JAKARTA — A ship representing the spirit of the ancient Majapahit Kingdom on Java Island set sail Sunday from Jakarta on a 9,000-km voyage to Japan and other countries to celebrate the sailing history of the Majapahit Kingdom and the historical relationship between Majapahit and the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled Okinawa.
The voyage is also aimed at raising money for an archaeological study of historic ruins in and around Java Island.
"We (Indonesia) must prove that we can be a great nation again by taking with us the spirit of the past . . . In the sea we are the victor, in the sea we are strong," Tourism and Culture Minister Jero Wacik said before sending the ship off.