3-4-26 The Sultan's Palace

 We had a 2pm scheduled tour of the Sultan's Palace.  Tim, Michael and I arrived on time and ended up waiting for Lisa to arrive from work parked on a road facing the side of the house.  I took some photos from the side we were parked on before we met Lisa at the front of the Palace

The front of the Palace is right in front of the building on the right.  This is where Lisa's driver dropped her off.  She was met by our guide and fussed over.

Then we started up the steps to the Palace.

At the top of the steps we were greeted by a band playing local music.

Then began the history lesson.  A Dutch trader - Jacobus Nienhuys started to plant the area with tobacco.  It grew into a plantation.  This building was originally built by that Dutch trader - shown in the picture above in the upper left.  the building is described as combining European style neoclassical and baroque architecture with Chinese functional design with a Western influence. 

Tabacco

Tobacco Products.

Our guide first explained the hierarchy and which style of umbrella you were allowed to use.  Only the sultan is allowed the use of the three tiered umbrella shown at the very top.  The other umbrellas differ in color, style and design - and are assigned to different classes of where you are in the hierarchy.  

A closer view of the three tiered umbrella and other symbols of the Sultan.  Sultan is a Muslim term for some one who rules over a specified area called a Sultanate.  This area is in the sultanate of Deli.

The Sultan's coat of arms

The sultan's throne.  

The chandeliers are from France.

Ceiling design.

The Sultan from the 1870's

hats for sail.

The current sultan.  He was about 9 years old in this picture.  He became the sultan at that age because his parents died in a plane crash.  He had no siblings.  He still very much looks like this - now in his 30's.

The Indonesians love a photo op.  Our arm positions are per specific directions.

Lisa and our guide.  Note no one has on shoes.  It is very common all over Asia to remove your shoes before entering Mosques, or any holy place, museums and even most people's homes.

As always there are things to buy (-on the left).

Once we were finished and back outside, I mentioned that I had played accordion as a child.  Immediately they wanted me to play- I had to back-peddle fast.  I don't remember much at all how to play the accordion.  

But they did insist I get my photo taken with the band.

I wanted to take some photos of the front of the house.  Our guide showed me where the best spot to stand was.  It also seems to be an area where Muslims pray.  

That is Lisa's official car on the right.  Note the American flag on the left side of the car hood.

And of-course my picture had to be taken.

Lisa was hesitant to go up here - as she did not have her legs covered.  Are heads are not covered.  My arms are bare as well as hers so the guide said - no problem.  So maybe not as holy as a dedicated prayer room!