Going on a family outing, discovering harmony<\/p>\n
By Apriadi Gunawan<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Dewi Recreational Park, some 46 km
\nfrom Medan in the direction of Sibolangit, Deli Serdang, is a
\npopular holiday destination for families. Easily accessible, this
\ntourist area is noted for its beauty, and cool, fresh mountain
\nair.<\/p>\n
For the people of North Sumatra, this five-hectare park is
\nfamous for its variety of buildings and monuments, a symbol of
\nreligious harmony. These erections -- mosques, Buddhist temples
\nand a statue of Jesus Christ -- reflect the independent
\ncharacteristics of different religions in their togetherness.<\/p>\n
Statues at the site enhance the impression of its activity and
\nbeauty. The composition of a monument, vessel and statue of Malin
\nKundang -- a West Sumatra folklore character -- seem alive in the
\npark. Likewise, when you are in the Semar-Bagong Park, you feel
\nas if you are somewhere in Central Java, the land of wayang
\nshadow puppets.<\/p>\n
Dewi Park also houses the four-faced Buddha, a statue
\nspecially imported by the owner from Thailand. Aside from the
\nBhudda statue, the park also boasts a statue of the Eight
\nImmortals (Pak Sen Kwei Hai in the Fujianese dialect), the Temple
\nof the Goddess of Mercy (Kwan Si Im Goddess), the bathing place
\nof legend Jaka Tarub, the Dinosaur Park, pagodas and statues of
\ntribal people in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Apart from its unique recreational values, this tourist spot
\nhas many educational facilities. That's why park management
\nprovides various facilities for children, such as a swimming pool
\nand a playground.<\/p>\n
This park has existed for quite a long time and is the
\ncreation of Hasan Hasanuddin (Nee Tjeng Pho San), now aged 60. He
\nbegan construction of the park as hobby. Hasan loves traveling
\nand has visited a number of regions and countries. One day,
\nHasan, who is of mixed Chinese-Javanese blood, said he was deep
\nin contemplation at a park in Tretes, East Java. He was greatly
\nimpressed by the arrangement of the park and was deeply moved by
\nhis awareness of God's greatness.<\/p>\n
No sooner had he returned to North Sumatra than he began to
\nlook for a plot of land. In 1974 he bought a 5-hectare plot of
\nland which was formerly a forest area in Sibolangit. \"The land is
\nsuitable for tourism because it is cool,\" he said. Initially, he
\ndid not have any idea of what to build on the plot. He needed
\ndivine inspiration; so off he went to Mount Kawi. While there, he
\nthought God had given him the indication he was searching for.<\/p>\n
After returning from Mount Kawi, Hasan began constructing Dewi
\nPark in stages. The first facility constructed was the swimming
\npool. Then he went commenced the construction of other buildings
\nand allowed free rein to his tourism-related ideas.<\/p>\n
He linked the construction of his tourist facilities with his
\nself-expression of the grandeur of the Creator. Hence, there a
\nnumber of buildings reflecting a variety of religions in this
\npark. To maintain the island's association with the beauty of
\nnature, the park also houses casuarina trees and other kinds of
\nflora.<\/p>\n
\"I'm no architect. I did the construction without thinking how
\nmuch I had to spend. Where there is a will, I believe, there is a
\nway,\" said Hasan, who said he had only received Indonesian-
\nChinese elementary schooling.<\/p>\n
Dewi Park was inaugurated by Deli Serdang regent Baharuddin
\nSiregar on March 7, 1977. In 1985, the park hosted a gathering of
\nyoung Buddhists from across the country. It was then that North
\nSumatra governor, Kaharuddin Nasution, inaugurated the Mahayana
\nGoddess Temple in the park. Just like the Buddhists, Christians
\nalso often conduct religious activities there. Muslims have used
\nthe facility for a rapid course of Islamic teaching for
\nyoungsters (pesantren kilat).<\/p>\n
This park also provides a meeting room with seating capacity
\nfor 100 people. In addition, there are also 28 jasmine-rated
\nhotel rooms inside the park. As this park has virtually every
\nfacility that a visitor will ever need, it now enjoys high
\nprestige in North Sumatra. No wonder, therefore, the Sahwali
\nAward from the Indonesian Center for Information and
\nEnvironmental Management was awarded to Hasan Hasanuddin in 1993
\nand 1997 in Denpasar, Bali.<\/p>\n
Hasan's outstanding achievement with his park so impressed the
\nGlobal Indonesia Foundation and Northern California International
\nUniversity that they were planning on awarding him with an
\nhonorary doctorate in 2000. Unfortunately, Hasan simply ignored
\ntheir invitation, arguing that he did not deserve this honor.<\/p>\n
\"I have not developed this park out of a wish to be awarded
\nany citation. I have developed this park to show my gratitude to
\nthe Indonesian government for financing my schooling,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He explained that he was very keen on helping develop tourism
\nin Deli Serdang. In reality, however, he said the local
\nadministration does not seem to assist. He said he had never
\nreceived any assistance from the local administration and never
\nexpected any financial assistance. Even a 100-m road leading to
\nthe gate of Dewi Park, for example, is in very poor repair. The
\nroad, in fact, is the responsibility of the Deli Serdang regency
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot talk much about tourism in Deli Serdang at present.
\nThe local tourism service was not set up until 1998,\" said
\nSyamsudin Tarigan, head of the tourism, arts and cultural service
\nof Deli Serdang regency.<\/p>\n
Hasan Hasanuddin has been disappointed by the lack of support
\nshown by the Deli Serdang regency administration for his
\nendeavors to promote tourism in this area. Regardless, he remains
\ndetermined to continue developing the park.<\/p>\n
\"I hope some other businessmen are willing to help develop
\nDewi Park further. I don't mind letting them control part of my
\nshares,\" said Hasan, now planning to construct a huge aquarium
\nbefore the end of 2001.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/going-on-a-family-outing-discovering-harmony-1447893297",
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