Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Culture Corner: Indonesia - Yogyakarta & Jakarta

 And Part II of my two-week holiday in Indonesia.  Where the first 8 days were spent in Sulawesi, I spent the final four days in Java in Yogyakarta and Jakarta.  

Volcanos are everywhere in Indonesia, including as a backdrop to Borobudur.

While advertized as the Anghor Wat of Indonesia, I can't confirm.  The view from the perimater was great, but access to the higher levels of the temple itself was suspended during my visit. (Ticket price was still a hefty $40, however.)  

Part of the reliefs along the base.

While much of the art had been moved to museums or looted, enough remained to give an idea what the temple may have been like in its peak.

Near Borobudur is another temple, Prambanan.  Hindu rather than Buddhist, it gave Borobdur a run for its money in terms of beauty.

Also well preserved reliefs and statuary.

And more...

While Chinese food is still my favorite, and Thai food is still a little better, food in Indonesia was still quite good, from the street to the restaurant.

Puppetry is/was a part of Indonesian culture.  These are waiting to be brought back to life.

Taman Sari, a former sultan's pleasure palace in Yogyakarta.

Ingenuity comes in many forms, including this homemade four-person bicycle.

Balinese stonework in a Yogyakarta museum.

I can't say Jakarta was a highlight of my trip.  The people were nice, the food superb, the museums ok, but the rest was buzzing motorcycles at all ours, rats, dust, and sweltering heat.  Oh, and these soulless buildings clambering into the first world.

Street ball in Jakarta.

Typical streets in Jakarta...

The End




  






No comments:

Post a Comment