Duta Gardens view from balcony

After the temples, we went into the city of Yogyakarta and stayed at this simple, but charming hotel. It was our base for the next two days as we explored the sites of the city

I'm back!

It's been quite a while since I blogged. Part of the reason - I got to have an adventure with Doctors and hospitals in Indonesia. I woke up with pain in my lower left abdomen one night that just would not go away. It came in spasms and after three hours I finally decided that there was something wrong. Regina and her husband came and took me to the materinity hospital. The "supposed" ER doc had my blood pressure checked (160/80) informed me that I had a spastic stomach, gave me a shot and told me I could go home. I was in so much pain I couldn't move. After a half-hour of him sitting stone-faced and quiet, and me writhing in pain, Regina asked him how long it took for the medicine to take hold. He responded "5 minutes". Obviously my problem was not a spastic stomach. I was admitted to the hospital and watched the sun rise as I waited for the internist to arrive at 7:00. In the meantime, ants visited me, crawling up and down on the wall near my head, and a nurse who could only say "Obama." The intern came in wearing the Indonesian version of a Dr.'s white coat; it looked like the top of a very cheesy tuxedo. The intern informed me that he was going to take an ultrasound (my first!). Later that morning I had an ultrasound, where the nurse/aide smeared the jelly on my belly with a spatula. I kept thinking of Betty Crocker as she swirled the jelly from one side to the other, as the Doctor commanded. To keep a very long story mercifully short, I went to five different hospitals, one so appalling I can't imagine anyone gets out of there alive, and five different "specialists". Finally it appeared to be a small kidney stone, or crystals, which I was able to pass while drinking copious amounts of water. Now back to the travels and pictures!

View of one Prambanan temple to another

Little is known about the early history of this complex, but it is thought that it was built by Rakai Pikatan to commemorate the return of a Hindu dynasty to sole power in Java.

May 27th 2006 Earthquake

Earthquake caused serious damage to the temple complex - very little work has been done to restore it.

Candi Shiva Mahadeva

This temple dedicated to Shiva, is not only the largest of the temples, it is also the finest. The temple is lavishly carved. with small lions, trees of heaven, and a multitude of stylised half-human and half-bird "kinnara" (heavenly beings).

Prambanan Temples

Outside of Yogyakarta is the huge Prambanan complex which consist of Hindu temples. It was in ruins for many years, and not until 1937 was construction first attempted. The outer compound contains the remains of 244 temples, while eight minor and eight main temples stand in the highest central courtyard

Dino's owner and Regina

We had arranged to share a rented car with some people we met at the hotel on the grounds of the Borobudur Temple. Since we were running late, and Dino the wonder horse could not go any faster, the owner gave Regina a ride on his motorcycle back to the hotel to let the people know we were coming! Not to worry, I did not drive the horse and cart- that was the owner's brother's job!