THE EXCURSION TO FRUŠKA GORA (II)
Loyal to its already long-time tradition, on July 30th NUSANTARA organized the 16th excursion for its members. The members of The NUSANTARA Association of Serbian-Indonesian Friendship went sightseeing a part of Fruška gora. The excursion, namely, started with a visit to two of the total of 17 monasteries in Fruška gora – Petkovica and Šišatovac.
The smallish, and to tourists not sufficiently known, Petkovica monastery, built in the mid-16th century, gave its visitors an opportunity to admire its more than 500 years old frescoes, painted in the manner of the „Restored Morava school“, a kind available to see only in the Žiča Monastery and Serbian Orthodox monasteries across Kosovo and Metohija. Besides warmly welcoming the members of The NUSANTARA Association of Serbian-Indonesian Friendship, Mother superior Antonina and the rest of nuns prepared rich refreshments for them, which exceeded the time scheduled for this, in every respect, pleasant visit.
Seeing Šišatovac meant getting to know a monastery whose just two-member brotherhood seems determined to recover the old splendour. The members of The NUSANTARA Association of Serbian-Indonesian Friendship learnt from Brother Dimitrije some of the turbulent history of Šišatovac, which evokes the name of Vuk Stefanović Karadžić. It is commonly believed that Vuk Stefanović Karadžić spent some time of his life here, devoted to his literary endeavours, while the prior of the Šišatovac Monastery was Lukijan Mušicki. Nikola Tesla was healed here, which turned Šišatovac into „the only place that relates Tesla to Serbia“, as Brother Dimitrije put it. During the prayer said for the greatest scientist ever, a white dove, which would turn into his lifelong companion, suddenly appeared. Hence the name of „The White Dove“ prize, awarded as a part of the “Tesla Global Forum” programme.
The road further led to Manđelos, village bordering the „Fruška gora“ National Park, where „The Davidović Villa“ is located on the 1.5-hectare estate. A special attraction of the estate is a source of mineral water, called „Topola“. A lunch including specialities typical of Srem was served for the members of The NUSANTARA Association of Serbian-Indonesian Friendship. The stay at the Villa’s garden enabled the visitors to have a rest and restore their strength after the journey under heat. Given the fact that „The Davidović Villa“ has been inaugurated recently in 2017, NUSANTARA stands among the first visitors allowed to see the estate by Mr. Mile Davidović, its owner and „naïve“ painter.
After the abundant lunch in Manđelos, the members of The NUSANTARA Association of Serbian-Indonesian Friendship headed to Vrdnik, next stop in their Sunday’s itinerary, aiming at visiting the „Premier Aqua“ hotel. Guided by both the general manager of the hotel and Mrs. Vesna Radović, main physiotherapist, NUSANTARA toured just some of the facilities at disposal to the hotel’s guests; among others, „Premier Aqua“ offers two swimming pools with thermal waters, rich in sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulphates and hydrocarbons. The offer also includes the latest devices for massage, facial and body treatments, as well as a hyperbaric chamber.
Vrdnik counts on another important tourist attraction – the fact that was the reason why the members of The NUSANTARA Association of Serbian-Indonesian Friendship in their journey across Srem did not bypassed the „Vrdnička kula“ ethno complex, surrounded by the untouched nature of the „Fruška gora“ National Park. In the ethno complex, covering the 5-hectare vast surface, the visitors spotted bungalows, made of wood and other natural materials in the ethno style, took a rest at the ethno restaurant and visited a little wooden church, devoted to St. George. The ethno complex also includes a wine cellar, playgrounds for children, as well as the „Vrdnička kula“ hotel.
The excursion this July was just the second visit to the heaps of material and spiritual landmarks of Fruška gora; there will be at least three more excursions to this first national park in Serbia. After the August break, NUSANTARA will continue its activities with regained enthusiasm and organize for its members new trips both across Serbia and the neighbouring countries.
Biljana Đorđević