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A late night flight took us to Jakarta where it was too late to get out straightaway, so we checked into a hotel for a few hours sleep. Breakfast in our room at sunrise was the highlight of a city with a poor reputation... |
| ...which was very hot and humid and noisy. Given that we only spent a few hours there, we can't comment on the whole city, but we can definitely say that Al was glad to get on the air-conditioned train when it finally arrived!
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| Nick met us from Yogyakarta railway station and took us back to his house, where he entered into the detailed explanations of how to use his bathroom.
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| We prepared dinner in his cosy kitchen using vegetables and fruits that Nick was particularly excited to demonstrate to us.
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| The road outside Nick's house, as he rides off to a meeting with one of his organisations.
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| Meanwhile, we headed to the palace of the Sultan of Yogyakarta (who still rules the local area as a reward for his assistance in achieving Indonesian independence). He keeps a huge staff of men and women who hang around...
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| ...make him tea 3 times a day... and perform puppet shows for the tourists.
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| The water palace lies in semi ruins, surrounded by houses and workshops.
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| Some has been restored, to show how the water features would have been.
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| Batik is a local artform and still widely practised. The highly detailed work of applying hot wax to material before dyeing it was very much in evidence.
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| A quick way to get around is a becak (or man on a bicycle taking you where you want to go).
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| An hours drive from Nick's place lies one of the most impressive Buddhist temples - Borobodour. It is nestled in the jungle and, although it isn't much to look at from a distance, it has an incredible atmosphere and many photogenic views from its various levels.
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| There are miles of carved friezes telling stories from the life of Buddha, and instructive moral tales.
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| A group of enterprising school girls were practising their English on tourists. We were asked what we liked about Indonesia, what our favourite music was etc. and then had our photo taken.
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| Having set off at dawn, we were grateful of a hearty breakfast in a plush hotel nearby. Nick was particularly grateful for the first sausage he had eaten in months!
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| Another temple in the amazing series within a very small geographical area, and a spectacular banyan tree.
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| Then a trip up Merapi - Java's most active volcano. This particular lava flow came down the mountain exactly 2 years ago. It was predicted, so noone was injured, but it covered this village.
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| Nick's house, and our washing. He has a 2 room bungalow, with a large garage.
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| The traditional Ramayana ballet at the nearby Prambanam hindu temple. The love story of Rama and Sita played out with accompanying gamelan music.
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| The Prambanam temple by day.
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| Al practising his lotus position.
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| A typical lunch in a warung. Fried rice, in amongst the rice fields.
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| The royal cemetery is atop a nearby mountain and we climbed the steps to visit.
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| You are obliged to wear traditional Javanese dress in order to visit... it was very hot!
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| To finish the day we headed down to the south coast and a spectacular beach. It is too hot to sunbathe and the sea is too rough to swim in, so everyone just congregates and stands round, or rides the donkeys. A strange atmosphere...
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| ...but an amazing setting nonetheless.
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