Once again in Indonesia - Yogjakarta

Early in the morning we walk from our hotel to visit the Borobudur.

Borobudur is an 8th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.




After breakfast, we then leave Borobudur to visit the Sultan's Palace or Kraton. Kraton or Keraton is the Javanese word for a royal palace. Its name is derived from ratu, which means "ruler" (king or queen). The Sultan’s Palace or Kraton, with its grand elegent Javanese architecture, lay in the centre of Jogja city. It was built in 1755 by Prince Mangkubumi was then called Sultan Hamengku Buwono I.

Pavillion in the Kraton.

Next is the Tama Sari Water Castle. It is a site of a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. It is located about 2 km south within the grounds of the Kraton, Yogyakarta. Built in mid 18th century, the Taman Sari had multiple functions, such as a resting area, a workshop, a meditation area, a defense area, and a hiding place. Today only the central bathing complex is well preserved, while the other areas have been largely occupied by the Kampung Taman settlement.





Prambanan, our last place to visit for this Indonesian trip.


Prambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The temple compound is located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta city on the boundary between Yogyakarta and Central Java province. The temple is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia, and is one of the largest and the most beautiful Hindu temples in Southeast Asia.

Once again in Indonesia - Surabaya

This morning we visit the Surabaya zoo, mainly is to visit the Komodo.

A very long tail monkey.

A young komodo. The Komodo dragon is a large species of lizard found in Indonesian islands. It can grow to a maximum of 3 meter length and weighs up to around 70 kilograms.


We then fly to Yogyakarta where our hire rental car pick up us to Manohara Hotel where we stay overnight.

Once again in Indonesia - Bromo

With the constrain of Time, Money and Energy; there are not many places that I usually “revisit”. Not to mention that the world is so big that there are many places that I would like to travel to, so I save all the three most important factors for those that I have never visit before. However, for my first time view of this magnificent “Bromo” in the mist of dawn 5 year before, I promise myself that I will someday come back to visit it again.

(Link to my Bromo previous trip)

We fly to Surabaya where a rental car company is waiting and give us a drive to Tosari, a small village. Tosari is on the northwest of the caldera. From there we rent a 4WD to take us to the “Penanjakan” view point.


Though for a second time traveller, Bromo is still a breathtaking site. Bromo, of which entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white sulphurous smoke, is still smouldering. Late last year and beginning of this year, it volcanic ash and incandescent material was thrown up by eruptive activity with a heavy rain of ejected volcanic material falling around the crater.




The caldera or The Sea of Sand where our 4WD will drive across to take us as close as possible to the base of the mount.


From the car parking, there are another 3 km to walk to the top of the crater. One can either walk or ride a horse for ¾ of the trail and then dismount and walk further, and finally climb the 250 steep steps to the edge.

Pathway leading to the top

View from the top - You can see where the Hindu temple and parking line are situated. Don’t ask me how many times that I have to stop on the way up.

View into the Mount Bromo crater.

Jakarta

Since we only have half a day to explore Jakarta, we decide to spend our time at the “Taman Mini Indonesia Indah”.

It is a miniature park that provides the complete picture of Indonesia. It is a culture-based recreational area located in East Jakarta, Indonesia. It has an area of about 250 acres. The park is a synopsis of Indonesian culture, with virtually all aspects of daily life in Indonesia's 26 (in 1975) provinces encapsulated in separate pavilions. (from wikipedia)

From Bengkulu Pavilion
From Wikipedia: The province is on the southwest coast of the island of Sumatra. It was formerly the site of a British garrison, which they called Bencoolen.

From Riau Paviliion
Riau is is a province of Indonesia, located in the center of Sumatra island along the Strait of Malacca. The provincial capital and largest city is Pekanbaru. Riau is one of the richest provinces in Indonesia. This province is rich with natural resources, particularly petroleum and natural gas, rubber, and palm oil.

From South Sumetera Pavillion

It is on the island of Sumatra, and borders the provinces of Lampung to the south, Bengkulu to the west, and Jambi to the north. The capital of Sumatera Selatan province is Palembang.

From South Sulawesi Pavillion
Located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi island. The capital of South Sulawesi is Makassar.

Since I have been to Indonesia three years in a row. I plan to temporary close my Indonesia chapter for a while; however, after I see this unique Sulawesi house, Indonesia still list in one of my next year destination (again and again).

From East Nusa Tenggara Pavillion
This province is located in the eastern portion of the Lesser Sunda Islands, including West Timor. The provincial capital is Kupang, located on West Timor.

Children Art Centre in the park.

Last place that we stop by before picking up our bag at hotel and head to the airport is the National Monument (Monas)

The 137-meter tall marble obelisk is topped with a flame coated with 35 kilograms of gold. It represents the people's determination to achieve freedom. It houses a historical museum and meditation hall, and is open to the public. It towers over Merdeka (Freedom) Square, and serves as Jakarta's most prominent landmark. The monument was built during the Sukarno era of nationalism.

Results of my good time from this trip.

And that is the end of my Indonesia trip; though it is not the last Indonesia trip.

Bali - Day 4

This morning we plan to visit the bustling fresh market in Ubud.

Bali is the place that still using natural products for packaging

Various types of flowers are sold in the market.


Flowers are put in a Kratong offering to their gods.

Would you like to sample this local snack/food?


Buying some Balinese pictures???

Decorative woven basket.

I like this souvenir shop. Its products are neat and beautiful. The brochure of the shop that posted at the cashier table is in Japanese language.

Walking back to the hotel, I get many pictures of beautiful unique Bali doors. Very narrow that I wonder how they carry the big stuffs into their houses.

We visit the garden of Ubud Inn surveying to see whether we could afford to stay here for the next visit or not. ???

A school children in uniform.


Our plan for today is at Uluwatu Temple. The view is beautiful but I do not like the area around since there are a lot of FIECE monkeys trying to steal things from travelers and return it to their owners to exchange for food. The owner in turn asks for the money from us. Though we received many warning from friends before the trip, still we lost one of the monkey doll of the Kipling purse. Very fast. “ไวอย่างกะลิง”จริงๆ



ULUWATU TEMPLE
Uluwatu Temple is perched on a cliff of a rocky hill on the southernmost part of Bali. Balinese believe the shrine was the result of the metamorphosis of the God’s holy water. This temple was built and chosen by one of Hindu’s most respected priest, Danghyang Nirartha to unite with God Almighty, moksa. Uluwatu Temple is surrounded by trees and bushes occupied by tamed army of monkeys.

Kuta Beach

After Uluwatu Temple, we go to the airport since some of the gang will fly to Surabaya while Pe Paew and I will fly to Jarkarta. However since my flight is almost at midnight, I only deposit my bags at the airport and go back to the town, Kuta.

Bali - Day 3

We checked-in to the hotel quite late last night, so I didn't see much of the place until this morning.







This morning walking along the street, we meet a big local group preparing the parade to the temple. I don’t know what kind of ceremony it is.




A Balinese good-looking one!




Our first place for today is at Goa Gajah Temple where our main interest is for “shopping”. Because one of our team member, Noo Poo does some research and finds out that the price here is cheaper than other places. Very appreciated for her well preparation. Because if I ever visit Bali again, the only place in my itinerary would be “Goa Gajah”. (Just kidding Bali has more than that to offer to tourist.)

GOA GAJAH (ELEPHANT CAVE) TEMPLE

The name of the cave was said that when the cave was first unearthed, its entrance’s upper part was mistakenly believed as an elephant trunk, so did the name stick. Goa Gajah is a temple inside a cave. This temple is believed as the center for yoga and meditation during Hindu-Buddhism era. A ganesha statue reflects a Buddhism side, while its Ciwa statue portrays the Hinduisms counterpart. On the west corner of this cave lays Buddha and Harito statues. Goa Gajah temple is surrounded by green rice fields along the River Petanu.


Paddy rice field along the footpath down to the temple.




Next place is Ganung Kawi Temple recommended by our driver. The temple is situated down in the valley. It is very quiet and tranquil.

Gunung Kawi is a Hindu Temple complex with old omission from the stone era located in Gianyar regency.




Then we visit Tirtra Empul which I have seen a lot of pictures before the trip. One of the must visit places in Bali.

Legend has it that the sacred spring was created by the god Indra. His forces had been poisoned by Mayadanawa, so he pierced the earth to create a fountain of immortality to revive them.

An inscription dates the founding of a temple at the site to 926 AD. Ever since - for more than a thousand years - the Balinese have come to bathe in the sacred waters for healing and spiritual merit.


Devotees are in their prayers.



Spring water !!.


The Kintamani and its crater lake provides the spectacular panoramic scenery. Kintamani or Batur mount is an active volcano.




The last place to visit is at Pura Besakih. Our driver for today starts to complain that it is quite far away and he thinks that we could not be there in time; although we have already told him of our today itinerary since morning. Since Pura Besakih is considered the mother Temple of Hinduism in Bali, we all insist on going there.

And that is the end of today journey, we come back to Ubud quite late in the evening that we can’t watch any Bali dance show.

BESAKIH TEMPLE

Perched on the slope of the island’s highest peak of Mt. Agung, the mother temple of Bali, Besakih, is by size the biggest temple. Historical accounts say the temple was built by Maharesi Markandya in the eleventh century in a quest for god blessing upon a devastating disease striking the majority of Bali, including his faithful students. The word Besakih comes from Basukihan means safety and prosperity. Thousands of Balinese Hindus pay a pilgrimage to this temple thus thanking for their prosperous lives.

Besakih Temple is the largest of the island's 11,000 or so Hindu temples; its 35 shrines and halls. Like most Balinese temples, Besakih is not a closed building but a mostly open-air affair. It is made up of courtyards with altars and shrines devoted to a number of gods.