Yogja 2 - Part 2 Kaliurang and Prambanan

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On the way out of Borobudur heading for lunch we drove past Candi Mendut. We only stopped for a couple of minutes to take some pictures and so I haven't got anything to say about Mendut from my experience. I have added here some extracts from Wikipedia.

Mendut is a ninth century Buddhist temple located about three kilometres east from Borobudur. Mendut, Borobudur and Pawon, all of which are Buddhist temples, are located in one straight line. There is a mutual religious relationship between the three temples, although the exact ritual process is unknown.

Lunch is at the nearby BS Resto in Mengelang not far from Borobudur. A very nice munch of Java nasi goreng and es advocado. Really nice and airy "resto" (restaurant) and in a beautiful setting. We continue after lunch an hour away to Kaliurang. It was a dam before the Mt Merapi volcano eruption in 2010 when Merapi spilled out ash and rocks burying the dam. What we see today is the aftermath of the eruption and Kaliurang is just a waste land. I guess the picture it tells is that some places are not so lucky.

Our tour guide explaining about the effects the Merapi volcanic eruption had on the Kaliurang.

If one sees this picture carefully one can actually see in the background the Mt Merapi. This pic was taken during a cloudy day.

The mountain water still flows underneath the rubble and ash, downstreams.

Next we head out another hour away to see PRAMBANAN. Prambanan is a series of Hindu Temples built in the 9th Century around 856 A.D. by Rakai Pikatan, a descendent of  King Sanjaya who was the ruler of the largest kingdom in ancient Java.

Prambanan as seen as I am walking towards it. The largest and most impressive temple in the center is the Roro Jonggrang Temple which was dedicated to Siva while the two smaller temples in the north and south of it were dedicated to Vishnu and Brahma.

Prambanan hiding in the bush.

Prambanan amidst flowers. I feel that Prambanan has a better layout with lots of trees, shrubs, and flowers in its compound; making it "more real" like in a natural environment setting.

Prambanan in the shadow of the bright sun rays.

 Ruins of the Prambanan.

Prambanan temples in the shadow .........

 More shadow play ......













The reliefs in the largest temple on the main grounds are the reliefs of the Ramayana, telling the stories of Hinduism which have aesthetic values.

The complete Prambanan compound

More ruins

Looking at the ruins

This is an illusion but no camera tricks. I took this photo as an airliner was flying overhead the Prambanan.

Looking back on the Prambanan as I am leaving it .....

Prambanan in the parkland

The beautiful temple compound with lots of lawn and trees surrounding the Prambanan, making it so easy to see and feel yet so close to it from all angles.

The people at Prambanan  

 

 Pretty Javanese lady

An unbent spirit .... no disability will stop her from experiencing these great religious monuments

 Traders selling souvenirs

These pics are taken during my visit to the Prambanan museum of archeology.

Prambanan, Borobudur and Mt Merapi in one straight line. The builders of these historic monuments knew what they were into....

Prambanan as it was found in 1907

I am satisfied with the day trip to see some many wonderful relics and monuments. Tonight I will attempt to climb an iconic active volcano .... the Mt Merapi. I will be picked up at 10pm to make our way to the base camp. I am excited yet feeling inadequate because of the uncertainties ahead of me and also because I am tired after such a long day out......