Welcome to my pleasuredome: 2010.01

Monday, January 25, 2010

Dance @ the Kraton, Yogyakarta

1st guy reading the script: "ok guys lets have a meeting before the performance... "

guy 3rd from right: "hey miss.. miss where are you going? U gonna sing next"

Lady walking away from the 3rd guy: "Mmm I think I left my make up bag in the becak...."

mmm... the audience will have to wait as I have to walk slowly to centre stage.... 4 minutes.. 5 minutes

solo performance by the kraton dance with the gamelan ensemble as back up

dainty steps, very slow and delicate movement... and a hint of sensuality

the gamelan orchestra and the vocal back up

next up is the guy in facemask

Keraton (the palace) @ Yogyakarta

Karaton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat (the official name of the sultan's palace)

main entrance

the Sultan's private residence

Abdi Dalem watching over the courtyard

Amanat SHB IX

more beautiful joglo.. and wood carvings

mannn.. can I have this for my dining room?

Abdi dalem - the female ones (ones with the kemban)

The palace court lies in the center of the city. Prince Mangkubumi founded the palace in 1755. The Prince then was called Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I and he chose the right location of the compound between Winongo River and Code River. The palace stretches out from north to south. The front yard is called alun-alun Utara (the North Square), and the back yard is called Alun-alun Selatan (the South Square). The layout of the buildings shows that the Palace, the commemorative column and Mount Merapi lie in one line. The palace meeting hall is called Pagelaran, where formal meetings of palace officials are held, while the "Manguntur Tingkil" hall is the place where the Sultan is seated.

The visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of the kraton in former times by visiting the life-size diorama of wedding ceremonies on the palace meeting hall, performed by puppets, which are intentionally arranged to create such an atmosphere. Sets of Javanese musical instruments, antiques and heirlooms have made the palace of Yogyakarta worth to visit. Many sets of gamelan music instruments, antiques, and heirlooms make the palace of Yogyakarta the most interesting tourist attractions in Yogyakarta. The palace of Ngayogyokarto Hadiningrat is now the dwelling place of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and the family.

Taman Sari @ Yogyakarta

signboard

front entrance

one can peek from the top deck of the tower, watching the bathing girls in the pool..... and choose

2nd pool.. must be a lot of bathing girls I think

more gates

underground mosque.. this is supposedly the place where the imam lead the prayers

entrance to underground tunnel

from: http://watercastletamansariyogyakarta.blogspot.com/

Taman Sari was built three years after Giyanti Agreement (1755) took place. Sultan Hamengku Buwono I just went through years of guerrilla warfare. Therefore, he wanted to create a place for rest and relaxation, as well as a retreat. The presence of a religious site called Sumur Gumuling in the complex supports the latter possibility.

Some also said that the Sultan built Taman Sari as a token of gratitude towards his queen, who had been an obedient companion during the hardships of war.

Taman Sari is derived from two words, namely, “taman,” meaning a garden or park and “sari,” which means either beautiful or flowers. Hence, the name “Taman Sari” means an area of a beautiful garden adorned with various captivating plants and flowers. Located in the western part of Jogjakarta’s keraton (castle), this garden took years to finish.

The Dutch came out with the name Water Castle. An old article by Groneman described a “waterkasteel” in Jogjakarta. By shutting the watergates, the complex would be completely immersed in water, leaving tall structures standing out.

The building of Taman Sari had commenced during the reign of Sultan Hamengku Buwono I (1755-1792) and was completed by Sultan Hamengku Buwono II. The building site, however, had already been known as a bathing place called Pacethokan Spring since Sunan Amangkurat IV’s reign. Its clear water ran deep.

from: http://www.yogyes.com/en/yogyakarta-tourism-object/places-of-interest/tamansari/

Tamansari was built in the Sultan Hamengku Buwono I period in the end of XVII Century. Tamansari not only just a recreation, but it's also a compound of bathing pool, canals, rooms and extremerly large swimming pool (if the canals opened).The Tamansari complex consist of:

The Sacred Room
There is the sacred place in the complex showing a separated building, which once functioned as a hermitage place for the Sultan and his family
The Bathing Pool
This part was formerly a pleasure place for the royal family. Consists of two bathing pool that are separated with a 2-storey building. From this building the Sultan watched all the women swimming in the outer pool. Then he might ask some of them to accompany him into the inner pool. The water sprouts from a forming animal statue into the pool. The pool is also adorned with some big flowerpot.
Kenanga or Cemeti Island
This part compounds of some building such as Kenanga or Cemeti Island (forming Island), Sumur Gemuling and underground tunnels.

Restoran Omah Dhuwur @ Kota Gede, Yogyakarta

dining area

walkway to dining area

batiik n craft showroom

front dining room

slurpee...

seafood chowder

kerepek n blueberry juice

sub buntut (sup ekor in Malaysia)

from: http://gudeg.net/en/directory/27/1104/Restoran-Omah-Dhuwur.html

Majestic ambience holds all the heritage of yesteryears. At more than 150 years old, Omah Dhuwur is a paradigm of colonial sense blending with Javanese ethnicity to become a place to dine.

Set upon 3700 m2 land, Omah Dhuwur is situated in the heart of Jogjakarta's Silver City, Kotagede, the majestic kingdom of Mataram. An intriguing resident villa once owned by well - known reputable wealthy, Pak Tembong, of Orang Kalang. Any local folk of Kotagede will easily tell the saga of the golden coin and Pak Tembong's passion that once inspired him. Sadly, somewhere in Omah Dhuwur a gold toilet that never existed.

Now, as a property of HS Silver, Omah Dhuwur has opened its doors as not only an aesthetic and historical showcase but also an offering to the appetite. A stunning place shrouded with eclectic hectic of past and the reminiscent of old time Jogja Conveyed into three parts, Omah Dhuwur metamorphosed to be an over whelming tranquilly and seductive palates.

Originated from Javanese and Dutch cuisine, Omah Dhuwur transforms its philosophy into fusion art of palates.

A unique blend between traditional deep fried cassava coupled with lavish grilled tenderloin named Omah dhuwur Steak served with sauted creamy cassava and rolled vegetables, the Jenger janger Chicken Steak, lobster termidore, Salmon Cascade and BBQ Beef Back Rib are the famous cuisines created by our chef.

Clove, ginger and cinnamon are fused and turn into Omah Dhuwur Traditional Javanese Punch or let your self-relaxed with The Wedang Omah Dhuwur using Lime grass, Cinnamon, ginger, and clove.

OPENING HOUR 11.00 - 23.00 PM

FACILITIES: - 100 seats - Lounge & bar

Restoran Omah Dhuwur

Jl. Mondorakan No. 252 Kotagede, Yogyakarta INDONESIA 55172

telp: +62 -274-374952 fax: +62 -274-374952

http://omahdhuwur.net/atmosphere

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Palace complex of old Mataram kingdom @ Kota Gede, Yogyakarta

entrance gate

old mosque

more gate

i think they are praying at the gate to the tombs

salasilah Raja-raja Majapahit - Demak - Mataran - Surakarta - Yogyakarta

In that cemetery complex one can still visit the cemetery of the Mataram kings like Sutowijoyo or Ngabei Loring Pasar, the founder of Mataram Kingdom, who was then called Panembahan Senopati. There is also the unique tomb of Ki Ageng Mangir. He was Panembahan Senopati son in law and also Panembahan Senopati enemy. His dead body was buried half inside of the special area for kings and Panembahan Senopati families, and a half of his body was buried outside of the complex. There is a stone called " Watu Gilang ", a stone on which Panembahan Senopati smashed the Ki Ageng Mangir head to dead.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Gede

Kota Gede also known as Pasar Gede - is an archaeological site in Yogyakarta that contains the remains of the kraton (palace), the royal graveyard, and royal mosque of Mataram, dated from the late 1500s and early 1600s.

The honorable name of this location in a higher and more respectful level of Javanese language (Kromo) is Pasar Gede.

There are many legends and local tales connects the site to the Mataram palace, however much of the physical remnants of the palace and the capital city are already destroyed. The only parts that remains quite intact are the Kota Gede royal mosque, the royal graveyard (precursor toImogiri), and a few sections of the original palace walls.

The city lost its prestigue when the center of power was shifted to Kartasura near modern Surakarta. The city further lost its political and cultural significance after replaced by Imogiri as the royal cemetery for the sultanates. Later sultanate of Mataram was split between Yogyakarta Sultanateand Surakarta.

The Royal Graveyard holds important graves that trace connections of Mataram with earlier kingdoms, and the placement of the graves within the covered area of the graveyard can be considered as a physical representation of 'silsilah' or genealogy of the rulers and their progenitors. It is guarded and maintained by Juru Kunci who are employed by the two palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta.