Wow! Charlie Chaplin has visited Indonesia several times and stayed at this hotel!
Photo source: The Economist (Web)
Charlie Chaplin is one of the most famous silent Hollywood film actors (pantomime) of his time to this day. Known for his boxy mustache and bowler hat, as well as his expressive and funny body movements and facial expressions. It turns out that this actor has come to Indonesia several times during his travels around the world, including to Indonesia, which was formerly known as the Dutch East Indies. Want to know what hotels in Indonesia have he visited? Come on, first read the following article!
Majapahit Hotel, Surabaya
Photo source: Accor Group (Web)
This place was founded by an Armenian named Lucas Martin Sarkis. He and his family founded this hotel in 1910 under the name Hotel Oranje. This hotel is a silent witness to the history of the struggle for Indonesian independence. Uniquely, this hotel has also been one of the hotels that this famous Hollywood comedian from England has visited. Upon his arrival in 1932, he was staying in room number 47, which is now called the Charlie Chaplin Suite and is also one of the hotel's 9 Legendary Suites. He was also present at the inauguration ceremony for the opening of the hotel extension on April 1, 1932. While he was in Surabaya, Chaplin also attended the screening of his first film entitled City of Lights in one of the cinemas which is now the House of Sampoerna Museum.
Hotel Homann, Bandung
Photo source: Booking.com
Originally this hotel was an inn owned by the German Homann family. This hotel has been around since 1871, but the building is not what it is today. This hotel was renovated 3 times in 1883, 1910, and finally in 1938. A famous architect named A.F. Aalbers designed this hotel with a touch of Modern Art-Deco architectural style in 1938, which is also a preserved cultural heritage. This hotel is already known as a luxury hotel and the guests who come are not just anyone. Starting from important world figures, kings, and princes, to Hollywood celebrities in their era. Like one of them is Charlie Chaplin who stayed here from the 1920s and 1930s.
Hotel Preanger, Bandung
Photo source: Blogspot
This hotel was built in 1897 and was pioneered by a Dutchman named WHC Van Deerterkom. In 1920, this hotel changed its name to Hotel Prenger, which was in accordance with the name of its previous visitors, namely Priangan planters (owners and plantation entrepreneurs in Priangan). Before becoming a hotel, this place was a shop that provided all the needs of Priangan planters when they visited Bandung. Did you know this hotel was designed by Charles Prosper Wolff Schoemaker assisted by Ir. Soekarno a former student? Yes, President Soekarno was one of the architects who designed this hotel, you know before he served as the first President of the Republic of Indonesia. Not only that, when Chaplin stopped at this hotel before leaving for Garut, he had time to admire the beauty of this hotel building from the outside. In this hotel, there is also a leather chair which is his favorite chair which is on display in the hotel museum. Interesting, huh?
Hotel Kresna, Wonosobo
Photo source: Kresna Wonosobo Hotel (Web)
Who would have thought that this Hollywood comedian had visited the Wonosobo area, Central Java? This visit was part of his journey around the world, including to the Dutch East Indies, to learn and get to know the culture of each place he visited. When he visited Wonosobo, he stayed at the Kresna Hotel, formerly known as the Dieng Hotel. From before Indonesia's independence until now, Kresna Hotel has been known as a favorite lodging place for important national and foreign figures. Its cool environment makes guests feel at home and makes this place a place to take a break from routine.
Grand Inna Malioboro Hotel, Yogyakarta
Photo source: Website
Formerly named Grand Hotel de Djokja and designed by architects named Harmsen and Pagge. This hotel was built in 1911 and first opened on 15 September 1912. The style of this hotel building has a transitional colonial architectural style which at that time this architectural style was becoming a trend. It can be said that this hotel building has a style similar to the Oranje Hotel in Surabaya, which is now the Majapahit Hotel. In 1932, Charlie Chaplin stayed at this hotel as part of a series of trips to Indonesia.
Hotel Inna Bali
Photo Source: Denpasar Tourism (Web)
After visiting Surabaya, Chaplin continued his journey to Bali. On the Island of the Gods, he stayed at the Inna Bali Heritage Hotel. This hotel is the oldest hotel in Bali. Uniquely, President Soekarno and Chaplin both stayed in the same room, namely room no. 77. This room is a suite-type room and is located on the east side of the hotel. Apart from Charlie Chaplin who has stayed here, Queen Elizabeth 2, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Mahatma Gandhi have also stayed at this hotel. The hotel, which is located on Jalan Veteran, Denpasar, was built in 1927. Therefore, the Denpasar City Government has made this place a cultural heritage that must be preserved and maintained.