PALEMBANG, which is the capital of South Sumatra province, happens to be the oldest city in Indonesia. Historians also believe that Palembang may even be the capital city of the Sriwijaya maritime kingdom which extended its influence throughout Southeast Asia (7th-13th century). Ancient scripts indicate that the Sriwijaya kingdom capital may have been established around the 7th century.

During its heyday, the Sriwijaya kingdom was known to contr