Blogs from Solo, Java, Indonesia, Asia
February 20th 2012
JAVA...Erotic Temples. Solo... (Surakarta)...65 kms NE of Yogyakarta in Central Java... known as the Capital of Batik...one of the cradles of Javanese culture...also famous for Javan dance. It is also the home of "Jamiah Islamiah"...the radical jihadist group responsible for the Bali bombings. As a result...Joe said...Solo was often avoided by tourists. The bombing of a Protestant Church in Solo in September 2011...by a suicide bomber...seemingly did not assist the local tourist industry. But 36 kms East of Solo...on the western slopes of Lawu volcano...are two temple sites that are guaranteed to take your mind off fears of terrorism...and cast your mind to another time and place...unique in Java and S-E Asia...the erotic temples Sukuh and Ceto...one like a Mayan pyramid. Built in the 15th Century A.D...they are the last Hindu temples built in Java...before Islam ... read more
November 21st 2011
My dad tells me it isn't wise to use too many photos here, but as usual my hearing is selective. Candi is the Indonesian word for temple and Solo is the name of the town near the mountains where I visited this past weekend in Central Java Indonesia. The journey through the mountains reminded me of Chiang Mai, but of course it also didn't. I love the landscape in the mountains and talking with the local folks. There is nothing quite like going through the mountains on two wheels. Enjoy........................................................................................................ read more
Celebrating Eid al-Adha in Solo City with Friends from Myanmar, Afghanistan, Romania, and United States of America
Published: November 6th 2011Asia » Indonesia » Java » Solo
November 6th 2011
Eid al-Adha (Bahasa Indonesia: Idul Adha) is the biggest celebration for Muslim in all over the world after Eid al-Fitr (Bahasa Indonesia; Idul Fitri). It occurs in every Dzulhijjah 10, the month and date in Islamic lunar calendar. Indonesia, as the most populated Muslim country, of course rejoices it with both spiritual and festive spirit. Most Indonesian Muslims celebrate it in the neighborhood: preparing the meat and cooking together with neighbors. So basically, people can say that in Eid al-Fitr, they will be busy cooking with family and in Eid al-Adha, they will be busy cooking with neighbors. Then what is Eid al-Adha? For some people who do not have basic knowledge about spiritual and cultural life of Islam may think that it is mere slaughtering activity toward cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo. But for Muslims, ... read more
Solo Batik Fashion on the Street: From, By, and For People
Published: October 7th 2011Asia » Indonesia » Java » Solo
October 2nd 2011
If my city, Solo, conducts an event or festival, I then usually give information to my International friends. Like I did yesterday, I posted information through Facebook group of International students of Sebelas Maret University, the place where I work. I also sent text of information to other International students from Indonesian Art Institute, Surakarta. “Batik Fashion on the Street - for celebrating National Batik Day. Oct 2, 2011. In Solo Car Free Day area: in front of Museum Batik Danar Hadi. 6.30 am. Thank you” In fact, so many friends of mine considered that I did mistyping by putting “6.30 am”. They assumed that I supposed to type “6.30 pm” because they believed that there might be no fashion show which was very early in the morning. Sabina, my friend from Slovakia gave respond in ... read more
Vastenburg Fort - The Hidden Beauty in Solo City
Published: August 11th 2011Asia » Indonesia » Java » Solo
August 11th 2011
Vastenburg Fort….Hmmm, it was not familiar name for me in the first time I heard during the committee meeting of Solo International Ethnic Music (SIEM) Festival 2007. The head of SIEM mentioned that fort would be used as the venue of the festival. I started to seriously think. “Where was it?” or maybe I had seen before but did not know the name. In 2007, my age was about the beginning of 20s and I never heard it before, my parent and most of my Solonese friends, as well. Honestly, it was very strange. I was so curious and began to do small research. I was surprised when I first time knew the position of Vastenburg Fort. It was directly in the front of my grandfather office, Telkom Solo in Koesmanto Street, in which I often ... read more
March 23rd 2011
You know that place in movies where a car of friends breaks down and half of them are saying things like "Guy's we can't stay here." "It's weird we need to get out ASAP." And a couple others are saying, "Oh come on it's fine!" "Yeah nothing is going to happen, stop being babies!" and then they are all murdered in horrible ways, except for one that ends up laying on the side of the road all bloody from her daring escape, that's the place we ended up. We were all joking about the movie thing but I think deep down we really were a bit nervous! No transport out, no internet, probably no cell service and a volcano still decently active! I'd also come up with the scenario that in the night we"d be captured ... read more
July 24th 2010
Oli ihan tosi haikeaa lähteä saarelta keskiviikkoaamuna ja tuli heti hirveät vieroitusoireet sukelluksesta. Maanantai-illalla oli taas bileet ja Markus loisti rummuissaan, kun kitaristi oli palannut lapsensaantireissulta Manadosta. Tiistaina sukellettiin vielä kaks, just ja just 24h ennen keskiviikon lentoa eli tiukalle meni. Viimeiset dyykit oli ihan täydellisiä, nähtiin mm. metrin kokoinen kilpikonna ihan vierestä, merihevosia ja sinipilkullinen rausku. Juotiin illalla vielä drinksut biitsillä meidän sukellusoppaiden Markuksen ja Julietin kanssa. Ja aamulla käytiin vielä vilkuttamassa sukellukselle lähtijöille ennen kuin meidän vene lähti kohti Manadoa. Markus oli hajalla kun lähti meidän sijaan sukeltamaan vanhojen jenkkien kanssa… Ai niin, ne meidän jenkkifrendit olivat sitten löytäneet reissullaan 3 kilometriä korkean merenalaisen tulivuoren, josta oli jutt... read more
June 26th 2010
Tuvimos que viajar por diez horas en tren para llegar a esta ciudad donde esta una de la iglesias Christadelfianas (nuestra religión) El viaje en tren no fue del todo placentero (como cualquier viaje terrestre) , la gente comenzó a poner cobijas en el piso y acostarse a dormir así que nosotros hicimos los mismo y pusimos a los niños (Carolina, Joshua y Samantha) ahí y durmieron muy bien. Al llegar a Solo nos dimos cuenta que estábamos juzgando muy pronto al país , la gente de nuestra iglesia nos recibió muy bien e inmediatamente comenzaron a ayudarnos en búsqueda de una casa aunque no me quejo del hotel donde estuvimos por 4 días ya que era muy bonito con piscina donde los niños pasaron metidos la mayoría del tiempo. Ya al rentar la casa nos ... read more
June 5th 2010
See text in English below 24 noviembre 2009 Solo y Surakarta son dos nombres para una ciudad. Una ciudad tranquila y tradional. Compite con Yogyakarta como centro de la cultura javanesa, pero a la hora de atraer el turismo, Yogya se lleva todo y Solo se queda con nada. De hecho, sólo me crucé con un holandés en el kraton Surakarta, y hablaba bastante bien bahasa, por lo que sospecho que era residente en Indonesia. La falta de turistas se confirma al pasear por la calles. Mucha gente me sonreía y algunos me saludaban: "Hello Mister! How are you?" Eran los primeros "hello mister" que escuchaba en el país, y los únicos que escuché en la isla de Java. Después de salir de Prambanan y comer algo con Budi en el aparcamiento, nos volvimos a montar ... read more
April 11th 2010
The train between Yogyakarta and Solo is a simple commuter train taking about an hour. There I am met by Dicky, the brother of my couch surfing hostess Popy, and taken home to meet the family. Ibu (mother) is one cool chick, who spends her days sitting in a cool spot in the breezeway watching the daytime soaps in between doing the household chores. Aside from attending gym three times a week that is! She doesn't speak a word of English so I am getting to practice my Indonesian instead. Dicky is studying law, and is in the middle of midterm exams, but he still has time to show me around during the day whilst Popy is at work. Popy works in a bank full time, then is a radio announcer on the weekends, so she's ... read more
