2010 01 18 - Semarang ( Daytrip )

Semarang (north of Jogya) and near the Java sea is 3 hours away from Jogya. Fortunately we were greeted with nice scenery and passed by some mountains and small towns along the journey.















We tried some of the local durians but personally I still prefer those from Segamat, Malaysia.















Lawang Sewu is famous for the doors and windows. The place is famous for the Thousand Doors and windows and the fascinating stained glass windows representing the Dutch Symbolism of the places like The Hague and Rotterdam and also the Royal family. The building has numerous long winding corridors which open out to the offices on one side of the office and the other end of the building on the other hand. It is a famous landmark in the region of Semarang and a pride for Java.

The place was actually built as the main colonial office for the Dutch and was then taken over by the Japanese government. This place was important because it was the main military hub for the Indonesians and was used for giving shelter to the soldiers and army men here. The place was often considered to be haunted place as many truly and sincerely believed that the place was inhabited by spirits and ghosts and thus many people used to feel scared to visit the place fearing the obvious.

However later the place was converted in to a heritage site and many came to visit the place during their holidays or vacations while coming to visit the Semarang. There are other places also which deserve mention but Lawang Sewu stands out among the rest.



The sweet potatoes from Semarang are reputable for their honey smell. The only way to bring out the fragrance is by baking them in an oven ( not by boiling or steaming ). We packed some back to Jogya and the aroma filled the van. The sweet potato tasted as if it has been caramelized after being coated with honey.

2010 01 18 - Yogyakarta ( Phoenix Hotel )