BUNG KARNO'S GRAVE FIELD

Today I read a piece of "The Tragedy 1965" article. From what I read, the article about International People’s Tribunal 1965 that will be held in Deg Haag Belanda for 4 days starting today (Nopember, 10 2015). I wonder why this case appears again. Is there any related with "Hari Pahlawan" today?

The tragedy 1965 is one of the largest unknown mass-killings of the 20th cen­tury, an esti­mated 500,000 to 1,000,000 Indone­sians were killed in 1965. I dont know (of course) what actually happened in that era. And why it is still a controversy until today. A lot of speculation about it, but I wont discuss it here.

What made ​​me decide to write this post is because I started to doubt the history that I know and learn when I was in school . What is written in school textbooks? Is right or it was just a conspiracy to cover up the incident actually . It finally reminds me of my visit to Makam Bung Karno or the Grave field of Bung Karno (the first president of Indonesia) in Blitar last year.

 

Morning Coffee in Blitar train station

Honestly, my trip to Blitar has nothing to do with the tragedy of 1965 , this is purely an invitation from one of my friends, Ka Ren . We went foursome departed from Cirebon took Mataremaja train and arrived early in the next morning , had plan to take shower and waited for the light at the station, we were expelled for playing too long at the station. It's the first time got the expulsion by the train station. Sobs sobs.

We walked out of the station towards to a traditional market . We had breakfast and asked directions to Makam Bung Karno . Did you know? There is a myth circulating about Makam Bung Karno that says if you want going to Makam Bung Karno, you should go directly, you shouldn't be stop by if you didn't want get a bad luck . Some temple building on our way is tempting to stop by but we resist the temptation, we still want get married (ups, sorry hahaha). Ten minutes using Angkot/public transportation we arrived at Makam Bung Karno .

The 1st Presiden of Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno's statue greet us in the entrance area. Beside it, there is a library that stores a variety of books , paintings and historical relics such as "keris" or tradisional knife from Indonesia that he was used before . This place is upgraded and inaugurated by Indonesia's first female president is none other than the daughter of Bung Karno himself on June 3, 2014.

 

 

 Small pond in the middle of Makam Bung Karno's area

 Relief wall art of Independence Proclamation

President Sukarno

Biography of Sukarno

 

 The Painting of Soekarno

The library from another side

"Bung Karno untuk Indonesia"

(Bung Karno for Indonesia)

Those words have deep meaning, what he had fought for our beloved country is enormous and cannot be explained by words. We owe a lot to him. So no wonder so many people who still love him and came here for ziarah (come to see or visit some place for religious reason) and pray for him .

 

 Bung Karno's grave pavilion

 

 

 Citizen who came for ziarah

A Gong of Peace, you can find it in other side of Makam Bung Karno's area. If you following the exit sign, it would bring you to another side again. There is tradisonal market, it sells so many things from t-shirt, toys until various souvenir of Blitar.

Gong Perdamaian Dunia / World Peace Gong

 

 

 Souvenir market

Notes
* If you want take a picture inside train station, don't use professional camera. Just use smart phone or pocket camera.
* From train station you need walk about 5 minutes to Pangkalan Angkot (public transportation stop), you don't need go to tradisional market cause it makes U-turn route. The angkot didn't stop in front of Makam Bung Karno building, you need walk about 5 minutes from intersection. Angkot's fare Rp. 2.500/person
* The Angkot didn't operate full day, especially in holiday and weekend. You can take Ojek (motorcycle taxi) or just rent a car/angkot.
* Ticket entrance is FREE, you can give donation for this place in the receptionist before enter the pavilion.