Palabuhanratu
Pelabuhan Ratu is an isolated fishing village at the south-coast of West-Java and about a four hours drive from Indonesian's capital Jakarta. Residents of Jakarta and Bandung love to come to the Sukabumi district where Pelabuhan Ratu is located around the Teluk Pelabuhan Ratu Bay, once named "Wijnkoopsbaai" by the Dutch. The form is that of a large horseshoe and the first you notice are the enormous waves that can be very treacherous. The Javanese locals tell that the Indian Ocean is the home of '''Nyai Loro Kidul'''] who reigns along the sout-coast of all Java. [1]
Name
Myths tell about the legendary Queen of the South Sea, as the name of Pelabuhan Ratu means "Queen's Habor". Here the legend of '''Nyai Loro Kidul''' must have been created where drownings do regulary occur. Javanese locals do fear the South Sea Spirit-Queen who takes fishermen and swimmers to the dept of the ocean where the underwater palace is in her watery kingdom. So homage is paid to the Queen of the South Sea on April 6th. and in June when a garish thanksgiving festival is celebrated all along the coast. [2]
Hotel
The first president of Indonesia, Sukarno, was involved with the idea to build a hotel on the spot where the Samudra Beach Hotel is located. Here room 308 is specially prepared for the legendary Queen of the South Sea where anybody can stay for a while to pray, to meditate, to ask some questions of spiritual matters. Because of all kind af strange events this room became the "Bewitched Room" ...
External links
- ^ Dalton, Bill. Indonesia Handbook, Moon Pubications, USA 1989, ISBN 0-918373-12-3, pp 232
- ^ Witton, Patrick - O'Carroll, Etain - Eliott, Mark - Ray, Nick - Greenway, Paul - Tarbell, Alan - Jealous, Virginia - Warren, Matt. Lonely Planet, Lonely Planet Pubications Indonesia 7th edition November 2003, Melbourne, Oakland, London, Paris, ABN 36 005 607 983 pp 178