Tuesday, 11 June, Yogojakarts,
Indonesia
Todays transport, a becak, was a variation of the tuk tuk species... more like a rickshaw, except it was powered by a motor bike, rather than foot pedals. Thinking of the poor man powering me along, I was grateful for the motor. On previous occasions when I've been carried in a human-powered cyclo, I always felt sorry for the driver. A motor bike engine eases my conscience.
Usual run of the mill tourist stuff today. Once again, we escaped a visit to a fruit and vegetable market, but a small batik factory stayed on the itinerary,
Next up, a couple of former palaces dating from the days of Sultans and rajahs.
One of these palaces (left) was the scene of Indonesia's first attempt at independence when an non-lasting agreement was signed here with the Dutch, whose colonial rule Indonesia was fighting to free itself from after World War II.
I realized my appalling ignorance about Indonesian history after the visit to the palace museum, so much so that when we came back to our hotel, I felt I had to do a quick refresher course on Indonesia (courtesy of Wikipedia).
I'm still little the wiser now –
maybe even more confused.
A
variation on the palace theme was called the Water Palace, a title
which puzzled me until it was explained that a spring provided
enough water at this palace to fill a couple of pools, which served
both bathing and ornamental purposes. We were told some confused story about how a sultan a couple of hundred years back, had 70-odd young women sumoned to one of these pools, and they had to enter the pool naked, so he could take his pick...
True or not, I don't know.
