Greetings Hive worlds! It's me Iris, from East Java Indonesia. I am a working mom who just love to randomly meander around while introducing the world to my 3 years old boy and write about it. So, today I will introduce you to one of the most famous landmark in my hometown, Malang City: Tugu Monument or Alun Alun Tugu Malang.
The world Alun-alun generaly refer to town square or plaza. Our Alun-Alun was firstly build in front of the mayor office in 1920, when Dutch colonized Indonesia, a mere round yard with a water fountain in the center. It was around 400 meters in diameter and named as "JP Coen Plein" by the Dutch people to honoring their general.
Source: Pinterest
When the Dutch occupation ended and Indonesia regained its independence, Malang citizen rebuilt the Alun Alun as the city landmark by adding a simple tower as a monument of Indonesian independence in 1946. Unfortunately, this monument was destroyed during the first Dutch's aggression in Indonesia in 1952. After the war is over, our first president, Ir. Soekarno, rebuilt the monument again with its signature sharp bamboo shape and a lotus pond that surrounded it. The bamboo shape symbolizes our fight for our independence and the white and red lotus flowers represent the color of our nation flag.
The design of the Alun -Alun Tugu changed time to time, especially when we elected new major that seemed disliked the taste of the previous candidate. However, its original shape, the lotus pond, and the lovely garden that surrounds the pond remained the same ever since I can remember. Our citizens always fond of this place. My grandmother also often took me there when I was a kid, and this was also my favorite jogging place in my teenage years. I used to jog there in the shy of the dawn and then watched the sunrise while sat on one of the bench and contemplating life as teenagers do.
That's why, tonight I took an impromptu trip there with my boy and my sisters to walk on the memory lane. My boy loved to watch the water fountain and colorful lights that decorated the pond and the garden. But of course, his most favorite thing to do was running around the pond until he was out of breath.
Another thing that I loved from this place was its garden. Since I was a kid, the garden fortunately never underwent extreem changes. Always tidy with a short green grasses and well cut colorful shurbs. The newest addition were some mini lotus pond and this vintage garden lamps, which I am not too fond of actually. People used to had some picnics on the grass area, but it wasn't allowed anymore now to maintain the cleanliness of the garden.
We have the main path that directly facing the Mayor's office that actually older than the Alun-Alun. The vintage sight of the building also another attractive point of this landmark, perhaps because it whispered history and legacy right away. Some other important historical landmark also build surrounded the Alun-Alun such as one of the oldest hotel in Malang, our most famous public high schools and other government buildings. It was also surrounded by towering old tress that become the silent witnesses of pride, dignity, and struggle of Malang City.
Of course, my son wouldn't understand any of this sentimental value right now, but I just love to take him to enjoy public space and historical landmark so he can experience a bit of my childhood when TV, mobile phone, and internet were not the main recreational tools. I wanted him to see the colorful light danced with the sways of water fountain, to touch the cold damp grasses after the afternoon showers, to hear the city bustling in contrast of the cricket's song, and to feel the pure joy of sightseeing and just enjoy the moment.
Before we went home, we stopped by at an old style bakery near the Alun-Alun Tugu. This bakery lasted since 1990 and offered a selection of old style breads, pastry, cake, cookies, and ice cream. Until now the menu is very authentic, a wholesome soft bread with a thick crust, old style pastries such as madeline and cream rolls, and also some traditional sweets.
I actually preferred the old style bread like this rather that the fancy bakeries that nowadays were very popular. Glad that my son also have my taste. It was also sell fruits and local specialities as souvenirs because tourists often visit this bakery as well. You could see that the interior is very vintage and I hope they will keep it that way.
It was almost his bedtime when we done shopping. We went home so he would not stay up too late. My son was so happy and tired after spent the whole evening running around but still so cheerful on the way back. Meanwhile I was already drained out chasing him about 4-5 lap running around the monument. Still could not comprehend just how that little body can store that much energy.
That's all about our beloved Alun-Alun and Tugu Monument. I hope you enjoyed learning about a small portion of our history. Please apologize for some blurry photos because I only took it with my phone, while tried to chase my jet-like boy. Please do stop by at this place and also the little bakery if you ever visit my city Malang, in East Java, Indonesia. Here's the worldmappin link for you
See you on another post, Hivers!
