Showing posts with label Cirebon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cirebon. Show all posts

WW: Culinary Adventures in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary adventures in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia


Welcome back...

Let's continue our adventure. This time, I would like to kindly invite you to join me in my Culinary Adventures in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

As I have shared previously (READ:  Kanoman Palace, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia dan Sunyaragi Cave, Cirebon, West Java) , Cirebon is indeed a special place for me and my family as my late grandpa from my late father was originally coming from Cirebon. While we are here in Indonesia, we take some times to visit this city again and again as we still have many relatives to meet plus lovely attractions that I would like to introduce to my kids as well. That includes the culinary experience here.

Cirebon has ben well known for its delicious cuisine. Empal gentong, empal asem, tahu gejrot and nasi lengko are only few examples of this culinary heaven.  Not to mention the munchies, like ketan gurih, rengginang rebon and emping manis. The list can go on and on.

Empal gentong is the traditional beef stew from Cirebon, cooked with coconut milk and a mixture of Idonesian spices such as kemiri or bitter nut, sereh or lemon grass, laos/lengkuas or galangal, and daun salam or bay leaves. While empal asem is similar, but it is cooked withouth coconut milk. Instead, it uses tamarind water and belimbing wuluh, a special starfruit with has unique sour taste.  Both stew are served with fried onion and slices of fresh spring onion and celery. Tahu gejrot is a special mixture of fried tofu with a sauce made of garlic, chili, tamarind, palm sugar, and sweet soy sauce. My late dad loved tis so much and we cherish this special dish wholeheartedly. We sometimes cook it at home as well. Then nasi lengko is Cirebonese plate of rice with fried tofu and tempe, sprinkled with generous fresh cut cucumber, steamed bean sprout, fried onion, kucai  or chives, with spicy (or not) peanut sauce. Oh my, even as I write this, I am drooling and suddenly hungry.

I might need to write more details about more Cirebonese food at later stage but now, let's see some of those scrumptious palates. Tell me whether it brings out your appetite instantly.


Culinary of Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

So, what do you think? 

Which one is your fave? 

Have you tried some of them?

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday (click HERE) and have fun with the link party




WW: Kanoman Palace, Cirebon, Indonesia

Kanoman Palace, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Welcome to Kanoman PalaceCirebon, West Java, Indonesia.

It was another trip to Cirebon, the hometown of my grandfather from my late dad's side. We made it together with my cousins too. It was an enjoyable trip and it was a memorable walk down the lane. My aunties were born and raised here and they loved looking at the places where they spent their childhood. 

The Kanoman Palace, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

We stopped at Kanoman Palace, on of the palaces in Cirebon. Different from our previous visit to Cirebon (Read: Family Trip to Cirebon, West Java), this time we saw the place where my grandfather was the direct descendant of the Kanoman Palace, from his grandmother's side. It was exciting to see this place although we have to admit that it has its days . It must be expensive to take care of this huge palace. 

The Kanoman Palace, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

The unique thing is this palace is built in an area surrounded by the market. I read from the book that the Sultan or the King loved his people so much he allowed the people to build markets, gather, and do a lot of public activities in the area. So when we want to visit the Palace now, we have to go through the traditional Kanoman market.

The palace was built back in 1678 by Prince Kertawijaya or Mohammad Badridin. He was also known as Sultan Anom I and the Palace as well as the Royal Family living there have been closely tied to the spread of Islam in West Java and the surrounding areas, particularly by Sunan Kalijaga or Syarif Hidayatullah


Details from Kanoman Palace, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

In many of the saung or the building in this 6-hectare complex, you will see various original ceramics from Tiongkok or  China. I remember seeing some as well in Keraton Kasepuhan Cirebon and Sunyaragi Cave (Read: WW: Sunyaragi Cave, Cirebon, West Java)

Enjoy some of the photos I took during the trip with some stories about it.

Details from Kanoman Palace, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Here are some photos from inside the complex of the Palace
As we entered the complex, we would see many saung or the building with high ceiling and open space as well as bale, the similar architecture. You will see the big hall in gold, green, and baby blue ambience where events and gatherings take place and guests are entertained.

Inside the Kanoman Place, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

In the back of the complex, we will see big space or lapangan which can accommodate more people when the palace is open for the commoners, usually for the celebration of Islamic calendar like Syawalan or a week after Eid-ul Fitr. We also saw the rocky shapes depicting rocky mountain similar to the ones in Sunyaragi cave.

Inside the Kanoman Place, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Inside the Kanoman Place, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Here are some pictures of the details of the main complex. I think the building is called Siti Hinggil. Many of the furnitures and details accents are made of teak wood, with laced-like carvings and ornate patterns. Some of them stand the test of time, some of them have started to deteriorated unfortunately, mostly due to the humid weather in Indonesia, particularly Cirebon. The rest of the hall can be observed through series of photos here.

Inside the Kanoman Place, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Inside the Kanoman Place, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Inside the Kanoman Place, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Inside the Kanoman Place, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Inside the Kanoman Place, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia


So, that's out little trip to Kanoman Palace, Cirebon, Indonesia

What do you think about the palace? Do you like it? Which one is your favorite place? 

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday (click HERE to join) and have fun with he link party.


WW: Sunyaragi Cave, Cirebon, West Java

Welcome to Sunyaragi Cave 

Another highlight of our family trip to Cirebon, West Java, on the last days of 2019.

It was only the 11 of us (out of God knows how many of my full family members :)) but for sure it was fun.

Previously, I have shared our family trip to Cirebon, West Java in a nutshell. 
Cirebon is about 3.5 hours drive from Jakarta, using the new highway we have.
Cirebon has long been known as an important city  along the western side of Java. 
It has a very rich history, dating back from the 14th century. 
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Cirebon played an vital role as a trading hub since it is strategically located along Java sea. As many foreign merchants came and went, Cirebon bears various influences from many countries, including China and India. During the colonial era, Cirebon also threw a big fight against the Dutch and Japanese, while on the religious side, Cirebon is the home of Sunan Gunung Jati, one of the famous nine Indonesian saints in Islam or Wali Songo. You see... many interesting aspects we can learn from this astonishing city.



Our first stop after driving  from Jakarta was actually Haji Apud's  famous Empal Gentong restaurant near the highway. But I will share our delicious culinary experience on another post. This time, I will take you to Sunyaragi Cave.


It looks like a temple yet it was made of strong corals.

Built in the 15th century by the Sultan of Cirebon, Sunyaragi Cave is very unique because it was made of corals. City of Cirebon is located near the sea and I guess that's why this cave was built this way. It gives a different shape and perspective as well, noting that this cave is not really a cave but more like a combination of meditation place and water palace.  
Judging from the remaining structure of this place, you still can see some springs and pools surrounding the cave. There are areas with bale or beds and meditation corners as well.


The old architectures

Tomb on top of one of the towers

The elephant statue..

Original Dutch ceramics

One of the meditation corners

can you see the spring and the pool?

Another goa or cave..

cheers from the 4 of us..

The name of this place itself comes from the Sanskrit, Sunya and Ragi.
Sunya means sunyi or silence while Ragi or raga means body.
So this is the place intended for those looking for a quiet place for meditation.
That is why it has many spots for individual meditation.
Well, I will definitely share more on this place, including its interesting history.

Here's the map that shows the exact location of the cave.


 

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and join us on our link party

WW: Family Trip to Cirebon, West Java

Cirebon, here we come!
Have you been to or heard about Cirebon before?



It is one of the historical cities in West Java, which happens to be the hometown of my late grandpa from my father's side.
The last time I visited this place was when I was 16 year-old. Ages ago!
Well, we did stop by for a while, only for a quick lunch, when we headed back home from Semarang to Jakarta.
But this time, we really spent the whole day exploring this lovely city again.


We went here with my mom and aunties as well as my little brother and his wife plus my niece. It was quite a big group, around 11 people all together.
The trip was fun and full of great food as well as laughter.
Plus visits to our ancestors' palaces.
Here are some snaps from Sunyaragi Palace, Sang Cipta Rasa Mosque and Kasepuhan Palace, Cirebon




The roof of the Mosque..all made of Teak Wood. Beautifully crafted!


Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and have fun with the link party