in diversity in Indonesia. People from different ethnic and religion live together in harmony. You will notice that news like chaos due to ethnic or religious issues exist in Semarang . Not like in other big cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, or Makassar.

When you happen to visit Central Java, don't forget to explore Semarang as well. Happy exploring!

Lawang Sewu Building, an old building used to be a railway office center

Inside Lawang Sewu

Train Miniatur inside the museum

The founders of Lawang Sewu Building

The idea of railway system in Java was from Kolonel Ven Der Wijk. Why I took this pic because it reminds me of an Indonesian movie named "Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijk"

I currently have a fascination towards old buildings :D

Flag of our fathers

The minaret of Grand Masjid of Central Java

Those giant umbrellas are like the ones in Madinah

Old building in old city of Semarang

Pavement and old buildings. Purfect!

Gereja (Church) Blenduk

Some statues in Sam Poo Kong Temple

Sam Poo Kong Temple

Somewhere in Beijing (look alike)

Ambarawa Railway Station

The view of Lake Pening. Reminds me of Taal Lake in Tagatay, Philippines

The lake was dry due to dry season

Just the three of us