Kraton Ratu Boko (Yogyakarta trip)

Kraton Ratu Boko or Ratu Boko's Palace is located on a plateau, about 3 km south of Prambanan temple complex.  The local inhabitants named this site after King Boko, the legendary king mentioned in Loro Jonggrang folklore. In Javanese, Ratu Boko means "Stork King". The site covers 16 hectares in two hamlets (Dawung and Sambireja) of the village of Bokoharjo and Prambanan, Sleman Regency. In striking contrast to other Classic-period sites in Central Java and Yogyakarta, which are remains of temples, Ratu Boko displays attributes of an occupation or settlement site, although its precise function is unknown. The site was probably a palace complex of the kings of Syailendra or Mataram Kingdom that also built temples scattered across Prambanan Plain. This site is located 196 m above the sea level, on the highest point in the site, there is a small pavilion from which one will be able to see a panoramic view of Prambanan temple with Mount Merapi as the background.

Prambanan Temple (Yogyakarta trip)

Prambanan temple or Candi Rara Jonggrang is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia. The temple is dedicated to the Trimurti, an expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). The temple compound is located approximately 17 kilometres northeast of the city of  Yogyakarta.

The temple compound is a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia, and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. It characterized by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture. The temple towering 47 meter high.

Gumuk Pasir , Sand dunes Parangkusumo (Yogyakarta trip)

The sand dunes in Parangtritis is a rare natural phenomenon and the only one in Southeast Asia. Sand dunes in the form of hills or mounds of sand like a desert are normally located in the Middle East. This sand dune is the result of volcanic activity of Mount Merapi and Merbabu carried by currents Opak and Progo. At first, the surrounding communities do not see something unique from this place. But once held a variety of research, they realize that they live in one of the world heritage.

Gua Pindul (Yogyakarta Trip)

Pindul Cave is a cave landscape underlain by limestone that has been eroded by dissolution, producing ridges, towers, fissures, sinkholes, and other characteristic landforms. This eroded limestone /karst has a river flow underneath it. Gua Pindul / Pindul cave is located about 7 kilometres south of the city centre of Wonosari (by the plain of Kidul mountain).
Today we are doing a cave tubing... and I am sure its going to be a fun one!

Malang holiday diary

I am heading to my parents home with the purpose of just visiting my Mom and Dad and spend time with them, but instead I was surprisingly reunited with some old besties that are living abroad,

and of course visiting the virgin beaches! on earlier post, I was posting the Banyu Anjlok beach. This is another beach near it, called Lenggoksono beach.

Road trippin (Banyu Anjlok)

 woohoo... this is what I have been waiting for... to visit the most popular and less touristy beaches of Lenggoksono in Tirtoyudo, East Java. The drive to this hidden place is about 3 hours from Malang city (one way). The road is steep, winding and long... but as I arrived to these 4 beaches --its all worth it!

One hot day

What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance. ~Jane Austen

 

These days are the hottest! It can reach 38C here in Bali... phew... it probably the longest dry season ever. In the mean time, I am planning my next destination... packing mode ON!

Black pants

Live Authentic

Live authentic! Yes, today I want to brought up the issue of about living an authentic life! For me living an authentic life defines as living a life that would not allow yourself to loose self-deprecation, lost from our true being and from nature itself.

Just the other day, a friend of mine posted about how Essena O'Neill; An 18-Year-Old Instagram Star that has left social media because her so called “Perfect Life” was actually making her miserable! 

As quoted from this article here (and many more on Elle.com , BBC, etc.) that "Over the past several years, O’Neill has built a social media empire. She explained that when she was in high school, she started posting on a blog, youtube, and social media, and soon became consumed by it."

Purple Reign

“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.”― Alice Walker, The Color Purple