After all these times I travel all over Java and Bali, numerous places in Surabaya are places I always love the most to be at! This city of heroes has its own place in me since I admire any stuff relates to heritage. And colonial Dutch buildings always hide so much! They are known for their history in contact with colonial era of my country, their superb architecture, sturdy construction through the centuries, even spooky tales and ghost stories behind them are just like something trending topic!
So, here I was! Daring myself to do hunting those kind of things alone. Nobody was with me, I just walked around the old town, trying to act like I was insane, capturing anything around me like I didn’t care about this planet! Well, it was something cool to do, though.
Just like what Mandiri Bank is trying to say, I felt like ‘mandiri’ (self-supporting) as I wandered this place. Standing in the corner of the crossroad, the building which is previously named Lindeteves Building in 1913 faces two roads, Jalan Pahlawan and Jalan Kebon Rojo. As I got there, these roads were overwhelmed by the crowds, so it was hard to take a pic of entire building. And my whole attention was centered around this tower.
I love how this buiding was styled with typically Dutch architecture which is presented by its formed windows come up over its roof.
Mandiri Building (NV. Lindeteves) in the past, photo was taken in 1930. Imagine you were here at that time. And feel the atmosphere!
Stands not far from Mandiri building is General Post Office (previously named Hoofd Post Kantoor in 1880) at Jalan Kebon Rojo. In 1881-1926, it was Hogere Burger School (HBS). Looked so common when I firstly looked the outside of this building, but once I entered this building, its roof skeleton made me caught up in deep admiration!
The facade of General Post Office building. At first glance, it was kind of I found nothing special. But when I looked inside, I was surprised!
General Post Office of Surabaya in the past.
Internatio Willemplein building (Internationale Crediet-en Handelvereeniging Rotterdam) built in 1920s. Wondering why the locals don't know much about this building, I do googling, but still there are not a whole lot of information out there. It takes me tens of hours just to do google search to find the building's name, even. If you'd like to know more about wonderful history hidden in this building, I think this article can be a good refference: Internatio Willemplein
Internatio building in the past. As city's most luxurious business center at that time, it was a pride and prestige of a glory symbol of the city! Not only was it known for a feather in one's cap of capitalism, it was also an eyewitness of historic cataclysm as the battle reached its peak!
Historic place around Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge) has become economic district up to now.
Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge) where W.S. Mallaby was killed in 1945. Sorry to say, but some ads around this place are disturbing for me. They decrease the essences of historical atmosphere.
Red Bridge in the past. This pic takes me to the atmosphere of that time.
Well, it all is far more than something to enjoy in your spare time, those of historic buildings are essential proof of obstinacy in the battle against colonialism. If you are now battling 'the another colonialism' (say it anything kind of moral demolition, moral hazard, whatever else!), you guys should take a look this! Here I come into an agreement that the youths need to learn from the past. It is because what we obtain nowadays has got to go through the process in the past. What is that process? A history! So that history needs a push!
Sincerely yours,
Novita R. Sahid
(The youth of the youths)
*Photos by Novita R. Sahid. Building-in-the-past photos: Surabaya Archive and Library.
