footprints in the sand: A night in Majapahit Hotel Surabaya

This was my second time to go to Surabaya the Historic City. I've found it exciting, cause I'll go by myself and had opportunity to explore this city in a day. It's still for working purpose, but I promised myself that I'm going to have fun since I didn't have many opportunity to travel alone.

So all decision was mine. I was blessed!!

First arrived at Juanda International Airport, I felt so excited. I went straight to the office and spent my day to interview some candidates then arrange some meeting. And I really overwhelmed by the friendliness of the people here. And I suddenly fell in love with the city. After all the meeting did very well. it's time for me to go to the hotel and explored the city. The adventure began.

I chose one of historic hotel that we could call it as one of the historic building in Surabaya. It's Majapahit Hotel. I heard so many not really nice story about this hotel but yet I fell in love with the reviews over the internet and curiosity won!!

Majapahit Hotel was located at Jl Tunjungan, Surabaya main street, and the famous shopping mall Tunjungan Plaza just across the street. My first impression was this hotel was very warm and vintage, in a good way. I love vintage style. And even took my breath away when the usher showed me the room. Cause we had to walk along the beautiful isles and I thought I'm gonna be lost if I had to walked here alone. It's like walked in a maze, and I love maze. They also had this beautiful garden in middle of the building and it's only two stories building with each room face the garden. Along the isle I was looking my surrounding excitedly and planning to take picture here and there.

I even more fell in love when entered the room. It's like I'd been transferred to years of 40s. When Indonesia hadn't been independent yet. The story about this hotel itself, that it was built in 1910 as Orange Hotel. I read that Charlie Chaplin was also here to celebrate the opening of the hotel. I felt like I just being part of history. And during the Japanese occupation in Indonesia, the hotel changed its name to Yamato Hotel. And that's when this hotel being the witness of the unforgettable moment for Indonesian people. This was where the dutch flag was being tore away to only red and white as Indonesian flag that lead up to Surabaya Battle. And this hotel changed its name again to Hotel Merdeka. The Hotel Majapahit named itself was came after the new management hotel operated this hotel and the name was after the greatest Majapahit Kingdom until now.

I love this story. I spent a night here and I didn't think feel anything weird. I just enjoyed my stay. Lucky me!!

Cheers, Dhidie.