"Rembang, regency and capital" a Rembang Travel Page by theo1006

Kabupaten Rembang is the most easterly regency of Central Java. Its capital of the same name lies on Java's northern coast, 110 km east of Semarang. Too far out for most tourists. So we thought we'd go on a discovery tour. Our Purwodadi and Blora pages are of the same trip.

Rembang town is easily reached by public transport. It lies on the main road between Semarang and Surabaya, so many buses pass by. At the town center (photo) the road coming up from Blora in the south joins the Semarang-Surabaya road.

Among Indonesians Rembang is famous, because Kartini, their icon for women's rights, lived and died here (1879-1904). The obvious thing to do is to make a Kartini tour: paying a visit to the Kartini Museum (situated in the kabupaten compound, once her husband's residence) and to her burial site 18 km south of Rembang.

The enthousiastic official who showed us around the museum, also provided us with a booklet on Rembang's other tourist attractions. The district government is trying to promote tourism, yet most of the attractions were not even marked by signs along the road. To find them, you have to do a lot of asking around. But people are always eager to help!

Rembang town is very neatly laid out and clean. But the climate is hot, as is the case with all cities on Java's coast. Be prepared for temperatures up to 34 °C.

The town square or alun-alun lies 300 m east of the town center. Close to it you find the Kartini Museum. The market is the same distance south from town center, in the direction of Blora.

There are three beaches within easy reach, because the main road hugs the coast. But rather than stay at the beach, take a boat out to Pulau Gede. On off days you have the little island virtually for yourself.

There are several places of historic interest. Of these Kartini's burial site and Plawangan (where 1300 year old graves have been discovered) are most easily reached, as they lie along the main roads.

For going out into the interior you better have your own transport, or a driver who is willing to go narrow and sometimes bumpy roads. Then you may discover lakes, caves, and swimming pools only frequented by locals. Plan your itinerary to reach a pool in the afternoon when a refreshing bath is most welcome.