Centuries of overseas Chinese migration had resulted in ethnically Chinese people living in Indonesia. Apart from our guide who claimed to be Chinese, we didn't see any Chinese yet in Jakarta but that didn't mean there was none there.It was said that there were three waves of immigration of ethnic Chinese to Indonesia; the first was spurred by trading activities during the time of Zheng He's voyage in the early 15th century, the second was around the time of the Opium War, and the third was around the first half of the 20th century. Indonesian Chinese whose ancestors came in the first and second waves, had become creolised by marriage and assimilation and are known as the Peranakan Chinese. The more recent Chinese immigrants called Cina Totok are still culturally Chinese and at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, we could sense their presence. A big building with distinctive Chinese roof and lanterns stood majestically there.Times perhaps had changed. Before, it was widely known that Chinese culture, schools and newspaper were banned in Indonesia but there in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, a building was specially built to showcase the Chinese culture...Travel Tip: Immerse in the different cultures of the country!
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