Semarang, The Acculturation City

Have you ever visit Semarang? Or you have just heard this name? After hearing a little bit story about Semarang, may be you should consider this city as your next visiting destination.

There is much to know about Semarang : the place, the climate, the culture and even the people. Semarang is the capital city of Central Java which located on the north coast of the Java Island. The city's name derives from the Javanese words "asem" and "arang" which literary translate to "rare tamarind." It was founded by Ki Pandan Arang. Another version is that Semarang is originated from Chinese word Sam Po Lang (San Bao Loong), meaning the city of Sam Po (Admiral Zheng He). The Javanese call Semarang ‘the hot city'. The average yearly temperature is 30º C. The city weather is hot and humid. It’s better to wear cotton clothes. You do not need long sleeves shirt, instead a T-shirt and knee-long trousers are comfortable.

Semarang is more a commercial center than a city tourist. However, there are plenty of historical places that can be visited in Semarang. One of them is “Tugu Muda” (Youth Monument). “Tugu Muda” commemorated the 5 days fierce battle (October 14, 1945) between Indonesian freedom fighters and Japanese soldiers. “Tugu Muda” has become one of Semarang’s landmarks. The buildings around “Tugu Muda” are some from the Old Dutch Buildings; the famous one is “Lawang Sewu”. The name “Lawang Sewu” in Javanese language means “Thousand Doors”. “Lawang” means “Door” and “Sewu” means “Thousand”. “Lawang Sewu” in real doesn’t have a thousand doors for sure, but it surely has many doors that make it like a building with a thousand doors. During the World War II, the building was the Japanese army’s headquarter. In Semarang, there is also the beautiful “Sampoo Kong Temple” (“Gedung Batu”), which was built to respect the Muslim Chinese commander named Cheng Ho of Ming Dynasty who visited Semarang in the early 15th century. The Old Dutch Indies’ building in the northern Semarang, such as “Gereja Blenduk” is the eldest Christian Church in Central Java built by the Dutch community in 1753. It shows the Church architecture of the 18th century with its huge dome and a baroque organ inside the building. Nearby the Church, there are some buildings from the Dutch colonial time. “Stasiun Tawang”, the main railways station with its ‘old time’ architecture located also in this area.

As a commercial center, many companies open their manufacture sites in eastern, western and southern part of Semarang. That’s all make Semarang becomes an industrial city. Traffic jam is considered fewer than other big cities in Indonesia.

While we’re visiting the historical places, Semarang offers the visitors with its variation on food. Many restaurants and food stalls are ready to make your stomach full. You can find delicious food with cheap price, either in the downtown or in the southern hilly part of Semarang. For example, “Kalasan” fried chicken (fried chicken with “Kalasan” spice), “Lumpia” (a kind of spring rolls with bamboo shoots filling), “Bandeng Presto” ('Bandeng' fish with soft thorn), “Wingko Babat” (sticky rice and coconut in a variety of flavors), “Soto” (chicken soup with rice), “Gudeg” (Javanese steam sweet sour vegetables), Chicken porridge –especially in the morning, and “Jagung Bakar” (grilled corn) –especially in the night. As information, most travelers will buy “Bandeng Presto”, “Lumpia”, and “Wingko Babat” as souvenirs from this city, because these three foods had become an identity for Semarang itself.

I really proud to be born and grew up in Semarang until I was in high school. It’s a pity if there are many people haven’t known this city yet. I’m sure Semarang will show you other perspective of a city with fabulous culture and religion acculturation.

Good, please avoid using spoken language in your writing.