Itinerary: Journey to Jogya (Day 2)

~ Day 2 ~

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, marked the start of the 2nd day.

1st destination of the day: Kraton aka Royal Palace.


* Tips for the tour guide is expected, although we've paid the entrance fees. What de...


* Earthquake in 2006 caused this to happen.


Traditional dance performed. Something to do with the story of Ramayana.


Taman Sari / Water Castle (Used to be the private Swimming/Bathing Pools for the Royal Family)



* Weide wrongly placed his foot in the pool.


Buffet dinner at a quite classy hotel (forgot about the name).

* Spent 2 hours there corz we're still full from the breakfast.

Next, we were going to visit to Prambanan Temple, famous Hindu temples complex.


* Too bad that it was raining; otherwise, we could have spent more time there and take more crazy photos.... should have changed our schedule

* Look! What's earthquake has done to this ancient site.


Shopping for souvenirs around the Temple.

Went to a gallery-cum-souvenir shop. (P/S: we're 'students')



Guess what's next? It's dinner time at some popular local restaurant, called Suharti (if not mistaken), famous for the fried Chicken.

* It would be a torturing Day 2 for Dharmini. so many food....

Headed back to the hotel for a short rest.

Went to the shopping mall next to the hotel. Had a neo-print session.

Then, we were picked up to go to watch a Ramayana ballet dance show. (105,000 Rupiah, show + transport)

- End of Day 2 -

Itinerary: Journey to Jogya (Day 1)

~ Day 1 ~

Reluctantly stayed awaken in the early morning to catch the earliest KL Sentral-LCCT shuttle bus. Thanks to Mabel's mum for sending us to KL Sentral in the wee hours of the morning.

* Our flight (AK996) delayed for almost 1 hour.

After meeting up with our tour guide, Wati, and Vid (taking flight from Jakarta) at the Solo Airport, we were then heading the Jogya. The journey took about 1 hour.

1st meal: Buffet lunch at Pesta Perak.


After lunch:-

Batik factory (nobody bought anything, typical 'students')



Kota Gade Silverware factory (applause plz.... Christie bought something.....)


Kabul 'Picasso' Art Gallery (again, we showed ppl that we're 'students'!)

Finally, checked in to our hotel - Saphir Jogya. Had shower and short nap.


Then it's dinner time at a 'not so Chinese' Chinese Restaurant.


Window-shopping at the biggest mall in Jogya.

Walked back to the hotel. Experiencing what the locals do.


'Tapau' Terang Bulan/Martabak (aka Da Kaw Min 大块面 alike)


Chilling at the hotel lounge with Martabak and Welcome Drinks.

- End of Day 1 -

日惹 Yogyakarta(Jogja)

浮罗佛图 Borodudur

Lion Dance 舞狮

CNY celebration won't be perfect without the performance of Lion Dance. It is believed that the 'Lion' will scare away the 'bads' and bring in the 'goods'. A team of with a few 'Lion Dancers' and musicians will be invited to houses, shops and even corporate buildings to perform, in hoping that it would bring good luck to the family members or more businesses.

My family owns a well-known building materials shop in Ipoh. Every year, on the 2nd day of CNY(年初二), the Lion Dance team is expected around noon time to perform at the shop. This tradition has been carried out for many years, even before I was born. I am still a first row spectator of that, although I'm now 24. Just like my cousins ........


This year, of course, there's Lion Dance performance at our shop. This time, they came with a 关公狮(Red lion). As to what I know, there are Black/Green(张飞狮), Yellow(刘备狮) and others. All the lions are named according to their colour, with a character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms(三国演义).

The musicians: - Setting up & getting ready

I'm coming in!

In front of the Altar, blessing for my Ancestors.

Half time, change of player!

In the showroom of the shop.

Look! The Lion is so Pro & Creative!

采青ing

Finale - Kowtowing

Thanks Dudes! Pity them, had to cramp in this tiny lorry.

Normally, the performance would be ended with fire crackers burning. Nevertheless, this is now banned in Malaysia. Too bad. Otherwise, we could see the floor covered by a layer of red colour pieces. It's definitely a good time to take good photo. Not only for the colour, but for the 'Noise' too. Long long time ago, people burned firecrackers as they believed that it would scared away the monster, Nian(年). Red, is always the 'In' colour during CNY!

恭贺新禧

春节快乐

丁亥年猪事顺利

猪年行大运

Happy Lunar New Year!!!!!!!!