SEMARANG, THE CITY WHERE I WAS BORN (part 2)

Wow, it's rainy here. Flood's everywhere, including Semarang. Rainy season hits Indonesia for months but Semarang won't let you down with some spectacular tourism destinations. And now, we'd tell you about Lawang Sewu. Why Lawang Sewu? Because it's the icon of the city and the location is easily accessible; it's in downtown of Semarang. The entry gate faces Tugu Muda roundabout. Yes, lawang sewu means thousand doors. Some said that Lawang Sewu is  scary especially at night; it will fill you with extra horror.

Let me tell you the truth. This "haunted house" was once a Netherland railway company office. So, no wonder if this place now exhibits the history of railway evolution in Indonesia. The classic-style building gives an advantage for the photographers. I think the building is perfectly complete. It has large attic and complicated underground tunnel system. The guide said that the underground tunnel was used for something like cooler. It worked out only when rainy season came.

Everything changed when Japan invaded Indonesia. Japan turned the basement into a horrifying prison plus the execution place. As the time goes by, after a rejuvenation, it's now one of Semarang's tourist attractions.

Nowadays, you'll need more than a word to describe this site; spooky, beautiful, complicated, sophisticated, and historic, of course.