{"id":16741,"date":"2016-11-10T05:38:30","date_gmt":"2016-11-10T05:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/?p=16741"},"modified":"2017-12-07T04:32:44","modified_gmt":"2017-12-07T04:32:44","slug":"stunning-photos-of-yogyakarta-indonesia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/indonesia\/stunning-photos-of-yogyakarta-indonesia\/","title":{"rendered":"Stunning Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Yogyakarta Indonesia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yogyakarta is Java\u2019s counterbalance to Jakarta. While Jakarta buzzes with business and industrial charm, Yogyakarta offers up a more artistic laid-back scene and some of the most incredible archaeological sites you\u2019ll see in the whole of South East Asia. Pronounced \u2018Jogjakarta\u2019 and playfully referred to as \u2018Yogya\u2019 or \u2018Jogja\u2019 by its residents, the city is a must-stop for anyone visiting Indonesia\u2019s most populated island. Armed with my camera I began exploring this vast metropolis.<\/p>\n

Borobudur: The Majestic Sunrise<\/h2>\n

Before visiting Yogyakarta there was one phrase everyone had been spouting at me; \u2018Watch the sunrise at Borobudur\u2019. Borobudur is the world\u2019s largest buddhist temple, built in the 9th century and still in the most immaculate condition. It\u2019s 9 levels sit stoically amidst green fields, carefully watched over by surrounding mountains and volcanoes.<\/p>\n

While this sounded impressive to see at any time of day, I really had to see what all the sunrise fuss was about. I awoke at 3.30am ready to jump on a bus to this famous monument. As we were arriving, it was still dark, I was less than impressed. Then we started to walk over to the steps, our eyes adjusting as the sun\u2019s glow very slowly crept into the day. At the top it was clear why everyone had spoken so highly of this experience. Staking my position amongst the other eager photographers I sat back and watched as the sky\u2019s colors made their way through the entire color wheel. Beginning with a strangely comforting dark blue, a bright orange began seeping into the mix as the sun began to pop up from behind the mountains. The colours then began to merge together into swirls of purple and pink, as each second and each click of the camera shutter, offered a new delight.<\/p>\n

\"photo-tour-yogyakarta1\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta2\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta3\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta4\"<\/p>\n

As a photographer, the plan is normally to grab a few good shots and then sit back and enjoy the scenery with my eyes, but here there were just too many good angles to miss out on. Every corner of the temple had a new surprise from stupors to majestic buddha statues, and every minute that passed bathed them in a totally new light. Eventually the sun revealed its full self and shone across the whole valley. As far as the eye, or at least my lens, could see were waves and waves of rolling green hills, covered in a beautiful light mist. Even if I had to wake up at 3.30am everyday to see this, I would.<\/p>\n

\"photo-tour-yogyakarta5\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta6\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta7\"<\/p>\n

Yogyakarta City Life<\/h2>\n

The next morning I got up early again, although, by this time, the sun was already up. We had some trips planned for later in the day, but I wanted explore a little more of the city. Home to over 3 million people I was never going to see much in such a short space of time, but I took a stroll from the hotel to find out a little more about how the locals live. I stumbled across an amazing set of coloured houses beneath a road bridge. Despite looking dilapidated, it was a beautiful site, contrasting in colors and a mix of materials, which sat proudly alongside the river. Walking around this local area was definitely one of my favorite places to visit in Yogyakarta<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"photo-tour-yogyakarta9\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta8\"<\/p>\n

From here, I took short rickshaw ride to the Sultan\u2019s palace, the Kraton. It was a strange sensation to move from the shanty town straight into a world of opulence, but in all honestly I was totally underwhelmed by the palace. It was pretty enough, but after seeing the colourful houses and the families who reside there going about their day, this all just seemed a little phony.\"photo-tour-yogyakarta10\"\"photo-tour-yogyakarta19\"\"photo-tour-yogyakarta18\"<\/p>\n

My final stop on this rather short tour was to visit Batik Plentong where we could see some traditional local textiles been made. Batik is a traditional art from where patterns are made on fabric using hot wax and dye. It may not sound like the most exciting experience, but seeing all these local folk in their element, working away and creating such beautiful pieces was a real treat.<\/p>\n

Prambanan: Incredible From Every Angle<\/h2>\n

Candi Prambanan, a complex of 9th century Hindu temples that have been largely restored after laying in ruins for many years, is the \u2018other\u2019 reason most people visit Yogyakarta. We visited here around midday so there was no epic sunrise, but this was still an incredible site. From far away it\u2019s tough to gain a true perspective of just how grand this site is, but as you get closer and closer the real magnitude hits you.<\/p>\n

\"photo-tour-yogyakarta11\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta12\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta14\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta13\"<\/p>\n

Step back and you are surrounded by impossibly tall spires, pointing up towards the sky. Lean a little closer and you are treated to some amazing intricate carvings. Go inside the temples and you are treated to glimpses of ancient Hindu statues, only viewable thanks to tiny shards of lights creeping through the temple doorways. This is another site I could have spent days at. The camera shutter got a real work out here, anxious that I may miss out on a perfect frame or close up detail.<\/p>\n

\"photo-tour-yogyakarta16\"\"photo-tour-yogyakarta15\" \"photo-tour-yogyakarta17\"<\/p>\n

Two days in Yogyakarta was just simply not enough. While I may have ticked off the main tourist attractions, the vibe of the city had only really just began to present itself to me. This is a cool place full of pretty cool people, every one with a story no doubt as interesting as the sites that surround them. I will be back, my camera misses this place.<\/p>\n

Helpful Information for Exploring Yogyakarta<\/strong><\/h2>\n