Overview
During the struggle for Indonesian independence, the first Indonesian President, Soekarno, was once exiled by the Dutch colonial government for four years to Ende Flores (from 1934 to 1938). Upon his arrival here, Soekarno did not have any place to stay. After staying in a house near Port Ende, he then looked for a rented house facing east. Soekarno then found a Dutch house occupied by Haji Abdulah Ambuwaru. In this house, Soekarno lived for four years. In 1954, when Soekarno became the Indonesian President, he officially inaugurated this house as a museum. This house is now called Rumah Soekarno.This house has two bedrooms, a living room and an office. In the back of the house is a room previously used by Soekarno for meditation and several rooms for maids. In the back yard is a well, which is still working today.
During his exile here, Soekarno painted and wrote several plays such as Dokter Setan (Satanic Doctor).
To Do
You can see the interior of Soekarno’s house including its rooms, well, items previously used by Soekarno (plates, bed, and kerosene lamp), and Soekarno’s painting made in 1935 called Pura Bali (Balinese Temple).Get Around
The airport and seaport in Ende are located near the city center. From these two places, you can take a bemo (city transportation). In addition, you can also take a rented car easily found in front of the hotel Flores Sare, the seaport and airport when ships or airplanes arrive.
Get There
Flight schedules and routes to Ende are tentative. At present, Transnusa has a flight scheduled everyday from Kupang to Ende (Transnusa Ende: 0381-24222). In addition, Merpati has four flights a week (Merpati Ende: 0381-21355). Ende is the busiest port in the southern part of Flores island.Motorboats to many cities such as Kupang also have tentative schedules. It is therefore best for you to ask information from ASDP (0381-22007). The Pelni ship from Bali and Lombok also makes a stop over in Ende every two weeks.
Land transportation to western and eastern cities in Flores are operating as well. Ende has two inter-city bus stations, namely Wolowona for buses to eastern cities such as Moni, Maumere and Larantuka; and Ndao for buses to western cities such as Bajawa, Ruteng and Labuan Bajo.
To Stay
Ende has many hotels and inns. Hotel Iklas (0381-21695) is usually for backpackers while Hotel Mentari (0381-21997) is for tourists. In addition, Hotel Dwi Putri, Safari, and Flores are also available.
To Eat
Istana Bambu Restaurant on Pasar Street or on Kemakmuran Street offers various types of Chinese, Western and Indonesian foods. The Hotels Iklas and Mentari also have their own restaurants selling various types of food. If you like to eat Padang food, there are many Padang restaurants in this city.Tips
When you arrive at Soekarno’s house in the late afternoon, on Sunday, or on a public holiday, you can ask help from the owner of a house across the street to call the security guard to fetch you by motorbike for Rp10,000 (about 1 USD).
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