We headed out to the countryside to spend the day seeing batik. We started at the studio of Nia and Agus Ismaya. They create and sell fantastic batik pieces. We purchased several textiles including a great wall hanging. Batik is hand done, applying melted wax to the fabric so that when it is dyed the areas covered by the wax do not get dyed. The wax is then removed and other areas are covered with wax and the fabric is dyed again. This process is continued until the design in many colors is created.
Nia and Agus then took us to remote villages on the Island of Java where most tourists would never go. There we saw villagers creating batik. We were served a delicious traditional Java lunch. It was huge! Interestingly they serve the sweet course first. We loved the food.
Java is a Muslim island. It is interesting being in a Islamic culture. It seems like there is a mosque every ¼ mile or so. I love the sound of the Call to Prayer. It is blasted through loud speakers from atop the mosques and reverberates throughout the countryside. Obama of course grew up in Indonesia. These are not the Muslims portrayed in the newspapers and talk radio. They are just trying to get through the day. This land was all jungle, and still is except where it has been cleared away for rice fields or coconut plantations. It is amazingly green.
We returned from our visit to the villages with lots of goodies. I headed for a massage, then some wine.
Although Indonesia is a democracy they still have local Sultanates. We went to the compound of a local prince and were met by him and his princely brother. They are very involved in the classic Java Arts. We had dinner there and then watched Java Dancers dancing traditional dances. They had a Java Gamalong orchestra playing their very hypnotic music. The setting for the dance was a building that we have seen several times in Java. It is covered (keeps the rain and sun out) and open on all sides. In this case, it was especially touching because lots of small children looked on from outside the building and watched and enjoyed these old dances. You can just see the history and culture being passed on to the next generation.
Did I mention it is VERY hot and Humid. We are soaked to the bone all the time. I asked if there is a cool season. They have no word for cool. There is a dry season and a wet season. It is always hot when you are 8 degrees South of the Equator!
Tomorrow we drive to the city of Solo.
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