On Thursday I went with a couple of people (who have helped me out with my research) to Blitar, famous as the childhood town of Sukarno, Indonesia’s first president. We started off our tour with a visit to a well-known pecel Blitar warung (essentially vegies with peanut sauce). Pecel there is supposed to have a distinctive flavour, but I guess I just haven’t tried enough pecel from other areas, because I couldn’t distinguish it! After eating we walked to Sukarno’s burial sight. Apparently it used to be a public graveyard, but after Sukarno was buried they exhumed all the other bodies and moved them to another sight. A library is located at the entrance, including an exhibition area (complete with portrait of Sukarno that appears to have a beating heart if viewed from the side!). The grave itself is located under a pavilion, marked with a big dark stone with his mother and father buried on either side. Next stop was the Panantaran temple complex, dating from the 12th century (if I remember correctly). I think I’m still a little templed-out after my trip to Angkor Wat, as I couldn’t really appreciate it. Then finally we headed to Sukarno’s old house Istana Gerbang (Gerbang Palace) and yes it was palatial. It was full of old memorabilia and photos from the Sukarno family (including his mother Fatmawati and sisters Megawati, Ratnawati and Padmawati…). It is currently for sale with an asking price of 50 BILLION rupiah! The family I was with are of true Indonesian snap happy stock and look great pleasure in recording our time at the warung, at the souvenir shop, in the street, by the car, at the bank….
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