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Monday, January 09, 2012

Indonesia -- Day 8 Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta and the Water Palace

After we left the Sultan's Palace, we headed over to the Taman Sari or the Water Palace. This place was so beautiful. I just loved it all. The colors, the wear, the chippy paint , everything. Please bear with me, I took a ton of photos.

Water Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

From Wikipedia:

Taman Sari also known as Taman Sari Water Castle 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, Indonesia. 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.

Taman Sari consisted of four distinct areas: a large artificial lake with islands and pavilions located in the west, a bathing complex in the centre, a complex of pavilions and pools in the south, and a smaller lake in the east. Today only the central bathing complex is well preserved, while the other areas have been largely occupied by the Kampung Taman settlement.

Since 1995 the Yogyakarta Palace Complex including Taman Sari is listed as a tentative World Heritage Site

Water Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

If you would like to get see Jogjalarta / Yogyakarta or the Water Palace

then contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Quote code AANK for a special discount

Water Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Indonesia -- Day 8 Yogyakarta / Jogyakarta Sultan's Palace

Our first Garuda flight yesterday from Medan to Jakarta was lovely. The plane was new, done in two tone brown. There was in flight, in seat entertainment and a lovely food service. The staff were gorgeous and efficient. The 2 hour flight flew by.

Yogyakarta / Jogjakarta, Java, Indonesia

Food Stall -- Yogyakarta / Jogjakarta, Java, Indonesia

Upon landing in Jakarta we exited onto the tarmac and took a bus to the terminal. It is a new terminal with lots of choices to eat and drink at, including Krispy Kreme and Starbucks. I found a little cafe/bar and asked the lady if I could use her wall plug and wifi as my iPhone was about to die.

I had an hour to kill so decided to have a beer. I ended up having two and chatting with a kiwi guy who had been an attendant with Emirates Airlines. When I finally went through to the gate for our flight from Jakarta to Jogjakarta, I learned we had to wait two hours as the plane was late. Once we were cleared to take off we learned we were also 17th in line to take off. We finally arrived in Jogjakarta and were picked up by oy local tour guide Marcelle and our driver.

We got to the Novotel Jogjakarta Hotel at 1030pm. We had missed the dinner buffet so they had a dinner delivered to my room. That was a fantastic treat. Showered and refreshed with a Steak and prawn dinner in bed followed by dessert. Yummy !!!

I made another great impression hereon Indonesian men, speciffically with the hotel porter. He was a nice young Indonesian man, and when he dropped my bags and I off to my room he said that he thought I was beautiful. I was surprised and of course flattered. Then he made an Incredible Hulk Pose, with his body hunched over and his fists coming together and an "" arrgghh" like tone and said I was well built. Wonderful !! so much for flattery ;) I know my breasts could apparently feed a village but now I also looked like the Incredible Hulk. Fantastic to the self esteem ;)

Photograph License -- Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia
I love this hutch -- the color and the wear are fantastic !!

The Sultan's Guard -- Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia
Impressive bunch, aren't they??

Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Face Mask -- Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

The Adventures Abroad itinerary for today stated:

Today we visit the most extensive Hindu temple site in Indonesia -- Prambanan.

Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia. It is characterised by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the 47m (154 ft) high central building inside a large complex of individual temples. It was built around AD 850 by either Rakai Pikatan, king of the second Mataram dynasty, or Balitung Maha Sambu, during the Sanjaya Dynasty. Not long after its construction, the temple was abandoned and began to deteriorate.

After our comprehensive guided tour, we return to Yogyakarta. This afternoon's sightseeing includes the Sultan's palace, the Kraton, a vast complex of courtyards, halls and pavilions in Javanese traditional style. The most important structure is the Golden Pavillion; ornately carved, and heavily gilded, its graceful roof is supported by finely carved wooden beams. Here the Sultan used to receive royal guests and hold balls and banquets.

We also visit the nearby Taman Sari (Water Castle), the ruins, pools, arches and underground passages of the former pleasure gardens. It was built in 1758 by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I as a rest house and pleasure park for the Royal Family.

At some point during our stay in Yogyakarta we hope to attend a performance of the Ramayana ballet, a dance based on ancient Hindu folklore.

Overnight in Yogyakarta. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Another name for the Sultan's Palace is Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. The palace is where the king of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono lives.

The palace was not traditional "palace/castle" style as you would think of as a westerner. It did have some very ornate detail and wonderful traditional tilework and woodwork.

Tile Floor -- Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Tile Border -- Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Painted detail --Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

From Wikipedia:

Yogyakarta's centre is the kraton, or Sultan's palace. Surrounding the kraton is a densely populated residential neighbourhood that occupies land that was formerly the Sultan's sole domain. Evidence of this former use remains in the form of old walls and the ruined Taman Sari, (or Water Palace) built in 1758 as a pleasure garden. No longer used by the sultan, the garden had been largely abandoned. For a time, it was used for housing by palace employees and descendants. Reconstruction efforts began in 2004, and an effort to renew the neighbourhood around the kraton has begun. The site is a developing tourist attraction.

painted wood detail -- Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

According to Marcelle, our local guide:

Jogjakarta is an educational town with 40 private universities and 3 public ones. There are over 40 000 students in Jogja. It is one of the cheapest towns in Indonesia and therefore great for students. For example, people can get breakfast for IDR3000. A room can be had for 350 000 IDR for a month within a 1km of town. Of course, the further out you go the cheaper the ropoms. If you went to approx 4km of downtown then you could get a room for 100 000 IDR or approx $10CAD/USD.

People speak Javanese in Jogjakarta. There are three (3) levels of language. The highest is for addressing royality and for special occasions.  Most people speak ground level javanense.

Food wise people in Jogjakarta eat more sweet foods than elsewhere in Indonesia.  They use a lot of brown sugar and are rated #1 for Diabetes in Indonesian. Indonesia itself is rated #4 in world for Diabetes.

One of the major streets in Jogjakarta is Solo street. It is 65km long. Most of the street is owned by Chinese people but they aren't allowed to advertise in Chinese or use their Chinese name, only their local Javanese name. Chinese new year is the only time they can celebrate in Chinese. Solo street is fixed price area.

Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

green and yelloe ornate railing -- Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Ceiling -- Sultan's Palace, Jogjakarta / Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

If you would like to visit Jogjakarta and/or the Sultan's Palace

then contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Quote code AANK for a special discount

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Indonesia -- Day 6 The Long and Winding Road to Berastagi ...

After leaving Tabo Cottages we headed on the road to Berastagi.

The Adventures Abroad itinerary for today was:

This morning we take a long, leisurely drive toward Berastagi, starting across the narrow land bridge that connects the "island" to the mainland. This region of North Sumatra is volcanic in nature and many sulfurous hot springs are to be found. At the northern end of Lake Toba we stop to see the impressive 120 m (394 ft) high Si Piso-Piso Waterfalls. From the viewpoint at the top of the falls there is a 360-degree panoramic view over Lake Toba and the surrounding countryside.

The area to the north of Lake Toba is known as Karoland, or the Karo Highlands, as it is where the Karo Batak tribal people live. The five Karo Batak clans and 83 subclans inhabit a high, lush plateau of mountain slopes and rich volcanic valleys in the area between Lake Toba and Medan. There are many volcanoes in the area, some of them still steaming. Gunung Sibayak at 2070 m (6,790 ft) and Gunung Sinabung at 2417 m (7,930 ft) are the highest and can be seen from many locations as we explore the area. We will have the opportunity to stop in Lingga, a Karo Batak village.

Overnight in Berastagi. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

Bonehouse or Tugu or Tambak, Samosir Island

Bonehouse or tugu or tambak, Samosir Island

a local church, Samosir Island

Another bonehouse, Samosir Island

This bonehouse has over 100 people in it .. Samosir Island

local house, Samosir Island

Water Buffalo grazing

a local woman making cloth

dyed thread drying, Samosir Island

a traditional village, Samosir Island

local boar/pig just hanging out looking for lunch, Samosir Island

tugu or tambak bonehouse .. amazing blue tile and detail, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Crossing back onto the mainland Sumatra

Local transportation, Sumatra

View of farmed fishing and Lake Toba, Sumatra

After we crossed over the narrow piece of land that connects Samosir Island to the mainland we continued climbing up into the mountains. We were making pretty good pace and my ears were popping due to the climb. We were headed to Sidikalang for lunch and Sipiso Piso to see the waterfall.

Sumatra, Indonesia

Following the :Rapture" up the mountain in Sumatra, Indonesia

a lookout point to see all of Lake Toba, Sumatra

a Rooster, Sumatra, Indonesia

Along the way Morris pointed out more great sights along the way. We stopped at a tobacco field and Morris showed us the drying sheds and also taro root.

Morris showing us a tobacco field.

The tobacco drying shed.

little local girl wondering what these tourists where doing checking out her families' tobacco shed/

taro root, Sumatra, Indonesia

rice drying on tarps in a front yard, Sumatra, Indonesia

children walking home from school, Sumatra

As per Wikipedia:

Primary schools or Sekolah Dasar (SD) students wear a white short-sleeve shirt with red shorts for male students, and below-knee skirts for females.

Lower Secondary schools or SMP: Sekolah Menengah Pertama require navy shorts with a short-sleeve white shirt for male students. Females wear a below-knee-length navy skirt, and short-sleeve white shirt.

Upper Secondary schools SMA: Sekolah Menengah Atas require blue-grey trousers with a short-sleeve white shirt. Females wear a below-knee-length blue-grey skirt, and wear short-sleeve white shirts.

Public schools in Indonesia tolerate religious freedoms. For example, Muslim girls may opt to wear long-sleeve shirts, longer skirts, and jilbab to cover their heads. Most schools in Indonesia also have a batik uniform which are usually worn on Thursday or Friday. This kind of uniform consists of a batik short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirt, with shorts or trousers for SMA, and below-knee skirts or longer for females. The motives and colors of batik depend on the school. Most schools in richer area tends to issue neckties for their students. This necktie vary from school to school in terms of color and sewing pattern, even among public schools.

The scouts uniform is also used in many schools in Indonesia at least once a week. The uniform consists of light-brown short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirts, with dark-brown shorts or trousers, and below-knee skirts or longer for females.

waterfall runoff, Sumatra

village market, Sumatra

We stopped for lunch in Sidikalang at a Chinese restaurant and I had the nasi goreng special which was super tasty. After lunch we had a two hour journey along a tiny one lane road. It was vey cloudy/foggy with rain. Everyone had a little catnap.

Tapioca Plants?

Sumatra

We stopped at Sipiso Piso to see the waterfall but it was completely fogged in. We decided to have a cup of coffee and when we were done the rain stopped and the clouds lifted long enough for us to get a few shots of the waterfall and the north end of Lake Toba. (coffee was 10 000IDR, coke 8000, Milo 4000, and tea 3000)