…:: Java Package 1 ::…

Java Package 1 (3D2N)

Day    1 – Arrive YOGYAKARTA  (D)
Meeting service at Airport then direct to Hotel for check in.

At 07.30 pm – Having a Dinner then enjoy the Sendratari Ramayana performance

Day 2 – Kraton Yogyakarta – Tamansari Water Castle – Art shop- Kotagede

Visiting : Kraton Yogyakarta is palace of Yogyakarta, proceed to Tamansari Water Castle, Art shop. After Lunch at local restaurant, proceed to Kotagede. Afternoon, back to the hotel. Free at your own :).

Day 3 –  YOGYAKARTA CITY TOUR & BOROBUDUR TOUR     (B,L)

Visiting : Borobudur Temple is one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. It also had been acclaimed by the world as a cultural heritage main kind. The architectural style has no equal through out the world, PAWON TEMPLE and MENDUT TEMPLE. After Lunch at local restaurant, proceed to Turi Agro Tourism , Malioboro Street .  Afternoon proceed to the airport.

TOUR PRICE/PAX

1. Rumah Mertua Hotel => 277 USD

2. Ministry of Coffee Hotel => 277 USD

Tour Package include :

• Shuttle transfer In / Out
• Hotel accommodation
• Private Air – Conditioned Car
• Meals as stated at itinerary
• Entrance fee
• Guide service

Tour Package exclude :

• All personal expenses such as room service, laundry, telex, facsimile, telephone etc.
• Any other optional tours, which do not specified in the itinerary.
• Gratuities and tips for local tour guide and driver.

Conditions :

Price is not valid during I’edul Fitri / Lebaran season, X’mas and New Year.

Price valid until Dec, 2008.

.:: Ministry of Coffee Hotel::.

click here to know more about Ministry of Coffee Hotel

.:: Rumah Mertua Hotel ::.

Rumah Mertua, Boutique Hotel Yogya & Romantic Garden Restaurant

Rumah Mertua is a small boutique hotel with eleven comfortable bedrooms and a traditional restaurant with romantic garden environment. Located just outside the crowded center of Jogjakarta, it combines the luxury of a good hotel with the environment of a traditional Javanese house. Within only a 15-minutes drive to the center of Jogjakarta, Rumah Mertua is the ideal place to have a rest and also a good start for discovering the Java’s natural beaches, mountains, volcanoes, Hindu Temple Prambanan, the Sultan Palace and the world’s biggest Buddhist temple: the Borobudur.

Equipped with AC, Hot & cold water, Color TV, the rooms are designed using modern Javanese atmosphere. We have standard, superior, deluxe and family rooms. Our deluxe rooms are more spacious (38 m²) with a private terrace facing the tropical garden & swimming pool. Other hotel facilities are Garden Restaurant, Swimming pool, Car rental, laundry service and Taxi service. We accept Visa card and Master card.

http://rumahmertua.com/en-beranda.html

.:: Studio 76, Silver Jewellery Making Course ::.

Travelling in Yogyakarta won’t be complete enough without visiting Kotagede, the silver center in the city. It’s not just to buy silver jewellery, it’s more fun cos you’re gonna make the jewellery by yourself. Guided by professional instructors, it only takes 3 hours for you to make rings, earrings, pendants etc… The perfect souvenir of Kotagede originally made by yourself!

Studio 76 is house of art producing silver handicrafts such as evening bag, miniatures of horse cart, tricycle, royal carriage, etc. Apart from producing those handicrafts, we also arrange short courses to make jewellery. This programme is specially designed for tourist to make their original Kotagede’s souvenir.

With more than 6 years teaching experience, we believe that we can make you proud, satisfied, and impressed with your own jewellery as the result of your course in Studio 76.

Studio 76 is located in the middle of Kotagede. You will find the real atmosphere of Kotagede. Their typical life, the silversmiths, the traditional food, and the ancient buildings.

The following courses packages are adjustable to your holiday schedule in Yogyakarta.

1. Short Course
   The duration of this short course is 3 – 4 hours. Under guidance of professional instructors, you will be able to make ring, earrings, or pendant in that short period. The participants will have to do all the processes from designing, forging, carving, soldering, polishing and so on. The instructors will only show, control, and fix to make better items. By the end of the course, the participants will be proud of their product and do not believe that they just made the jewellery by themselves.

   Time:
   Three different choices every day

   • 09.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
   • 01.00 p.m. – 04.00 p.m.
   • 05.00 p.m. – 08.00 p.m.

   Facilities:
   

   • Historical silversmithing explanation
   • 3 hours of instruction (Indonesian, English, and France speaking teacher)
   • Your personally created silver jewellery (5 grams maximum)

   Cost:
   

   • IDR 100,000 / pax (1 person)
   • IDR 90,000 / pax (2 – 3 persons)
   • IDR 75,000 / pax (4 – 6 persons)

   Note:
   For an effective class, maximum six persons per session.

2. Full-day Course
   With more time and more materials, you should make prettier silver jewellery. Besides, many of the participants of the short course get back and join this session in order to make better items than their first course.

   Time: 09.00 a.m. – 04.00 p.m. (With 1-hour luncheon break)

   Facilities:

   • Historical silversmithing explanation
   • 7 hours of instruction (Indonesian, English, and France speaking teacher)
   • Your personally created silver jewellery (10 grams maximum)
   • Lunch with local menu

   Cost:

   • Rp. 200,000 / pax (1 person)
   • Rp. 175,000 / pax (2 – 3 persons)
   • Rp. 150,000 / pax (4 – 6 persons)

   Note:
   For an effective class, maximum six persons per session.

3. Weekend Course
   We arrange this package for those who cannot come to Yogyakarta. As it is implied by the name, this course is arranged on Saturdays and Sundays from 09.00 a.m. To 04.00 p.m. With one hour luncheon break. This package includes the basic tools to make silver jewellery and after the course, the participants are expected to be able to create their own products by themselves using the provided tools.

   Time:
   Saturday and Sunday, from 09.00 a.m. – 04.00 p.m. (1-hour lunch break)

   Facilities:
   

   • Explanation on the technique of silver handicrafts
   • Basic tools to make silver handicrafts
   • Module of silver handicrafts basic course
   • Instructors (Indonesian, English, or France language)
   • The course products of 20 grams at maximum

   Cost:

   • IDR 2,000,000 for 2 persons
   • Extra cost of IDR 750,000 / person for additional participants
   • It includes cost of transportation for the instructor (big cities in Java)

   Note:
   For an effective class, maximum six persons per session.

4. Arranged Course
   This course is suited to the target, time and the needs of the participants.

.:: Sendratari Ramayana ::.

Presented by more than 250 artists at its original place: Ramayana Open Air Theater & Trimurti Theater

Prambanan Temple complex – Yogyakarta – Indonesia

Ramayana is the Java’s finest example of storytelling in stone in which the epic is egrved on the wall of Siwa Temple in the complex of Prambanan sanctuaries. Prambanan’s version of the Ramayana differs somewhat from the original Indian epic, reflecting the adaptation to Javanese sensibilities over the centuries.

More recently, the Ramayana has been adopted for the performing arts. Since the 1960s, hundreds of dancers have brought the ancient relief’s panels to life at Prambanan’s open- air theater, located just west of the temple complex. Essentially, a traditional dance drama minus the lengthy dialogue, the Ramayana Ballet or “Sendratari” – an acronym composed of the indonesian words of art, drama and dance – is rocking good theater, with enough heroics, tragedy, romance and mayhem to satisfy the most jaded modern spectators, all presented under a tropical moon with the magnificent floodlit Roro Jonggrang Temple as a backdrop.

The entire Ramayana epic consists of four episodes, each night one episode, presented from 07.30 to 09.30 p.m. in four clear nights on and around the full moon, each month from May through October. The full story is held at Trimurti Theater every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; presented by more than 50 professional dancers.

Ticket Price Ramayana Ballet:

• Trimurti Stage (indoor)
  1. Special: IDR 125,000
  2. 1st Class: IDR 100,000
  3. 2nd Class: IDR 50,000
  4. Student: IDR 15,000 (with letter from school)

  Performance Schedule (2008)

  Month	Date
  January/td>	1	3	8	10	15	17	22	24	29	31
  February	5	7	12	14	19	21	26	28
  March	4	6	11	13	18	20	25	27
  April	1	3	8	10	15	17	22	24	29
  November	4	6	11	13	18	20	25	27
  December	2	4	9	11	16	18	23	25	30

• Ramayana Stage (outdoor)
  1. VIP: IDR 200,000
  2. Special: IDR 125,000
  3. 1st Class: IDR 100,000
  4. 2nd Class: IDR 50,000
  5. Student: IDR 15,000 (with letter from school)

  Performance Schedule (2008)

  Month	Date
  May	1	6	8	13	15	16	17	18	19	20	22	27	29
  June	3	5	7	10	12	13	14	15	16	17	19	21	24	26	28
  July	1	3	5	8	10	11	12	13	14	15	17	19	22	24	26	29	31
  August	2	5	7	9	12	14	15	16	17	18	19	21	23	26	28	30
  September	2	4	6	9	11	12	13	14	15	16	18	20	23	25	27	30
  October	2	4	7	9	10	11	12	13	14	16	18	21	23	25	28	30

  = episode (not full story)

SYNOPSIS OF RAMAYANA Ballet

Introduction

Prabu Janaka, the King of Mantili Kingdom has got a very beautiful princess named Dewi Shinta. A competition is conducted in order to decide who will be the right person to marry Dewi Shinta. Rama Wijaya, The Prince of Ayodya Kingdom at last wins the competition.

Prabu Rahwana, the ruler of Alengkadiraja Kingdom is eager to marry Dewi Widowati. but after knowing Dewi Shinta he changes his mind since he assumes that Dewi Shinta is the incarnation of Dewi Widowati whom he searching for a long time.

Dandaka Forest

Rama Wijaya along with his wife Shinta and accompanied by his younger brother Leksmana is adventuring until arrive in Dandaka Forest. Unfortunately they meet Rahwana -who adored Dewi Shinta so much Shinta in the place. Rahwana becomes eager to possess her, and in order to realize his idea, Rahwana commutes one of his followers named Marica to a deer called Kijang Kencana so as to attract Shinta.

Being interested in the beauty of the deer, Shinta asks Rama to capture it for her. Rama (menyanggupi) and leaves Shinta accompanied by Leksmana and start hunting the deer.

After waiting for a long time, Shinta becomes nervous as Rama has not arrived yet. She asks Leksmana to look for Rama. Before leaving Shinta alone, Leksmana draws a magic circle on the ground just to protect her from any possible danger.

As soon as Rahwana notices that Shinta has been left alone, he tries to kidnap her but he fails because of the magic circle which protects her life. Then he changes himself to be an old Brahmana. Shinta fels pity to the old Brahmana and that makes her to get out from the magic circle. As a result Rahwana – who becomes the old Brahmana takes her and fly away to Alengka Kingdom.

Running after the Deer

Rama shoots the deer with the bow and arrow, but the deer commutes to a giant. A war out breaks between Rama and the giant. The giant is shot to the death by Rama’s arrow. Later on Leksmana arrives and requests Rama to return to Shinta’s place.

The Kidnap of Shinta

On the way to Alengka, Rahwana meets a garuda bird called Jatayu. But then they fight each other since Jatayu knows that Rahwana kidnapped Dewi Shinta -the princess of Prabu Janaka, his friend. Unfortunately Jatayu was defeated by Rahwana for his effort to release and escape her from Rahwana.

Finding out that Shinta is not supposed to be in her place, Rama and Leksmana decides to search for her. In the way of searching they meet Jatayu who is seriously wounded. At first Rama thinks that Jatayu who has kidnapped Shinta so he decides to kill him but then Leksmana prevents him to do so. Jatayu explains what has happened to them before he dies.

A moment later, a white monkey named Hanuman arrives. He is delegated by his uncle, Sugriwa to look for two heroes who are able to kill Subali. Subali is a sacred man and has taken Dewi Tara, Sugriwa’s beloved woman. At last Rama decides to help Sugriwa after being insisted.

Kiskendo cave

At the moment of Subali, Dewi Tara and his son are chatting suddenly sugriwa arrives and attacks Subali. Then Sugriwa helped by Rama defeats Subali. Sugriwa takes Dewi Tara with him again. To (membalas) Rama’s kindness, Sugriwa decides to help him in searching for Dewi Shinta. For this purpose Sugriwa delegates Hanoman to find and investigate the Alengka Kingdom.

Argasoka Garden

Rahwana’s niece, Trijata is comforting Shinta in the garden. Rahwana arrives to ask Shinta’s willingness to be his wife. Shinta refused it. This makes him angry and try to kill her but Trijata prevent and tells him to be patient. Trijata promises to look after Shinta.

When Shinta feels so sad, she suddenly hear beatiful song sung by Hanoman, the white monkey. Hanoman tells her that he comes and sent by Rama to ascape her. After he explain his purpose, Hanoman starts to find out the total power of the Alengka army. Then he destroy the garden.

Indrakit. Rahwana’s son succesfully captured Hanoman but Kumbokarno prevents him so that he is throwm out the Kingdom. Hanoman is sentenced burnt alive till die. But then Hanoman is able to set himself free and burn the kingdom with the fire around his body.

As soon as burn the Kingdom, Hanoman comes to Rama and explains for what has happened. Rama then goes to Alengka along with his monkey’s army. He attacks the Kingdom and makes the Alengka’s army in a difficult position because Indrajit-the leader of the army is death.

Since the army doesn’t have a leader Rahwana orders Kumbokarno-the wise giant to be the leader of the army and fights for the Alengka Kingdom. But then Kumbokarno killed and deah by Rama’s heirloom arrow. Rahwana takes over the army and starts to attack Rama and his soldiers. Rama also kills him at last. His corpse is put under the mountain of sumawana carried by Hanoman.

Rama Meets Shinta

After the death of Rahwana, Hanoman takes Shinta to meet Rama. But Rama refused her because he thinks that she is not purified anymore. Shinta is disappointed and to prove her faithfully to her husband she comes into a fire and burns herself. Because of her holiness and God of fire’s help she is not burnt and safe. That makes Rama happy and finally accepts her to be his wife again.

.:: Ullen Sentalu Museum, Reflection of the Kingdom Ladies’ Beauty ::.

Many people say that ladies’ beauty encompasses two spaces, inner and outer. Quite often, ladies emphasize only one of them; usually it is the outer beauty. What about kingdom ladies, can they show both of them?

Ullen Sentalu museum gives evidence that in addition to beautiful face, some kingdom ladies are capable of showing thought and works as symbols of their inner beauty. The museum that is located at the south foot of Merapi mountain contains photographs and paintings by the ladies from Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Mangkunegaran and Pakualaman Kingdoms.

Located in one of the beautiful corners of Kaliurang area, namely Kaswargan park meaning the heaven park on land encircled by park and forest, this museum was inaugurated by Sri Paku Alam VIII in 1997. Ullen Sentalu as the name of the museum stands for “Ulating Blencong Sejatine Tataning Lumaku” that means the real torch of life for human way of life. The museum was built with “in the field architectural” concept, without blueprint.

Entering this museum, you will be welcomed by cool weather and shady trees. A guide will greet and accompany you to explore the museum that consists of two main parts all of which were built labyrinth concept with the mountain stone as the raw material; they are Guwo Selo Giri that means the cave with stonewall and Kampung Kambang that means a kampong that is situated on water (pond).

In Guwo Selo Giri, you will see some paintings by Kingdom ladies who has pronounced character and works and photos of the center of Yogyakarta city in the early 20s. One of the prominent ladies whose works are exhibited here is Partini Djayadiningrat, the daughter of Mangkunegaran VII who wrote the novel of Ande-Ande Lumut that was published by Balai Pustaka. In the novel, she used the name of Antipurbani. There is also a painting of Retno Puoso with her hand-fan that she designed herself in combination with the clothes.

Going to Kampung Kambang, you will find some rooms; the first is Balai Sekar Kedaton that is dedicated to GRAj. Koes Sapariyam who is addressed as Tineke. This room contains photographs and her poems that were written in 1939-1947. One of her poems told about the center of happiness that is when human beings are able to share love to the surroundings, even the sinful ones.

The next room is named Paes Ageng Yogyakarta, containing batik cloths for wedding. Some patterns area Sido Mukti, Sido Asih, Sido Drajat and other motifs with “Sido” as the first name that are worn by the couples in the hope for happy life. Truntum, Wirasat Truntum and Wirasat are the motifs worn by the parents of the married couple in order for giving guidance and advice.

Vorstendlanden Batik room or Batik Jogja Solo room that you will find next contains some batik collections as specialties of Yogyakarta and Solo. One of the legendary motifs is the star motif made by one of the consorts of Surakarta King. The motif was made because every night the consort saw falling stars while being alone because the King had been with the concubine. The motif of this batik was capable of returning the King’s attention to the consort.

In the room of Batik Pesisiran or batik that developed in the coastal areas such as Cirebon and Indramayu, you will see some unique batik motifs and embroidered kebaya cloth. The batik motifs in this room are richer in colors but they are lack of philosophy; they are different from the batiks of Jogja-Solo of which colors tend to be monotonous but are rich of philosophy. Meanwhile, embroidered kebaya is unique because it was made by manual machine but the quality is incomparable.

Putri Dambaan room as the end of the exploration will give you description of Nurul Kusumawardani character, a lady of the Kingdom whose hobbies were horse riding, tennis and swimming. The lady who was proposed by the past President Soekarno and the late Hamengkubuwono IX was one of the prominent ladies in the Kingdom because she was good at dancing and refused polygamy. One of the photos features her dancing in Netherlands while accompanied by gamelan played in Surakarta Kingdom and was broadcasted live in a radio in Netherlands.

After walking around the museum, you will enjoy a cup of Kusmayana Drink, special beverage recipe by Lady Kusmayana that is believed to give you long life that is made from ginger, cinnamon, palm sugar, a little salt and pandanus leaf. You can enjoy it while entering the art shop that sells various souvenirs all of which with batik motif, from mask, clothes, t-shirt and wooden batik jewelries. You can also walk around the garden that is located in the museum complex.

The package of enjoying the museum is sold at IDR 10,000 for students, IDR 20,000 for public and IDR 36,000 for foreign tourists.

.:: Prambanan, the Most Beautiful Hindu Temple in the World ::.

Prambanan temple is extraordinarily beautiful building constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.

There is a legend that Javanese people always tell about this temple. As the story tells, there was a man named Bandung Bondowoso who loved Roro Jonggrang. To refuse his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso to make her a temple with 1,000 statues only in one-night time. The request was nearly fulfilled when Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and to set a fire in order to look like morning had broken. Feeling to be cheated, Bondowoso who only completed 999 statues cursed Jonggrang to be the thousandth statue.

Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. Those three temples are symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief. All of them face to the east. Each main temple has accompanying temple facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Angsa for Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. Besides, there are 2 flank temples, 4 kelir temples and 4 corner temples. In the second area, there are 224 temples.

Entering Shiva temple, the highest temple and is located in the middle, you will find four rooms. One main room contains Shiva statue, while the other three rooms contain the statues of Durga (Shiva’s wife), Agastya (Shiva’s teacher), and Ganesha (Shiva’s son). Durga statue is said to be the statue of Roro Jonggrang in the above legend.

In Vishnu temple, to the north of Shiva temple, you will find only one room with Vishnu statue in it. In Brahma temple, to the south of Shiva temple, you find only room as well with Brahma statue in it.

Quite attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple that is located close to Vishnu temple. This temple keeps a story of half-bird human being named Garuda. Garuda is a mystical bird in Hindu mythology. The figure is of golden body, white face, red wings, with the beak and wings similar to eagle’s. It is assumed that the figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu (means ‘rises’ or ‘shines’) that is associated with the god of the Sun or Re in Old Egypt mythology or Phoenix in Old Greek mythology. Garuda succeeded in saving his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda’s handicapped brother) by stealing Tirta Amerta (the sacred water of the gods).

Its ability to save her mother made many people admire it to the present time and it is used for various purposes. Indonesia uses the bird as the symbol of the country. Other country using the same symbol is Thailand, with the same reason but different form adaptation and appearance. In Thailand, Garuda is known as Krut or Pha Krut.

Prambanan also has panels of relief describing the story of Ramayana. Experts say that the relief is similar to the story of Ramayana that is told orally from generation to generation. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that – in Hindu – the tree is considered tree of life, eternity and environment harmony. In Prambanan, relief of Kalpataru tree is described as flanking a lion. The presence of this tree makes experts consider that Javanese society in the ninth century had wisdom to manage its environment.

Just like Garuda, Kalpataru tree is also used for various purposes. In Indonesia, Kalpataru is used as the logo of Indonesian Environment Institution. Some intellectuals in Bali even develop “Tri Hita Karana” concept for environment conservation by seeing Kalpataru relief in this temple. This tree of life is also seen in the gunungan (the puppet used as an opening of traditional puppet show or wayang kulit). This proves that relief panels in Prambanan have been widely known throughout the world.

If you see the relief in detail, you will see many birds on them; they are real birds as we can see on the earth right now. Relief panels of such birds are so natural that biologists can identify their genus. One of them is the relief of the Yellow-Crest Parrot (Cacatua sulphurea) that cites unanswered question. The reason is that the bird only exists in Masakambing Island, an island in the middle of Java Sea. Then, did the bird exist in Yogyakarta? No body has succeeded in revealing the mystery.

You can discover many more things in Prambanan. You can see relief of Wiracarita Ramayana based on oral tradition. If you feel tired of enjoying the relief, you can take a rest in the beautiful garden in the complex. Since 18 September 2006, you can enter zone 1 area of Prambanan temple. The damage caused by the earthquake on 27 May 2006 is being reconstructed. Please come and enjoy Prambanan temple.

.:: Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the Ninth Century ::.

Who does not know Borobudur? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Millions of people are eager to visit this building as one of the World Wonder Heritages. It is not surprising since architecturally and functionally, as the place for Buddhists to say their prayer, Borobudur is attractive.

Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years from the time the construction was begun. The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.

Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building. The height before being renovated was 42 meters and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as supporting base. The first six terraces are in square form, two upper terraces are in circular form, and on top of them is the terrace where Buddha statue is located facing westward. Each terrace symbolizes the stage of human life. In line with of Buddha Mahayana, anyone who intends to reach the level of Buddha’s must go through each of those life stages.

The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizes human being that are still bound by lust. The upper four stories are called Rupadhatu symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but are still bound to appearance and shape. On this terrace, Buddha effigies are placed in open space; while the other upper three terraces where Buddha effigies are confined in domes with wholes are called Arupadhatu, symbolizing human beings that have been free from lust, appearance and shape. The top part that is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.

Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the sculptors were. In order to understand the sequence of the stories on the relief panels, you have to walk clockwise from the entrance of the temple. The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana. Besides, there are relief panels describing the condition of the society by that time; for example, relief of farmers’ activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of navigation in Bergotta (Semarang).

All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha’s teachings. For the reason, this temple functions as educating medium for those who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES suggests that you walk through each narrow passage in Borobudur in order for you to know the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the tenth century once visited this temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.

Thanks to visiting Borobudur and having supply of Buddha teaching script from Serlingpa (King of Sriwijaya), Atisha was able to improve Buddha’s teachings after his return to India and he built a religion institution, Vikramasila Buddhism. Later he became the leader of Vikramasila monastery and taught Tibetans of practicing Dharma. Six scripts from Serlingpa were then summarized as the core of the teaching called “The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment” or well known as Bodhipathapradipa.

A question about Borobudur that is still unanswered by far is how the condition around the temple was at the beginning of its foundation and why at the time of it’s finding the temple was buried. Some hypotheses claim that Borobudur in its initial foundation was surrounded by swamps and it was buried because of Merapi explosion. It was based on Kalkutta inscription with the writing ‘Amawa‘ that means sea of milk. The Sanskrit word was used to describe the occurrence of disaster. The sea of milk was then translated into Merapi lava. Some others say that Borobudur was buried by cold lava of Merapi Mountain.

With the existing greatness and mystery, it makes sense if many people put Borobudur in their agenda as a place worth visiting in their lives. Besides enjoying the temple, you may take a walk around the surrounding villages such as Karanganyar and Wanurejo. You can also get to the top of Kendil stone where you can enjoy Borobudur and the surrounding scenery. Please visit Borobudur temple right away…

.:: Taru Martani Cigar Factory, the Legend of Cigar van Java ::.

For tobacco lovers, it will be exciting to visit Taru Martani, the factory that has been producing cigars since 1918. You will feel like visiting your soul mate. If you don’t like tobacco, at least you can learn the long history of this factory that supports many people.

Taru Martani was initially built in Bulu area, at the side of Magelang Street, under the name of N.V. Negresco. Three years later, in 1921, the factory moved to the current location, Baciro, to the west of Mandala Krida Stadium in Yogyakarta. During the Japanese colonization, the name of the factory was changed to Java Tobacco Kojo. The factory was triumphant that time since it was supported by machineries to make light cigarettes that were brought in from B.A.T Cirebon.

It’s an easy procedure to complete before you are able to visit the factory. You only have to make an appointment with the factory management. When they give you permit, you can explore the 2-hectares factory guided by one of the employees. You can see directly and ask questions related to the cigar production. You don’t have to incur expenses for this tour. The visit hours, however, are limited only on working hours, from Monday to Friday at 08:00a.m. to 02:00p.m.

Entering this factory, you can enjoy the beauty of European architecture. Each parts of the building, both production and administration rooms are preserved as the original ones to that the nuance of European architecture is seen clearly until now. Even though the building has been tens years old, there is no frightening or dull impression; it even give dynamic impression.

The production of cigar in this factory goes through some stages. At preparation stage, the dried tobacco leaves that were obtained from Besuki, Jember, East Java are taken out from the warehouse for dampening process for one night. The purpose is to make the tobacco leaves damp and do not crush when processed. The tobacco leaves are then sorted by its physical quality. Some of them are used as cigar filler, binder and wrapper.

The sorted tobacco is then prepared to make cigar cocoon in the next step. In this stage, the cigar is first wrapped with binder or dekblad and then with wrapper or dekblad. The uniqueness of the cigar making lies in this stage where skillful workers are able to produce relatively the same size of cigars by their hands. After this stage is completed, the rolled cigars are cut and sorted.

At the final stage of the production, the cigars go through fumigation, cooling, drying and fermentation processes in order to kill the tobacco germs. This stage is so important since the storage time of free-germs cigars will be longer and the taste lasts longer as well. After completion of this stage, cigars are labeled, wrapped and packed to be distributed to consumers.

Taru Martani produces 14 brands of cigars, namely Cigarillos, Extra Cigarillos, Senioritas, Panatella, Half Corona, Corona, Super Corona/Grand Corona, Boheme, Royal Perfecto, Rothschild, and Churchill. For its variations, Taru Martani produces three kinds of cigars, namely nature cigar or pure tobacco, flavor cigars or tobacco added with flavors (mint, vanilla, rhum, hazelnut) and mild cigar.

Some legendary cigar brands are worth buying and tasting when you come. You should try Senator and Mundi Victor that have been produced since the foundation of this factory even though they were only labeled by those names in 1952. Other cigars you should try are Adipati, Ramayana and Borobudur that have been produced since 1970s. If you like minced tobacco, you can buy Van Nelle, Drum, and Countryman.

Visiting Taru Martani and trying its products make you part of the international community of good quality cigar lovers. The reason is that the cigars produced by Taru Martani that are well known as Cigar van Java have been favored by people from all the world: Asia, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Czechoslovakia, America and Europe.

.:: Gabusan Market, Handicraft Paradise in Bantul ::.

There is another way to enjoy art works of Bantul people without having to wander about villages that produce them, namely by visiting Gabusan Art Market. The market that is located on Jalan Parangtritis km 9 has been the center of handicrafts trading for the last 2 years. Other facilities such as cafeterias, information technology access and groceries are there for you, too.

Gabusan was designed to open access for craftsmen to international market. For the reason, the design of the market accommodating around 444 craftsmen is of international standard. The design of the market was done by both domestic and foreign architects by, of course, accentuating local architecture. Divided into 16 stalls, Gabusan sells handicrafts of various raw materials, ranging from leather, metals, wood, clay to water hyacinth.

Arriving at the area of Gabusan market, you will be greeted by an interestingly designed gate. On the gate, there are restaurant, crossing bridge and ramp. Having your meals in that restaurant, you will be able to see the entire market from the top view. Close to the area, there is a shop as an information center as well as the place for visitors to get their stuff. This shop is designed so artistically that it has its own interest.

Entering the first stall, you will enjoy bag handicraft made from rattan. Neat woven of the bag gives durable image and combination of the cloth and accessories gives meaningful added value. Various unique, elegant designs produce multifunctional bags for multi purposes. Other handicraft that is available in that stall is a box made from woven bamboo. Despite its simple design and function, the box still looks unique in various bright colors.

If you want to buy candle stands for your guest rooms, you will find them in stall eight. Many types of candle stands from different materials are available. There is a candle container forming like a small, brown bowl with string decoration around it. Another candle stand is made from bamboo some part of which sides are split to make stands with string ornaments on them. In addition to functioning as stand for the glowing candle, the beautiful design of it will attract your guests in your guest room.

Still related to home decorations, you will find interesting masks of various designs in stall six. Some leather masks are carved beautifully in enchanting colors. If you like artificial flowers included the vases, you will get them in stall thirteen. The vases are made of wood or clay with special ornaments of the surfaces. Plain vases without ornaments are not less interesting as well.

Small functional items with artistic designs give valuable added value for you and your family. A standard photo frame, for example, is designed so beautifully with special ornament such as dragon. Pencil case is also available in different variations. There is a pencil case in the form of a sitting man with his white hair as the ornament and the pencil holes are in the front part. Many other items are beautifully designed by the people in Bantul area such as tray in various enchanting designs.

The information center will help to find any kinds of product that you can find in the market. Details of products, prices, location of the stall where you are going to put your orders are all available there. Connected to Internet network, this information center indicates that you can put your order on line. Gradually, this market will accommodate 8,015 handicraft units. The earthquake on 27 May 2006 hit this market mildly but it is being recovered now.