Abandoned Heritage Building In Medan

Urban renewal may be too late for a certain old building in Medan, Indonesia. The roof has mostly fallen in, squatters abound and maybe the design isn't conducive to a modern purpose. Sad, the bones and exterior look great, definitely a historic landmark for the city.

Prominent, even in deterioration.

Heading in. Not much to see, unless collapse is the desire.

It's a bit hard to imagine what the building looked like in its heyday, save for stairs going everywhere.

Stained glass and roof holes. Unsteady stairs.

The squatters have moved in, complete with food stalls.

Portraits Around Medan

A collection of portraits from Medan, more casual than the usual style found frequently on this blog.

Christian Cemetery In Medan

Indonesia is a Muslim country. There are other religions practiced there and cemeteries to host their dead. In Medan, a look at a typical Christian cemetery.

The look is similar to Muslim cemeteries, jam-packed with plots built with colorful tiles.

Religious iconography and well-manicured graves.

Ominous wax drippings on a Last Supper tile on someone's final resting place.

Fresh flowers in plastic. A Mary Kay veteran?

Porcelain portrait with the shadowy hands of the photographer.

The Sad Concrete Jungle In Medan, Indonesia

Pity the poor sidewalk tree in Medan, both nurtured and abused.

A typical example, no planter box, no room to grow. At least there are trees? We're not sure the trees would agree.

The best of intentions, recycling a tire as planter. Uh oh, one tree's protection is another tree's noose, inevitable.

Final results of the paving chokehold.

All right, a little renovation and some green renewal. Getting close, a nice planter, too bad it doesn't go all the way around the tree.

Screw it, everyone is hanging out in malls anyway, time to bring the flora indoors. Plastic dominating.

Fresh Paint At Kuil Shri Mariamman In Medan

Hindu temples are a riot of bright colors and fancy figures. Typically, temples can be more than a hundred years old yet they're kept fresh by being repainted every 12 years or so. Upkeep for your God.

Kuil Shri Mariamman in Medan was finishing up a renovation in the spring of 2019 and the place was looking spanking new.

Scaffolding still up around the main gopuram.

Above the main door. Donkey drummer.

Ganesh and friend.

A chunky Frida Kahlo? It's not just the paint work that's impressive, it's the high relief, 3D frieze work.

Holy arf.

Portraits In Medan, Part Two

More great people in Medan, Indonesia.

The street stall seller, nestled among chairs brought out for nighttime outside dining.

Spunky girls. Serious parking lot attendant.

The Go Food girl.

Shipping clerk with log book. Still deciding on pant leg options.

Another parking attendant. He's in charge of street-side parking and the large paper tag he's wearing is his official credential.

Portraits In Medan, Part One

Some great people in Medan, eager to pose.

She's got her outfit together and has the plates ready for a little sidewalk dinner.

The newspaper reader. Girls after a rally.

Speaking of girls, show us your game face, ladies.

The mechanic with the big curved shoe. Waitress with braces, outside the restaurant.

Alright boys, we've seen the impressive girl gang, what you got?

Tjong A Fie Mansion In Medan

The Tjong A Fie mansion is the most prominent house in Medan, now a museum. Mr Tjong was a rich Chinese Hakka merchant who owned plantations and constructed a railway. Your regular, run of the mill Andrew Carnegie of North Sumatra. He lived until 1921 and built his big house in 1900.

Exterior with circular driveway.

Heading in, the expansive front parlor. Next up, the "Malay" room. Yellow.

As is traditional architecture for its time, waaay before air conditioning, an open air center courtyard. Welcome breezes and rain.

More looks, details. Heavy wood shutters around the courtyard and the "Chinese" room.

Patina portrait.

Bust in a cabinet and the orange kitchen. No Viking induction range.

By the 1960's, the family had expanded and so had the style palette. Swanky.