2013 - Java, Indonesia (Part 2 - Yogjakarta & Borobudur)

Monday 15 July
We arrived on time and I caught one of the many becaks to the hotel. This was (and they all are) powered by a very old man, who looked as tough as nails. The distance was a lot further than I thought and for $US3 we eventually made it to the hotel. I found a good bar for Bitang beers and a restaurant that had only one staff member in the kitchen, leading to delays and grumpy customers (not me, I seemed to get my dinner quite quickly, unlike the table of ten who gave up after six meals had been served and the remaining four were another 15 minutes away). The hotel was basic and clean, although my ground floor room was close the noise. At about 1:30am, I did have to go into the lounge to tell a large group of tourists to keep the noise down as they were making enough noise to awaken the dead.

Tuesday 16 July
This was a day in Yogjakarta, visiting the kraton, or Sultan's palace and the main shopping area. The kraton was kind of interesting and does not take very long to wander around it. The afternoon was spent wandering up and down Malioboro, the main shopping street. It is filled with stalls, shops and a couple of large markets selling everything imaginable. Beers and dinner in the Janur bar again.

One of the Sultan's many buggies.

The kraton.

The entrance to the kraton.

More of the kraton.

The gamelan gongs in the kraton.

The entrance to the kraton.

A becak driver.

Wednesday 17 July
An early start for the trip out to Borobudur. We were at the gate by 6:00am in time to see the sun rising up over the jungle that surrounds the temple complex. It also meant there were fewer tourists around spoiling the view. It costs $US20 to enter so it is not cheap although that does get you free water and coffee at the entrance gate. There are great views over the countryside as it is on a bit of hill. Breakfast was at one of the many small places outside.

The surrounding parkland.

The first view of the temple.

The main pathway up to the temple.

Sunrise at Borobudur.

The mist lifts over the surrounding countryside.

The fields below the temple and the restaurant.

The southern entrance.

One of the many temple guards.

Sunrise over the jungle.

Relief carvings on the temple.

A statue of Buddha looking out over the temple.

More jungle around the temple.

The sun is finally up.

Stupa and clouds.

The outer wall of the top level.

Tourists trying to get the perfect shot.

The most photographed Buddha statue on the temple.

More stupa (stupas? stupae?)

The view back down the eastern entrance.

A stupa and one of the many volcanoes in Java.

I think it is Mt Merapi.

One of the 432 statues of Buddha on the temple.]

The eastern side.

The eastern side.

Through the trees.

You want photo?

Shows how large it actually.

The final view from amongst the trees.

You want a hat?

We were back in town by 10:00 ish. A relaxing afternoon, followed by beers and dinner at my usual haunt.
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