SOLO_Candi Sukuh

Last Stop. Candi Sukuh!

  

  

Opening Time:  9am to 5pm

Admission Fee:  3,000Rp.

Location: 36KM east of Solo. On the slopes of Lawu Mountain about 25 miles east of Solo. You can reach it in about one hour from Solo. From Solo, find the route to Semarang or Karanganyar. Follow the main road till you find a traffic light junction with small police station on your right. Turn left to Karangpandan. Follow the main road and keep look at Candi Sukuh and Ceto on the side road. 

 It is a 15th century Javanese-Hindu temple (Candi) that is located on the western slope of Mount Lawu (elev. 910 m or 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea level on the border between Central and East Java provinces.

Where most temples would have a large square shrine, however, Candi Sukuh has a pyramid reminiscent of Mayan structures from Central America. This is the only Hindu temple, or Buddhist one for that matter, sporting a pyramid like this and nobody knows for sure why the builders chose this type of structure. Just in front of the pyramid, three tortoises with flattened shells are unevenly placed. They appear to be for offerings or sacrifices and a male figure grasping his penis. There aren't as many carvings as most temples typically have, but those it does have are quit unique. Candi Sukuh, you see, is what they call a "fertility" temple.

 

Beautiful view but not much to knowledge gained as there isn’t any tour-guide around to share its historical information of this temple15th century Javanese-Hindu temple.

Anyways, here are a couple of pictures I've taken: 

 

 

  

   

  

  

  

SOLO_Serabi Solo

This last culinary to try at my trip to Solo has got to be my personal favourite.

  You may find this shop at: Jalan. Moh. Yamin Notosuman

   

Serabi Solo is actually a kind of pancake batter ingredients consisting of rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, salt, and pandanous leaves its fragrance, and other ingredients are then heated in a mould in the form of a small frying pan and then covered with a cover of soil clay that pancake bloom. The shape is round like a plate with crunchy crust around it. Serabi solo has chocolate, sliced jack fruit or banana to flavour the taste. Serabi has a chewy texture but still soft and it feels very legit.

It is different with common serabi found in other local towns. It is not served with sweet syrup made of coconut milk.  

SOLO_Tengkleng Solo

Today's Solo's culinary was Tengkleng Solo.
Tengkleng is a kind of goat-meat curry but did not use coconut milk broth. 
So what's in tengkleng? Well, there is goat bones with a little meat attached, along with the intestines satay, satay bowel, brain and other organs such as the eyes, ears, cheeks, legs and others.
 ALthough some people might enjoy this kind of culinary but it wasn't my cup-a-tea. Tasted too oily for me.

SOLO_Sate Buntel

2nd Round of Solo's Culinary!

Sate Buntel is a special sate from solo. It is made of goat chopped meat which has been spiced by onion and pepper before wrapped within goat fat. It is enjoyed together with soya sauce, sliced red pepper, red onion, cabbage and tomatoes.

Alongside with this menu are Sate Kikil and Gule Sumsum (Marrow curry). 

The Sate Buntel was very chewy and juicy. Best goat meat I've ever tasted!   

  

    

SOLO_Sahasra Adi Pura

As I was researching on the Internet, I came upon an interesting attraction in Solo. Sahasra Adi Pura. IT HAS MY NAME IN IT! :D As I read on Sahasra Adi Pura is a Javanese Hindu Temple, location in the rice fields of Central Java, 7 Km outside the city of Surakarta. It operates as a traditional Hindu temple, observing the rituals and ceremonies on temple sacred days and Hindu holy days

Sahasra Adhi Pura is laid out according to the precepts of archeoastronomy (meaning the positions of the stars and planets are reflected in the architecture) and sacred geometry (the proportions and shapes are related to sacred numbers and forms.)

The temple has 50 miniatures of ancient sacred sites from, around the world including Stonehenge, Chitzen Itza , the Sphinx, nubian pyramid and others.

The temple is also a Kundalini yoga centre that teaches the traditional Javanese meditation techniques such as water and sun meditation. There are around 15 westerners living at or near the temple and studying yoga.

 As fascinating as that sounds, we drove away from Solo trying to look for this location. It was a very difficult location to find!

Nearly giving up, we finally managed to find this location. 

As we entered, we were to sign a guest book and were escorted by a ‘bule’ female whom seemed to know the Indonesian language more than myself! As she took us around the quiet, scorching hot complex, she explained that the area is still in the building-process and still trying to collect more status! She also explained not many locals (Indonesian tourist) come to this place. It’s a pity Indonesia has so many beauty and knowledge but isn’t cherished by the locals!

Well, this visit was out of my expectation. But never mind, nothing is a loss. Positively thinking, we can learn something new from ever place we visit! But sorry to say, never again will I visit this place. hehehe…

Here are a couple of pictures I've taken at this location:

SOLO_Selat Solo

Travelling to a new city never feels complete without trying its culinary!

 

The first ever Solo culinary to try was Selat Solo.

A fusion between beefsteak, salads, and soups. The word "selat" actually refers to a salad consisting of lettuce, blended with fried potatoes, boiled carrots, boiled green beans, cucumbers, and sprinkled with potato chips. Doused with gravy and sliced ​​beef stew and home-made mustard that tastes sweet.
This food is the result of acculturation between Javanese and the Dutch culture during colonial period centuries ago.
Its taste was just right on my tongue! Its price varies from Rp. 9,500/portion up until Rp. 12,000/portion.

SOLO_Wayang Orang

The first time I was introduced ‘wayang’ was from my dad. He has memorised all the Pendawa Limo and loves to share it with his children. I instantly fell in love with Wayang Arjuna.

 Pendowo Limo, or also known as The Five Pandawa Brothers consist of: Puntadewa, Bima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sadewa.

Puntadewa, Bima, and Arjuna were born from the wedding of King Pandudewanata with Queen Dewi Kunti. On the other hand, Nakula and Sadewa were born from the wedding of King Pandudewanata with Queen Dewi Madrim.

  Pendowo Limo Characteristics:

1. Puntadewanata or Yudistira is the oldest of Five Pendawas. He is so patient so that he is often called as having the white blood. He would never fight or go to war. He has a powerful amulet named Kalimasada.

   2. Bima or Werkodara is the second Pendawa . He has a large, strong body and has very sharp thumbnails. He never uses formal language to anyone (except to Dewaruci). He represents the power of Five Pendawas.

           3. Arjuna is the third Pendawa. He is a handsome warrior. He is also powerful. He practices meditation; therefore he has received lots of powerful weaponry. He is very skilled in the art of archery.

4 & 5. Nakula & Sahadewa are the fourth and Fifth of Pendawas (They are twin brthers). Like their step-brothers, both of these warriors have supernatural power. Even though they have different mother, Nakula and Sadewa are always loyal to their three step-brothers.

Before visiting a place, I’m the type that likes to do a little research about the place and I came upon WAYANG ORANG performance at Solo in the evenings where the players are men and women. They sing, dance, narrate accompanied by gamelan music orchestra. The stories presented are from Ramayana and Mahabarata epoch). This was definitely in my to-do list!

Here was the information I came upon:

Garden Sriwedari, Jl. Slamet Riyadi 275, Solo

Opening Time: Monday – Saturday

Performance Begins: 8pm – 10pm

Ticket Price: Rp. 3,000

Not coming from the Pendowo Limo, there are more characters such as:

·         Kresna was the king of Dwarawati, the wisest man in the world. 

   

                            ·          Javanese Punakawan (Punakawan is a family of characters in Javanese wayang, they are sometimes referred to as "clown-servants" because they normally are associated with the story's hero, and provide humorous and philosophical interludes) which consists of:  

      Semar is the father of Gareng (oldest son), Petruk, and Bagong (youngest son).

As excited as I was for this performance, it took some time for it to get started. But after anxiously waiting, the performance welcomed the audience with the incredible sound of gamelan, which went on for almost 30 minutes. 

Then at last the real performance began. Outstanding human-sized wayang appeared at the stage and of course the one and only wayang I’ve wanted to see real life, Arjuna appeared handsomely. The performance went on for 2 hours. And it was incredible to watch! But I was a little disappointed as they were speaking in Javanese and there was no English nor Indonesian translation except a few setting stories appeared on the white screen once in a while during its performance.

Over-all, I really enjoyed seeing the settings and actions and of course its gorgeous wayang orang. I also came upon the news that it is possible to go for a backstage visit to meet the artists and take photos for Rp. 25,000! Unfortunately, my family and I were too exhausted after the 2 hours of performance so we did a pass on that!

Here are a few pictures of the performance taken: