Story at Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Temple was badly affected during the earthquake these year , May 2006. Currently, the site are closed and restoration would take some time for these beautiful ancient site. Let's hope that the restoration will be completed soon and it's glory will be restored again!

Prambanan temple are located some 17km from the city of Yogyakarta. Tourist can't miss these site as it are only a hundred metre off the main street.

It was said that the hindu temple are built in the 9th century, consisting three courtyards. Sadly, many years back, some parts of the temple are destroyed during a volcano eruption. Nevertheless, these are a site to visit during your stay in Yogyakarta.

Do note that the entrance fee for tourist are different from local. The entrance fee are USD10 (if I see the signage correctly! *grin*). Surrounding the temple are a very large and beautiful garden.

Also, you decide to do solo, there are local guides who would be able to explain to you what each statue or shrine mean for a small token

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Marlioborough Street: Bebek Bakar

It's not a pretty sight but the black thing that you see in the picture was the most delicious grilled duck I've tasted in the whole of Yogya (Central Java) . Surprsingly, it wasn't bought at an upscale restaurant but in many of the lesehans ( local eateries ) found in Marlioborough Street. The local eateries over here are situated along the pavement and the furniture is spartan, just a couple of mats and a low table. Somehow, it reminded me of eating in Hanoi but this was more pleasant. I got to laze around like a Roman after a particularly satisfying meal of grilled chicken and duck. To cater to the sweet Javanese tooth, the duck was deliberately smeared with oodles of sweet black sauce ( kecap manis) before grilling it on an open fire. The result looks like crap but it tastes heavenly.

Where: A Lesehan, Marlioborough Street, opp KFC
Cost : Each piece of duck cost us USD0.90, the chicken was slightly cheaper at USD0.85, the hot lime drink and tea was about USD0.30 each.

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Star in the Kraton

I was wandering about in the Kraton ( royal palace) when one of the palace guards started to gesticulate wildly to me . It took me a while to realise that he was pointing to a star fruit tree. What confused me intially was because he kept saying Belimbing, which meant a small sour green fruit in Singapore. It took me a while to realise that he was refering to the starfruit. So, if you happen to go to the Kraton the next time, try looking for a star (fruit) that is. It's green when it's unripe and eaten with sauce in a salad (rujuk) , when it's yellow and ripe, it's eaten sliced ( lotis).

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Bakso in Yogya

Thanks to them, I found out where the best bakso in Yogya was to be had. Well, not only did the bakso turn out to be good, it was biggest one I've tried!
This gigantic thing that I'm holding on my spoon must be the biggest bakso in the whole of Yogya. It was also the yummiest I've ever tasted. Do go to this place and try their soto bakso. It's simply meatballs ( beef) drenched with savoury chicken soup and rice. This delicious dish only cost me 5500Rp.

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