java trip !

 borobudur

 we went for a guided sunset tour not fancying the sunrise option. to our surprise at 5:15 shortly before sunset the monument closed and everyone left ... except us ! we stayed for maybe an additional 2 hours the entire place empty - to ourselves - as night fell and call to prayer rang out from the surrounding valleys. finally it was so dar we worried about getting back down the steps so we made our way down to find one guard waiting to lock the place up behind us. baffling & amazing !

 next morning we saw the sunrise anyway from our beautiful villa over looking the valley and mount Merapi.  the villa was entirely open air, just blinds to roll up or down and mosquito nets on the bed. I did not sleep at all and was all to relieved when call to prayer kicked in with enthusiasm at 4:30. Thought after that I might sleep but the sun rose and everyone rose with it at 5:30 am.

 back in Yogyakarta after Borobudur went on a little tour in a horse carriage around the village to check out some skillful brick making ( the uncles not M and V's ) and visit a tofu/tempeh factory.

 no electricity used. kids tucked in with the flies to some freshly fried tofu and were very happy with it. and no stomach bugs !

 before we left for Borobudor we visited the Sultans palace and the Sulatans abandoned water palace. Haven't posted photos from the former but we saw a gamalan shadow puppet show from the sultans own staff. all with daggers tucked into their backs. guess I might have to dig some out and share.

 also from the first leg an evening trip to Prambanan outside of Yogyakarta

( back near Borobudor ) horse drawn carriage ride.  crazy strong little creature galloping past the rice fields on the way to the pottery making as the kids belted out "let it go"


The whole Java trip was a bit of a  surprise which hastily came together the day before we left. ( life with O ) We were only there from late Tuesday to Saturday but it felt like real proper travel - and was  heady change of scene.  We didn't even try to cram in that much and yet somehow enjoyed a lot.  We stayed in 3 different towns/places which I guess helped. We got a morning tour or activity most every morning straight from the hotels - and relied largely on their suggestions. Went back for a leisurely lunch and a splash in the pool when it got hot, and then back out again in the evening. It worked really well ! The kids were mostly game which was awesome - and visiting the villages and small cottage industries with kids is a lot more fun then rocking up as adults feeling kind of awkward and voyeuristic. We hired some awesome guides whose access was overwhelming & insight impressive. I am still trying to figure out how all the components came together for such a great trip, and if we can ever repeat it ...