Tourism Book Review In The Dutch East Indies - An Invitation To The Past

Book Tourism in the Dutch East Indies (Detha Arya Tifada / VOI)

JAKARTA - The stretching of Indonesian tourism has always been described as the fragrance of its popularity since a long time ago. In fact, most people today joke that Indonesia does not need to be promoted anymore. It is enough from the friendliness of the people and the popularity of its various tourist attractions that people will feel the moment of falling in love with the archipelago.

On paper, it feels like that. However, when you look back, the advancement of Indonesian tourism was not built easily. There are actors who have been agents of reform since colonial times. They are able to invite tourists from various parts of the world to come to the archipelago. Whether it's just relaxing or for the purpose of tasting the passion of natural, cultural, mountain, ocean, or historical tourist attractions.

This description can be obtained through the work of Ahmad Sunjayadi entitled Tourism in the Dutch East Indies (1891-1942). From this book, readers will get knowledge related to anyone who contributed to introducing the Indies (Indonesia) to the world. The story is complete, from trips, unique habits favored by travelers, hotels that became the prima donna of their time, and a myriad of other interesting things.

Notes are awe-inspiring

One of the ways people know the stretch of tourism in the past can be seen from a document in the form of a record of someone's travels while visiting the Indies during the colonial period. Even if there is a part that is exaggerated, it is the content of information that makes the travel record has its own value in promoting the Archipelago.

The writers of the stories in this book are dominated by foreigners from various backgrounds. Meanwhile, writers from the Indies themselves could even be counted on their fingers. This happened because not everyone could travel to Bumi Nusantara, which at that time could only be accessed by certain groups because it was expensive.

At that time, travel records came from the hands of those who worked as naturalists, journalists, archaeologists, and officials. Henry Forbes, for example, a naturalist from Scotland who visited in 1878–1883.

Or Claude-Joseph Desire Charnay, archaeologist envoy of the French Ministry of Education who visited in 1878-1879 and Modest M. Bakunin, Diplomat from Russia who served in 1894-1899. Others were King Chulalongkron of Siam, who visited in 1971, 1896, 1901.

Magnet for tourists

"After eating the riz tafel dish, everyone then sleeps (siesta) - as is common for people who are full - until four o'clock in the afternoon, when bathing and drinking tea refreshes the tropical soul."

It is written on page 71. The word is quoted from Eliza Seidmore's travel notes during her visit to the Indies. For those who traveled to the Indies, the habits listed above, ranging from rijsttafel, siesta, and bathing, often became something to be amazed at.

How could it not be, the rijsttafel habit which is commonly called a big meal, feels so special in the eyes of European travelers. Moreover, the food served is countless, ranging from various kinds of side dishes, such as chicken, patties, shrimp, jerky, crab, foreign eggs, vegetables, crackers, and chili sauce.

This habit became interesting because the habit would not be found in Europeans who were generally used to being economical in food matters. This tradition, which is thought to have arisen in the 1860s, is not only awe-inspiring, in fact, "the bountiful dish will shock the hungry English," is written on page 79.

Apart from rijsttafel, there is also a siesta habit or what is known as napping. Usually done right after a big meal. The custom in the Indies was napping. Which is the habit of napping so enjoyed by travelers who came to the Indies in ancient times.

"Enjoy the siesta from two to four o'clock, or at least stay in the room, because anyone, unless you have to, should not go out hot in the sun during the hottest hours of the day," is present on page 73.

The last thing that is interesting is the habit of bathing in the Indies which can be up to two times a day. Unexpectedly, this habit of bathing was considered attractive by Europeans who were accustomed to cold climates, so bathing was not a habit. However, when in Indonesia with a tropical climate, they (the Europeans) became fond of bathing rituals.

One who likes this habit is Justus Van Maurik, a Dutch traveler. Thus, it states, "Bathrooms were often only designed to pour cooled water in a tub, over your head using a dipper (gajong), a healthy way to bathe, and was practiced throughout the Indies."

Interestingly, all Indian-style habits can be enjoyed in almost all popular hotels in Batavia, as the entry gate for travelers at that time. Starting from Hotel Cavadino, Grand Hotel Java, Hotel der Nederlanden, Hotel des Indes, Hotel Museh, Hotel Orit, and Hotel Ernst.

Other information

In this book also written any individual or community who has contributed in introducing tourism in the Dutch East Indies. Not only that, various marketing and tourism promotion strategies were also explained from documentary films, events, posters to travel guidebooks which are continuously reviewed at length in 358 pages of this book.

Everything is disclosed briefly, accompanied by relevant data. For those who are curious about tourism in the Dutch East Indies during the period 1891-1942, this book must be present among the books collected.

Whether it's just to find out, study, or even reminisce about the beauty and uniqueness that existed in the Archipelago in the past. So, prepare your time to travel to the past with the book Tourism in the Dutch East Indies.

Detail:

Title of Book: Tourism in the Indies-Netherlands (1891-1942)

Author: Achmad Sunjayadi

First Published: 2019

Publisher: Popular Gramedia Library (KPG)

Number of Pages: 358