Fields and streams

We drove off the main roads into the countryside. The vans parked beside a rough path that I was sure we'd have to go up.

Fortunately, we went the road more travelled, through rice paddies

Attie pointed out the large-leafed teak tree. Many people plant one when a child is born. It's harvested when the child is ready to go to university, and the proceeds are used for tuition.

And by brickworks. Bricks are shaped in molds from local clay, then dried and stacked. A fire is built inside the stack, firing the bricks. Everyone thought it was funny when I asked if they were ever turned in the firing process, so I took the answer to be no.

We backtracked a bit, and traversed some other fields -- these ones with chilli pepper plants, cassava and occasionally some papaya.

Beside a stream, we stopped at a roadside stand. A woman with an infant in a sling was making salad dressing with a mortar and pestle. One of the Dutch guys took over the grinding as she threw in a clove of garlic, a red chilli (normally she uses three), aromatic ginger, salt, roasted peanuts, some coconut sugar and a bit of tamarind. Once this was finely ground and a bit liquidy, she started adding vegetables: cabbage, cucumber, maybe onion, cooked greens, and these were tossed then served on a banana leaf. It was delicious and hot enough for me.


Back in the vans for a stop at Attie’s mom’s restaurant for some vegetable soup for lunch. It was amazing, served with rice and cooked in a coconut milk. Yummmmm

Next stop, a small temple and a visit to a traditional house with woven bamboo walls and a coconut-Palm thatched roof.

The woman of the house was reducing coconut sugar over a fire.

Final stop: an active Buddhist monastery with Buddhas representing the different regions of Java.

I forgot to mention that Borobudur is reasonably close to two active volcanos.  When there is an eruption warning, the stupa are covered with plastic. Before they started to do this, they'd have to close for three months to clear the ash.  Covering them up seems like a better deal.

The tour was by Kaleioscope of Java (kaleidoscopeofjavatour.com), and although it delivered on everything promised, I was constantly surprised. I found it in Lonely Planet, and give it my heartiest recommendation.

When we got back to the hotel, I had a nap before going out in search of an Apotek (pharmacy). I got some strepsils, hoping they'll help knock back my coughing enough to sleep.

I walked down along a night market and decided I was too uncomfortable being out alone after dark

So I ate in the courtyard restaurant at the hotel, and enjoyed the accompaniment of the piano player. Once again, I could easily get used to this life.