Trowulan Tourism

WELCOME TO TROWULAN TOURISM

Trowulan site is supposed to be the center of Majapahit Kingdom years ago that has 11 km x 9 km width. This site covers Mojokerto and Jombang regency region. In this region, there are a lot of archaeological heritage for example, temple (Bajangratu, Gentong, Wringinlawang, etc), pool (Segaran Pool, Tikus), gateway, foundation of building, and artifact like statue, relief, some equipment of ceremony, and household.

These ancient heritage amounts make the researcher interesting. First research noted in 1815 by Wardenaar as Raffles command, booked in "History of Java" (published 1817, Raffles masterpiece). The next researchers are WR Van Hovell (1849), JFG BRUMUND (1854), and Jonathan Rigg, which published as "Jurnal of The Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia". Hereinafter, there were many researches to this site, include Mojokerto regent RAA Kramadjaja Adinegara, Tikus temple inventor in 1914. During his leadership it also built museum Mojokerto that save many Majapahit Kingdom objects that being found in this site.

The famous ancient researcher in this site is Henri Maclaine Port. This Dutch Architect had built special research office of Trowulan site. The dig result (1924 - 1926) matched with description in Kitab Negarakertagama and resulted reconstruct sketch of Majapahit city. Majapahit city tight depicted in roads network form and circumference wall formed foursquare blocks. Through air photograph (1981), there is canals and dam around this site. This thing can be made one of evidence that Majapahit Kingdom was agrarian kingdom with adequate fertile soil and irrigation.

After Maclaine Pont research, since 1953 the research in this site done by Dinas Purbakala dan Peninggalan Nasional Seksi Bangunan (Department of Archeology And National Heritage of Building Section) in Trowulan. Since 1970 presents Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional (Center of National Archeology Research) to dig and check exhaustively in this site.

Eastern Javanese history usually divided into three dynasti periods. The first was the period when the kings of Kadiri ruled over Java (10th - 1222 AD) they ware succeeded by the dynasty of Singasari (1222 - 1293 AD), which in turn was replaced by the kings of Majapahit (1293 - early 16th century).

Majapahit’s Power reached its summit under the rule of King Hayam Wuruk. Gajah Mada was again prime minister until his death in 1365 AD. After Hayam Wuruk died in 1389 AD. The country was split up by fraternal conflicts. Hayam Wuruk had been succeeded by the crown princess Kusumawarddhani, who had married with a relative, Prince Wikramawarddhana.

Shopping Tips Traveling at Surabaya

Shopping Tips

Unlike other destinations in this meandering archipelago, Surabaya boasts no truly unique art or craft items aside from some locally inspired batik patterns.

However, if Surabaya is your only stop in Indonesia, you can find a wide range of products from Bali, Irian Jaya, Jogjakarta, Sumatra, Sumba etc. all reasonably priced and readily available, including batik clothing, placemats, tablecloths.

Also available are wood carvings, masks, wooden utensils, wayang puppets, decorative items, rattan furniture etc. Larger stores and reputable dealers accept credit cards; however read the caveat in the main section of this page. For smaller purchases it better to use cash.

Shopping:
Most shopping is "centered" as in Mega Mall shopping centres. The largest, most comprehensive of these is without question, the centrally located, Tanjungan Plaza. This five story mega mall in city centre is neatly divided into two sections: international brand name fashion and food featuring a Sogo Department Store (from Japan), and budget retailers and food stalls anchored by Indonesian retailing giants Rimo and Matahari.

As well there are child and adult amusement centres complete with a variety of "rides", a Cinema 21 movie theater complex. Western brand coffee shops and fast food outlets are scattered throughout the plaza. Brand name and discount clothing outlets, electronics, appliances, jewelry, beauty parlors all in one convenient location. An internet station is in the basement nearest the Plaza Tunjungan entrance.

Using Credit Cards
Credit cards are widely accepted in Surabaya. Cards accepted by merchants are usually displayed on the front door or near the cashier.

You are well advised to use your credit cards very selectively. Also it's a good idea to keep all receipts for verification.

Unfortunately Indonesia is a source of a great deal of credit card fraud. Thieves insert small memory chips into those devices used to swipe the card, then return to 'service' the device, take out the chip and then start making illegal cards. Many times you will be long gone before fraudulent charges start showing up on your statement.

Many expats living in Surabaya use their credit cards at ATMs to get cash and then pay cash for their purchases - a good habit to get into while in Indonesia.

In addition, it is common practice to add 3% to the cost of your purchase for the privilege of using plastic. You do not have to accept this, but arguing with the shop keeper is not going to help. But if you want to get this 3% back make sure the retailer or restaurant writes this surcharge down as an extra charge for using the card and then claim it from your month end billing

Surabaya Travel Trips

Healthy Traveling

Indonesia in general is getting better in terms of hygiene and medical facilities but it still has a way to go. You do not want to have a medical emergency here. Play safe and make sure you have medical insurance before you come. Best to have insurance that will evacuate you if you get terribly sick or have a serious injury and need airlifted to Singapore or home. Here are a couple of other common sense points that should keep you in good shape and enjoying your visit.

Drink plenty of fluids (water and fruit juices) to avoid dehydration. Drink bottled water ONLY - ice in drinks, however, is not a problem. Use common sense when choosing a place to eat. Eat in your hotel or established restaurants that are clean and well patronized by local expatriots.

If you are using prescription drugs bring a sufficient supply. Pharmacies (Apotiks) often can fill a prescription but the dosage may not be quite the same as your doctor has prescribed. Take prompt care of any cuts or burns - do not risk infection in this environment. Malaria is not a problem in Jakarta. For additional information there's a list of hospitals and clinics in the Emergency Info section. Additional information on health matters may be obtained from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC home page on the Internet is at http://www.cdc.gov.

Travel Tip
Outward Bound - When planning your departure, on the way out of the hotel, keep a little extra money handy.

The hotel can advise you approximate cost for taxi ride to the airport (don't forget the tolls). As well, keep in mind that all foreign visitors departing Indonesia from Surabaya Juanda Int'l Airport are required to pay an airport tax of Rp. 100,000.- That said, as mentioned earlier it is against the law to leave Indonesia with more than Rp. 10,000,000.-.

Departure tax for a domestic flight is Rp. 15,000.- often this will have already been included in the ticket price - but sometimes not, especially if you have purchased the ticket locally as local agents like to quote the absolute lowest fare - or fear losing your business.

Business Hours
Most shops in the major shopping centres are open from 10.00am until 8.00pm, seven days a week. Restaurants start serving from 7.00am or so until 10.00pm. Government offices and banks operate from 8.00am till 3.00pm, Monday to Thursday and 8.00am till 12.00noon on Fridays. Banks are closed on Saturdays.

Phone Home
All telephone numbers listed herein are local numbers. To reach any number in Surabaya dial: International access code + 62 + 31 + (local number). Wherein "62" is Indonesia country code and "31" is the area code for Surabaya. Be advised most telephone numbers are 7 digits but some now have 8 digits. Cellular service in Indonesia is GSM. If you bring your own handphone you may purchase a prepaid calling chip from any Satelindo distributor (and it's usually cheaper than using your home country telephone service or in-room hotel phone).

Telecommunication capabilities have improved greatly over the last few years but patience is the keyword when trying to dial overseas from Indonesia - especially during office hours. Most better hotels offer International Direct Dialing (IDD) and Home Country Direct (HCD) services. Overseas calls can also be made at state-run telephone offices known as a wartel (warung telephone).

Need to get online? Both AT&T Globalnet & AOL have local access numbers in Surabaya (check before you leave home). If you plan to be in Surabaya for a while and need to be connected there are several local ISPs. That said, it isn't that easy to find a internet shop in Surabaya (there is one in the basement level of Tunjungan Plaza) so for most it will be cheaper and easier to use the business centre in your hotel.

Here's a neat concept: The local phone company allows anyone internet access on its network without having to establish an user account or pay any monthly fees (the telcom makes its money by adding a 50% surcharge to its normal per minute tariff) making it easy to check web based e-mail accounts (i.e. Yahoo, Hotmail) on your laptop. To access dial 0809 - 89999 / username: telkomnet@instan / password: telkom.