Yogyakarta

french version here

Days 13 to 15 - from 09/10 to 11/10

After my stay in the South of Bali, Yogyakarta was the opposite. Intense, tiring, agitated. The alarm clock was ringing early every day, and the days were full of sightseeing and walking.

In Yogyakarta there was also much less touristy and I had the impression of seeing the local life.  Once again, I stay in a hostel very warm, we took breakfast but also diners around a large table.

Prambanan

I join the island of Java by plane from Bali. Just arrived, I decided to visit Prambanan. I went there by public bus with another French girl from the hostel; we were the only blond girls in the bus, and we can feel that le locals were intrigued.

Prambanan is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. It consists of a set of temples, in honor of various Hindu gods (including Shiva the destroyer, Brahma, the creator, and Vishnu the seeker). Its construction dates from the 9th century. On a side note (if my memory is good) Ganesh, had his head cut off, by mistake, by his father, Shiva. To be forgiven, Shiva, offered him the first head he found. It was an éléphants head.

Prambanan was probably abandoned following a volcanic eruption. The restoration still in progress, did not resume until the 1930s. This place clearly deserves the detour and attention.

** Minardises **

I arrived at the temple quite late, and missed a part of the visit. Be careful, other temples, which a priori are worth seeing are nearby.

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Borobudur

Borobudur was inevitably my favorite place of Yogyakarta.

I booked a transport from the hostel and left at 4am. Waking-up was difficult but we could enjoy the places almost alone. I did not go for the sunrise due too cloudy sky. 

Also, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this temple is a Buddhist temple.

He was also abandoned for a time. It was built just before Prambanan. At that time Buddhists and Hindus were living together in Java. The Muslim religion is now dominant on the island.

This stupa temple is made up of a set of stupas (a conical shape paying homage to the Buddha and possibly containing relics). If we look from the sky, Borobudur represents a mandala. At the same time a sanctuary to the memory of Buddha, this temple is also a place of Buddhist pilgrimage allowing believers to realize their spiritual ascent. The different terraces representing different ways to rise spiritually (they first go to the level of desires, then appearance to end up in the level of  emptiness).

Definitely a moment out of time with an interesting story.

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La ville de Yogyakarta

This city is in constant turmoil, everything is hectic, whatever the time. The streets are crowded. The locals do not miss an opportunity to talk and smile to us. I do not count the number of Indonesians who came to talk to me during my stay in this big city.

Malioboro Street is the "main" street of Yogya (pronounce Jodja). There are many shops selling souvenirs but also many fabrics and warungs (small local boubouis, which in general are very good and cheap).

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On the last picture you can admire all parts of the chicken ... brain, heart, intestines, feet ... (I did not test, I was unfortunately no longer hungry ... too bad...)

One of Yogya's specialties is charcoal coffee. A piece of coal coming out of the fire is placed in the coffee! Cheers!

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At the end of this street, we arrive at Sultan's Palace. This royal palace is not a great discovery from an architectural point of view. Rather basic, the only interest of the visit was the puppet show and the musicians who played live their locals instruments.

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Not far from the Palace there is Taman Sari. The king's pool. There are several basins, one was reserved for the official wife of the king and his children, the other was reserved for his concubines. You can also climb 2 floors to arrive in a small hall with windows through which the king watched his concubines in the water. Sacred naughty;)

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**Minardises**

Leaving the Sultan's Palace, I get lost into the surrounding streets. So, I went back to Taman Sari by the exit. The advantage is double: free entry, and especially the small streets full of tags were very nice.

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Advices

- Laura's Backpackers, is a hostel that I will recommend to everyone. Laura is top and all her staff is very welcoming. They do not hesitate to accompany us in our outings or to discover new things. If you are not afraid of snakes, you can play with the pets of the house.

- Spa Flaurent Salon, not very far from Malioboro street, we find this spa reserved for women, a session of 2:30 with massage of the body and the scalp, exfoliation, sauna and for about 6 €- The house of Raminten, this is a very nice restaurant. There is choice and it is not much more expensive than street food.- If you want to visit Borobudur, do not hesitate to go there very early in the morning, you will avoid the crowds of local and international tourists and school bus.