January 23, 2019 - Surabaya, Indonesia - Wednesday, Day 18
We just did a 4 mile walk in Surabaya, Java. We left the terminal and after a false start through the parking lot made our way to the main drag. We had gotten a map from the tourist desk in the terminal and decided to walk to a mosque, the Arab Quarters and a traditional market. The map did not have a lot of detail for the street names, but seemed straight forward enough. we saw a group of passengers walking ahead of us and felt good that we had a somewhat common goal.
To the left of the road was a wall that kept us out of the industrial area. We were not sure what was on the other side, but we could see smoke stacks and stacks of cargo containers. We started on a sidewalk, but soon it ran out, and we were in the street dodging motor bikes approaching from behind. After half an hour we caught up to the others and looked at the map. We agreed that our route seemed to be correct. Trudging on we soon came to a large roundabout. Straight ahead was city center. The mosque seemed to be to the left.
We went left and soon found ourselves facing oncoming traffic as we walked in the curb lane. No sidewalks here. After questioning a few locals it was decided that Alice and I were the only ones headed to the mosque. The rest were going to Chinatown. At the next intersection they turned right and we turned left. Soon we were on a bridge over the river that ran through the industrial area behind the wall. Across the bridge was a very large complex that builds ships and submarines. We walked past it, and some time later we spied a dome in the distance ahead and to the right. There was a police hut at the next roundabout. We pointed to the symbol for the mosque and pointed toward the dome. He nodded yes and we walked on.
We got to the dome and entered the courtyard. While taking pictures from the outside a security guard came up to us in gestures and broken English no pictures. This was a Muslim school. We tried to find out where the mosque was and he tried to tell us. We followed his directions. At the next intersection we pulled out our map. While we were trying to locate the street we were on, a young man stopped his motor bike. In much better English he offered to help. He did direct us to our goal, but was not exactly sure how far it was. When we got to a certain landmark we were to stop and ask anyone mosque? mosque? They would surely tell us.
We did not have to do that. As we followed his directions, we soon saw the tower of the mosque. In fact we could hear the start of the call to prayer. Soon we were across the street from it. What a disappointment it was. We took some pictures, but did not cross over to it. Instead we took a side street with a stream in a gully down the middle. This looked like the street on the map that would get us to the traditional market. A block later we were passing in front of vendors’ stalls. We kept goin until we found a lane that went off to the side.
Going down the lane we saw families in front of humble dwellings. Kids were playing in the street. A couple of large trucks blocked the road as they dumped huge stones in front of a building under construction. We reversed our path and went beyond our starting point. As we rounded a corner the street was filled with motor bikes and kids in uniforms running toward them. School had just let out.
We were once again besieged by people wanting us to take their pictures or take selfies with us. The children got so excited. We were surrounded by exuberant kids and moms. When all the pictures were taken and we started walking away the kids started grabbing our hands and pressing them to their foreheads for good luck. All of this took place without any English spoken.
Back on the street with the stream we walked back to the market area. We turned in to the traditional market. Again this was a warehouse like structure filled with stalls, narrow aisles and dirt floors. No mud. As we walked we saw a lot of meet and fish besides the usual fresh fruits and vegetables.It was clear toe the women selling these that we were not there to buy, but they gladly welcomed us and all showed off their wares. The produce was so artfully displayed that it would seem a shame to spoil it by selling any of it. Smiles and pictures were the only price we paid for this rewarding experience. this market was much nicer and the ladies were much kinder than we experienced yesterday in Surabaya.
We were tired of walking so we took a taxi back to the port. Our 4 mile, 15 minute took us past sights I did not remember seeing on our walk. This may have been because the wall we had walked past was so high. This ride cost us a whopping 30,000 Rupiahs. That was $2.50 and worth every penny.
We got out of the taxi and walked a few minutes to the terminal entrance. As soon as we passed through security and sat down to try the free internet a ”monsoon “ rain hit. We could not see across the street. Thank goodness we opted for a taxi. We would still have been over an hour away by foot. As it was, we had walked a little over 4 miles.
We later learned from passengers who had ridden out to the shopping mall that their return rides were detoured by flooded streets and fallen trees. The trees were being cleared by men wielding machetes not chain saws.
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