Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta

It seemed important to the people I met in Jakarta that they point out how tolerant Indonesians were of religions other than Islam. Each time we passed a Christian Church, a Buddhist Temple or a Hindu Temple the statement was reiterated. At first, I didn't appreciate the significance.

However, after several conversations, I realized that an evolution was in motion. Much like the social effort in the USA to eradicate racial bias, The people of Indonesia struggled to overcome religious intolerance. They seemed quite proud that on the same street that a Mosque was located, it was possible to see a Christian Church, or a Hindu or Buddist Temple.

In Taman Mini, several buildings magnificantly represented other major religions practiced in Indonesia.

Taman Mini is much like Disneyland, especially the attention to detail made in recreating the landscape and buildings of the many islands and cultures.

Jakarta is a large metropolitan city surrounded by primative areas that harken back to the time before the Dutch colonized this land. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah celebrates the many cultural facets of it's people from that past and surprisingly, much of it still exists today.

However, if you haven't the time or the nerve to travel through the Islands of Indonesia to experience such things as the Badui community, a small group of people living Kendent mountain, who are reclusive and resist moving into the modern world, Taman Mini is a solution.

In East Kalimantan tribes that are collectively called Dayak, historically live in Long Houses. These long houses, called Lamin or Umaq Daru, are built on wooden piles, sometimes as high as eight feet, to protect the tribe from floods and wild animals. Long Houses are divided into sperate family sections and have a common area for communal meetings or ceremonies. It could be the whole extended family and in some cases the whole village living in one of these long houses.

Guardian statues are placed in front of the Long House to ward off evil spirits. As time marches on, Long Houses are diminishing. However, some are converted into town halls or stages for dance and musical entertainment can be seen today in places outside of Taman Mini as well as in.

Theater Imax Keopng Emas, Golden Snail Theater, is also located in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. The usual presentation, "Beautiful Indonesia" unfortunately was not showing the day I went. I saw previews and would have liked to see beautiful Indonesia on a gigantic screen using the latest Imax system. However, the movie I saw was "To The Limit" which was perfect for me in my condition, full of inspiring feats accomplished by humans with determination.

Treat yourself to a refreshing pause in the air conditioned Imax theater and enjoy the show, which ever happens to be playing the day you arrive.

Sri had a gathering of her Haj members one morning. They were rather strict--maybe not tolerant of this Western Christian woman--and they didn't speak "Inggerish." So, I went with Sri’s cousin to Museum Purna Bhakti Pertiwi, the President’s Museum.

My favorite aspect of visiting this museum was the "air-con!" That is not to say that it was the only aspect worth taking a tour of this interesting place. Many rooms were filled with displays of marvelous and sometimes fantastically unique gifts given to the President from world dignitaries as well as humble visitors to and from Indonesia.

This is the only museum of the several that are house at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah that I went to, but it was well worth the trip.

The statue standing guard at the entrance to the New President's Museum (Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Museum ) set the mood for my tour. Unfamiliar and exotic.

The President's Museum was truly an international display of art and beauty—the usual, clothes, dishes, pottery, anything you might think of had been given to the President. Of course, it would be expected to see items made of gold or adorned with precious stones, but at every turn I saw something unique to marvel at. Things that I had never even thought of were displayed here and that might account for my enthusiasm.

Of all the gifts given to the new President, the most impressive and exotic was a sculpture carved from the root of a Bodhi tree. Can't remember who gave this gift, but it may have come from Bali.

At the junction of the root's huge arteries Hindu gods were beautifully carved in exquisite detail. The surrounding smaller veins served as a background which created a sense that the gods were floating.

This fascinating work of art took sixteen months to make and was the most elegant and majestic gift of all, IMHO.

Apologies for the brochure photo, I think the reason I didn't have my own photos, was that cameras were not allowed inside the museum.

At the time of my visit The President's Museum is what I was told the name was.

Of course, a few years later there was a new president of Indonesia. The proper name is now, "Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Museum." A repository for the many gifts given over 32 years of Suharto's rule as president of Indonesia. Most of the gifts were displayed behind illuminated glass cases. One of the most beautiful and impressive items at the museum was a ship carved completely out of jade. It wasn’t 'life' sized, but seemed to stand at least ten feet high and twenty feet long! The sailing ship took up a large section in the center of the room and the intricate sculpture offered amazing details.