Prince Charles visits National Museum, cemetery

Mariani Dewi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta  |  Wed, 11/05/2008 10:32 AM  

From outside, the National Museum appeared as normal as ever for midday Monday. The only difference was the presence of a few military police officers casually standing outside. It was not apparent that the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, was shortly to arrive for a visit. 

"He wanted it this way. He didn't want us to make a big fuss about it," a staff member from the British Embassy said while waiting for the Prince. 

CIVILIZATIONS: The Prince of Wales talks to the head of the National Museum’s archeological collection department, Ekowati Sundari, about one of the ancient statues at the museum, on Monday. During his visit to the museum in Central Jakarta, the Prince showed a keen interest in its ancient relics. (JP/Mariani Dewi)

The Prince is on a tight schedule for his five-day visit to three provinces - Jakarta, Jambi and Yogyakarta. Monday he started by listening to a presidential lecture at the presidential palace, before spending around an hour at the National Museum. Soon after, he visited a graveyard then greeted local religious leaders at a hotel. The Prince's rushed itinerary only allowed him the opportunity to see Central Jakarta. 

"It is marvelous. I wish I had more time here," the 60-year-old Prince told reporters briefly in front of the museum before quickly being ushered away by the officials. 

At the museum, he observed some ancient statues and asked about the pieces. 

The director of the archaeological collection, Ekowati Sundari, showed Prince Charles around and said he expressed great interest in a statue of Ganesha, a Hindu deity in the form of an elephant. 

"He was pleased to find out about the history of Indian cultures in Indonesia," she said. 

Arts is one of the Prince's many passions. He has experimented with painting before, particularly watercolors, and has exhibited some paintings in the past. He is also an avid supporter of wildlife and the environment. 

"He enjoys the habitats and sounds of birds, along with varieties of flora and fauna. He has shown a keen interest in understand the history of Indonesia," British Defense Attach* for Indonesia, Nigel Rowe, said after the Prince's visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Menteng Pulo, Central Jakarta. 

"He is taking this opportunity to pay his respects to the graves of soldiers who fought for the country of which he is the commander in chief. He visited the section in the graveyard set aside for Cornwall citizens," Rowe said. The Prince is also the Duke of Cornwall. 

The British men died in battles in Jakarta during 1942 - 1945 during the Japan invasion of Indonesia.