Ten Nutte Van Het Algeemen

Yeah, me, too Hoshikawa san. Me, too. In fact, I just got back from a tour in National Museum. It's the largest museum I've ever visit in Jakarta. Funny how it took so long before I can come. You can't miss this museum as there's a big elephant statute placed in front of the old building. It's a gift from King of Thailand when he visited on 1871.

National Museum is the largest one I ever visited in Jakarta. However, the ticket is only Rp5.000 . Ticket counter is on the right of the door. Next to it is a cabinet where you can put your stuffs. But, I only have one back, attached to my shoulder where my camera is kept. So, I decide to bring it along. The security is nice and not fussy (I've been to museum where they insist to leave every thing in locker). It seems they really believe on their motto "Ten Nutte Van Het Algeemen" (for the public interest).

There are two buildings to keep 141.899 collections. The latest building--Arca Building-- was just built on 1996. There's huge parking lot below it, as well as clean sufficient praying room. Nice. I like it.

The collections are divided into 7 categories: history; geography; prehistoric; ceramics; ethnography; archaeology; and numismatics & heraldry. The first one you'll see as you enter the first building is statues. Indonesia is the home of various statues (arca) from Hindu era. The names written on their labels are those I often heard from tales or tv show. Some statues share the same names, but are chiseled differently according to the place they're discovered. I guess the local custom contributes to the art of each arca.

As I take the tour on clockwise, the next room after arca arc is terracota room where various terracota products since 13 century are exhibited. Some are kept inside glass boxes, but some big jars are aligned next to wall. I'm really nervous, you know. I can't help thinking how expensive those jars are. What if someone trip and break them? Kids? or me? hiii...better get out of this section soon.

Into the next room: various kind of plates from China! Each era shows different pattern and color using. 

There are so many that I'll go crazy if I try reading every label. So, I hop to another room where traditional house of every  part of Indonesia set inside glass boxes. Rumah Gadang from Minangkabau grabs my attention right away! It's huge. Rumah gadang is usually occupied by few families. That explains the size.

On to next room! Having thousands of islands guarantee various tradition, including musical instrument. What you found in east Indonesia might look different from the west.

Spirituality plays important part in Indonesian' ancestor's life. Various art works were made as tool to pray.

It's Tuesday, but the museum is crowded. Few groups of school kids here and there. Some foreign tourists look so meticulous. Among them there's a group of white guys which everyone has tattoos all over their bodies. I'm amazed. In my tiny stupid mine, these are not the kinds of people who go to museum. I feel so narrow minded. Those guys look really interested in the exhibition. Cool people.

Still, this museum is too big. Thank God they set some long chairs to rest. My feet hurt. So does my hand because this post seems so long. I think that's all