TAGS: #indonesia
Indonesia is a mystical land, that is dotted with ancient temples, old colonial buildings, and a local belief in ghosts. Any visitor to this mysterious land can discover some of the most haunted places in Asia.
1. Old Kota, Jakarta
Imagine a huge expanding modern city, with a crumbling colonial section, and you discover "old Kota." The last stop on the Blok M to Kota busway, this area will remind you of a dilapidated Amsterdam, with some of the cities oldest buildings.
At night few locales like to venture in this primarily abandoned area of the city, as the ghosts of Indonesia's dark past are said to stalk the dark, ill lit streets, and abandoned buildings. Although the offices of the former Dutch governor, overlooking a large square, still attract visitors seeking quietness, in a loud and often sleepless city.
2. Lawang Sewu, Semarang
Semarang is a city of contrasts, once a favored city for Dutch colonists, it has a dilapidated old quarter with one of Indonesia'a oldest churches. This eerie sector is not the most haunted, but a building called the "thousand doors" is.
Located in the center of the city, Lawang Sewu , was once the headquarters of the Dutch railway company, and is a tropical-European style building with open verandas, and hundreds of individual offices. The day the Japanese army entered Semarang, was the day this unique building became infamous in Indonesia.
In the most Dutch of Javanese cities, the dreaded Kempeitai s eccret police took over the offices, and it became the building of death for hundreds of Dutch prisoners, and some unfortunate Indonesians.
Since Independence, Lawang Sewu, has been feared by the locals, and since being a local landmark, the building has never been reused as offices. During the daytime visitors can explore the building, but most people avoid it, and rarely venture near it after dark.
3. The Jungles of Kalimantan (Borneo)
Borneo is home to some of the last virgin Jungles in South East Asia, where fierce Dayaks still roam, as the island develops. Ancient tribes used to "head hunt," where they would roam the deep forests, and cut of the heads of their enemies.
Many an expatriate has told the tale of seeing bright lights in the most remote jungle settlements, and local legend has it that these lights are what remains of the headless victims of the head hunters.
Since our world is becoming similar with most cities having the same looking buildings, cars, and shopping malls. There are still some mysterious and haunted places, which can be found in Indonesia.