We had a lazy start to the day as we didn’t have to be in the lobby all packed and ready to go until 10.00. So, after breakfast, I wandered by the pool and in the garden.
The pool was beautifully warm, no heating needed in this environment.
The gardens surrounding the resort were very well maintained.
Water lettuce (an environmental of many tropical waterways around the world) and an unknown yellow flowered water plant.
unknown.
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminiodes) was enjoying the humid weather.
Closely related to Iris, this Yellow Walking Iris is called Neomarica longifloia.
Rickshaw wallas waiting for a passenger or two.
At the appointed hour, our mini buses arrived to take us on a one and a half hour transfer to the rail head. There, we would join our train for the 4 hour journey to Yogyakarta.
My train ticket.
The platform was deserted when we arrived.
Lush, tropical growth lined the tracks.
Watching the world go by as we rolled along the tracks, we saw snippets of life in this part of the world. It was interesting to note that the school uniforms in the area are usually made from traditional batik patterned materials. Very colourful, and so much better than the plain old uniforms we tend to see at home.
It was a fairly long and tedious journey, but we finally arrived. Dinner was partaken and then yours truly headed back to the hotel at around 21.30. Most of the others have gone on to some venue or other…. but as there was to be a 05.00 departure for Borobudur in the morning, this old fox decided an early night was in order… a good idea.
All members of the group were indeed in the foyer and ready to go at 05.00. The early start was so that we could get to the Borobudur Buddhist complex before the hoards of tourists … and before the day warmed up. Mind you, it was still around the mid 20’s at that early hour of the day, and still dark. We drove through the somewhat, but not completely deserted streets, for the hour’s drive to the Temple.
The sky slowly got lighter. Mt. Merapi, an active volcano, was quietly blowing smoke and steam into the sky as we drove past.
As the moment for sunrise drew closer, our buses pulled to the side of the road in the middle of a paddy field area. There, we all got out and waited for the sun to rise above the horizon. Some pretty pictures were taken.
An already harvested, but regrowing rice crop, formed an interesting foreground.
Soon, the sun was blasting its heat into the atmosphere.
Coconut palms growing on a paddy bund.
A rough shelter in the middle of a rice paddy.
Dew drops on young rice plants.
Rice plant reflections.
A delightful start to the day, but it was soon time to move on to visit the ancient, 9th Century, Buddhist complex of Borobudur.
More of that anon
David
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Jungle foliage met overhead.
After about 20 minutes, we came to a point where a cascade prevented any further movement up the river.
While this was happening, a fire was rekindled under two 200 litre discarded gasoline drums filled with water. The fire was fed with rice husks. Nothing is wasted in this subsistence culture. And there are no Occupational, Health and Safety rules here… just plain old ‘be careful’, and take responsibility for your actions.
