INTRODUCTION
It is often observed that many of the tourists coming to Java do not know much about our beautiful island which was described by the well-known traveller Miss Scidmore as "the Garden of the East".
For, while one traveller only knows something about the Botanical Garden at Buitenzorg, another thinks that Garoet is the only place of interest worth visiting; again others, simply come to see the Boroboedoer temple, and after a short stay there rush back to Singapore.
Some folks have a notion that Tosari is the only place to go to, but there are very few tourists, who take their time to go through the island thoroughly from Batavia via Buitenzorg, Garoet, Djocja, etc. to Soerabaya and Tosari.
In consequence of this almost every traveller in Java who has visited only one or two of the above-mentioned places, regrets infinitely that the date of departure of his steamer at Singapore, prevents him from prolonging his stay.
It is for this reason that we have compiled this little guide book to introduce the traveller to some of the beauty-spots of Java from Batavia to Soerabaya, whence every week fine and well-known steamers of the Paketvaart Company, which are among the best coasting steamers in the Orient, will take him back to the most cosmopolitan place in the East, Singapore.
For those who are interested in the other parts of the Archipelago it is advisable to get the guide book of the Royal Packet Company, which may be obtained at small cost at the different branch offices of this Company.
There are no European guides in Java; but English speaking native guides can often be engaged at the first class hotels in Batavia and Soerabaya. As might be expected they are few in number and rather expensive; they get usually / 2.50 or /3.— a day and free travelling.
Large parties or ladies travelling together should always try to get a guide: he will take sole charge of the luggage and will save much trouble and inconvenience. For the solitary traveller a guide is hardly necessary because the hotel porter (in Malay called mandoer) looks after the luggage of the tourist, will have it sent to and from the station, can take tickets and will always arrange to have the luggage put either in the luggage van or in the railway compartments Servants.
Servants who are not natives of Java are a nuisance as a rule; the entrance of Chinese servants is prohibited. The man has to report himself at the police station to get a travelling permit. Indian servants as well as Chinese generally do not speak enough Malay to be of any help to a foreigner.
For tourists who do not like to travel without a servant it is advisable to ask the assistance of the hotel manager or his employees to procure a trustworthy boy. The pay of the latter varies from / 18 to /30 a month besides free transport and 20 to 50 cents per day for his food.
Safety in Travelling.
Travelling in Java is perfectly safe. In fact a tourist going from one end of the island to the other and knowing no other language but plain English or German, could travel without much trouble and in perfect safety. Still it is advisable to lock up everything of value when staying at a Hotel.
Practical hints for Travellers.
Money. A supply of small change saves both time and money. Boatmen and coachmen seldom have any change, which frequently involves overpaying them.
Valuables. As the rooms in Javanese Hotels cannot be made secure from entrance, valuables should not be left about even for a few minutes. If they cannot he locked up in the portmanteau, they should be handed to the hotel-keeper.
Malay language — Malayu. Without attempting a full vocabulary a few words and expressions are here given for the benefit of strangers. It may be necessary to draw the attention of tourists to the fact that the Malay language is about the simplest in the world and we hope that the few phrases here given, may be of some help to the traveller.
Pronunciation. The vowels are pronounced generally as in French. A full as in father. £ as c in neck. / as ee in feel. full as in open. Oe is pronounced as u in full. The Malay language has few pronounced accents and the best rule for the beginner is to pronounce each syllabe equally and smoothly.
There are no European guides in Java; but English speaking native guides can often be engaged at the first class hotels in Batavia and Soerabaya. As might be expected they are few in number and rather expensive; they get usually / 2.50 or /3.— a day and free travelling.
Large parties or ladies travelling together should always try to get a guide: he will take sole charge of the luggage and will save much trouble and inconvenience. For the solitary traveller a guide is hardly necessary because the hotel porter (in Malay called mandoer) looks after the luggage of the tourist, will have it sent to and from the station, can take tickets and will always arrange to have the luggage put either in the luggage van or in the railway compartments Servants.
Servants who are not natives of Java are a nuisance as a rule; the entrance of Chinese servants is prohibited. The man has to report himself at the police station to get a travelling permit. Indian servants as well as Chinese generally do not speak enough Malay to be of any help to a foreigner.
For tourists who do not like to travel without a servant it is advisable to ask the assistance of the hotel manager or his employees to procure a trustworthy boy. The pay of the latter varies from / 18 to /30 a month besides free transport and 20 to 50 cents per day for his food.
Safety in Travelling.
Travelling in Java is perfectly safe. In fact a tourist going from one end of the island to the other and knowing no other language but plain English or German, could travel without much trouble and in perfect safety. Still it is advisable to lock up everything of value when staying at a Hotel.
Practical hints for Travellers.
Money. A supply of small change saves both time and money. Boatmen and coachmen seldom have any change, which frequently involves overpaying them.
Valuables. As the rooms in Javanese Hotels cannot be made secure from entrance, valuables should not be left about even for a few minutes. If they cannot he locked up in the portmanteau, they should be handed to the hotel-keeper.
Malay language — Malayu. Without attempting a full vocabulary a few words and expressions are here given for the benefit of strangers. It may be necessary to draw the attention of tourists to the fact that the Malay language is about the simplest in the world and we hope that the few phrases here given, may be of some help to the traveller.
Pronunciation. The vowels are pronounced generally as in French. A full as in father. £ as c in neck. / as ee in feel. full as in open. Oe is pronounced as u in full. The Malay language has few pronounced accents and the best rule for the beginner is to pronounce each syllabe equally and smoothly.
