When in Yogya, be Yogyakartan. Or Try.

After being recharged by a restful nap and fulfilling lunch, Ayu and I hopped on her motorbike and head for Prambanan Temple.

Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple in Central Java, Indonesia. It is located approximately 18 km east (or 20 min) of Yogyakarta center. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is 1 of the 2 main reasons why I'm here (in Yogya). The other being Borobudur, of course. I knew before coming but was surprised that the entrance fee to this temple is USD11, as expensive as the fees in Europe. I'm not saying that it's worth less than Europe's attractions, but being in Southeast Asia, you'd think the cost to maintain the site would be significantly lower. My meal earlier costs less than 2 dollars, know what I mean?

But we had a brilliant plan. Locals only pay $1 and we figured I'm not a bule (blue-eyed, blond tourist). I'm a Southeast Asian, therefore I can pass as Indonesian. They have plenty of Indo-Chinese. We will buy 2 local tickets and will casually enter the gate. Ayu will utter some Indonesian sentences while we go in and I will just have to nod and agree. Simple, yes?

Not. As we enter, the guard stopped us and asked where I am from. Ayu said Bandung, which isn't a complete lie, as I really just came from Bandung. He then smugly spoke to me in Indonesian. Busted. More Indonesian to Ayu. Finally we were directed to a window that sells ticket to foreigners. Oh well, fine!

I have reconciled with it. Truly. It is fair that the locals get huge discount. Everytime they have guests from out of town, they accompany them to the temple. Ayu probably been here 20x, at leasts. So she's already paid $20 so far for the entrance. I don't know when I'll ever come back. So, it's fair. Plus they really needed the fund for the reconstruction.

The temple was severely damaged during an earthquake in 2006, as can immediately be noticed with the debris scattered all over the ground. Before and after photos are displayed showing the extent of the damage. It was closed for sometime but now again open for the public but not fully restored, don't think it will ever be.

Prambanan is a HUGE compound that comprises a group of temples. The three main ones in the primary yard are Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. There are more at the back, smaller but basically of similar pointed structure, said to be typically of Hindu architecture. It is beautiful! It gives you the larger than life feel. Took my breath away imagining that it was built some 2000 years ago and here it was, standing before me.

shiva temple behind

Around 8.30pm, Andri fetch me from Ayu's to show me several more local site of interests including a puppet show, a wishing tree, and kopi joss with the Yogya couchsurfers.

Sonobudoyo Museum

The museum is of beautiful Javanese architecture, situated on the northern side of the city's main square in front of the Sultan's Palace, where curiously there were 2 pet elephants, in the palance, not the museum. We're here to watch the shadow puppet show performed every night even if there were no audience. We came in during the middle of the performance, not that it mattered because it was in native Javanese. Meaning not only I won't understand it, even Andri doesn't. But it's interesting to watch none the less.


Alun Alun Selatan

After the show, Andri brought me to the alun-alun selatan (south square of Kraton area) and challenged me to walked through between 2 giant banyan trees, 20 meters apart. 20 meters? Should be easy, even with your eyes closed, yeah? Exactly. You have to do it blindfolded, 50-60 meters away. And if you succeed, then congratulations, good things will come to you.

It was a lively place with many young people hanging out and trying their luck. We stood by for a few before I took my chance with Andri following me, not helping, just to keep me from bumping or stepping on anyone/thing. I tried to walk as straight as possible towards the middle of the 2 trees. And after like a hundred steps, took off my blindfold and found myself positioned parallel to the 2 trees, instead of walking towards it, I was 60meters away, walking along it. We laughed our heads off. After watching a few more people do it, and failing, I decided to do it again. This time determined to walk straight, fast, in big steps. And wooohooo, I succeeded! :)


Angkringan Lik Man

We're meeting up with the CS people at Angkringan in Togu. This is a famous spot in Yogyakarta for students to hang-out because of the cheap food. And what an interesting and relax environment it is. This is basically a stretch of street with food stalls on one side of the sidewalk and the opposite side, straw mats were laid for people to sit, eat, chat, and drink kopi joss. It was cheap indeed, I paid 12.000 for rice and several sticks of food (fish balls, chicken intestines, etc), rice (wrapped in leaves, Cebu style puso), and kopi joss. This is coffee where they put live coal cube in it (opposite of ice cubes) before serving. I think for the burnt flavor. It's actually good. I met some of the Yogya locals and visiting couchsurfers. They were planning for a beach trip on weekends. Nice.