So we started walking towards the place for our lunch and along the way, we saw a lot of paddy fields (again), and the sky was very blue. How to not shoot?

The paddy fields was not like the one in Sekinchan, where it is very wide and endless. The paddy fields here in Yogyakarta is more like a backyard of someone’s house. That’s why you see a lot of different colour’s field cos different owners plant them different time.

Some house looking like prison.

Lines seperate your fields and my fields?

A very very old house. Seems dangerous, but there are actually people working inside!

Going-to-collapse-soon roof.

Very hot, somemore wearing black.

The same prison-like house I mentioned earlier. Look at the sky!

A path leading into more paddy fields and houses of the local.

The same path, further in, you can see the locals working on the field.

One of the rare lovely shot of Jook and Shyng.

Along the road side banana tree. This only happened in kampung lor.

This section/segment of paddy field belongs to another person.

More close-up shots of paddy. Yay~

A lof of bugs live here in the paddy field. I notice this is one of the difference between Sekinchan and Yogyakarta. At Sekinchan, there are bugs, but not that many, at Yogyakarta, whenever you walk close to the field, you can see a lot of bugs flying/jumping/fleeing away.

While me, Shyng, and Jook went further to take photos, YenC, Siewmei, and Hamyu were waiting under this hut.

The hut is located outside of the restaurant where we’re going to have our lunch with.

Here is it! Balinese food in Yogyakarta! Lol!

The drinks here were very authentic. Some are nice and some tasted weird. But they’re all fruit juices. While we were waiting for our food, we went behind the restaurant and took some pictures because there’s another paddy field back there.

Flowers behind the restaurant. Hardworking bee gathering honey.

Siewmei posing with the field.

This is how the restaurant looks like from outside the field.

Does this mean the restaurant does not need to buy their own rice?

Tiny white flowers growing along the path in the middle of the field.

Not sure what this is, maybe “street light”?

After this shot, I found out it is very dangerous to run on the path in between the paddy field. I almost PK-ed.

But jumping on the spot should be okie.

Left: Golden brown. Right: Greenish yellow.

Successful trip! Hooray~

Ok… the food is here already, need to walk back to grab our lunch.

There we are waiting for the flight at Yogyakarta airport.

That’s it. That’s my trip to Yogyakarta. Overall the trip was fun. The gang was fun to travel with (all like taking photos of anything). Schedule was not tight, although need to wake up early sometimes, but we took our time slumberly at all the places we visited. Didn’t manage to visit Mount Bromo (which Behn and Sherrina recommended) because need to travel 9 hours by bus or too expensive by flight from Yogyakarta, so it didn’t fulfilled the requirement of our trip which is “relax”. But, we’ll go visit Mount Bromo one day.

Spend less than RM1k this whole trip including flight and accomodations for 4 days 3 nights. No, I didn’t buy a lot of things there but if you like to take photos and see different things, not a bad deal.

So we woke up early in the morning to catch our Guest House’s breakfast which was included in the rates. Discovered that the area behind where we had our breakfast was very nice. It was just a small area, but decorated/landscaped very nicely. So after we eat, we did some early morning shooting.

A path from the breakfast place to the garden at the back. The taller building behind the pondok is actually the “house” next door!

Leaf-less trees – probably the gardener plucked all the leaves down so no work for him.

A closer look at the small hut. This is the small hut we chilled in later tonight.

A wooden house further back with a small pond fill with fishes. Look like some house in those chinese kung fu novel.

Hamyu, the kung fu master who stays there!

The gardener haven’t got time to clear the leaves of this tree yet.

A shot from the house towards the hut.

Flowers in the morning is always good.

A ladder up to the erm… top of the bamboo?

Path leading the the hut passing by a basin.

Siewmei standing in front of the nice hut.

Early morning model shooting.

This area is behind the wooden house. A lot of bamboos and it’s quite nice to shoot.

Early morning jog?

YenC in the morning.

Not enough sleep.

Nice color combination.

After a while, Shyng finished her breakfast and join the shoot.

Flowers everywhere!

Based on her shadow, it’s 9:42am.

Asked her to went into the house, apparently is a store room. What a cool store room.

Old-skool photos hanging along the wall.

After we ended our early morning photo session, we called 2 cabs to get us to Bird Market. It’s a place where they don’t just sell birds, but a lot of other pets as well.

“Fighting fish”? That’s what I used to call it during I’m very young. I’m still using the same term to address these kinda fish. Natural born fighter.

Fishy for the fish lovers.

Turtles are selling for quite a cheap price here based on Shyng. All camera shy. Hehe.

The look of the street around Bird Market.

Besides pet food, you can also find human food here.

One of the pet food for your pet bird I guess. Red ants and red ants eggs! The whole thing is alive!

Crickets. Damn a lot of crickets.

Very gross worms.

Geckos are sold here too.

It is not call Bird Market for nothing.

Walking inside the market makes me feel like I’m gonna catch a bird flu.

We were walking towards the back of the market. Because from far we can see there’s some kinda monument there.

The small road of Bird Market.

Even Obama visited the Bird Market. This is how famous it is.

This is the monument we were heading to. It’s the Water Castle… well… what’s left of the Water Castle.

Taking photos inside the damaged structure.

Look at Hamyu and Jook’s pose!

From on top of the Castle, you can see  almost the whole Yogyakarta.

Me walking to find a nice spot to shoot.

But where the heck is my camera?

Shyng a bit off in this picture.

Based on the shadow, it’s 11:43am.

Top down view.

/Jook-ing around.

Heroes.

Another shot of the inside of the structure. Maybe it collapse due to the earthquake. If you wanna know the truth, please Wiki it yourself.

Behind the Water Castle, is where people live.

Looks normal on top, but there are actually underground tunnel below the houses.

Siewmei posing behind one of the entrance to the underground tunnel. Very nice structure.

Roof of the entrance.

A house further down the street.

Siewmei plucked a flower from the ground.

Further in, you can see how the housing area of Yogyakarta people looks like. A cute kid still wearing his pyjamas. Siewmei didn’t let the chance ranwaway. Haha.

Hanging the clothes very high to catch maximum sunlight.

In front of one of the houses there’s a nice bench.

The local kids showing his ability.

Thsi is another roof of another building that lead to another tunnel. Looks like fish scale.

We’re underground.

Looking up at the opening of the tunnel.

Jook trying to get a good shot.

This platform is where i looked up and shot the 2nd previous shot. Very nice place, like a maze.

After walking for quite some time, we got hungry. And heard from the friends that came back from Yogyakarta, this place, the Water Castle Cafe, is the nice place to hang out and chill.

Portraits and a lot of photos were hanging on the wall.

Portfolio of one of the owner I think.

A home feel cafe. Nice~

Siewmei pretend to read something.

The entrance to the toilet.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the toilet. Very nicely decorated.

They even got a wardrobe inside the toilet.

It’s a huge toilet. If you enjoy shitting, this place will enhance your experience!

The violin that the owner plays.

One of the owner having an afternoon snacks session.

Very relaxing place as after the owner finsihed with his tasks, he’ll play his violin there. He asked this foreign lady is she could play the violin, and she played some Irish stuffs. Very nice.

One of the youngest owner of the place. Look at him feeling the music.

The oldest, enjoying his afternoon and his life, playing the ukelele.

Old chair.

Siewmei taking pictures of the nice toilet.

We wrote, drew, and signed something for the owner. Hopefully he stick it somewhere in his shop.

Outside of the cafe, there’s this drink that looks like chendol in Malaysia. It’s kinda sweet.

Workers at the Bird Market trainig their pigeon.

After finished walking around the Bird Market, our next destination is the shopping street, Malioboro. We chose an alternative ways, well, at least for us, to travel. Horse cart! This is the horsie that pull our cart. The driver is an old man and 6 of us squeezed into the horse cart. Poor horsie. Hahaha…

Squeezing into the cart at the back there.

Off we go to Malioboro.

Horse carts in Yogyakarta are quite respected in the traffic. Although the cart was travelling quite a slow paste, but there are no honking from the people behind.

Looking down to the wheel.

Passed by a resting cart. Looks like some cowboy town.

And here we are! Jalan Malioboro. The famous shopping street in Yogyakarta.

The street looks not much different from Malaysia’s street.

A lot and a lof of locals and tourists.

Look outside of the street, it just looks like some small town street.

A shop selling some traditional snacks

There are “Petronas” snacks inside! Wonder what are the ingredients.

Jook holding an edible bowl made out of rice. Didn’t manage to try la cos nobody bought it.

While waiting for the taxi. All damn tired already.

Proof of visit for Siewmei.

Not sure what Jook trying to do here. Hahaha…

Group photo at Malioboro.

After we took the cab back to our guest house. Showered and took some rest. Then walk out around our guest house again to look for our food!

We actually passed by this restaurant the day before. And finally it’s time visit it. Remember I just went to Bali around 2 months ago, there’s a place there call Jimbaran and it’s famous for it’s seafood. So I think this restaurant brings in the food from Jimbaran. Just like in KL eating Penang Fried Kuey Teow.

The pond in front of the restaurant is actually a aquarium filled with prawns!

Fishes for you to choose.

Clams are one of the cheapest seafood there.

Calimari anyone?

Not sure if these prawns are from the pond.

Pointing down to the pond to indicate there are live prawns down there.

Price list.

Vicious fire ikan bakar.

Waiting for our food to come. They actually serve the food on banana leaves.

Quite a nice environment. One problem is that there are lizards on the roof. And one of it actually shit-ed! Luckily none of us were that lucky to kena.

We were quite early there and you can see the restaurant was quite empty. But later it’s kinda full with people.

Siewmei ordered the coconut juice which looks very delicious.

Chilis in Yogyakarta is no joke.

We ate using our hands! The waitress said is one of the tradition there. So we followed and it was quite weird to eat seafood with hands. You can feel the texture of the fish you are eating.

Hamyu praticing it.

YenC also not bad.

The most professional of us all. Shyng.

Hamyu spotted this girl behind me. Hahaha.

After the dinner, we did some exercise (walking back to our guest house) and prepared the snacks we bought from Jalan Malioboro to chill at the pondok I shot in the morning.

Having snacks and enjoying our teas kampung style, under the pondok!

That concludes our third day at Yogyakarta. One more part to come, our last day in Yogyakarta. Coming soon.

Like I said about the sun going down very early in the day, it also rises very early in the morning. We woke up 4am in the morning, prepared ourselves and took our ride to Bodobudur at 5am. All of us were thinking that we can catch a nice sunrise of the sacred Borobudur, but we think too soon. While we’re on our way there, we already saw light coming out at the horizon. Kinda disappointed, but can’t do anything. On our way there, we passed by the outskirt of Yogyakarta, what we saw impressed us. Although it was very early in the morning, but the streets were not quiet at all, we saw a lot of people actually jogging and having their exercise along the way to Borobudur. From old aunties to young boys and girls, they group together and jog their way to a healthy lifestyle.

Reached Borobudur at 6 something in the morning, and you can see that it’s already quite bright. Hamyu pulling a *nyan nyan* in the morning.

Siewmei spreading the culture of Asian poses to the people of Borobudur.

The girls taking picture in front of the almighty temple of Borobudur.

Official signage for the temple.

People came here very early in the morning.

Uncle having a nice view of the Candi (temple) under the tree.

Went up the “Stairs of Morning Exercise For the City People” and this… this is what you’ll see. An amazingly big and detailed temple of Borobudur getting its morning shower of sun rays.

Proof of visits for Mr. Ham.

Proof of visits for the girls.

And proof of visits of me. My hair kinda resemble the tip of the temple.

Stone carving on most of the walls of the temple.

Stories are being tell on the wall.

One of the 72 Buddha statues surrounding the temple.

Shadow of me scaring the wall people.

Almost the top of the temple. All these stone “cages” ware shielding statues of Buddha. A lof of the head for the Buddha statues were unfortunately stolen for some Musuems as collection.

Sun rises early in the morning.

Bell shape “cages”.

This is the top of the temple. Breath-taking.

From the top you can actually see quite far down since there isn’t much high objects surrounding the temple.

One of the exposed statue.

All the Buddha status may appear the same, but they’re different in their “mudras” or the position of the hands

Giant tip with added lighting arrestor to protect the sacred temple.

YenC at the top.

YenC is actually posing here.

Another view of the Buddha statue. So calm.

Jook documenting his trip here in Borobudur with his newly bought LX-3.

The couple enjoying the stay.

Shyng’s shirt blending into the very blue sky of Yogyakarta.

A foreigner writing down his experience here. I think.

A nice shot of Shyng sitting on the ledge on the top.

YenC tired from all the walking.

Siewmei also enjoying her shooting session here.

Amazed by the works involved in building the temple.

Every carving has its own story.

Far out you can see mountains which is also quite amazing.

Walkway on one of the level.

One of the staircase passage.

So happy~

A stone marking the “officiality” of this sacred temple in this modern world.

A foreigner helped us take this picture in order for me to help them take theirs.

The sky is always blue in Yogya.

After our trip to Borobudur, Shyng requested we go to this silver crafting factory near to the temple. So we stopped by and have a look, since Yogya is kinda famous for their silver.

A silver crafter making some silver stuffs. His professionalism can be seen from his smoothly gel-ed hair.

Seems like this silver crafting factory can attract some foreigners too.

After the factory, we head to our next destination, Prambanan, one of the largest Hindu temple in South-East Asia. The distance from Borobudur to here was not a problem to us, because all of us were sleeping in the van. Hehe…

Reconstruction works are actually under way here. A lof of the smaller shrines as you can see from the photo collapsed due to an earthquake in 2006. So this is what’s left now.

From color to black and white? I don’t get it.

Photo time~

One of the still standing smaller shrine.

Very hot in the afternoon but still there are a lot of people. There are also a lot of locals picnicing outside the compound of the temple under trees.

Fallen shrines… what a pity.

Another photo in front of one of the big ones.

Hopefully all the shrines that are still standing will remain standing for millennia to come.

Tall and pointy compare to Candi Borobudur.

Very cute “fence”.

Going in to one of the shrine.

We spotted one of the local kid visiting the temple. Damn cute with the “tudung” shading him from the sun.

Siewmei posing in one of the still standing wall of one of the shrine.

Cute or not?!

Some colour green to spice up the overall look and feel.

As you can see, the reconstruction is on-going.

Accident happened. YenC stepped onto a barb wire while walking on the grass. Luckily she’s not hurt.

Jook “stoning”.

Flying Jook.

Stone platforms remain of the smaller shrine.

Head of a statue lying around the floor.

We spotted an smaller shrine with nobody there. So took the opportunities and took some photos.

Put my camera on the rock pile opposite the shrine to take this shot.

Jook imitating the stone carving.

Cute little stone carving on the floor.

After walking around seeing the Candi Prambanan, we started walking around the outer compound and spotted this guy.

Horses are very common thing in Yogyakarta.

Siewmei posing with the pony.

Another view of a road leading to the temple. It’s freaking huge!

After we got amazed by the temple of Prambanan, we still got some time left before our driver’s time is up, so on the way back, we asked him to suggest a place to visit for us. He brought us to this Museum of Yogyakarta. Stories of how Yogyakarta got to become like this is told here.

Jook spotted this sun scene outside of the museum.

Weapon to protect. Jook being patriotic protecting Yogyakarta… eh?

This is the museum building itself.

What’s inside the top floor of the building is this. A flag on a pole and a hole from the top letting in sunlight while there are some carving on the wall showing don’t know what.

After a whole day of walking and shooting, we’re back to our temporary crib. Rumah Palagan  Guest House. A quiet and cozy place to stay.

After the reception, this is the path leading to our rooms.

Corridor in front of the rooms.

Some decor at the reception area… old-skool~

This is the pool we chill in. Nice?

So this is the end of part 1 of my trip to Yogyakarta. The next part will be the visit to Yogyakarta town itself. More blue skies next entry.

So 12 of us went up to Sekinchan in a trip organized by Clive. The rest of us includes Clive’s girlfriend Ben Chin, Eddy, Sherinna, Behn, Siewmei, Andrew, Yanni, and some new people.

Reached there around 3 something, trying to look for fishing village but failed, so we decided to go for this. Going up Bukit Melawati on this “tour bus”.

Waiting for the tour bus to come under hot hot sun of the afternoon.

The top of Bukit Melawati. I think this place is some kinda old fortress with all these cannons here. You can see the sea from here.

Here’s the lighthouse. Very clean and white. Not sure if it’s still functioning.

Closer look at the top part of the lighthouse.

After playing with monkeys on top of Bukit Melawati, we passed by a fishing village, so we stopped, and shoot.

Bling bling river that leads to the sea.

People stay just next to the river.

Siewmei and Yanny posing.

Wooden house = kampung feel.

Flags of the villagers.

“Har Beng” – One of the local famous snacks.

Their “garage”.

Don’t jump!

Weapon of mass destruction for the fishes.

Hot hot sun before evening.

Front porch of one of the houses. Nice view~

Kampung wiring.

Look at Siewmei and Andrew buying the famous Har Beng. I’ve bought a big pack too, tried it at home, it’s really good.

Rabbit meeting crab in front of the seafood restaurant that we had our dinner at.

Floating restaurant.

Damn a lot of people because it was school holiday.

View outside the restaurant. Warm~

After dinner, we went straight to Kuala Selangor’s famous fireflies place to check out some fireflies. It was too dark there to shoot anything. So no photos there. The experience was so so only because it was very hot and a lot of people were there. The fireflies itself wasn’t too impressive either. So there’s nothing much to talk about actually.

Went to our rented house. Unpacked, showered and sleep. Need to wake up very early the next day, trying to catch the sunrise over the paddy field the next morning.

Woke up damn early, but the sky was cloudy at the horizon. So no sunrise for us to see. Next time maybe. But we still had fun at the field there.

Cut field.

Tyre track of big machine running through here.

No more rice~

Open road, open field.

Layers.

Watering system of the field.

Siewmei not very happy cos couldn’t catch the sunrise.

Props on crops. These people brought props to the field to shoot. Hahaha…

Road side shooting.

Seasoned.

Food for the Asian.

More layers + reflection.

Yanny and Siewmei. Mosquitos repelent on Yanny’s arm.

Drainage system (longkang).

Alternative violinist.

Warrior of the crops.

Warriored of the crops.

Lovely couple taking pictures with the paddy field.

Another road side shooting.

Another couple, Evee and Timothy.

Blue team.

So calm~

Tree with fruits at the side of the road.

Wonderful music from Behn. Look at his expression, he’s so into it. High JOR!

After the paddy field, we’re in search for more fishing village. And here we found another one next to another river.

Parked fishing vessels. Off day on Sunday?

My first time in a shipyard and they’re building a new fishing vessel here. Quite impressive.

Ah Wei from Sekinchan own this box!

Fisherman repainting his boat. From dull red, to bright red. Everyone is an artist themselves.

After the fishing village, we came to this restaurant. What is this restaurant about? They sell shark meat! Yup… SHARK… so we ordered and tried. It was not too bad. We enjoyed our lunch here, and head back to where we came from. Goodbye Sekinchan, it was a pleasure trip.