| A hotel room for Bung Karno's
spirit
Wahyuni Kamah, Contributor, Sanur, Bali
Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia, left behind many
memories during his early struggle against colonialism. Those
memories were left behind in Bung Karno's houses where he was exiled
to in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara, Bengkulu, Bangka or in Sukamiskin
Prison in Bandung, West Java.
These places still depict the gloomy years in his fight for the
country's independence. However, there is one place which still
holds memories of him that may not be directly related to his fight
against colonialism.
In 1963, then president Sukarno pioneered the construction of the
first upper class hotel in Indonesia, which was funded by war
reparations from Japan. It is said that Sukarno chose the location
for the hotel. He selected a site at Sanur Beach as the beach has a
wonderful view. Construction was completed in 1966. Indonesia's
first 10-floor hotel, the Bali Beach Hotel, was opened to the
public. The hotel was a milestone for Indonesia amid the chaotic
political and economic climate of the time. Although it was
Sukarno's idea, he never stayed at the hotel nor did he return to
Bali. Due to the political turmoil, Sukarno remained in Jakarta
until he died on June 21, 1970.
The hotel was first renovated in 1985. On Jan. 20, 1993 a
terrible catastrophe horrified the 400 hotel guests. A fire started
on the ground floor and engulfed the entire hotel. Fortunately, all
the guests and hotel staff were able to escape unharmed. No one was
injured in the fire that turned Sanur's skies dark. The fire gutted
the highest building in Bali. Two days later the smoke cleared and
the building was cool enough to allow workers to inspect the ruined
building.
Nobody would have thought that a corner of the building would be
left untouched by the fire. But surprisingly, the workers found one
room in the same condition that it was before the fire broke out. It
was room 327 overlooking the sea.
Its door and walls were blackened by smoke, but the entire room
and balcony remained intact. No technical theory could explain how
the room escaped the flames. An offering was made to the room and
the room was closed.
It is believed that the mythical Queen of the South Seas likes to
have a room allocated for her, usually one that faces the
beachfront. Most hotels on beaches facing the South Seas comply to
her wishes by reserving a beachfront room for her. Such a room
existed in the Bali Beach Hotel, but it had not been clear which one
it was. On the advice of a psychic, a room was devoted to her in a
cottage by the beach after the renovation.
It took about 2,800 workers and craftsmen to restore the hotel
from March 1993 to October 1993. All the rooms were renovated except
for room 327. Following the completion of the renovation, a ceremony
was held on Oct. 4, 1993.
The undamaged carpeted room was left exactly as it was.
The twin beds, the radio, the rattan sofa, the lamp, the
cupboard, the table, the bottle of Aqua, the telephone and the
bathrobe in the bathroom are all the original contents of the room
36 years ago.
Everyone who enters the room should first knock on the door as if
it were occupied.
"We have to ask for permission first," explained Wahmurni, the
hotel's manager who has worked there since 1965.
"Believe it or not, the psychics say that the queen wanted
Bung Karno to have a room in the hotel," she said.
Three times a day, an offering is made to the room. Snacks,
fruit, packs of cigarettes and cups of coffee are left for the
invisible special guest. The room is also cleaned every day.
Vases containing fresh or fake flowers are placed on the table. A
pair of white trousers, a jacket and a black rimless cap lay on the
bed, while a pair of black men's slippers are placed on the carpet.
Wahmurni said these were duplicates of Bung Karno's
belongings, and his spirit is said to reside in the room. Two
cloths, one yellow and one white, are placed on a table that
receives various offerings from visitors.
A sarong and the clothes on the bed are gifts from past visitors.
On a special occasion, such as Indonesia's Independence, some
visitors will make offerings to the spirit of Bung Karno like
red and white tarts. There was also one offering of a piece of paper
with a message from Bung Karno. It was written by someone who said
he heard the whispers of the spirit of Bung Karno.
Many believe it was more than magic that spared the room in the
biggest fire in Bali in 1993. Should the special guest really be the
spirit of Bung Karno, then his wish to stay in the hotel room has
come true.
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