01 TOUCHDOWN 2012 www.airasia.com/travel360
WORDS: CHITRA S IMAGES: CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCIAL CULTURE & TOURISM OFFICE
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Snorkelling at Karimunjawa Islands, tahu gimbal, yoga at Losari Resort, candi Gedong Songo- Bandungan.
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SEMARANG, INDONESIA
Located on the island of Java’s northern coast, Semarang is a bustling port city and the gateway to the Karimunjawa islands, a renowned dive site.
Semarang, the capital of Central Java was once a major port during the Dutch colonial era and attracted traders from all over the world that resulted in a melting pot of cultures. This is still evident today in the city’s architectural and cultural heritage.It is said the city was built on a delta dotted with tamarind trees locally known as asam arang, hence its name Semarang. Today, it is one of Indonesia’s most populous cities and continues to be a regional centre for trade and industry.
Eat Semarang is a food haven for the adventurous eater. There are delicacies unique to Semarang that should not be missed such as the bandeng presto (pressure cooked milkfish) usually accompanied by a fiery sambal and tahu gimbal (deep-fried tofu topped or sandwiched with fillings including fried egg, vegetables and shrimp). Other delights worth sampling include lumpia (springrolls), tahu petis (tofu with chillies and soy sauce) and wingko babat (sticky rice TRAVEL 3SIXTY˚
cake). Chinese food is also readily available as the city has a sizeable Chinese population.
Must Do EXPLORE HERITAGE BUILDINGS Take a walk around Kota Lama Semarang and get a glimpse of what the city looked like in its heyday. Dutch colonial buildings are a sight to behold and have been well preserved here. The oldest church in Central Java, the Blenduk Church with its baroque style organ and classical portico, is located here. Another prominent landmark is the Lawang Sewu or ‘Building with a Thousand Doors’ that was built by the Dutch as the railway headquarters. The building served as a Japanese army base during the Second World War and is rumoured to be haunted. The building itself, however, is a wonder with its arched doorways and beautiful stained glass windows. VISIT SEMAWIS NIGHT MARKET Eat like the locals and enjoy hawker-style fare at the night market while browsing for souvenirs.
The market, located in Chinatown, is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and is often livelier just before Chinese New Year. DISCOVER THE KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS Just north of Semarang, is a national marine park consisting of many small islands. Hop on a ferry from Semarang and head to the islands for a spot of R&R. The islands are home to coral reefs and, are popular with divers and beach-goers alike.
Sleep • Grand Candi, Jalan Sisingamangaraja No 16 • Santikka Premiere, Jalan Pandanaran No 116-120 • Hotel Pandanaran Semarang, Jalan Pandanaran 58 FOR ATTRACTIVE ROOM RATES AT THESE HOTELS, VISIT www.airasiago.com
GETTING THERE AirAsia will commence flights to Semarang from Kuala Lumpur on Feb 6, 2012. Visit www.airasia.com for details and flight schedule.