Wonderful Wednesday with Oh My Heartsie Girls - Jakarta Chapter

September is here!
Really, 3 months to go before 2018 ends.
Well, I am enjoying my stay in Indonesia and 1 month goes away quickly without me missing New York City LOL.

Replica of Borobudur's relics in The Phoenix Jogjakarta

Well, I do miss NYC but I really enjoy Jakarta and Indonesia as a whole.
By the time I wrote this, I was in Jogjakarta for a meeting.
How I love to come back here and enjoy the unique surroundings and ambience only Jogja has. I should share those beautiful places in my blog and I will!

Meanwhile, join me on Wonderful Wednesday with Oh My Heartsie Girls this week.

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#MyItchyFeet: Taman Sari, Yogyakarta

Well....

We miss Yogyakarta.
Who wouldn't?

Those who have been visiting this lovely historical city will certainly fall in love with its ageless charm.
So does my petite family :).

Before heading to the Big apple (almost a year a go...gosh, time flew!), we decided to have our family vacation to those beautiful spots in our homeland. It was a long list of great places but judging from our tight schedule and many preparations we had to do, we only managed to choose Bali and Yogyakarta. Plus Lampung, of course :).

We spent one weekend in beautiful Jogja.
Staying in one cozy hotel near Malioboro, the most hip and infamous area in Jogja, we decided to stroll around the city in becak or pedicab. One for me and Obi and one for Bo et Bapak. It proved to be the best decision :). We pretty much enjoy the rides...

So, in one of our colorful days in Jogjakarta, we spent some time in Taman Sari, Yogyakarta.
Taman Sari Water Castle, to be exact.
Let's have a look ...

Right in the proximity of the Jogjakarta Sultanate Royal complex, this water castle is famously well-known for being the bathing arena for the concubines.
Aha..the sultan's concubines :).
Imagine those pretty, young ladies bathing merrily and innocently on one of these pools.
Legend said the Sultan would throw a flower to one of those girls and she would be picked to accompany the King. I myself am not a big fan of concubine stories but my mind surely traveled through time portraying that scene in my head as our local tour guide told us this story.

Taman Sari Water Palace is truly an oasis amidst the sun-scorching day in Jogjakarta. 
It usually soars up till almost 40 degree celcius in midday, so you can imagine how refreshing it is to see this cool pool complex :).

don't you wanna dive in :)

Showing an elegant mixture of Javanese architecture filled with Javanese philosophy and European influence, Taman Sari Water palace was built by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I back in the late 17th century. Taman Sari itself means the garden of flowers, reflecting the beautiful flowers they used to have in the surrounding complex, although now what is left and being well-restored is only the bathing complex.

By the time we arrived at the gate, our local guide a.k.a our becak driver has recited the beautiful stories when this bathing complex was more than just pools. It used to cover four different areas consisting of the artificial lake and a few bathing complex for the kings, the kings' families, and the concubines.

We got in to the complex from the east gate, showing two giant snakes (as the guardians, I suppose) and ornate flowers. They call it Gedhong Gapura Panggung. 

We managed to see the tower where Sultan observed the ladies enjoying the cool water and later threw a flower to his choice. Some enclaves are beautifully positioned as well, fun to explore.

Bo, Obi and I :)

My local guide also shown us the  traditional spa spot, where those concubines picked by the Sultan prepared themselves before meeting the king. It was indeed a very interesting spot, where they put all those natural herbs and perfume for the ladies.

Then we went to Gedong Mangkaran as well, at the back of the complex, through Gerbang Carik.

We ended the tour by exiting through the eastern gate or called Gedhong Gapura Hageng. 

Really love the ornate details in this gate...right face a square where we bought es cendol :). 

We noticed that this historical complex has been surrounded by settlements and houses as well. I guess that's why some of the original complex of this water palace is gone :(. 

I just found out that this beautiful palace is tentatively listed as World Heritage Site. 

Well, for sure, when we visited this lovely place, it was packed with tourists like us as well as foreigners. So, I guess, the legend of the famous concubines bathing merrily in these pools attract people's attention. It was too bad that we didn't manage to have a complete tour here as Bo et Obi were feeling hot already, but we surely love to get back here.

Don't miss Taman Sari water palace when you visited Yogyakarta :)

References:

Taman Sari (Yogyakarta), Wikipedia, 

Scribbles from my local guide :).

Borobudur ... in a glimpse

Borobudur

 Undoubtedly, Borobudur Temple has long been known for being the largest Buddhist temple.

Fo us, Indonesians, Borobudur will always be one of our world's wonder :).

The first time we set our eyes on this agelessly charming complex of ancient Buddhist temple was from a far. 

the sun was coming...

From the top of Punthuk Setumbu, overlooking Mount Merapi and the majestic temple from above was truly an experience. Our journey started at 3 am in the morning, involving persuading my Bo et Obi to get ready and continue their sleep in the car and climbing up - or rather tracking, the hill in the dark hours of the morning. But again, it all worth the efforts.

Who won't be awed by this amazing scenery...

Amidst the constant clicks and the overflowing hum of shutter release, probably from hundreds of us, - the photographers and the sunrise lovers, like me, - I was hopelessly trying to capture the beauty of it. 

my hubby and I...

I miserably failed, as what we saw that morning was indeed amazing and beyond words...

So, now ...back to Borobudur..

Borobudur from a far..

I remember reading Lalita, one of Ayu Utami's masterpieces, displaying more interesting facts - if not intriguing, about Borobudur. 

How we tend to forget how majestic this temple is...

The philosophy behind those meticulously carved reliefs filled with thousands of messages are overwhelming...

How to get closer to our Creator...

How to achieve Aruphadathu, the world of formlessness, leaving behind kamadhatu, our desires, and rupadhatu, our urge for the world of forms...

How to peacefully become one of the dwellers of Nirvana...

With more than 2000 relief panels and hundreds of Buddha statues, Borobudur Temple will certainly invite everyone's amazement, just like us...

Borobudur during Vesak Day..

We went there during the Vesak Day. 
The celebration of the teaching and inspiring life of Buddha.

I know, not really the best option time unless you are okay with thousand of people flocking around to celebrate or watch the celebration itself. 

But we were more than happy to join this festivity and continue to be wawed by the greatness of this temple.

Too bad I didn't manage to get more details of Borobudur...as I have Bo et Obi come with me and climb those many stairs to get closer to the top. Not an easy job to make sure the kids were on the safe sides while you were taking pictures here and there...
So, although I only got Borobudur in a glimpse, but I let my mind and soul grasp those ancient wonders and immortalize them in my head.

No, we didn't make it to the top but we do have breathtaking view :)

As this complex was built in the 9th century, I can't stop thinking how they could actually create this incredible architecture.

the magnificent statues..

As for the kids, they surely enjoy it...

peek a boo..

So I guess, we definitely have to go back to Borobudur again. 

As Borobudur in a glimpse is definitely not enough