travel

Guam afternoon tea

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

I was overseas in Guam for the swim race, so, of course, I had to do an afternoon tea. Unfortunately, time was tight so it meant that I had to do it on the Sunday afternoon after the 8km swim. The problem was, was that I was full from lunch prior to turning up for afternoon tea. One should not partake in afternoon tea on a full stomach!

According to my prior research, I couldn’t really find any venues in Guam to do afternoon tea. The only place I found was at the Hyatt Regency, so the Hyatt Regency hotel it was then.

I had done the 8km swim race early that morning, had a monster of a lunch (see Exhibit A), and then had evening plans from about 6:30 so I had a small timeframe in which to do afternoon tea. So without much of appetite I went along to afternoon tea anyway. I did it on my own and didn’t bother with a reservation. There’s not much you need to book in advance for in Guam.

Exhibit A:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Afternoon tea at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Guam is in the lobby lounge. It wasn’t so crowded so I helped myself to a table and ordered the afternoon tea for two even though it was for one.

You’ll have to excuse the poor photo quality. This is probably the worst set of photos I’ve ever taken an afternoon tea. I was feeling exhausted, tired and full and obviously too lazy to use my camera functions properly.

From Guam afternoon tea

The afternoon tea set here only comes for two. So that meant double quantities of everything. It’s obviously good value if you can share it. It also works out at $14 per person if splitting. Otherwise, on your own you pay the $28 (plus service charge). At any rate, pretty cheap for a hotel afternoon tea. But I gotta say the food was pretty disappointing.

From Guam afternoon tea

Lounge and hotel interior:

From Guam afternoon tea
From Guam afternoon tea
From Guam afternoon tea

The afternoon tea includes a pot of tea of your choice. It was so good to have a cup of tea. It had been a few days since my last cup of tea. I liked the nice tall generous teapot serving:

From Guam afternoon tea
From Guam afternoon tea

I was so full and no one to share the food with, but for the sake of research, I had to try a bite of at least everything.

From Guam afternoon tea

I liked the way the platters were served though. It was a little different but cool.

From Guam afternoon tea
From Guam afternoon tea
From Guam afternoon tea
From Guam afternoon tea

The food was nothing to rave it. Not surprisingly, Guam is not a culinary destination.
The sandwiches were stout and not so appetising:

From Guam afternoon tea
From Guam afternoon tea

Somewhat on the dry side.

From Guam afternoon tea

The food seemed so carby and dry.

From Guam afternoon tea
From Guam afternoon tea

The desserts were better than the sandwiches at least.

From Guam afternoon tea

More dessert and scones:

From Guam afternoon tea

I struggled to even have a bite and sample everything. My heart wasn’t really in it. I was already full still from lunch and was knackered and dehydrated from the 8km swim. My tastebuds were still kinda funky from the saltwater.

Given that options for afternoon tea are very limited on Guam, I suppose it’s not too bad. Price tag-wise it’s very good value especially split between 2. It’s pretty ideal if you’re wanting tea and some cakes. And when you’re hungry enough, anything tastes good. Next time, I’ll just have to go there with an appetite!

From Guam afternoon tea

Tumon Bay: Postcards from Guam

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Guam is an interesting little island. It’s pretty tiny, with a population of about 160,000 inhabitants. You can see the whole island in a day if you have a car. It’s really close to Japan – only a 3.5 hour flight. It’s a popular holiday destination for Japanese people. Guam is actually a US territory but the island is a mix of Japanese, American and local influence. It is heavily catered for Japanese tourists. Pretty much all the signs are in Japanese, as well as in English. It was almost like a mini-Japan, perhaps a cross between Hawaii and Okinawa. I found that I could understand more by reading everything in Japanese, despite the fact that everyone speaks English in addition to Chamurro. Maps, menu, signs etc are all in Japanese. And most of the tourists are predominantly Japanese or Korean. At the same time, it has an American culture. Big shopping malls, large portion food and the currency is USD. There is also quite a strong military presence with a both a navy and air force located on the tiny island. The weather though is hot, humid and sunny – it’s actually pretty close to the equator.

It has beautiful bays and coastline, and jungle/bush areas. But it’s a super tiny island filled with big cars and trucks. 98% of the cars are imported from Japan. It seemed like there were more calls than people. The malls and shopping outlets are popular with tourists. They even have a 24-hour KMart store. However, there is not a single Starbucks store on the island of Guam. Another random tidbit I learnt was that there is a jail on the island. It accomodates 300 people, but currently houses about 700 people.

The main city centre area is Tumon Bay (although that is not the capital of Guam). Tumon is the tourist hub where all the hotels are. It’s really pretty and the water is amazing. It was very picturesque and relaxing. Water and sunshine is all I need.

These are all photos from Day 1 in Guam.

Our view from the hotel room overlooked this side of the bay to the right:

From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1

I enjoyed waking up to this every morning I was there:

From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1

Ahh, paradise:

From Guam day 1

This was the other side, where we headed down for a swim on the Saturday morning:

From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1

The bay was super shallow, but the water super clear. Popular for snorkelling and there was a surprising amount of fish and marinelife.

From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1

An example of appropriate and inappropriate beach footwear:

From Guam day 1

The hotel was also really nice. We had a great view from our room and it had an infinity pool.

From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1

Surrounded by water and more water:

From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1

Brace yourself: lots of photos of pretty much the same thing. But that’s my style that you’ve come to know and love.

From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1

This is why I love water and love swimming.

From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1

Sunset from the hotel room:

From Guam day 1
From Guam day 1

Guam was an awesome holiday mini-break. I would have liked to have spent more time there. I managed to squeeze in a lot for a short amount of time. Saturday was mostly hotel-bound and admiring the views of the bay, aside from a small swim session and resting up before the 8km swim race. Sunday was then spent recovering the 8km swim, so I really didn’t do a lot of sightseeing over the weekend.

Cocos Island Swim Race Report: Guam 8km swim race

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

I owe you quite a few blog updates. The blogging has taken a backseat lately. When I haven’t been at work, I’ve been swimming training. For the last 5-6 months I have been (secretly) clocking up miles in the pool. Since January 1st of this year, I have logged about 220km in the pool. I have been in training for a year (being 2014) of endurance open water swimming.

My main event for the year was the Guam Cocos Island Crossing swim – 5mile (8km) swim race. I’m pleased to say that I finished it and was happy with my performance.

The race was on Sunday June 1. The days leading up were tiring.

I got a massage on the Thursday night (I’ve enjoyed incorporating massages into my training routine).

Here’s a rundown of it all.

Friday looked like this: Start work at 9am (a little earlier than usual). Finished work at 5:30pm and headed straight for Narita airport. Lugging wheelie suitcase throughout Tokyo and up and down stairs was a bad move. Carrying suitcase upstairs strained my arms a bit. They were sore the next day. I needed to be in tip top condition for Sunday’s race. I usually travel with a backpack and usually don’t lug the wheelie suitcase around. Bad move, bad move. Flight was just after 9pm. Arrived into Guam at 2am.

In the early hours of Saturday morning at 3am, I checked into the hotel at Guam and literally just crawled into bed. What a long day. Swimming friend, Lisa, was also doing the race and had arrived earlier and was already asleep.

Saturday – having only gotten into bed at 3am, I reluctantly got up at 9am for a casual training session. We headed down to the beach and set off for a swim at Tumon Bay. The place was gorgeous. And the view from our hotel was awesome. I hadn’t been able to check it out earlier. The Bay area is beautiful – clear waters, sunshine. Amazing. We did a a slow relaxed swim. I cut mine a bit short as I was super exhausted, but Lisa continued on. I headed back in to the hotel to grab some food. It was about 11am, so it was more an early lunch. Then went back to hotel room to rest. I was a bit sleep-deprived and the heat was a bit draining. The sightseeing would have to wait until after the race. Before I knew it I had fallen asleep into a long power nap. Lisa woke me up at 4:30pm. Ugh, time to get up for the pre-race briefing which was from 5-6pm. We got our race caps and tshirts and a briefing (which was all in Japanese). As we had to register in Japan we were kind of lumped in with the Japanese participant contingent – we were all at the same hotel and had a separate briefing etc.

After the briefing we ventured off for dinner. Settled for a nice carb dinner of spaghetti at an Italian restaurant.
It was then time for an early night. We were in bed by 9:30pm, coz that’s just how I roll on a Saturday night! Next day was gonna be an early start and I had only managed handfuls of sleep at a time in the 24 hours prior.

Sunday morning: Lisa was up at 3am to do her pre-race getting ready ritual. I am not a morning person and I rolled out of bed at 4am and straight into my cossies. Got all my gear together and then we headed down to the lobby.

Pre-race fuel packing:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Fruit salad was breakfast, which I had purchased the day before. Plenty of fluids to sip on to stay hydrated – mostly water, coconut water and sips of gatorade as well. I didn’t end up eating the Cliff Bar and only ate one banana, although had planned on and should have eaten two. And some sports liquid (gel).

Here is what I packed for post-race replenishment:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Didn’t end up eating half of that stuff after the race. But better to be prepared. Basically we had to bring all food and supplies as there would be no opportunity to purchase anything after the race and the one-hour bus ride back. Better to have all the junk food on hand. Just think of all those calories that I would burn off and that needed to be replaced.

There was bus for the Japanese group that would take us to the race venue. Bus left at around 5am and we got to Merizo Pier – the south end of Guam at about 6am. I ate a breakfast of fruit salad on the bus on the way.

Merizo was about an hour away. Some pics of the coastline from the bus window along the way:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Weather and water conditions were looking favourable. Flat and glassy.

We arrived about 6am at Merizo Pier. Race time was at 7am. There were 2 course options: 4km or 8km.
The 4km race started at Cocos Island and you swam to Merizo. This has been the original race course for about 20 years. Swimmers are required to take the ferry across to Cocos Island. A ferry takes the swimmers across there.
Only in the last couple of years have they offered the 8km swim, which is start at Merizo, swim to Cocos Island and then back to Merizo.

Race course:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Time to Grease Up courtesy of the Vaseline table:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Vaseline helps to protect against jellyfish and chafing.

We could see out to Cocos Island. And there was a rainbow. It was a good sign.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Water looked flat for now but it would change once we started swimming.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Cocos Island:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

The course marked by about 15 buoys was a curved route, not the most straightest direct route. And the 4km and 8km swimmers all started at 7am. So the 8km swimmers had to make sure to stay right of the buoys so we wouldn’t swim into the oncoming 4km swimmers.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

I guess it doesn’t look too far….

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Water temp was warm about 24-25 degrees. My ideal water temp although for a long distance race it could have been a bit cooler as it definitely got warm out there as we were swimming. Air temp was in the 30s.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Ready or not:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Number #302. Mind the 4am bedhair that I’m rocking. Not looking my finest in these pics.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Pre-race selfie. All greased up. Goggles. Check. Swim cap. Check. Cossies. Check. Shoulders. Check.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Just after 7am we were off. There weren’t many of us in the 8km swim. As it turned out, only 28 of us. This meant that most of us would be swimming our own race as we’d all be spread out over the 8km swim. They had a couple of hundred swimmers in the 4km swim though. I started off ok. The water was nice and I was really enjoying the swim. It was fun for about the first 2km. There were lots of buoys to follow so that made sighting easy but then they seemed to get further and further apart. I kept swimming but goddamn it that island did not seem to be getting closer. I started to worry a little. I was not getting closer to the island at all. Was there a current? Was I getting pushed back? Was the island being moved further back? Was I moving at all? Were my arms working? Was this all a dream and the alarm clock was going to go off any minute? Sadly the latter was not the case. Nothing to do but keep pushing forward a little stronger.
Lots to think about when you’re swimming 8km.

I thought to myself: “by the time I get to the island/halfway point that will only have been 4km and I have to do it again to go back”. The thought of doubling that and doing another 4km was overwhelming. I even half-wished I would get stung by a jellyfish just so I would have a reason to quit the race. The 4km was mentally tough even though I do 4km most days at the pool. I had trouble sighting the turnaround point. Where was that last goddamn buoy? I didn’t want to miss it because that was where the drinks boat was going to be. Surely enough I saw it. There was a kayak sitting by the buoy. Boy, was I happy to see that. I swam up to the kayak and grabbed a cup of water. I stopped for a mini break whilst treading water. I had two cups of water, and took a gel (I had carried 2 gels with me tucked into my cossies. One for the 4km and one for the 6km point). I asked the guy for the time. It was 8:12am. Alright. Not bad. Was happy with that. 4km in 72min. I had beaten the cut-off time. There was a 75min cutoff time to reach the halfway point. I actually cleared the 4km in about 60-65min because the race hadn’t actually started until about 7:10am. Buoyed by the fact that I was within the cutoff and that I could see a handful of other swimmers behind me, I continued on. At the risk of sounding like an Nike ad, “Giving up is not an option”.

“You’re halfway done”, I told myself. “It’s all downhill. Just take your time going back. It only took you an hour to do 4km. The total race time cut off is 2hr 45min, so you’ve got another hour and half to do the last 4km, and you’re not last. There’s a bunch of people behind you. You can do it”. I entertained myself with thoughts of all the food I was gonna eat after the race. The massage to look forward to. The sightseeing. And oh, the retail therapy I would indulge in after the race. I was going up to hit up the shops as a post-race reward. I almost made a deal with myself before this swim race that I could get myself a Macbook Air if I finished this race. But I decided to save that for passing JLPT level 1 this year. Somehow, I don’t think I’ll be getting a Macbook Air this year. Anyway, I digress. Swimming is awesome for thinking a million thoughts. At least I didn’t have to count laps. Counting 4-5km worth of laps in a 50m pool gets pretty monotonous.

Swimming back to the Guam mainland was harder physically but mentally fine. Sighting was a big problem for me because basically all you saw was the giant landmass of the Guam coastline and from Cocos Island it was hard to spot at what landpoint you should be heading for. We had been told to look for a high mountain/peak with antennas/power lines. Do you know how small antennas are when you are 4km away? And floundering in the water, no less. And when you are shortsighted! One of the best things I had done in the lead up to the race was purchase myself prescription lens goggles. What a world of difference they make. If you knew where to aim for, for the finish spot, you could straight-shot the distance back, but if you couldn’t, you could follow the buoys but that was going to be a longer distance. I ended up following the buoys for most of it but kept well clear right of them so I would be in better alignment for the finish goal.

Everything was getting tired. Shoulders and elbows were getting sore. Even my upper legs were weirdly getting sore. Prior to this race, I had never actually swum 8km in one go. The furthest I ever got to was 7km in a single session, and a couple of 6km sessions. I did do 9km in one day but there was split over a 5km morning swim and a 4km afternoon swim, so 8km in one go was definitely testing me physically. I found the first 4km tough mentally though.

The water was definitely choppier as time passed, compared to the morning’s glassy conditions. Not strong chop, but small and steady and there was definitely a current as the tide picked up. It was a beautiful swimming location though, ideal for beginner endurance open water swimmers.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Finish ramp in sight. I was so happy that I had finished it. Done. Completed. Survived. Hell yeah. This had been a bucketlist swim for a while and I was glad it was over.

Lisa had finished 13min prior to me, and took some photos of me coming into the finish line:

In good form, even 8km later:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Shaky legs: Feeling weird to be vertical again.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Start and finish point:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

I loved how they had an ambulance ready and waiting at the finish line. Perfect. There was my ride home.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

The post-race selfie (to compare with the pre-race one): Feeling pretty damn happy.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

I was super happy with the achievement of swimming 8km. Was very pleased with my time of 2hrs 23 min (and 55 seconds). I got 4th female overall. And Lisa and I dominated in our age category. She took 1st place and I took 2nd place. I even scored me a medal! Fancy that (although am still waiting for that to arrive in the post due to a medal mix-up and someone took my medal home). There was also a 20min difference between myself and the 3rd place woman in our age group.

Mind the swollen goggle-y eyes:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

There were only 28 starters for the 8km and I came 14th out of all the men and women. About a third of the men were all military dudes as well, so I was up against a strong bunch of swimmers. I’m not your model swimmer. I’m basically a 30-something year old, overweight office worker. Am not tall nor lean nor even that fit, so was happy to just to swim 8km just to finish the race and swim the distance. And let’s face it, it was an excuse to go to Guam. So basically right in the middle. Pretty much an average swimmer but beat half the people there. Such results were unexpected but I was super happy. I had been super worried that I wouldn’t make the cut off time. And I had never swum 8km before either.

My tongue and lips were feeling super funky.

Cocos Island conquered. Looking pretty damn pleased with myself:

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Post-race thoughts: They recommend that you be swimming on average 25km per week in training prep for this swim. Whoa. Really?! I had only been doing about 15km per week. The swim conditions were favourable, I thought, compared to a rougher water ocean swim. I didn’t come across any jellyfish which was awesome. Although jellyfish are a problem for this swim. Water was clean and clear. I got few stings/bites from sealice etc which caused some discomfort during the swim. I didn’t do the swim as comfortably as I thought I would have. So yes, I definitely recommend swimming 20-25km a week. I could have trained more, but time constraints make that difficult. I actually felt like I did a lot of training for this swim, but if I had wanted to finish in a faster time and to do it more comfortably, I definitely would need to train more. For my goals, what I did was sufficient and doable. More training would have led to an imbalance in my lifestyle. For 8km, I always knew I could do the distance. It was more a matter of could I do it in the allocated race time limit. I could potentially have shaved off a couple of minutes if I had wanted to. eg reduce rest/fuel time at the turnaround point. Between the 4-8km mark up, I was also taking periodical sips from my second gel. I also took my time in the second half. The second 4km took me about 10 minutes longer to complete than the first 4km.

Overall though, I felt pretty good considering, after the race. I drank lots. Didn’t have much of an appetite until a couple of hours later. It took several hours for my tastebuds to adjust again. Lips were swollen and pruny. I will admit that I must have peed been about 8 times during the race. This is why I love open water swimming as opposed to a pool. But by the time I got out of the water, I was in dire need of an actual toilet. An 8km swim in the open water is definitely going to cause some bowel movement.

It was then back onto the bus for the trip back to Tumon. On the way back, our bus temporarily broke down along the side of the road.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Race started at about 7am and I was done and out of the water by about 9:30am. The day had barely even begun.

Back to the hotel room, for a much needed shower and relax time. We then had a big celebratory lunch.
Cue meat coma. Needed the protein, what can I say.

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

Thank Guam for US-sized portions!

From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race
From Cocos Island Crossing OWS race

And I enjoyed a well-deserved massage later that evening. The poor shoulders and arm!

So that’s my main personal big swim race challenge for the year done. I think I’ve decided that I want to do a destination swim every year. It needn’t be a long swim, just a destination swim race.
I have also stupidly signed up for a 10km swim race later on this yea…well, actually in a couple of weeks time. And not just one 10km swim race but 2! One of them is not until later on though so have another 2 months to train to get up to 10km. Ugh. I blame my housemate. Somehow I’ve been roped into doing them. Thus, the swim training continues. Why do I do this to myself?

Local news wrap up of the race.

And I appear in photo 26 of the photo gallery. Not. At. All. Flattering.

OWS swim #1 2014: Minami-Atami swim (1.5km)

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

It’s that time of year again – the open water swimming season, that is.
I’ve been training hard, or at least training, for the last 6 months or so.
Miles make the champions, so they say.
This year will be the year of some long-distance swims for me, so stay tuned for some hopefully interesting swim race reports.

Swimming has been consuming much of 2014 so far.

First race of the season was last Sunday. Just a baby one of 1.5km. It was technically an aquathlon event, but they did also have a 1.5km swim only option which I signed up for, but only because I knew a couple of other people were going to be there as well. It was a long way to go for 1.5km. Down at Minami-Atami Nagahama beach. Took over 2 hours to get there. But I wanted do at least one open water swim in race conditions before this weekend’s big swim. I also need to practice swimming with gels in my cossies.

The day was warm and humid despite being a little overcast. The water was flat as.

From Minami-Atami OWS 2014
From Minami-Atami OWS 2014
From Minami-Atami OWS 2014
From Minami-Atami OWS 2014
From Minami-Atami OWS 2014

Here is us testing out the water:

From Minami-Atami OWS 2014

The water was surprisingly cold. A chill 19 degrees. I had gone to the beach the day before at Onjuku, and whilst it was refreshing, I was not prepared for how cold it would be down Atami way. Water felt a lot colder. I struggled with it at first.

Our little swimming posse:

From Minami-Atami OWS 2014

I have an extremely high kick in this photo:

From Minami-Atami OWS 2014
From Minami-Atami OWS 2014
From Minami-Atami OWS 2014

The 500m distance was up first, and then they moved the buoys out for the 1500m. It was supposedly a 750m course of which we were to do two laps.

Number 502 is ready to race!

From Minami-Atami OWS 2014

I felt strong and fast through the swim. Everyone went hard out to the first bouy and it felt like I was back of the pack, but come the second buoy I was lapping everyone. And kept lapping more people as did the second lap. I felt fast. But the course also felt short. Really short. It must have been less judging by our times. For a supposed “1.5km”, I got a time of 16min and 39 seconds. My guess is that it was only about a 1km or so. I had a gel pack with me (not that I was going to drink it) and I lost it before I even got to the
first buoy. Must tuck it fully into my cossie. Lesson learnt.

Lisa and I were the only two females in the swim event. She took out 1st place and I took second. She had beaten me by a minute. Such a shame that it was not a proper 1.5km course. How do they even measure these distances? They were basically just riding out jet skis and moving the buoys. But how do they measure the course?

From Minami-Atami OWS 2014

I got a second place female medal. And came 5th place overall (male and female) for the 1.5km swim race.

Indonesia Day 1: Taman Sari Water Castle

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Back to Yogyakarta on day 1.
After checking out the Palace, we walked onwards to the Taman Sari Water Castle which was nearby and a hell of a lot easier to find the the Palace.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jW-ypb9PEKONoUEGkJ1RRd0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k3KWZIDABHU/U2o8DAxyW3I/AAAAAAACkzk/YkoukME9jxo/s640/DSC_0104.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uJ0XWK8DmtvQizw_G_8Oct0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qC7wrs_lMX4/U2o8DCVfV4I/AAAAAAACkzw/KSfTYGgB2Ik/s640/DSC_0105.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

Passed a chick on the street:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iuUiF0p8KNKf7aJ03xvRSt0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q_pB6dlfsx4/U2o8ERq839I/AAAAAAACkz8/W-nWVzg07cE/s640/DSC_0108.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

Being all about water myself, I was keen to check out the Taman Sari Water Castle, but it wasn’t very big at all. Just a few old half empty pools. Nevertheless it was kinda chill and a chance to take a seat and get some respite from the heat. It’s always very relaxing to be near water – a natural energy.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xXaJHtaLJza-l07sxnEq990ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fcW9cQ2C13o/U2o8FtjxQDI/AAAAAAACk0Q/8tthgRTL3Zk/s640/DSC_0111.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RQ4mIICZVnBAs1MaNJDAUN0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6K4ucGAHNns/U2o8Go62a_I/AAAAAAACk0o/m1wl320wtbw/s640/DSC_0113.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iyI2teu4IYbz4Nj0IrN-Nt0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mUTC4PMh8Bo/U2o8HADXD_I/AAAAAAACk0w/M1PQPCZiOfA/s640/DSC_0115.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ws4gS-vBaSqWis06CriOtN0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v-CKfgdphWw/U2o8H-CvTmI/AAAAAAACk1A/-tIxZd2zKGI/s640/DSC_0117.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/etVXgm1VopS4BEauJIw2Lt0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KYJYYX_VIvw/U2o8I2ftUTI/AAAAAAACk1U/hXcpP3w-nzk/s640/DSC_0116.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IEburiAo6mn-HLS-xXFBAt0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-op_oLrwBQgA/U2o8JWI2pPI/AAAAAAACk1Y/bxo59BgwcBk/s640/DSC_0120.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gvPHOQarkcXJ7QQLjO5BW90ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KSV4lcBbSrg/U2q-vkeRzcI/AAAAAAACl8E/-Ut_1FDNS-8/s640/IMG_7624.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6HNAR1g5KxgVOpo1ZnSzoN0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TljsI93tct4/U2o8LXAbXdI/AAAAAAACk2Q/oODnVxp57SI/s640/DSC_0125.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vW_7otuFu_X7MUI__NjWSN0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JIpu0LGLy4g/U2o8MCvsPPI/AAAAAAACk2Y/nW8SFYtwChE/s640/DSC_0127.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-7rsqmBFVTL95LcuCPG7Pt0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LrhqA6qNzMA/U2q-w6VrdFI/AAAAAAACl8c/v-leC323RqE/s640/IMG_7628.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X7-iWnDjIsuow9hibRaQd90ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-55ylFRbuacg/U2q-w5fhiFI/AAAAAAACl8Y/46YOd7zmoMc/s640/IMG_7629.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kYPctEln_MTakXaOVPDZH90ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9WeEm9Lz2s0/U2o8OY947tI/AAAAAAACk3E/bhh-j-UCIc8/s640/DSC_0132.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4PEo-g0z-MlvM0bGPStkUt0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DHH3hBHSjm4/U2o8PUXwSZI/AAAAAAACk3Q/SIaH2HzasII/s640/DSC_0134.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MuqXG8U6gsqPCVamB0-ugN0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jhf9DjZamwg/U2q-9Zf_2xI/AAAAAAACl8k/AyI6Os2Eiqk/s640/IMG_7651.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/klZj-KLvNf8s6ACa-rhBdt0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DGXQsoBeoRg/U2o8Qw_G3PI/AAAAAAACk3o/JIEP8k7LHPA/s640/DSC_0136.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

View over the local rooftops:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/W49dpIrk8NfzG1fL0wpuQN0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R2Wy1ovRfgs/U2o8RJZ39gI/AAAAAAACk3w/i_7xVqkLt6Q/s640/DSC_0137.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZMIvYbkf4wMaoLoxEIqiTN0ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NMoTyfy6XYc/U2o8R65SQJI/AAAAAAACk38/FYR_qSfqup4/s640/DSC_0139.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QtmKDaLteBNSvVK–Zwqh90ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cesg-IFFdtM/U2o8SSb21SI/AAAAAAACk4A/at9YsFik9SA/s640/DSC_0140.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LjlVXVQ6aUaQyJB-icJxZ90ErprwCYrsut0bVWpMc2o?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EiBUPfZyek0/U2o8TDM-zzI/AAAAAAACk4M/VUHgTXgcUf4/s640/DSC_0142.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TamanSariWaterCastle?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Taman Sari Water Castle</a></td></tr></table>

Indonesia Day 1: Kraton – Yogyakarta Palace

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

We arrived into Yogyakarta on Saturday night. Therefore Sunday was Day 1 of our Indonesia trip.
It was hot hot hot.
Sunday was our designated day to sightsee the city of Yogyakarta. Most people stay in Yogyakarta as a base to see Borobudur and Prambanan further afield. It didn’t seem to me that there was a lot to do in Yogyakarta and most of the major sights can be covered in a couple of days. We had two main things on our checklist for the day: Yogyakarta Palace (the Kraton) and Taman Sari (Water castle ruins).

We set off on foot to the Palace. We kind of got lost along the way but eventually found it although we kind of came in at the wrong entrance point.

Everybody in Indonesia rides motorbike scooters. They are everywhere.
We passed a lot of bicycle shops, motorbike scooter stores, and surprisingly a lot of wooden coffin stores. Correlation or coincidence?

Another dubious store:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0NesBtbV44PhVE8yzb87FPU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xA_Ju1O6pSQ/U2o7NMBgriI/AAAAAAACkoQ/3BpA9uujQok/s640/DSC_0013.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

A becak – rickshaw vehicle where the driver rides a bicycle to transport you.
<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mgQ_lzut4gH1gLepajxDsfU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i40gsZRpzD8/U2o7NH9yUMI/AAAAAAACkoM/8BvKMFyACN8/s640/DSC_0014.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

It took us a solid half hour or so for us to finally reach the Palace with a couple of detours.
The Palace is rather unusual. It’s basically a large gounds complex with a lot of performance pagodas. You can see performances of traditional music and dance. Apparently the dance performances are only on certain days, Sunday mornings being one of them.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/–EltiyIk5PW81QkKs7rTPU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zZjHjQLErmQ/U2o7OIuVO-I/AAAAAAACkog/JJCY0xK8sXk/s640/DSC_0016.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KeGy9_j0lOgqhMki4clK_fU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0f7Yq33dd0A/U2o7PFjYlWI/AAAAAAACkos/GpVl2fHv5ik/s640/DSC_0018.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J0lsE5G3WR8sT-pdrkq1IPU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IAnryq6kAH0/U2o7RsMNG0I/AAAAAAACkpM/XmX76hVuIBw/s640/DSC_0022.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IQtuewqXoGYTmPjM2kZzq_U5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OKNk55hDoqY/U2o7VVqCa8I/AAAAAAACkps/D3j9Du58lnU/s640/DSC_0026.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

There were a lot of school groups and the kids pounce on all the foreigners/tourists to practice their English and do questionnaires in English and have their photo taken with Caucasians.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LbYKfkPEh_h15okqKkPO3_U5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jlTG9EbCOEk/U2o7WkeDhOI/AAAAAAACkp4/MLC8lh6Y120/s640/DSC_0028.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5pvZcKvO75mdRGwRC63Mv_U5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WKjr4FO7QBc/U2o7XOPFjAI/AAAAAAACkqI/jxSxtuqfm4s/s640/DSC_0030.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

Here are some tourists being mobbed by the schoolkids:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zRZpl1sZrndoDaPttuxua_U5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4KqukP2FoOE/U2o7bS0KBMI/AAAAAAACkrg/mHxNnSTTu98/s640/DSC_0039.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

The Palace is essentially a museum of sorts, but a lot of it is not really accessible nor is it very informative.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vBOjyZwU-W3F7R6j6PEhPPU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jS3WLPbqCuA/U2o7XTSQ-QI/AAAAAAACkqM/85dN6s5xftg/s640/DSC_0031.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCN74l-j3wNHryQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gqkj15Go3jS5X-w9ek-eLvU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OAhFHwMkeyY/U2o7Ykvx5kI/AAAAAAACkqg/SjxB7WvzV_4/s640/DSC_0032.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCN74l-j3wNHryQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rP7Ri4O1szEq3U-qKcKE2fU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cfVEYcP5ado/U2o7c9qUphI/AAAAAAACkrk/hZcM2IY2PjA/s640/DSC_0042.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCN74l-j3wNHryQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

The highlight and the only interesting attraction are the cultural performances.

The males dancing:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vybsYPZLu3RT_ebJPa_UWPU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wxtg_iqvuPU/U2o7k5qdk9I/AAAAAAACkso/ggWMtqx4cOg/s640/DSC_0050.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCN74l-j3wNHryQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-Q-twtUxx2bQdT2zDjA-HvU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l4l0ymfcblo/U2o7l7n2AcI/AAAAAAACks0/Ui3mZbU_zhM/s640/DSC_0052.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/71OSnYOvyZeO845sTIp_AvU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_sM3muIGnI0/U2o7m4_ac0I/AAAAAAACktI/OLxGouvUJiE/s640/DSC_0054.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SJIQT67iKs2pR32PrnTzAPU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lsWwrPsUhh4/U2o7oDeSwJI/AAAAAAACktY/mVx8yZaM6fo/s640/DSC_0056.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mlrV_yKGRCBX6rr38pYVFPU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LncZkjULmcM/U2o7po_KUyI/AAAAAAACktw/jgPoch7bePs/s640/DSC_0059.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NG7BpHfBjQZMfzjo5_lU5vU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HKBRFAFfCcc/U2o7qimF6mI/AAAAAAACkt4/AFaVgiebCgo/s640/DSC_0060.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

Got to see the females practising outside before they went in to do their performance. The girls looked so pretty and graceful.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/–h_qdLsN5TLpyUiFsB0rvU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uwJyhDZDIyc/U2o7rNNOChI/AAAAAAACkuE/DFied0jm3e4/s640/DSC_0061.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qNuw8ZGDrW7OouvzTJZf9PU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IUhXq1cKK4M/U2o7tfSalxI/AAAAAAACkuk/gZ8ONPFn2BQ/s640/DSC_0064.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0x6ZVV-XtoymT6NUkGWfVvU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iJr3uYTx76k/U2o7vxxyqaI/AAAAAAACkvQ/jMAndJhHB8w/s640/DSC_0070.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Amj72M8NCrrOV7_2R1xo6fU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FiycUvFIC2U/U2o7w1_MwFI/AAAAAAACkvk/tDOUhSudwpw/s640/DSC_0072.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kaK1pSwkQ1XgCA8-o-4KN_U5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tt8Cpu_9eSo/U2o7xTt_i1I/AAAAAAACkv0/A0znyzkrXoA/s640/DSC_0074.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GJYPQ5bWeMcP7ILg7fpJ3fU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U7kxvugOTqE/U2o7z8xPkuI/AAAAAAACkwY/mLtymf3YQRo/s640/DSC_0079.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

On stage:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NXLltluS_oh9KNLFQktvtvU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DRp5_tE2hfQ/U2o76bUMQzI/AAAAAAACkyI/mWeslXp26EI/s640/DSC_0095.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/C67SzFA_DrT_pwmQPEAjE_U5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0VrAvMXQmr0/U2o78kUzxXI/AAAAAAACky4/eVACFXSZ54s/s640/DSC_0099.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h00l1sS8ZRsRwQBR8zBEhfU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1RkwkbXsn0U/U2o77sA2f3I/AAAAAAACkyg/1yhWRoCaMyY/s640/DSC_0098.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Jj2MVGiapCiw27BEgEkCiPU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pcQE-3Sy48g/U2o79D6flNI/AAAAAAACky0/SoDDU5y_Ot4/s640/DSC_0101.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9W0FhJzLAn-FUzRl6MsU7PU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ib7vrazdweg/U2o79fplyjI/AAAAAAACkzA/Oc3d6DHwQhc/s640/DSC_0102.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

Other parts of the Palace:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/l60mNNdgA8XC328Yl8Q_9vU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9TYL3_pwhb4/U2o72r_b1XI/AAAAAAACkxA/cp_kSMDLgGk/s640/DSC_0085.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OlWjmxysdHQZLgEEfu6XPvU5QC8SDchkDIvDpg7-jbE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ODRU_xEe2Us/U2o72yPaoNI/AAAAAAACkxM/9nRxriTYRlo/s640/DSC_0086.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/YogyakartaPalace?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Yogyakarta Palace</a></td></tr></table>

One of the things I observed throughout the trip was that very few buildings in Indonesia seemed to be built above one storey. All the buildings are flat. It doesn’t have that metropolis skyrise effect. Everything was just single storey buildings, Not a lot of high rise apartment buildings nor apartments for that matter. Even most of the hotels, hospitals etc weren’t built much higher than 4 floors. Everything was built flat and spread out rather then built upwards and underground. Perhaps because Indonesia is prone to a lot of earthquakes and volcano eruptions. But I noticed that everything was built low and out rather than up. Huge contrast to Japan where space is scarce and so everything is built up and down with numerous multistory buildings and a huge underground network.

Indonesia Day 2: Borobudur

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Have recently just got back from Golden Week holiday in Indonesia . Had an amazing adventurous time. Only spent about 10 days there. Way too short. I totally loved Indonesia. Definitely warrants another visit. So much to see and do there. Only went to Java Island and Lombok region.

Went with a friend flying from Haneda to Yogyakarta on Java Island. We decided to avoid Jakarta although we did have a layover there enroute.

On the second day upon arrival in Yogyakarta we went out to Borobudur about 1.5-2 hours from Yogyakarta. Borobudur is pretty amazing. It’s the world’s largest Buddhist temple. The stupas (bell-like mounds) are really cool to see. Just the scale of the place is pretty amazing.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XSxsUuqJk-_vgKChpIfPbpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8gWNLuqbeog/U2o-rGzBMYI/AAAAAAAClFo/eyWI71NPy2o/s640/CSC_0412.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZHJPY4Ou6uwbKaLR0QihZpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xt8HWkIaGtk/U2rCC7QNDJI/AAAAAAACmGE/Ku7rqxCneFw/s400/IMG_7799.JPG&#8221; height=”400″ width=”400″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/28pXHK2vv378AT0FKpGZY5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qWFSJTRxBRQ/U2rCC5sG9II/AAAAAAACmGA/4SUptqaOEko/s400/IMG_7798.JPG&#8221; height=”400″ width=”400″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

There are apparently 72 of these stupors.

Entry into the grounds of Borobudur requires all visitors to wear a sarong (provided) regardless of what you are wearing.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/STu8sPVkBZgXjTrBbCbxZJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Y47rFnfh0OA/U2o-t6GaBDI/AAAAAAAClGE/ZKfOAG03VPE/s400/DSC_0290.JPG&#8221; height=”266″ width=”400″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

Pretty fashionable stuff. Cheesy poses are mandatory at all touristy places.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NaU_bugxFYaNlcBATABOnZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ALtvdVpz01w/U2rBkzi9x5I/AAAAAAACmEM/AgJ66f75CxM/s400/IMG_7726.jpg&#8221; height=”400″ width=”300″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HLTXAwr76Ba0RzLQDucr6pHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r-rthK5sdTQ/U2rCC2J72gI/AAAAAAACmF8/HIZHcK4xL1A/s640/IMG_7797.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NduJ2T231qlVspmSti5Ch5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aMZzFIvmSwY/U2rBiXUlKzI/AAAAAAACmDY/TlY3AVYPI4k/s640/IMG_7719.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

The grounds are pretty massive surrounded by various gardens and forest. So lush and green, surrounded by low-hanging mist.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rLid8gv0Rw7uM8NCpiO8qpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cB-NChVhKnU/U2o-rXHUEYI/AAAAAAAClFs/n16Fyw3KgG4/s640/DSC_0288.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VHKEdbiQ8xC1j_FyfSDdu5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hmTkd4GNYSQ/U2o-rnzFX1I/AAAAAAAClFw/tsqwQ02rJoU/s640/DSC_0289.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AlCnyfV6gpaZGsZMRrMNT5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MiZaWtccvOs/U2o-xbLwBWI/AAAAAAAClGs/qAZotmbMbhg/s400/DSC_0296.jpg&#8221; height=”400″ width=”266″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

The temple consists of a few different tiers:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Fv6BssVWoAkOGL-bfJltKpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LfCX2nBAlQQ/U2o-y38km4I/AAAAAAAClHA/IfbhQfoGhKI/s640/DSC_0299.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g4yDX9j1LuMwgdduUKrDBJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WmY2US64idE/U2o-1EjEeHI/AAAAAAAClHU/EkOwxh8c6y0/s640/DSC_0301.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cHMFxqzycBuIuMxRgZr2RZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xpvp_nzFUnc/U2rBUpnuQNI/AAAAAAACl_A/SiKjiYbp3dE/s640/IMG_7682.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

Most people are eager to climb up straightaway to check out the stupas, but the correct ritual is to actually walk around the whole complex three times in clockwise motion. We took the time to do this before entering the temple getting a 360 degree view of the place, all three times.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JcqJhgiiFSdizWQdXSn6yZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nqwlmuICQuQ/U2o-13b1J3I/AAAAAAAClHc/sIhUc0VU1LQ/s640/DSC_0302.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vfsJEHf1xMBtuRduhCUtu5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s0ZDmbrO56U/U2o-2LKuHwI/AAAAAAAClHk/xkGPbIGYSZI/s640/DSC_0303.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zIScaIwysJPBV_nuyBOOmJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-saGNVv2WrSg/U2o-2rLIHkI/AAAAAAAClIE/Jl3SUKrXw3c/s640/DSC_0304.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fV7V3a2JJ6zfh-pxO-_RE5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-arNwaUc3r18/U2o-27Gy6II/AAAAAAAClHw/JpvvpSxSF84/s640/DSC_0305.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCNfG_eeXhKzSwwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/v3ScQZW6Xn92fEF60tIZk5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iDb8fWKpTDE/U2o-8WpbX4I/AAAAAAAClJk/e07YpXOa6Ck/s640/DSC_0317.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/juZVlnTmc_DS_cIY6qePaJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sHkZL8FdwjM/U2o-9Zdsj0I/AAAAAAAClJo/UN5p0WiSrr8/s640/DSC_0319.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ezvIWuMsmV5N9vH2n87NxZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PEl4eT1Y_YA/U2pAAC4mSII/AAAAAAAClZM/BvE0hEXm5Og/s640/DSC_0453.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yzjsMYh8_eHnZoWNPZ_DSpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wja7roqmtiU/U2o–FyxOfI/AAAAAAAClKA/vAPenTKOSIg/s640/DSC_0323.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

The stupa mounds are pretty fun to look at. They kinda look like bells or Hershey kisses or short-handled toilet plungers. They’re so photogenic, one cannot stop taking photos of them. There is after all, 72 of them to look at. And you betcha that I’m going to post a photo of every.single.one.of.them. Just kidding. But I did take a hell of a lot of photos.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/opIOnyl03DOXGu9HgM_ybpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S4KGHrZ_KJ8/U2o_H5py0ZI/AAAAAAAClM8/C6ep64bB78w/s640/DSC_0351.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/O5YjXC5xENZaLCGlzj_fLpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SgOhaofnX9k/U2o_HZvkJaI/AAAAAAAClM4/AA8WncQDBFU/s640/DSC_0350.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YNgoZWLb6mBh7Z66ux2yE5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UbR4KAEXRyA/U2o_JuBQ9JI/AAAAAAACmNI/jyIteMhjQnI/s640/DSC_0355.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fJ2Qp_x1W2QLEkZt2Vspx5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Et6_TOLTmDw/U2o_JqF7BOI/AAAAAAAClNk/GXMEfPoLw7M/s640/DSC_0356.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/t47Xv3pDnzC215i2bOWML5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bRRbyyXEkxY/U2o_MF_ReZI/AAAAAAAClOQ/LHrqKDM8q5A/s640/DSC_0363.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EALbEZxbdwsh_-fdhbC6a5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8js8bqspwVQ/U2o_NXL7L8I/AAAAAAAClOc/GmP5CBTzg9E/s640/DSC_0365.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h1A7Irm_zMG4Pwbh6G7WyJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZZiEHjtcn-U/U2o_OMBWKvI/AAAAAAAClOk/GjdP2uTps9Y/s640/DSC_0366.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7jj0rIMzs4ls2tn6ht-6NpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mMoZoX4gJBg/U2o_P4143BI/AAAAAAAClO0/ZIisNlmXeS0/s640/DSC_0368.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UpKdRBCIxirZttWPO-UyWpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sBYYZ_icpRY/U2o_RsSSwuI/AAAAAAAClPc/ilFMOf4hqIo/s640/DSC_0373.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RVNnLFY2USQD6T_T0TfEjJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-twXLojGnFUY/U2o_R3FUv7I/AAAAAAAClPo/Ip2NHNMny1E/s640/DSC_0374.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xQsAvQ8O1-mbBhP4esRZpJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zg3uR33RjOw/U2o_SJOAGLI/AAAAAAAClPk/rkv9UWy-Rys/s640/DSC_0375.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c39VuCk2KjaA93hy1roCKJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7XVZDctn2ro/U2o_TvWnfkI/AAAAAAAClP4/4a-GNwKJ1zg/s640/DSC_0377.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MlSn0cF3URaf41_5kz4CE5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-awdbTdVwJUY/U2o_ZRyDOqI/AAAAAAAClQs/wcbJqc9XWiw/s640/DSC_0383.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pAyuBQ9nUIi2SmMKYBJr_ZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/–uOONltO-h8/U2o_c6AtZ4I/AAAAAAAClRM/auDy1ygnC58/s640/DSC_0388.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fECoyvpvWvsfag_rUnEskZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iksp-v8wleo/U2rBaTuzM4I/AAAAAAACmA8/bdap13ef01c/s640/IMG_7697.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7S0wRaR8S97LJ8UW_mlQrpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5oNjhXRsiYM/U2rBboVEJuI/AAAAAAACmBM/jLe_ANuUP-A/s640/IMG_7701.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iZKSvP9rWSPxP23WcQXPIJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q8YA24G8tJI/U2rBbarAWkI/AAAAAAACmBc/DoiN4Wkmgwo/s640/IMG_7700.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mlqa31Laqn3CIZCtTDV4sZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LzH4vwDS0bQ/U2o_irMsqtI/AAAAAAAClSM/3q5UEpzl9rk/s640/DSC_0395.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FMNE0Z2Ciz7tMZcOsCXC-pHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zZtKMwG1wD8/U2o_mtkAmZI/AAAAAAAClS0/9cRM-ka_9RY/s640/DSC_0402.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3WLYwImQbB3cHp4oRxWqVJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zFFaezdYbHk/U2rBeBj2TGI/AAAAAAACmCY/Jtnzjk0K3MM/s640/IMG_7707.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZVCaAtXUuhD1WK6zzIBAdZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RYoMe29WUCs/U2rBmaQ73RI/AAAAAAACmEs/BCdVN8OkS9k/s640/IMG_7732.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/55fGj7RErDVVGlH1nKZB-pHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q03DpP6RBlo/U2o_vAbh3CI/AAAAAAAClUI/KkrkaPjF5kY/s640/DSC_0411.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QNOaxxj7ZgZWTIL9fmIW2JHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EQT1-W1TAGQ/U2o_w5HHiAI/AAAAAAAClU0/bnN49EpnaQY/s400/DSC_0416.jpg&#8221; height=”400″ width=”266″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J_IASfEbx8wvVubQjSc4WJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n3SDKVJ95QI/U2o_znlk8-I/AAAAAAAClVo/c6qYR0l0zpk/s400/DSC_0423.jpg&#8221; height=”400″ width=”266″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_sUl-01APf0ihKWaLCBPb5HCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tHeh4rAbOsI/U2o_4YI8BKI/AAAAAAAClXE/vA3wFB8qhXA/s640/DSC_0434.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

The walls of the temple:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gvo2P1FfxYOiGDLzy87VRpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-clhLv7cuGME/U2o_5VR5vtI/AAAAAAAClXM/oAMMXQsNj7w/s640/DSC_0436.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/P1qOmp1ms2hbZ5sA544lBpHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uNBOwOv95ek/U2o_6WK9LSI/AAAAAAAClXk/FKFYko-xCJw/s640/DSC_0439.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZUkPtC4_ktjGctLouYEd4JHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qiHOpZcs9io/U2o_655cstI/AAAAAAAClXw/u_0-9QAOIws/s640/DSC_0440.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

Check out all the Buddha carvings into the concrete:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HmurpCfJ__VXjQ3H1BuG4JHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z71hEJ1GqTQ/U2rBndu8mlI/AAAAAAACmFM/zh6eiH3mltQ/s640/IMG_7735.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-f6jNmqYD3TJV9hMXuCvopHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hln1lqifS0Q/U2o_7tO9g0I/AAAAAAAClX8/4rH_qxGTAbw/s640/DSC_0442.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vLJblRR6pdGxd0hUZFwwepHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F0bZ0Ez5AHk/U2pAB1BlNOI/AAAAAAAClZs/zFmNSeykzy4/s640/DSC_0456.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g_dbRy3LG7KqBFT-6Ja8VJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o9vK-nVU8b4/U2rBYZEFVcI/AAAAAAACmAQ/EGeRLp4luDk/s640/IMG_7692.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

A walk through the garden grounds:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uRUQQU_a0YqlwSX78PzqEJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-497XpTK2npg/U2pAErIoowI/AAAAAAAClaw/cmPHcL0MnbE/s640/DSC_0464.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tXMOxSeiWVD0W0gHLlDT8ZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-83AUAqE82_o/U2pAE79U_oI/AAAAAAAClao/w08ai0R0b_E/s640/DSC_0465.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T_9Inmb5-Tvefm2WFTg8PJHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BfEW-1YhNDU/U2pAGmhYA-I/AAAAAAAClbI/fRB7nbOYdWg/s640/DSC_0469.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

We had to pass through a maze of street stalls strategically placed enroute to the ground exit full of sellers selling their wares and touristy knick knacks.

Mmmm coconut. I love fresh coconut water.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/111lk-X7AHrUcC8-DEK21ZHCYBtANBcX0ZiJ3pYmzlE?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tUkxwnA9xSA/U2pAIJW_c_I/AAAAAAAClbg/seveP4EdHbQ/s640/DSC_0472.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Borobudur?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Borobudur</a></td></tr></table&gt;

Borobudur is Indonesia’s single most popular tourist attraction. I can see why.

Indonesia Day 2: Prambanan

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Borobudur (the Buddhist temple) was then followed by a visit to Prambanan – a Hindu temple. It too, is a popular tourist destination in Indonesia. The city of Yogyakarta is the best place to base your stay for seeing Borobudur and Prambanan. We combined the tour into a single day tour, spending a couple of hours at each. It’s best to join a tour as they are not easily accessible by public transport. There are half day tours left, right and centre for Borobudur and Prambanan. We did the sunrise version which meant getting up at 3am to see the sunrise over Borobudur (more to come on that later). This meant that the tour was done by about 1:30-2pm. The last stop was Prambanan – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia, and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. It was kind of Angkor Wat-esque.

Again upon entry, we had to don sarongs that were provided. Entry into both Borobudur and Prambanan require visitors to wear sarongs. We also went through the foreigner entrance. Both places include a light refreshment upon entry – tea, coffee, water.

From Prambanan

Very little information at these tourist attractions are provided in English save for a few notice boards. A lot of the museums were also in Indonesian only. And even though we went on a tour group, there was no guide. Just a driver.

Prambanan suffered some considerable damage during an earthquake. It was also closed to the public earlier this year after being affected by a recent volcanic eruption.

As usual, lots of pics (albeit not very good ones).

The main entrance:

From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan

The weather was insanely warm in Indonesia. All we did was sweat all day. So hot. The kind of place where you have the ac on all night at 18 degrees. And there seemed to be very little shade. I was just constantly hot and sweaty.

From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan

This was what was inside one of the temples:

From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan

Rock carvings:

From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan

Now, I’ll tell you what seemed to be all the rage in Indonesia. Brace yourself.
The selfie stick!
Yes, a stick in which you can attach your smartphone to take a selfie pic.
Short arms? No problem. The selfie stick is here to help.

From Prambanan
From Prambanan

I do believe it is someone’s birthday next week. (Nudge, nudge, hint, hint.)

My friend who I travelled with was mobbed everywhere we went. The worst was at the Yogyakarta Palace. But here at Prambanan, she got mobbed again by schoolchildren. They like foreigners. And be foreigners, they like Caucasian English-speaking foreigners. They all wanted photos with her. She was constantly being asked to have photos taken and even fill in homework questionnaires. The schoolkids were given questionnaires to ask various tourists.

From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan
From Prambanan

Borobudur: Check.
Prambanan: Check.
And it was only our second day there.

Hakuba Ski Resort in Photos

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Given my debilitating bout of hay fever that comes with the arrival of Spring, it means that Winter is over. Bring on summer, I say.

No more snowboarding for this season. Ended the season about 2 weeks ago at Nozawa.

But last month, I got to snowboard at Hakuba for the first time. Had only ever been there briefly in the summer many years ago. Hakuba was full of Aussies! Soooo many Aussies! And we’re not a classy bunch. The hotel we stayed at was full of Aussies. We took the shink there this time and then a connecting bus, given the previous week’s failed attempt to get to the ski resort due to the snowpocalypse.

This is how you travel in style:

From Hakuba snow weekend

View from the window of the accommodation, right at the base of the ski slope:

From Hakuba snow weekend

Hakuba is a great ski resort for the village vibe and its facilities. It’s also quite international – plenty of bars and dining options and a few onsens as well. It was one home to the Nagano Winter Olympics back in 1998.

From Hakuba snow weekend

Hakuba ski resort consists of 7 separate mountains, so you need to select your mountain pass options wisely. And the mountains are connected by free shuttle buses. Over two days, we managed to board at 3 of the mountains. Happo-One is best for skiers, not snowboarders. And the runs are quite steep and moguly.

Iwatake was great as was Tsugaike (athough Tsugaike is probably a little more beginner-friendly). Iwatake was pretty ideal out of the three we visited. Would have liked to have spent more time at Tsugaike but only managed to do a couple of runs there.

It was an awesome weekend though. Bluebird days and the mountains and the vista were absolutely majestic.
If a picture speaks a 1000 words, then consider this blog post Homer’s Iliad.

From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend

Ogle the Mogles:

From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend

EPIC:

From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend
From Hakuba snow weekend

Snow business: Sayonara Nozawa

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Have managed to snowboard at about 6 different ski resorts this winter season. Last weekend was my final trip for the season. Back to Nozawa again.

It’s time to Suit Up!

From Snow business Nozawa 2014

Off to a BOARD meeting:

From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014

There’s no business like snow business, baby!

From Snow business Nozawa 2014

Just wearing my jump suit:

From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014

Gone fishing:

From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014

Conditions were awesome in Nozawa, particularly the Saturday. Lots of fresh powder. Lots of practice going through the trees. I’m still not that good. We did have a bit of a scare when we fully got buried in the powder and couldn’t get out.

Trees and Powder:

From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014

This was the 3.2km (mostly narrow) Skyline run on the Sunday. It requires a section that goes slightly uphill!

From Snow business Nozawa 2014
From Snow business Nozawa 2014

Now that winter is over, bring on summer! Sunshine, swimming, beach and SUPing. That’s what I’m talking about.