Sharon knows best : Travelling Central Java, Part 1

...Just the beginning of my way around Indonesia.

These past few days took me on a short excursion around Central Java (Indonesia) and what a delight. I am still thinking about the wonderful rice workers I met on a tour of a rice village; walking through 2 inches of rain to see a gorgeous temple; and the exquisite traditional Javanese dance show I witnessed. This is only the cusp of my 4 day journey.

Someone I met on my journey. Covered in mud from the rice field,
but all smiles. (Borobudor village)

As many of you know I now live in the hustle and bustle, crowded, traffic crazy city of Jakarta. A place where culture is more metropolitan than traditional, yet if you look or enquire, hints of tradition still escape. The city is now filled with skyscrapers nestled in between small shack-like houses and taken over by shopping malls and eateries. Yet, food here is mouth-watering. However, in a place were over 9 million people live, work and breathe a break away at least once a month is needed.

Therefore, my need for a bit more Indonesian culture, relaxation and sightseeing came to fruition when I travelled to Yogyakarta - this small city became my gateway to the Largest Buddhist temple (Borobudur) and Hindu temple (Prambanan) in the Southeast. I love learning about cultures and am fascinated with religious practices, so this was such an enlightening trip as well as relaxing.

There was so much to see that I will have to split this post into 3...

Day 1 a

Feel free to fill yourself in on the beginnings of my trip to a secret Island called Jambuluwuk.

But on Day 2

My hired driver from Tropical Tours, Arman, took me on a wonderful journey to and through Borobudur and back to Yogyakarta for a traditional dance performance about the fable - love store - between Rama and Sinta. It is best to start your day early and if you want to join others, they say the best time to view Borobudur is at 6 am (sunrise) and sunset.

Morning: First stop - Mendut temple and monastery

3.5km east of Borobudur, this exquisite buddhist temple houses the striking 3m-high statue of Buddha sitting Western-style with both feet on the ground (the only one of it's kind in Java for sure). Far different from the Buddha in its notable lotus pose. This temple was discovered in 1836 and is still undergoing restoration.

Mendut Temple - under restoration

I wonder why Buddha is sitting non-lotus. What was he thinking?

A relief on the side of the temple

As for this monastery, two words sum it up - stunning and peaceful. Buddhist do know how to create a serene environment.

Garden and meditation at the Mendut monastery

2 of these guards protect the Buddha meditation area

Forbidden fruit at the monastery

Beautiful fish pond with Lotus flowers

Next stop - After being bombarded by souvenir sellers next to the Mendut, we were finally able to escape to the magnificent Borobudur temple.

Borobudur temple is a unique Buddhist masterpiece. Built from two million stones in the form of a colossal stupa. There are three-levels to the temple, with the top level consistent of 72 stupas, symbolizing the three-levels of Buddhist cosmology - Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness).

It was like a walk to Mecca - the steps up to the top symbolize our struggles to reach
a self not bound by physical and wordly desires.

My tour guide Minty models the Batik wrap that everyone must
wear when entering the temple.

And there it is. It just overpowers you.

There are many reliefs like these which depict the story of Buddha.

504 Buddha statues occupy this temple

A relief depicting the 6 poses (mudras) of Buddha

The most famous Buddha of the temple inside the stupa - left uncovered on purpose.

172 of these align the top level of the temple

Walking along the temple

This guided tour was about two-hours. Be warned, students on class trips will swarm you as they are told to learn their English, get your name and photo. It can be fun and rewarding at first, until you are stopped constantly during your tour.

Meet Vintu - my local motorbike tour guide from Jaker

Afternoon: The day didn't end here. Instead I took a motorbike tour up the hills and around the mountain of Borobudur. It is here I learned the modern art of making tofu and soy milk; harvesting rice; and creating pottery. These photos speak a thousand more words than I can. But the experience was life-changing.

This rice field is a co-op - those that work it and sell it live in the community

And here is where the soy bean (which they get from America) starts

After processing through the machine the soy bean is soaked and boiled then...
This guy is the Tofu/soy maker, he works alone with another woman for 8 hours a day.
The tofu is sold at local markets or kept within the community

shaken, stirred, rolled and shifted in this cloth - the liquid form in the bottom of this barrel.
Notice the underground stove to the right.

The tofu is shaped and formed and sits after processing

The liquid of the soy bean is then stirred with natural acid from the bean
and boiled for about 20-30 minutes.

Voila, my soy milk.

In the Evening: The love story of Sinta and Rama were performed on stage in a delicate and beautiful Javanese dance. The love story is a difficult one and sometimes a little confusing, but the dance was beautiful and the costumes, exquisite.