DAY 54---SURABAYA, EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

 

                                      

We are docked today at Surabaya, Central Java in Indonesia.  It was cloudy all day long so not terribly hot on my tour.  The rain held off until at last stop, a hotel for lunch.  Then only light rain.

Historical/Background Info:

        This is a new port for us.  Surabaya is the second largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta, with a population of 2.9 million in the city but 9.6 million in the metro area.  The city mixes modern skyscrapers with canals and buildings from its Dutch colonial past.  It has a thriving Chinatown and an Arab Quarter.

        Java Island (part of Indonesia) is divided into three provinces:  West (where Jakarta is), Central, and East Java.  Surabaya is located on the north coast of East Java on the Java Sea. 

        Surabaya has been one of the most important and busiest trading city ports in Asia.  The main exports are sugar, tobacco, and coffee.  It has modern banks, insurance companies, and a recent growth in international industries.  Most of the population is engaged in services, industry, and trade.  Major industries include:  shipbuilding, heavy equipment, food processing, agriculture, electronics, home furnishings, and handicrafts.  There are also many modern shopping malls.

LAST EVENING

                            Captain Aivo during the "block party" wanted a selfie with me.

General Mgr, Massimo with Paul, Cruise Director, and Nino, the Food & Beverage Director behind.

TODAY

          As I walked off the gangway heading for my tour, this was the greeting committee.

                                       Going through the cruise terminal with shopping stalls.

                                                          Another combo in terminal

                                                                    My tour today

                                                             Nice, air conditioned bus.

                                          Only about 30 folks on the tour so not crowded.

   Heading through Surabaya to the first stop on the tour.  Going through "China town" area.

                                                               Lots of these rickshaws

                                                Wiring nightmare on the poles in town.

                                                            Huge Muslim cemetery 

                        We arrived at our first stop, "Four Face Budha Statue" and Chinese Temple.

                                                                   Four Face Buddha

      Our guide Sherli.  She spoke good English but the but PA only worked half the time.

                                                 Just over temple wall was lots of garbage.

                                                                 Entrance to the temple.

Inside the temple photos

                                                                    

                                                           Out the back of the temple

                                                       

                                             Mangrove trees.  The tide is out so lots of mud.

Back on the bus to depart for our second stop.

                                                Passing by a University for economic studies.

                                    Crossing a river in the city with locks in the distance.

                                                             Government building

                                                                   WWII old bomber

                                                           Another government building

                 Here we have arrived at the "Heroes Monument" in the heart of downtown.

This 120 foot tall monument is dedicated to the Battle of Surabaya on November 10, 1945.  There is also a "10 November Museum" here also.

                                                        Huge grounds at the monument.

        This is a bakery just outside the monument but lower class people cannot buy here.

While at the monument one bus driver was napping in luggage compartment.  Our bus drivers (we had two) we having lunch in our baggage compartment.

This is our final stop on the tour.  We will enjoy a nice buffet lunch and a tour of the hotel.  It is just across the street from a HUGE 7 story mall.  The ship ran a shuttle bus to it today.

This is my plate with some very good mushroom soup.  Some chicken, beef, and very good veggies.

       So I was back at the ship at 2:30.  I used the hotel's internet to upload my photos. So went right to work on putting them on the blog and adding captions upon reaching our suite.  It is now 4pm and I am about finished.  The ship just departed the pier and we will be at sea the next two days.

        It came a monsoon rain just as we left the pier.  Visibility zero for a while.  Appears to be an Indonesian naval base as we sail out.

                                                            Not sure what this represents.

This is the terminal we were at today.  Very nice one.  This is a huge commercial port with many docks, cranes, containers, and ships.

 

        This evening's plan is for cocktail hour at usual place then up to Sette Mari for dinner.  I have a veal parmesan ordered.  Here is tonight's Compass Rose menu which we did not particularly care for.

        Tonight's show is featuring a Jamaican born singer, Monique Dehaney.  We have not seen her on any previous cruises so will want to attend.  On back row, just in case!