Saturday, April 15, 2017. What a lovely day for us having trip to Semarang. This capital city of Central Java has so many things we should discover, we explored two of them. They were Sam Poo Kong and Lawang Sewu, as we knew they were rich of culture.
We started our journey at 7 A.M, when we gathered at OIA. While we waiting the bus, we have a joyful conversation. It won’t take long for the bus to be arrived at OIA. We went to Semarang not long after the bus came because we were so excited.
Finally, at 10.40 A.M, we arrived at Semarang, the capital city of central java that hide so many history and heritage inside. Semarang was a hot city. It’s hotter than Jogjakarta. But we keep enjoy there. Our first destination was Sam Poo Kong, the former site of the first landing a stopover and Chinese admiral named Zheng He / Cheng Ho, as the guide said. There, we split into two group, where they were 1 guide in every group. The tour guide show us around and explain the history of Sam Poo Kong. We take so many pictures there.
After we went around, we gathered in one place. We make 5 groups for mini games. The first game was fun. First, each group make big circle and we follow order. When everyone ready, the game start with the first order like: “wind blow to the people ones wear white clothes”, than people with white clothes should move to the others position who use white clothes too. The last person moved will lose and give order for the next round. Then we changed the game. The second game was fun too. We told to arrange things we have as long as possible. The group with the longest things won. But, when we finished arrange things, the order changed. We should take our things back as fast as possible. So, the group with the longest things will work a little hard to won.
The game was finally over and each group received their reward. After the game, we take a break. The committee gave food which vegetarian food to vegan, and non vegetarian for the rest. Some of us take a pray at mushola.
The bus awaited for us to our next destination, Lawang Sewu. We must leave Sam Poo Kong. Sam Poo Kong was wonderful and we hope to visit it again soon.
It just take a few hours for us to get to Lawang Sewu from Sam Poo Kong. When we arrived, we take a picture together as usual. The tour guide came to us and explain a few things about lawang sewu. They said that lawang sewu was Ancient buildings and magnificent two story after independence used as the office of the Department of Railways Indonesian republic (DKARI) or now PT Kereta Api Indonesia . Moreover once used as the Office of National Infrastructures Regional Military Command ( Kodam IV / Diponegoro ) and the Regional Office (Regional Office) Ministry of Transportation Central Java, In the struggle for the building has a history of its own that is when the incident took place the Battle of five days in Semarang ( 14 October – 19 October , 1945 ). The old building became a great battle sites between youth AMKA or Angkatan Muda Kereta Api against Kempeitai and Kidobutai, Japan . Therefore the Government of Semarang with Mayor Decree Number. 650/50/1992, enter Lawang Sewu as one of 102 ancient or historic buildings in the city of Semarang that should be protected.
The history said Lawang Sewu building built on 27 February 1904 with another name Het hoofdkantor van de Nederlands-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS Head Office). Initially the office administrative activities performed at Station Semarang Gudang (Samarang NIS), but with the development of rail network path very rapidly, resulting in increased technical personnel and administrative personnel who are not a bit over the development of office administration.
At the office consequently NIS NIS in Semarang station is no longer adequate. Various solutions do NIS, among others rented several buildings owned by individuals as a temporary solution that would increase inefficiency. Moreover, the location of the NIS Samarang station is near the swamp so that the affairs of sanitation and health becomes an important consideration. So, another alternative emerged: build administrative offices at the new location. The choice fell to land at that time is in the suburbs adjacent to the residence of the Resident. It’s on the tip of Bodjongweg Semarang (now Jalan Pemuda), at the meeting point of Bodjongweg and Samarang naar Kendalweg (highway towards Kendal ).
NIS entrust the design of the headquarters building NIS in Semarang to Prof. Jacob F. Klinkhamer (TH Delft) and BJ Quendag, an architect who lives in Amsterdam . The entire design process is done in the Netherlands , and then the images were taken to the city of Semarang , Viewed from Lawang Sewu blueprint says that the site plan and building plans have been drawn in Amsterdam in 1903 . Similarly, the completeness of his images created and signed in Amsterdam in 1903.
Enough with history, back to our trip. The tour guide show us around. We walked inside Lawang Sewu and take pictures there. We love the architecture of Lawang Sewu because it look classic and full of history. When the clock shows 3 P.M, we went back to the bus and ready for Jogjakarta. We arrived at Jogja around 8 P.M. We have so much experience and memory we will never forget.
UGM BUDDY CLUB 