This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO’s help in the 1970s.

The Borobudur Temple Compounds consists of three monuments: namely the Borobudur Temple and two smaller temples situatued to the east on a straight axis to Borobudur. The two temples are Mendut Temple, whose depiction of Buddha is represented by a formidable monolith accompanied by two Bodhisattvas, and Pawon Temple, a smaller temple whose inner space does not reveal which deity might have been the object of worship. Those three monuments represent phases in the attainment of Nirvana.

Mount Merapi, or Gunung Merapi, is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano and has erupted regularly since 1548. It erupts on average every 5-10 years and is feared for its deadly pyroclastic flows – avalanches of hot rocks and gas that are generated when parts of new lava domes constructed during eruptions in the summit crater collapse and slide down the mountain’s steep flanks.

Destroyed by nature, what’s left after the eruption. A side trip to Sisa Hartaku Mini Museum which had burnt artifacts from the last major lava eruption (November 5, 2010). The 2010 eruption was devastating, covering villages as far as 7 km away from the mountain with volcanic ashes, forcing thousands to evacuate and killing almost 300 people & several livestocks as well.

This is called the Alien Stone along Mount Merapi drive where we had one of several stopovers. This huge stone was flung far across the valley during the eruption & shows distinct features of a face (eyes, nose, & a sloping, grim mouth) -thus the name.

right across it is a good view point of Mount Merapi which can be a good background for souvenir photos. Too bad the grey clouds hid the volcano from our sight that afternoon.

Our last stopover for the day was the Bunker Kaliadem Merapi. “The bunker was built underground 4 km away from Mt. Merapi in 2005 and was intended to be a safe hiding place when an eruption occurs. It was built with thick metal doors with a bathroom inside it and was supposedly able to withstand sulfuric heat clouds and keeping everyone in it alive should the volcano erupts. It served its function in 2006. However, in 2010, along with the sulfuric clouds also came hot, running lava. No one saw this coming, not even the engineers who built this bunker, thus the bunker was not designed to withstand the heat of lava. The bunker that was supposed to save lives actually became the place where two lives were lost tragically – through suffocation and heat.”

Our Nasi Goreng lunch amounted to just a little over 1.5k for 6 pax. Nakakalusot aka mag-rice kay Kap  when traveling teehee. “Honey! I need carbs coz you make me walk & walk. Nanghihina akoooo!” 😉 #kyeme #chos

Prambanan, or Rara Jonggrang, is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound in Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimūrti, the expression of God as the Creator, the Preserver and the Transformer.

The Sate Bar is located in the middle of the nightlife center of Yogyakarta. It serves more than 30 different kinds of sate & has a secret garden at the back.