Port of Tanjung Perak is one of gateways of Indonesia, which becomes goods collector and distribution from and to Eastern Indonesia including East Java. Because of its strategic position and the existence of surrounding advantageous hinterlands, port of Tanjung Perak constitutes the center of inter island shipping for Eastern Indonesia. Previously the oceangoing vessels did loading and unloading activities at Madura Strait and then freighted the cargoes by the means of barges and boats to Jembatan Merah (the first port in that time) situated along Kalimas River, at heart of Surabaya city.
Due to the increases of trade, cargo and transportation traffics, the facilities available at Port were inadequate. Therefore in 1875 Ir. W. de Jonght planned to build Port of Tanjung Perak so that the loading and unloading activities could be carried out directly without using barges and boats. Yet this plan was rejected since it needed a lot of funds.
During 19th century the port construction could not be found while cargo transport traffics settled in Jembatan Merah were sustained in their increase number. The plan of port construction is introduced by ir. W. de Jongth was neglected.
In the first ten years of 20th Ir. W.B. Van Goor made a more realistic plan, which was, all the oceangoing vessels might move closer to the quay (berthing). Two experts were expected to come from the Netherlands namely, Prof DR. Kraus and G.J. de jong and to give any proposals on port construction planning of Tanjung Perak Port.
After 1910 the physical construction of Tanjung Perak Port was initiated and during the accomplishment of port construction the demand of using incomplete – built quay rose in number.
The finishing of quay construction facilitated the oceangoing vessels to do their loading and unloading activities at port. Port of Kalimas later functioned to be a port with providing service for traditional transport and sailing boats, in the meantime the port at Jembatan Merah was gradually abandoned.
Therefore, starting from that time Port of Tanjung Perak started to take part in contributing economic development in a quite large scale and to have important role in increasing trade traffic both at East Java and whole parts of Eastern Indonesia.
To support the task, the construction of inter island terminal was completed in 1983 known as Mirah Terminal. For the interests of inter island vessel passengers, there was a passenger terminal located at North of Jamrud area. Next to the passenger terminal, a fery terminal was built for the service of passengers with Surabaya – Madura destination on 24 hours service.
Time was passing and Port of Tanjung Perak had showed its strategic role as national gateway port. Then a container terminal was planned to build and its physical construction was finished in 1992.
Container terminal is acknowledged as Terminal Petikemas Surabaya. Those various facilities put Port of Tanjung Perak in the movements of continuously supporting the development of Surabaya city and the territories around.
December 21st, 2006
Simply, Surabaya city have one of tourism object that become a real spectacular in South-East Asia, Four Faces Deity Statue or Four Faced Buddha monument. This Four Faced Buddha Monument get appreciation of MURI as the biggest and highest Four Faces Deity Statue in Indonesia. A nine meters statue that have 225 square meters width is still have not contested by other similar statue.
Four Faced Buddha monument, has overall height 36 meters (including dome) opened on 9 Novembers 2004, and finish about fund 4 billion rupiahs. It is built in farm with a width of 1,5 hectares, in centered is farm, placed by building with length 9 meters, wide 9 meters and height 36 meters. If we saw altogether contain number 9, why it’s numeral 9? Because taking similar monument reference in Thailand, and numeral 9 also have separate meaning for Buddha member.
The statue building the Four Faced Buddha place shaded, encircled by 4 pillars that colored by golden green, contains of 3 parts, which is statue, Buddha statue, and Buddha throne. It has been equipped with lightning rod at top of the statue, while statue Buddha and the throne has each 9 meters height.
See this building model, of course almost looks like Four Faced Buddha Monument in Thailand, the difference only the statue that in the higher Thailand statue but its statue building is higher then in Surabaya. Besides resemblance of a real big measure, the statue that have four faces and four hand tides, arranged in layers by gold in all it body part. It is said to make a perfect veneering process of this gold, is intentionally delivered kampoh material or original gold paper from Thailand (there is also mentioned kimpo paper). Complete with it worker, with veneering expense or ritual giving of this chasuble is reach 1,5 Billion rupiahs.
About Four Faced Buddha statue meaning or also there is mentioning it Four Faced Deity, bring four kindness philosophy that owned by Buddha, that is patience, liberal, fair (unbiased), and meditated. This four kindness is also had a meaning of, Buddha is a presentation of affection of fellow being, assist whoever without discrimination, and devoted in prayer or application that submitted in ritual procession. While on Buddha eight hands, there are holy book, holy water, defense weapon, fight weapon to against the badness, holy book, prayer beads, chest, and cupu.
Besides the philosophy, this place also offer idea to become the centre of Buddha member observance, finite later would many visitors coming to this place. Besides to see the four faced deity statue, in this place, we will see four high white elephant statues about 4 meters in every corner, three lotus decorative pools, and a meditated space. This complex is also decorated of 12 lamps that made from bronze and copper.
In it frontage, we meet a place that sell some pray equipment like candle and frankincense, this place later the also can buy the souvenir typical of Buddha four faces statue.
How about you, do wish to make this tourism object as your tourism purpose? Or may like to think about have photograph with Four Faced Buddha Monument background, as if stay in Thailand, or possible you wish to pray… all up to you, because this place is open generically, and admission charge free, only fare payee stepped into Ria Kenjeran Beach area.
December 21st, 2006
Kembang Jepun is the eldest area in Surabaya city, because it resides in Kalimas stream and close to Tanjung Perak port. In its ancient building line even most its paint is sleazy and dusty and matt enunciated because as the commerce center.
But, here exactly the history of Surabaya city is started, business activity have never desisted. Office stationery shop, diesel engine, bank, textile, fashion had completed the existence of this area.
Talks about Kembang Jepun of course not get out of Jembatan Merah (The Red Bridge). Since the leadership of Daendels in 1811, the center of municipal administration of Surabaya is located in Jembatan Merah area. The resident offices, police, tax being merged into one building.
In west of Jembatan Merah (Willenstraat) like Rajawali Street (Heerenstraat) had fulfilled some merchants from Europe. The Chinese Public (Tionghoa) stayed there since 1411 occupying a “Chinese Kampong” region eastside of Kalimas. Karet Street (Chinesevorstraat), Kembang Jepun Street (Hendelstraat) is the Chinese residence.
Name of Kembang Jepun, begin when Jembatan Merah to grow become a downtown. The Merchants who would have business in Hendelstraat must pass the inspection in resident. After obtaining the permission and activity to trade had take place, hence many hotel and cottage to lodge the merchants. Simply draw the peasant growing from Sakura country. They are having aligned to decorate the night through that street. Jepun in Malay mean Japan.
December 21st, 2006