INDONESIA - Surabaya

About Surabaya:

"Jer Basuki Mawa Bea" are the words emblazoning the emblem of East Java. Translated. they mean that achievements are only won through sacrifice. This is certainly an appropriate motto, especially for the people of Surabaya. the 'City of Heroes'. whose history of struggle against foreign invaders is well known. Surabaya itself is the commercial and administrative capital of East Java, a thriving business and industrial centre and the province's main port. Second only to Jakarta in size and importance, the city has a population of around 2.5 million residents. From the port area of Tanjung Perak ferries leave regularly for Madura, and air services to and from Surabaya's Juanda Airport connect the city with Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bali and other parts of Indonesia.

Surabaya is a progressive capital undergoing rapid change. Former negative reports about the city from foreign visitors are thus clearly unwarranted today. In fact, Surabaya now enjoys the reputation as being the cleanest city in Indonesia, equipped with every modern facility and offering a standard of accommodation to suit every taste and budget.

Surabaya is located at the centre of the northern coast of East Java Province, bounded to the north and east by the Java sea, the district of Gresik in the west, and by the district of the Sidoarjo in the south. The topography is mainly flat at about 3-6m above sea level, but in the west, two low ridges from west to east have an elevation of about 20-30m above sea level. The lower hill slopes have tended to be occupied by low income groups because of the low cost of site development. The high ground has become popular for high income group settlement, now that there are good access road and water supply.

The tropical climate has two main identifiable seasons. The dry season generally lasts from May to October, and the wet or rainy season from November up to April. The heaviest rains normally occur between December and January. Wind velocity normally ranges from 3 to 20 knots and is relatively constant throughout the year. The mean annual rainfall is 1,321 mm, and the highest monthly mean rainfall is about 260 mm, usually in January. The lowest temperature, usually in February, is about 25.5 Celsius and the highest temperature is 33.0 Celsius in October. The average annual temperature is 27.8 Celsius.

Surabayas dominant roles, both national and regional, have changed little since it emerged as a major administrative and trading centre of the East Indies in the early 18th century. The development of urban Surabaya since this time has therefore been related to study growth to meet increasing demand, rather than any change in role or function. Since the governments 1960s city policy, Surabaya has functioned as an industrial, commercial, maritime, education and government city. This multi-function policy has required Surabaya to provide land for industrial areas and infrastructure support facilities.

Commercial trading in Surabaya has an important role for the development of Eastern Indonesia, and especially for East Java. The primary trade activities covering the large area from the port in the north to the city center is wholesale trading of products.

TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT

House of Sampoerna - Museum

Description: House of Sampoerna is a museum dedicated to Indonesian history of Cigarette Smoking and Clove Trading (especially for Sampoerna brand, the utmost recognizable and biggest integrated tobacco-cigarette company in Indonesia). Built in 1864 and was actually a VOC building for trading commodities, this museum is renovated on 2003 which is also the 90^th anniversary  of the H.M Sampoerna. In 2003 as well, the museum is renovated and changed it’s function from operating site (to roll traditional cigarettes) to half museum/half operating site. Nowadays, this tourist destination is still fully accessible to tourists who wants to know the history of Indonesian cigarette industry whilst watching thousands of female workers roll traditional cigarettes also known as ‘kretek’ (SKT/ Sigaret Kretek Tangan). Entrance is free and tourists is welcome anytime since the museum opens 24/7. Free Surabaya Sightseeing tour is also available here.

Balai Kota - The City Hall 

Description: The city hall, while isn’t as popular as other tourists destination in Surabaya, is still a great place to take photos and visit either in the noon or at night. Located strategically in the center of the city, the Balai Kota (or City Hall in English) is a local playground for Surabayan’s citizen since the fountain never stops and the view gets better at night. Whatever it is, if you look for a real Surabaya feeling, this city hall might be your key to understand what it means to be a Surabaya citizen better. If lucky, you could meet and take a picture with our Mayor, mrs. Tri Rismaharini which is one of the top mayors in the world listed last year (2015) by the City Majors Foundation.

Monumen Tugu Pahlawan - Heroe monument

Description: Perhaps one of the most popular tourist spot in Surabaya since the 41,15 meter monument is really hard to miss when you’re in Surabaya. 

Monumen Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes monument) is a must-visit for any kind of tourists in Surabaya since you can’t say you have visited Surabaya without visiting this momument. Inside, you will find national heroes statues, a museum dedicated to history of Surabaya citizen fighting against Allied forces in late WW2 period, park, and many more. If you’re someone who love history, this is your place. Located also in the middle of the city, the museum only cost 5000 rupiah ( 0,45 USD/ 0,4 Eur) to visit. Definitely a cheap yet still great way to spend time in Surabaya. If there is one place to understand why Surabaya is called “Heroes City”, this is the place.

Merdeka atau Mati - Freedom or Die

Image of the Monumen tugu pahlawan’s Museum where the meaning of it is that the people had a choice, and their choise was to live free.

Jembatan Suramadu - Bridge in East Java

Description: A new bridge in East java made to connect Surabaya and Madura Island. Surabaya is in Java island and Madura island is in north-east of Java island. Since Madura People and activity are growing drastically each year, a bridge is made to connect these two island. The Suramadu Name comes from “Sura” from Surabaya and “Madu” from Madura. A great place to visit, but watch out for street thugs using motorcycles who lingers near this bridge. 

Pantai Kenjeran - Beach

Description: a Beach located in East Surabaya, Pantai Ria Kenjeran (or Pantai Kenjeran for short) is a place to relax, eat great seafoods you will never find in any part of the world, and visit mangrove plantations reachable by boat from this beach. While it’s not suitable for swimming activities due to high pollution in the beach, this place is still great to buy souvenirs related to the sea, try some great foods, and get a glimpse of how Surabaya citizen have fun. Foodies will definitely love this place. 

TRADICIONAL MUSIC

I asked my friend Edwin if he could send my tradicional music of Indonesia, to what he said:
"Each major island has it's own traditional music and musical instruments. There's no national traditional music here in Indonesia since we are so diverse."
He after send me the music on the left and the other on the botton and explained to me that:
"Both are 'lir ilir', one of the most popular traditional Javanese music with a lot of meaning."

Javanese Music, NOT Indonesia.

Later in another post I'll write down the meaning of the lyrics of the song that my friend Edwin is going to translate so I can share with all of my Visitor.

To end this publication I want to thank Edwin Santoso for all the Help, for sharing with me all the history and the fantastic tourist spots in his city. 

Edwin at times was my snail mail friend and we shared lots of postcards with each other, so last but not least: just a memory: 

Letters from Indonesia With Edwin

Photos, a book, and a "WAIKI" for Me