Solo Things to Do

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I go places not just for the sake of going and I don't consider lolling in the sun on the beach with a beer in my hand to be the ultimate in traveling experience. Each society has its own particularity, its own culture and mores. One of my purposes in traveling to an exotic location is to observe its special character. Solo is claimed by its citizens to be a city of art and culture and it has the ambition to excel its rival city of Jogja in every way. I spent one afternoon going around the central part of the city on foot observing anything that would throw some light on its culture. I preferred to walk around instead of taking a taxi or becak. I decided to begin by taking a quick look at the area around my hotel, Premier Best Western, which was just across from the Slamet Riyadi monument. I went around the monument and beyond it. The entrance to the city grounds (Alun-Alun) was guarded by the traditional giant black Dwarpals (Gate Keepers), one on each side. My hotel had a beautiful fountain with the figures of women all around it and there was also a statue of a woman reclining on a bench. The initial impression was quite favourable. I began my leisurely walk westward on Jl Slamet Riyadi. A couple of blocks to the west of Premier Best Western, I came across a sight that could have blown my hat away. It seemed to be an apartment building that was colonial in appearance. Its original beauty was visible in a part of it which was maintained in its original design. No major changes seemed to have been made to its structure or decorations, but that could not be said about the rest of the building. A part of it was covered with graffiti (or was it a mural advertising something?). There was a mention of batik and there were also caricature-like figures usually associated with Javanese puppetry (See Photo). The part of the building to the west seemed to have electronics shop, which had put up its billboards to cover more than half of the façade of the building. The blue shade of the paint on the upper part of it seemed to stand out as aesthetically unappealing. The building was probably owned in sections by various owners, who were free to do to their part of the building what they wanted. A beautiful building had been marred by people who did not care about their architectural heritage. What was even worse, the city administration didn't seem to care.

If you walk along the path on the southern side of Jl Slamet Riyadi you pass by a Museum (Radya Pustaka) and an amusement park (Taman Sriwedari), which were closed by the time I got there. At the top of the entrance there was the head of a demon, who was supposed to keep the evil spirits away. This kind of figure is often found at the entrance to Hindu temples. Inside the entrance, there was a golden statue of King Rama, the hero of the Hindu epic, Ramayana, and his queen, Sita, who was standing on his knee, while he held her hand and looked into her eyes amorously. It was an untraditional pose but it is done tastefully. On the outside wall there was a series of niches, each one bearing a statue of a figure from one of the Hindu epics. Rama, his brother Lakshmana, his queen Sita are characters from Ramayana (See Photo). There were statues of some characters from Mahabharata as well. These representations of characters from the scriptures of the Hindus are not the archaeological relics of the Hindu past of Java but are recent creations by the artists who obviously enjoy the freedom of creating the kind of art that is shunned in most other Muslim states where breaking of the idols of the non-believers is considered a pious act. Since the representation of Islamic heroes in sculpture or painting on public buildings is frowned upon by the Muslim clerics, the artists, who want to continue practising their art, have this rare opportunity to continue their link to their traditional culture. I can only hope that this kind of tolerance will continue to prevail in the future.

There are cobbled walkways on both sides of Jl Slamet Riyadi. They are shaded over by trees, bushes and climbers. The Javanese people love to eat out but not everyone can afford to go to a restaurant to eat. The walkways are punctuated with little carts that prepare and serve food that the average person in Solo can afford. Bicycle and motorbike riders park their vehicles and buy a freshly cooked meal from the vendor and then they find a place where they can sit and enjoy their meal. The vendors had spread mats for their customers to squat on.

Further on, as you continue walking on the southern side of Jl Riyadi, you come to the shopping mall, called appropriately the Solo Grand Mall. It is a spick and span modern shopping mall with stores selling fashionable stuff. It also has restaurants. Here is Pizza Hut and also KFC for those who want to enjoy a meal at one of the outlets of a western chain of restaurants.

Among the arts that have become traditional in Java is the art of cloth painting called batik. It uses a special technique of applying a dye selectively to the cloth by covering the rest of it with wax. Cloth painting is said to have been brought over to the East Indies from India over a thousand years ago and developed further in Java using its own special technique. The art flourished because of the desire of the royal families to bedeck themselves with beautiful fabrics. Because of the traditional rivalry between the sultans of Jogja and Solo, both cities tried to outdo each other in perfecting this art. The rivalry enabled the art of batik to flourish. The rivlry has continued into the present and either city claims to have better quality batik fabrics than the other. Since the art of batik is so important to Solo, there are several craftsmen working on it in various factories and there are a number of outlets spread across the city which claim to be the best in Solo. There is a market at the eastern end of Jl Riyadi where there are a number of stores selling batik. There is a place at the western end near the Purwosari Station specializing in the production and sale of batik (See Photo).

The Javanese people have kept up their interest in many of the traditional arts, like dancing. In Taman Sriwedari, I saw a group of little girls practising the traditional dance under the guidance of a teacher, who taught them the art of wiggling their fingers, hands and heads. One of the arts that have been given special attention in Java is called Wayang or puppetry. Dramatic performances, traditionally based on stories from the Hindu epics, have been performed in Java for centuries now. Wayang has given rise to a special school of painting. The figures in these paintings resemble the figures that have traditionally been used in Wayang performances. I found such a painting adorning the top of a restaurant on Jl Riyadi (See Photo).

It was only on the following day that I was able to visit the Pura Managkunarang Mueseum, which was a part of the palace of the royal family. Among the artifacts on display were coins, ornaments, among them covers for genitals worn during ceremonial meditation that could last several days, and above all works of art. Besides the sculpted furniture, there were paintings, one of the king himself and another one showing the Hindu ancestors of the Javanese people going to a temple. The artifacts that I found exceptionally beautiful were the stained glass windows and placed just before it an intricately carved ivory tusk (See photo).

Solo City Info, Solo city tourism

Wow ... really interesting look at one resort located on the border of the tourist sites Tawangmangu Karanganyar with Sarangan tourist sites. But until now, I do not know anyone who has ever lived there.
I actually doubt that the resort as a place to stay but for strange rituals. A person who I asked about the resort was also confirmed that in fact the great officials who often "stay" to perform rituals involving the position, wealth, power and often crowded ahead of regional elections.
wow, ... please believe it or not but that's the facts.

I prefer it actually resorts to be a place to stay. And very rarely resorts to place under the bridge. Unique once ... hopefully no one litter so that litter the resort's roof.

Therefore, let us support it resorts to the real tourist area and used to stay while enjoying the surrounding scenery is quite interesting.

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We booked a car and driver through our hotel for this trip. This was considerably cheaper than the price we had been quoted by a travel agency earlier. The erotic temples are Candi Ceto and Candi Sukuh. They are fairly near each other and with transport can easily be visited on the same day. There is a waterfall nearby, too, though we did not go to see it.

Candi Sukuh is open from 9am to 5pm and costs around 10,000 Rp to visit. The main temple building is like a pyramid with the point cut off. You can climb up to the flat roof for a view over the complex and surrounding area.

The temple is called the erotic temple due to housing several statues with rather large penises. They are more funny than erotic. The highlight of the temple is the stunning view over the surrounding countryside. There are tea plantations, rice paddies, coffee plantations all in contrasting shades of green. It is stunning.

Candi Ceto also has stunning views. It is open from 9am-5pm and costs around 10,000Rp to enter. This temple is set out over several different terraces and also contains erotic statues.

Both temples were the highlight of our trip to Solo.

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Solo has two palaces. Puri Mangkunegaran is the smaller one, but it is supposedly better kept. You have to go round on a tour which I don't normally like doing, but our guide was really interesting and funny and told us lots about the objects in the palace which we would never have known without him.

The royal family still live in part of this palace and I'm pretty sure we saw a princess or two wandering around. It's possible to book dinner with the royal family apparently though we did not try this.

Buy your entrance ticket at main palace entrance and take the tour. It is quite good open Monday - Saturday 8.30am - 2pm and Sunday 8.30am -1pm.

Prambanan greet us in few handsome dark and tall structures. The view of Prambanan in its surrounding area gave this structures a majestic and awesome sight. The recent earthquake has done a fair bit of damage to this 9th century wonder. It was fenced all around the temples complex for restoration. Closely looking at this beautiful structure and its façade decorated by intricate ornates carvings to the very inch.

This is the biggest market that sell batik... From baby to adult, from boy to girl, from man to woman, you can almost find all type of batik in this market...

Hundreds of shop jammed within a building with narrow passageways and you must know how and goo to bargain... Check the prices from a few shop before you deside to get one!!

Oh No!! I dont even have take any pic for Pasar Klewer!! :(

See, Alvin get this one from a shopping mall in Solo, it is nice... Ya! Ya! Alvin claimed that he is handsome too!!

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The 1st place that we visited is the Pasar Gede... It is the biggest traditional market in Solo... you must try this sweet dessert (Less than US$0.30)... It has a mixure of coconut, sweet potato,... together with the coconut sugar... Yummy!!

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Triwindu market is an antique market within walking distance from Novotel Hotel in Solo. You can see and/or buy lot of Javanese's handycrafts, they are unique and old but just be careful and do you not want to get the replicas...

You will like this place... as I do! :)