Blogs from Solo, Java, Indonesia, Asia

Following a short train journey to Solo, we got off at the wrong train station (right city, wrong station).  To get to our hostel we had to haggle a price with the 'tricycle' man to take us there. We hate having to take these taxied bike journeys as they are so labour intensive for the poor cyclist, we cant help but feel sorry for them as they huff and pant away carrying our oversized bodies (compared to locals anyway) plus luggage. On our way to the hostel we were surprised as we passed a McDonalds, KFC and a Pizza Hut, bearing in mind Solo is the least westernised city in Java. We guess not many of todays citys can escape such franchises for long. At the same time we could count the number of western tourists ... read more

We zijn al enkele dagen in het stadje Solo, ook wel gekend als Surakarta. Het is één van Java's meest vriendelijkste steden. Hier wonen slechts 600.000 mensen, een pak minder dan Surabaya. Hier zagen we ook voor het eerst graffitikunst op een gigantisch gebouw, een pop & jazzschool tenmidden in de Kraton wijk, en hopen jongeren die bijeenkomen op hun brommers op vrijdag en zaterdagavond. Er is hier ook een indoor soccer veld én tegelijk ook dé bijeenkomst als je de zaterdagavond een optreden wil meepikken of wilt weten waar je moet uitgaan. De gesprekken komen vaak niet verder dan 'hey mister , where are you from'? En ook hier zijn de mensen totaal niet opdringerig (behalve de becak chauffeurs). De eerste nacht sliepen we in Istraya Griya , volgens de LP een aanrader. Wij hebben ... read more

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

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

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