SURABAYA (SUROBOYO) GOLF WEEKENDER

My friends and I went to Surabaya (Suroboyo in Javanese) for golf last weekend. This is the Juanda Airport of Surabaya, the eastern capital of Java and Indonesia's second oldest city. The airport attracts a motley lot of people.

The future face of Indonesia. This young man, sitting on the steps of the oldest mosque in Surabaya's Arab Quarter, had probably just finished his religious class there.

This young girl who was selling bread off a small basket is probably the youngest street vendor I found in the Arab Quarter. The smile she gave me is priceless! 

This mosque found in the Arab Quarter was set up more than 500 years ago by Arab settlers who came to Surabaya to seek their fortunes.

The entrance of the alley leading to the >500 year-old mosque of Surabaya's Arab Quarter. The alley is about 200 m long.

Shops line the alleyway leading to the mosque.

Here you see the Indonesian secondary economy at work. Used mineral water bottles are being sold here by street vendors. The secondary economy also manifests itself in people collecting parking charges when you enter their turf. Even though there may be an official parking charge, you may still have to pay a token of 1,000 rupiahs for the one who guides your car into/out of a parking lot or as you exit from a car park.

When the weather gets hot, one will make a beeline for such a stall as this. A bottle of mineral water here will go for 1,500 rupiahs. 

A group of young motor-cyclists gathering here probably to plan their outing for the weekend. Owners of motor-cycles will also take you around like a taxi for a small fee.

This row of becaks (trishaws) waiting for business near the Ibis Hotel of Jalan Rajawali where we stayed. The guy standing posed for me when he saw me getting ready for the shot. Contrast these becaks with the ornate ones of Malacca.

Quick tea-break for this becak rider. 

This is one way to sell newspapers in Surabaya. A copy of Surya retails here for S$0.20. 

This river needs a clean up? Such a sight is common in Surabaya. 

The front of an altar table adorned with intricate carvings. This table is found in the oldest Chinese temple of Surabaya.

Found in Chinatown, is this Chinese temple. It is the oldest in Surabaya.

After the Red Bridge is this archway announcing entry into the Chinatown of Surabaya. Every evening, the stretch of road after the archway is closed and stalls will appear to offer food for alfresco dining.  

This is the famous Red Bridge (Jembatan Merah in Bahasa Indonesia) of Surabaya. Traversing the bridge are two of the most common modes of transportation - becaks and motor-cycles. Ladies ride pillion here the same way as it's done in Thailand. On the front motor-cycle is a family of 3. It's not uncommon to see a family of 4 - two grown-ups and two children - riding this way.

On our way to Finna Golf Club, the most famous ayam goreng (fried chicken) outlet in Pekan was slated to open only after our tee-off time, so we opted to lunch here. The food was nothing to shout about; it cost the five of us about S$25 to lunch here. On the right of the picture is the Toyota Kijang which Bang Toyib arranged for our use during the trip.

A view from the Golfers' Terrace of Finna Golf Club in Prigen. It took more than an hour and a half to get here from Juanda Airport. The weather is cool as it's in a mountainous area. Almost every hole here was difficult for me. This course offers senior citizens (50 years and above) a special package at only 295k rupiahs on weekdays, and 100k rupiahs more on weekends and PHs but tee off has to be after 11am. This course is a must-play in Surabaya. As a course in a mountainous area, I would rate it in the same band as Taman Dayu. Off Blue, it's a 6,345m-long par 72, with a course rating of 72.4. If coming from Surabaya, round-trip transportation has to be arranged.

I was attracted to this old Studebaker at the Finna Golf Club. It probably has seen its glorious days with various owners.