- The Reviewing Official: The fleet was reviewed by Dame Catherine Tizard, the Governor-General of New Zealand, acting as the representative for Queen Elizabeth II.
- The "Welcome to Devonport" Sign: Devonport is the home of the Philomel Naval Base (the RNZN's primary base). During the celebrations, the town was the main hub for visiting sailors and public displays.
- International Participation: To honor the 50-year milestone, approximately 20 foreign nations sent warships and representatives. This included massive vessels from the Australia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore and many others, filling the Waitematā Harbour.
- Festivities: Beyond the formal naval review, the event featured a tall ships parade, aerial flypasts by the RNZAF, a combined naval march through the streets of Auckland, and "open days" where the public could board the visiting warships.
Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor
Navy Veteran
Monday, 29 December 2025
MY TRAVEL INFO: THE INTERNATIONAL ROYAL FLEET REVIEW, AUCKLAND, N.Z
A retired Navy personnel, served with the Royal Malaysian Navy for 16 years (1980 - 1996). After retired work with several firms and organisation...now fully retired after Bypass Surgery in March 2019.
Sunday, 28 December 2025
MY TRAVEL INFO: HMNZS PHILOMEL & HMNZS TAMAKI
A retired Navy personnel, served with the Royal Malaysian Navy for 16 years (1980 - 1996). After retired work with several firms and organisation...now fully retired after Bypass Surgery in March 2019.
MY TRAVEL INFO: 1989-1991 : SURABAYA, INDONESIA
- The Vibe: Notice the aesthetic of the era—the fluorescent-lit signage, the specific font styles, and the fashion of the people.
- The Context: In 1989, TP was the cutting-edge "place to be" in East Java. It was the first modern, air-conditioned shopping center in Surabaya, marking a shift from traditional street-side shops like Siola or Toko Nam to a centralized "shopping mall" experience.
- Details: The archway mentions "Jl. Kapaskrampung Surabaya" and a phone number (45454), likely pointing to a specific tenant or branch within the plaza.
The Modern Era: A Massive Superblock
The photo shows the complex as it stands today—a sprawling Superblock.
- Scale: What started as a single building (TP 1) has expanded into six interconnected buildings (TP 1 to TP 6).
- Anchor Tenants: You can clearly see the SOGO department store, which became a major anchor for the expansion phases.
- Architecture: The design has evolved from the simple 80s structures to high-rise glass towers housing international hotels (Sheraton, Four Points) and luxury condominiums.
The building shown is a significant historical landmark located at Jl. Kebonrojo No. 10. Historically, this site is famous for being the location of the Hoogere Burgerschool (HBS), where Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, studied during the Dutch colonial era.
Key Details from the Photo:
- The Signage: The black signboard clearly displays the name "KANTOR POS DAN GIRO SURABAYA" and includes the full address and postal code (60175).
- The Vehicle: In the foreground, you can see the hood of a dark sedan, reflecting the signage above—a classic aesthetic of 1990s street photography.
- Architecture: The building features the sturdy, high-ceiling colonial architecture typical of Indonesian government offices built in the early 20th century.
- 1989: The girl has a very youthful, natural look, wearing a classic striped shirt that was very common in the late 80s. The setting feels very much like a candid moment during a busy day at the port.
- 1991: She has clearly matured and embraced the style of the early 90s—the bold, voluminous hair (possibly with a hint of purple tint, which was a major trend) and more defined makeup. She looks like a young woman confidently coming into her own.
- The Traditional Side: On the left, she is dressed in Pakaian Pengantin Jawa (Javanese bridal or ceremonial attire). She wears a black velvet kebaya with gold embroidery, a elaborate sanggul (hair bun) adorned with cunduk mentul (gold flower pins), and a long string of jasmine (roncean melati).
- The 80s Chic Side: On the right, she represents the "cool girl" fashion of 1989—big hair, large-frame glasses, a striped blouse, and a denim skirt. This was a classic look for young women in Surabaya during that period.
A retired Navy personnel, served with the Royal Malaysian Navy for 16 years (1980 - 1996). After retired work with several firms and organisation...now fully retired after Bypass Surgery in March 2019.
MY TRAVEL INFO: THE GRAVE OF SUNAN AMPEL AT SURABAYA
- Simplicity: Unlike many other Wali Songo, Sunan Ampel’s grave does not have a large cupola (dome) over it. According to local history, he requested a simple grave. In 1990, it was—and remains—a modest structure surrounded by a low white wall.
- The Nine Gates: To reach the tomb, pilgrims had to pass through a series of nine gates (Gapura). In 1990, these gates stood as they do now, featuring a blend of Hindu-Javanese (Majapahit style) and Islamic architecture, symbolizing the transition between the two eras.
- Nature: The area was shaded by frangipani (kamboja) and hibiscus trees, providing a cool, quiet atmosphere for the dozens (rather than today's thousands) of pilgrims sitting cross-legged in prayer.
- The "Arab Quarter": The path to the grave through the Pasar Ampel (market) was a narrow, dark, and perfumed alleyway. In 1990, you would have seen vendors selling Yemeni dates, Pakistani Qur'an stands, and local Surabaya batik, but without the modern digital signage or LED lighting common today.
- Spiritual Climate: The site was a hub for ziarah (pilgrimage). People came to seek blessings (barakah), especially on Thursday nights (Malam Jumat) and during the month of Ramadan.
- Cultural Fusion: The complex was a vivid example of Javanese-Islamic syncretism. While the mosque was increasingly "Arabized" in its surrounding neighborhood, the grave itself remained a site of purely Javanese devotion.
3. Key Features of the Complex
Feature | Description |
Location | Behind the Masjid Agung Sunan Ampel, the oldest mosque in East Java (est. 1421). |
Simplicity | A roofless grave area, open to the sky, reflecting the Sunan's humility. |
Mbah Sholeh | Nearby is the tomb of Mbah Sholeh, a disciple of Sunan Ampel. Legend says he lived and died nine times, and there are nine symbolic graves for him in the complex. |
The Well | A sacred well (Sumur) believed to have auspicious water, similar to the Zamzam well in Mecca. |
A retired Navy personnel, served with the Royal Malaysian Navy for 16 years (1980 - 1996). After retired work with several firms and organisation...now fully retired after Bypass Surgery in March 2019.
KINGDOM OF FU-KAN-TU-LU
- Geographical Positioning: Chinese records describe the voyage from the South China Sea through the Straits of Malacca. Fukantulu appears at a point that aligns with the northern entrance of the Straits, a position Kedah has held for centuries as a "landfall" for sailors crossing the Bay of Bengal.
- Phonetic Reconstruction: Scholars of historical linguistics have attempted to reconstruct the Middle Chinese pronunciation of Fu-kan-tu-lu. Many believe it corresponds to a local name or perhaps a variation of "Pugam" or a precursor to the name "Kataha" (the Sanskrit name for Kedah).
- The "Nanhai" Route: Wang Gungwu’s research focused on the 3rd to 6th centuries. During this time, Kedah emerged as a vital entrepôt where traders waited for the monsoon winds. Identifying Fukantulu as Kedah fills a crucial gap in our understanding of the early "Maritime Silk Road."
- Topographical Landmarks: Wheatley meticulously mapped the "sailing directions" found in Chinese texts. He argued that Fukantulu was not just a name, but a specific landmark. In the records, it is described as being reached after a certain number of "days" of sailing from the "Great Gulf" (Gulf of Thailand). Wheatley concluded that the phonetic Fu-kan-tu-lu likely represented the Bujang Valley because it was the first major landfall with a deep-water harbor available after rounding the peninsula.
- The "Landfall" Theory: Wheatley emphasized that early sailors didn't just pick ports; they were dictated by the Monsoon winds. He argued that Kedah (as Fukantulu) was the primary "waiting station" for ships preparing to cross the Bay of Bengal toward India.
- Wang Gungwu’s Era (3rd–6th Century): Focused on Fukantulu as the early name used during the Jin/Liang dynasties.
- I-Ching’s Era (7th Century): The famous Chinese monk I-Ching referred to it as Chieh-cha (a phonetic rendering of Kataha or Kedah). Wheatley noted that the shift from Fukantulu to Chieh-cha in Chinese records represented a transition from "vague phonetic labels" to a more "direct Sanskrit-to-Chinese" translation as Indian influence grew in the region.
- O.W. Wolters (The "Pre-Srivijaya" Theory): Wolters argued that before Srivijaya dominated the Straits in the late 7th century, a series of independent "single-port polities" existed. He viewed Fukantulu (Kedah) as the most powerful of these, acting as a direct competitor to early Sumatran ports.
- Roland Braddell: An earlier historian (writing in the 1930s-40s), Braddell was one of the first to suggest that many of these "lost cities" in Chinese records were actually in the Isthmus of Kra (Southern Thailand/Northern Malaysia). He often debated with Wheatley on whether these ports were on the east coast or the west coast of the peninsula.
- Derek Heng: A more contemporary historian, Heng has used archaeological data (ceramics and glass beads) to prove that the "Fukantulu" period mentioned by Wang Gungwu matches exactly with the peak of the iron-smelting industry found in the Bujang Valley, providing physical proof for the Chinese written records.
Summary Comparison
Feature | Wang Gungwu | Paul Wheatley |
Primary Focus | The Nanhai (South Seas) trade patterns and Chinese economic history. | Historical geography; mapping the specific locations and sailing routes. |
Method | Analysis of the Jin Shu and Sung Shu chronicles. | Multi-lingual cross-referencing (Chinese, Arabic, Greek). |
View on Kedah | Identified it as the earliest stable port in the Straits (Fukantulu). | Defined it as a "trans-peninsular" link where goods were moved overland to avoid the pirate-infested southern straits. |
- Historical Records: It is mentioned in the Hanshu (Book of Han) as a destination or port reachable by sea. Records suggest a 10-day overland journey connected it to another ancient site, Shen-li (possibly near modern-day Chumphon or Ranong in Thailand).
- Geographic Link: Modern research often identifies this kingdom with the Lembah Bujang (Bujang Valley) and Sungai Batu civilizations in Kedah, Malaysia.
- Ancient Industry: The region was a global powerhouse for iron smelting as early as 788 BCE, long before the rise of better-known Southeast Asian empires.
- Trade Significance: As part of the "Maritime Silk Road," Fu-kan-tu-lu was a critical entrepôt for traders from India, China, and the Arab world. It was renowned for high-quality iron ingots, which were highly sought after across Eurasia.
- Context: In the "Treatise on Geography" (Dilizhi), the text describes a voyage from China to the "Western Oceans".
- The Route: It records a kingdom called Shen-li (identified with the Isthmus of Kra region), from which travelers could travel overland for 10 days to reach Fu-kan-tu-lu.
- Significance: This 10-day journey is historically interpreted as the trans-peninsular route across the Malay Peninsula, ending at a major port on the west coast, specifically Kedah (Sungai Batu/Bujang Valley).
- Tongdian (Tang Dynasty, 801 CE): Mentions a kingdom called Ge-luo (or Keluo), which it states was known since the Han Dynasty. Historians identify Ge-luo as a later transcription of the same Kedah region.
- Xīn Táng Shū (New Book of Tang): Records the kingdom of Chieh-ch’a (or Jiecha), another transcription for Kedah, noting it as a bustling meeting place for merchants.
- Travels of Yi-Jing (7th Century): The famous monk Yi-Jing (I-Ching) documented his stop in Jiecha (Kedah) on his way to India, describing it as a key Buddhist and trading center.
- Sungai Batu: Remains of iron smelting workshops and jetties dating back to 788 BCE support the records of a sophisticated industrial society that would have been well-known to early Chinese traders.
- Current Research (2025): Malaysia and China have recently formalised partnerships to further investigate these archival materials in China to better understand the early trade links between the Han Dynasty and ancient Kedah.
A retired Navy personnel, served with the Royal Malaysian Navy for 16 years (1980 - 1996). After retired work with several firms and organisation...now fully retired after Bypass Surgery in March 2019.
2025: PULAU CAREY, SELANGOR
A retired Navy personnel, served with the Royal Malaysian Navy for 16 years (1980 - 1996). After retired work with several firms and organisation...now fully retired after Bypass Surgery in March 2019.
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