Gedung Batu (SAM PO KONG Temple)

On my last long weekend in Indonesia, Regina, Kate (the new teacher from New York, via Australia) and I went to Central Java. It's about a 5-8 hour trip from Cirebon, depending on traffic. The relatively modern road winds through lovely coastline and rice fields and was a delight. We stayed one night in a city called Semarang and visited this well-known Chinese temple. It was built in honour of Admirel Cheng Ho, the famous Muslim eunuch of the Ming dynasty. He first arrived in Java in 1405 and is attributed with helping spread Islam. This temple is also revered by Muslims.