1987, 1989 - 1991: INDONESIA

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

14 March 2024

Indonesia, officially Republic of Indonesia,is a country in Southeast Asia and Ocenia between the Indian and Pacific Ocean.It consist of 17,000 islands including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and part of Borneo and New Guinea. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state and the 14th largest country by area. 

My experience with Indonesia was when I served on a Royal Malaysian Navy ship. I have sailed to Indonesia several times for operational visits or during training with the Indonesian Navy.

1987 - BELAWAN, MEDAN & DANAU TOBA

The first time I went to Indonesia was in 1987, when I served with the Royal Malaysian Navy ship KD Sri Negri Sembilan during the OSTEX 87 exercise with the TNI-AL (Indonesian Navy) in Medan. We moored at the Port of Belawan in Medan, Indonesia. 

Port of Belawan is the most important in Sumater, lies at the confluences of the Sungai Belawan and the Sungai Deli. its constitutes the most northernly of the city of Medan. 

Medan, about 23.5 km from the Port of Belawan is the capital and the largest city of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The nearby Straits of Malacca make Medan a regional hub and multicultural metropolis. Medan is one of the four main central cities in Indonesia, alongside Jakarta, Surabaya and Makassar. 

Istana Maimun or Maimun Palace is a Royal Palace of the Sultanate of Deli and a well-known landmark in Medan.

Built by Sultan Ma'mun Al Rashid Perkasa Alamyah in the years 1887 - 1891, the palace was designed by the Dutch Architect Theodoor van Erp. This is the last surviving Malay Palace, the rest having been destroyed in the 1946 social revolution.

LAKE TOBA, MEDAN

At over 1,145 sq km and up to a depth of 450 metres in places, Lake Toba is actually more like an ocean. About 111.33 km from the Port of Belawan, it is the world's largest crater lake as well as being the largest lake in Southeast Asia and one of the deepest in the world. 

This lake offers plenty of things to do for people exploring the island of Sumatra. Its a relaxing place to simply relax, get away from it and do nothing. 

1990 - TANJUNG PINANG, RIAU, INDONESIA

Tanjung Pinang is the capital city of the Indonesian province of Riau Islands.It covers a land area of 144.56 sq km, mainly on the southern Bintan Island. 

Tanjung Pinang is full of diversity with multiple ethnic communities. 

I had the opportunity to visit Tanjung Pinang with the navy ship KD Lekir, which was patrolling the surrounding area.

GUNUNG DAIK & PULAU PANDAN

Gunung Daik and Pulau Pandan is well known in Malay folklore especially in the Malay Pantun :-

Pulau Pandan jauh ke tengah

Gunung Daik Bercabang Tiga

Hancur badan dikandung tanah

Budi yang baik di kenang juga

In English: 

Pandan Island far in midst,
With the three peaked Mount Daik;
While the body decomposes in earth,
Good deeds remain to be remembered.

"Gunung Daik bercabang tiga" > translate into "Mount Daik has three peaks", migh not have sound odd at all. The distinctive summit of Mount Daik is a most and recognisable of features of Pulau Lingga, an island that is thought by some as the Malay world's motherland.

1989 - 1991 : SURABAYA,INDONESIA

Pelabuhan Tanjung Perak, located in Surabaya, Indonesia, is the second busiest port in the country after Port Tg. Periok in Jakarta. This port serves as a connection between Surabaya and other port cities in Indonesia. Adjacent to Pelabuhan Tanjung Perak is Pelabuhan Ujung, which operates as a ferry port for transporting passengers to Madura.

The city of Surabaya is the capital of East Java Province, Indonesia. This city is the second largest city in Indonesia and is also known as the City of Heroes because of the history that involves this city in the struggle of the Indonesian people to seize independence from the colonialists.

My first visit to Surabaya was in 1989. While serving at KD Lekir, the Royal Malaysian Navy Corvette, I have visited Surabaya three times in 1989, 1990, and 1991.

with Surabaya girls who came to visit the ship

One of my best memories is meeting the same girl in 1989 and 1991 at Tanjung Perak Port. She runs a food stall with her family in front of the port.

MASJID SUNAN AMPEL / MAKAM SUNAN AMPEL

Masjid Ampel or Ampel Mosque is an ancient mosque located in the Ampel sub-district, District Semampir, Surabaya, East Java. The oldest mosque in East Jave was built in 1421 CE. by Sunan Ampel where his tomb complex located within the area. Sunan Ample was one of the Javanese nine revered saints Wali Songo, credited for the spread of Islam in Java. 

Masjid Sunan Ampel

Makam Sunan Ampel

PASAR TURI, SURABAYA

One of the largest traditional market in Indonesia, located at Pabean Cantian district of Surabaya. If you like to buy cheap goods in Surabaya you must come here but you need bargain too, the products is good. They have a lot of wholesale items from cloth wear - stationeries, gifts etc..

Among the ones I bought at Pasar Turi, Surabaya

Surabaya is one of the places you should highly consider going to, from its rich history and culture to its vibrant food scene and stunning natural beauty. Surabaya truly has something for everyone. 

Visiting Surabaya is a cultural experience that you will not find in other major Indonesian cities. 

CERTIFICATE - CROSSING THE EQUATOR

A certificate commemorating a sailor's first Equator Crossing is given to a sailors. Those onboard who've experienced the passage, willb be called shellback, perform an elaborate of those who hadn't - the pollywogs. 

The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing the Equator. 

For more detail about Crossing the Equator, kindly refer:

1. Wikipedia - Crossing the Equator

2. Hj Zulheimy Maamor Blogspot - Memory Pelaut, crossing the Equator (in Malay language)

The equator is an imaginary line that circles the Earth at the midway point between the North and South Poles. It has a latitude of 0 degrees and separates the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere. The length of the equator is 40,075.16 kilometers.

While the equator is at 0 degrees latitude, northern latitudes increase as they move away from the equator and toward the North Pole, which is 90°; southern latitudes decrease as they move away from the equator and toward the South Pole, which is –90°.

Where is the equator? The equator map above details its location. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

15 March 2024 > 4 Ramadan 1445H: 5.13 pm