Yogyakarta.... former capital of Indonesia (part 2...)

So, this post will be around places within Yogyakarta that people usually visits.  Oh ya, the Bird Market was located in Yogyakarta, so that should be part of this post but it will just be too much for 1 post.  Yogyakarta maybe one of those place I will return again and again to, just because of the atmosphere of the city itself.  At night, you can hang out and chill (in Indonesian we call it 'nongkrong') in Malioboro, just watching people walking by and doing their thing.  What I like about Malioboro, there are lots of people such as the street musicians, students, good people you could run into.  After all, as I mentioned in the previous post, it is known as art city.  However, just as any other places, common sense still applied.  No matter how nice the person seems like, you should never go to any place that you're not familiar with anyone.  Yogyakarta is relatively safer place than Jakarta, that's for sure though.  Oh yes, taxi..... only get on the blue bird, and with becak driver, always negotiate price before you get on one.  Most times, locals will be happy to tell you how much it usually cost to get from one point to the other.   There are many other artsy stuff that I didn't get a chance to check out while I was there, such as wayang performance, checking out batik making (watch people hand painting fabric with wax) or wayang making, but that's just another excuse to go back and check it out later!

Malioboro street, where all the fun is.  It looks a lot different than years ago when I visited them during junior high field trip.  This is where you can find your cheap hostels, shopping, lesehan (restaurant where you sit on the floor, and they usually serve Yogya's traditional dish called Gudeg), and souvenirs.  

Yes, very interesting and cute graffiti.  Yogyakarta is famous to be the city of art, as they do have the most famous Art university where people could study everything that has to do with art including music.  

Important landmark in Yogya, locals just call it Tugu (statue).  People often use this landmark to meet someone, providing directions etc.  Malioboro is around here too :D  So remember the Tugu :D

Keraton (palace) Yogya.  Parts of the keraton is open for public, however, some parts are closed to public because the Sultan's family is still living there.  The mythology behind the placement of the keraton is very interesting and it is part of the local folklore, also many people still hold true the myth.  The keraton was carefully placed within the city of Yogya to enhance the place and its occupants from harm and evil.  There are also myth that the spirit of Mt Merapi and the spirit of the south sea also protecting the Sultan.  I was reading about parts of the Keraton, gets too complicated after a while :D hehe .  Entrance fee to the Keraton is less than 20,000 rupiah, and again, there's camera fee.  Guide is optional, I myself just ask the Abdi Dalem (keraton workers) when I was wondering about something, but maybe not all speak English.  Beware of people trying to lure you to funny places claiming they know another entrance to the keraton.  I did run into one that tried to lure me into some little alley, claiming he knows another way into the keraton.  Basically, where the keraton entrance is was quite obvious, and just common sense rule, don't follow strangers to strange places :D

This and the next two are paintings of the previous sultans, the latest one is Sultan Hamengkubuwono X

Looks like the architecture design of Jakarta's international airport is inspired by traditional Javanese architecture.  See the similarities?  This is one of the pavillion in the Keraton.  

Traditional Javanese musical instruments called gamelan.  Often accompany wayang (shadow puppets) or wayang orang  performances (javanese dancers performing musical story) .  I personally prefer Balinese gamelan style, but honestly, I never had the appreciation of traditional Indonesian music such as this until being away for years.  That day I just missed the wayang performance, which usually at 10 am. 

Abdi Dalem, they work in the palace, some will stay in the palace then go home to their family every week or so.  What special about these people are, they work voluntarily to serve the Sultan and their extended family.  Their duty is from fulfilling daily necessities of the Keraton life, to preparing for ceremonies.  These people devoted their life for the Sultan and preservation of the Javanese culture.  They do receive.... ummmm... a very very small salary, however, none of them complain because  it is the pleasure of serving the Sultan, his extended family and the keraton that keep these people devoted until old age.   Don't we all wish we have a job we love so much that money don't matter?  When you visit the Keraton, you may approach one of these Abdi Dalem if you have questions.  They will explain things to you with passion!  I'm not sure if most can speak English or any of them could.  FYI, the sarong they're wearing is what we called Batik. 

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Cart for the Sultan's family

Awwh (^^) the Sultan went to Nikkou too.......  not surprising.... Nikkou is a gorgeous place (^^)

All of Sultan's medal of honor.  Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX especially, was involved in the military and played crucial role in Indonesia's revolutionary journey towards independence. 

Sultan Hamengkubuwono along with Japanese military officials.  

One of the legacy from Japanese occupation in Indonesia.  This is what's called Rajio Taiso, or in Indonesian, Senam Pagi.  Even when I was growing up, in elementary school we still have to do this as part of phys ed class.  Basically what it is, exercise on the spot with music.  Now that I think about it, it has some really good warm up and stretching movements that can be done before you start your day at work or school.... hence why we did it in the morning..... 

Another previous sultan (I can't remember which one)

I spent a little time with these two Abdi Dalem, the older guy loves to talk, he explains all about the batik inside this Sultan's family batik display building, and also about his son ......very lovely old gentleman! 

This bathing place part of  the Taman Sari complex that was built during the reign of the first Sultan Hamengkubuwono.  Most parts of the Taman Sari complex had been destroyed, and this is what's left of it.  Apparently this where the concubines would bathe while waiting for Sultan to choose one of them.... lucky Sultans.... (-_-).... 

Hmmm..... I guess that tower was where he would have a peek at the concubines?  Cuz that was where  I took the picture above :D 

Western gate, was restored

The yard next to the bathing place 

Benteng Vredeburg.  Benteng means fort, and this one was another legacy from the Dutch colonial.  Beautifully maintained.  Admission applicable, 750 rupiah, and like I mentioned on the previous post, they charge fee for camera too.   Now a museum, it was one of the Dutch post.  Inside the museum there are diorama of Indonesian revolution towards independence.  Interesting if you would like to know a little about Indonesian history, but otherwise, it is a very interesting structure and part of Indonesia's revolutionary history. 

Original cannons from back then :D 

March 1, 1949 memorial monument, near Malioboro (down the street from Malioboro).  There are information on wiki regarding this attack on Dutch occupation in Yogyakarta, but it's in Indonesian.  After our proclaimed independence as nation in 1945 by Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, the Dutch returns to the country, since the proclamation was not recognized by the international community.  Many insurgency towards the Dutch since, and Serangan Umum (general offence) on March 1, 1949 was to show the world that Indonesian military still strong.  The attack towards the Dutch re-occupation of the city of Yogyakarta was simultaneously commenced at dawn, lasted for few hours within which the Dutch were forced to retreat, then return at noon when Indonesian force had retreated from the city.  This event and other offensive eventually leads to international recognition of Indonesia as independent republic.   

Just at the kiddie corner of March 1 monument, are all the rest of historical buildings in Yogyakarta, one to be the one below, the National Bank of Indonesia's building, which obviously dated back from the Dutch colonial period and the post office below also dated back from the colonial period.  Very beautiful and well maintained historical treasure (^^).  I love old colonial buildings.  Seems like, being in one, you could feel the soul of the building itself! These old Dutch colonial buildings has amazing architectural design that made these buildings perfect for such tropical country such as Indonesia.  Old colonial houses, always made with very high ceilings, therefore, the houses seems always cool even without air conditioner.  One neighborhood in Jakarta which mostly are old colonial houses is in Menteng.  Gorgeous houses for sure..... the price was also gorgeous :( 

Parangtritis beach, located in the southern sea, south part of Yogyakarta.  This beach is facing the Indian ocean.  Despite of the massive waves, no one surfs here.  Legend is, there's a spirit guarding the ocean here,  Nyai Roro Kidul, that likes to takes any soul she wished for, i.e takes him into the sea to be her companion.  She was depicted in folk tales as a beautiful woman.... to me she almost sounded like Siren! So I suggests cute surfer boy not to try surfing here just in case the spirit is in need of another cute boy ..... kidding.... :D  Apparently, the Parangtritis beach is dangerous because of the rip currents.  Many people died of drowning because of it here, and I don't think its because the spirit was lonely :D  Parangtritis doesn't seems to be destination for international tourist though.  Most people you'll see here are locals, or domestic tourist.  I'm not sure why that is.... maybe because this is not the kind of lay around tanning in bikini beach? Maybe eh?  This area is majority muslim anyway, therefore, tanning on the beach in the bikini may not be a good idea here....  Wiki has nice little blurp about Nyai Roro Kidul > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyai_Roro_Kidul  I suggest not to take any guided tour to go to this beach.  Rent a motorbike, or take motorbike taxi here, because this is one of those places you wanna take your time.  Definitely different atmosphere than beaches in Bali. 

These very nice couple, Win and Nida.  They got married about a month after I took this picture.   These two rode all the way from Semarang, about 3 hours away from Yogyakarta on their motorbike  just to see us and hang out with us.... I miss them already.... :(  

A random stranded ship.....  Vivian seems to love it on this beach....  he thought the waves were fun.....  We were kinda worry he's gonna get dragged away actually :(

People often come here to pray, not sure what kind of religion it would be

See? Vivian thought it's fun to be in the wave (-_-) We kept telling him not to challenge the wave!

Big and very strong wave here..... not a surfing destination though ....

(0_0) ! watch the wave! 

My favorite view... a father and son playing at
the beach.... more beautiful than the sunset I think

And my favorite part of the day..... sunset at the beach! 

We went to night market after..... sooooo crowded! I think we only stayed to eat, then we both went back to the hostel cuz we were tired from playing at the beach and just spent the rest of the night hangin out....

Rushing to put rice away cuz it was raining.... 

I love how padi (rice) field still exist in Yogya, our last one in Jakarta gone and turned in to malls around a decade ago :( 

On our way to Tawangmangu.  One of the 'I am changing my mind last minute' kind of trip.  Seems like a better place to go to than Solo, our original destination.  I heard there are nice mountains and waterfall there.  We rented a driver to go there, but when we got there I realized there are buses going there, and seems like we could spend the night there too, since I saw many guest houses..... maybe that's what I will do next time, just catch the bus there, and spend a night or two.  I really like the village, people are friendly there too.  These two pictures were taken on our way there, one of the girl is a teacher and she likes to visit schools.  So we visited one :D 

Jackfruit.... huge fruit, one of my favorite.  Perfect for ice fruit deserts!

One of those places you only seen locals and no international tourist... at all! Very beautiful place

One of my favorite waterfalls..... small but enjoyable !

Little bugger, he stole food from the purse of this girl
we went with

What a beautiful village here in Tawangmangu ....... definitely worth changing my mind at the last minute

Finally got to our original destination, which was Solo... :D  When we got here all she wants was to see Chinatown... :D   Solo is interesting when there are festivals, but other than that.... hmmm... just another city.  In Indonesia, even when the city is the capital of the province, it's not the same as Jakarta.  In Japan, cities other than Tokyo, still has everything you could find in Tokyo,  however, in Indonesia, only Jakarta could be considered a 'modern city'.  Still, Solo has a lot of cultural stuff that's worth checking out though.... I heard batik in Solo is a lot nicer than in Yogyakarta.... 

Took the tourist and my driver to eat soto (Indonesian spice soup)..... no meat for me (^^)  Place was kinda filthy, but the food was awesome and it cost me less than 3 dollars for 4 people to eat :D