A Day Trip to Gedong Songo Bandungan - Hindu Temples / Banyu Biru Prison Camp

Candi Gedong Songo - Hindu Temple Mt Ungaran

Friday morning - ah a NEW DAY...we decided to enjoy the great weather we were having and go for a ride on our bikes!  Great weather...Great idea!  So off we went at 10 am to enjoy the ride through the villages once again!  It can still be busy on these two lane roads but still- it is lots of fun especially climbing up in elevation which we did!

We decided to go to Ambarawa passing Banyu Biru on the way.  When we past the Police Academy - Nick stopped ahead and decided to go back and see if we might be able to go inside of this Police Training facility....why you ask?  Because this is the very camp that Nick, Cecile and Nick were confined in when the Japanese invaded Indonesia for 3.5 yrs. 

This police academy was the concentration camps for the Dutch during the war, and before the war it was actually a  prison.   They were here with so many others from 1942-1945....it was called then Banyu Biru Women Camp.   We have driven by it on our bike rides several times already but had not  yet inquired with the guards at the gate post if we could enter.

So we made a U-turn and drove up to the post and asked the men there in broken bahasa Indonesian if we could go inside to see the barracks.  The 3 police officers at the gate DID understand enough to know that when Nick was small he lived here...we were pretty sure some may have known the history of this facility.  They made an inquiry on the walkie-talkie and then one officer asked us to follow him onto the grounds - which we gladly did!

We went into the compound and past many buildings and came to a other post and there where Captain greeted us and understood a little more.  He said not now - but if we could come back at 3 pm - they would show us around!  Oh my - how great is that! 

So off we went on our ride - heading to Bandungan to go see the Hindu Temples we had heard about up high on a mountain! 

Oh I must tell you all - I JUST LOVE RIDING THAT MOTORBIKE UP & DOWN THOSE MOUNTAINS! How fun it is - zipping around like that!  I sure hope we can do the same back home!

 

We paid our fee to enter...there was other tourists viewing these old dwellings.

 Here's a Link on Mount Ungaran

 

 A colt was getting a little training ~ he had a mind of his own - yet!

 You could go by horseback along the paths to the different temples - but oh were we glad we did not consider that....the horses walked on the stone blocks that was the pathway...and later it began to rain too...so slippery!

Nick recalls having come here 25 yrs ago - and his driver had taken a picture of him by the sign!

 Well lets do it again Nico....! We will have to see your picture album from 25 yrs ago and go through that again when we return!

 These grounds are also used to grow tea...and so we saw many levels of tea gardens on our walk upward to the temples.

 These dwelling are quite old...VIII C

 There was a stone alter inside.

 Each temple (candi) was higher in elevation....so we kept climbing.

 The name Gedong Songo is derived from Javanese "Gedong" which means house or building and "sanga" means nine.  So Gedong Songo Nice houses or dwellings ~ Simple huh?

 It is hard to imagine these go back to 800 AD amazing huh? 

 There was a sulphureous Sping that came out of the rock close to the creek...so the setting was

 

We had climbed up and then down again to this river canyon...and it was hot.  We had brought some water & some health bars so sat in the shade and rested a bit.

 Back down again passing some buildings that were used for overnight stays - simple but serene.

 Do you see the pathway we still had to walk.....it was a great hike...probably about 2 miles all together...and we had built up a sweat!  Good exercise!

OK Nico are we hungry?  I would think so...so let's zip down to that once Dutch owned restaurant Hotel RAWA PENING PRATAMA ~ they serve a nice lunch?  So off we went - felt so good to get back on the bike and feel the wind! Whoa!

 Welcome!  Selamat Datang!

 Saw some pretty flowers in the garden...just have to take a moment to enjoy!

 Such beautiful gardens and you can sit under the Pavilion that overlooks the lake and Salatiga in the distance~

 All Right- All Right...is everything cool???!!!!!!

 Yes it is -

 Here comes lunch - we enjoyed it !  They had" Kroketjes" but it was filled with potato instead of the ragout we are used to in Holland - nevertheless very nice! 


As we headed back to the bikes I saw this Thermometer - it was a old one...probably from the olden days....what fun to read!

Well it was time...3 pm and we had an appointment to meet the police again at the front gate at the Police Academy...so we headed down the mountain to Banyu Biru again...and were there right on time!  The officer at the gate saw us coming and again we followed him into the compound.  This time we went on to the officer's post and they asked for some ID which we gave them - our Oregon drivers license.  They made a copy and then this other office Kapitein Sudwondo came to us (the one on the left) and as we talked and he realized we were "Indo" and he had this big grin on his face and then gave me a warm hug and Nick a warm handshake!  Oh what a blessing it was!  He was so kind and friendly and especially for Nick coming back to this place - it was a real blessing!  He welcomed us back.... his "family" he said!  Oh my...we were so' touched!

The two officers asked us to follow them and we came to some barracks that he said was old and from the Dutch times.  He pointed out the wooden ceilings with the big beams.  These barracks are still being used when there is training going on.  There was bunk beds in the barracks but of course they were not from the past.

Kapitein Sudwondo brought us to another building that was older still, and pointed out the floor...the floor was made of stones but a large area of it was only dirt - he told us that they had recently opened it up because in this particular area the stones kept lifting up...he told us they found bones there - buried from the war time...of the people that had been killed.  Wow - how sad is that???!!!! Yes he said they were decapitated.  How overwhelming that was to hear.  This was a Women Camp but we also know that before it was used during the war it was also a prison for many years ~ Anyway hearing such cruel things is sad!  War is ugly!

 Then we were brought along to another building -  down a corridor...through another building and then into this area - that was used in the past but longer ...they had built around it but Kapitein Sudwondo wanted to show it to us as well.   It was from the Dutch era and so he wanted to be sure that we saw it.  He showed us the prison cell - and it was a small room...so hard to imagine people actually lived like that for so many years- tough!
 Nick picked up some broken roof tiles to bring back to Cecile and the family down in LA. area - his nephew & niece who both were with their mother (Nick's sister Maud) & also were incarcerated here with Nick & family. 

Well you can imagine what an emotional afternoon this was - but it was good...all part of this trip we have made in Indonesia...another link to the past.  We are thankful to these officers who were so kind to take us through.  They understood.  God has been so good to us - being able to re-trace some steps and it has been a very valuable & fulfilling time for Nick & I.  

We are so very grateful ~  

This Past Week -

This week went by so fast....and my uncle in Portland said...."Ellen I am tired of looking at your wash line!.... So where are you guys?"  Oh Oh we better get posting again..we did not have a whole lot to share with you - but here are some things we did do this past week!

Sunday ~ Church and then lunch with some friends~

 MCDC Cafe - Salatiga a cozy place to eat both Western & Indonesian meals!

 Paul & Becky live in Kalimantan and Steve & Deborah have been living here in Salatiga for the past 20 yrs.  Paul is a doctor (standing next to Nick) and his parents too for many years there!  Becky is a school teacher.  They were both very supportive to Nick & I when we first arrived here in town...we appreciate them very much!  We enjoyed our new friends in Salatiga! 

All is well with us - just living "life" here...in Salatiga!  We are planning a trip out of Indonesia and will tell you more about that in a moment~

We took another ride out into the sawah's...oh what fun - I ALWAYS enjoy these rides!  This time we went another direction again....so fun to "get lost!" We turned off into the little villages off the paved roads...and saw these sights below!

We stopped at one of our favorite places - Tlogo Plantation!  Nick & I have stayed at this resort for 2 days.


Tlogo Plantation Resort

Click on this Link ~

We enjoyed a cup of freshly brewed  Kopi  Coffee in the garden and said "Hello!" to the staff there! 










Then back to town & the house - because we were going to meet Gordon & Deborah. The plan was that Nick & Gordon were going to check out some bikes at the dealer.    "Yeah Guys...how exciting is that!!!!!"

Gordon & Deborah have been in Indonesia these past 2 months now and they both agree it is "TIME" to get some wheels! 

When Nick & Gordon returned we went onto the field by our house and he did a practice run....

 Gordon has been on a dirt bike before he said...but that has been while.  The practice run went well! Hey good job!

 OK Deborah time to get on the back seat...and off you go!!!!!!  Hold on girl!

"Looking good you guys!"  Deborah is holding tight unto her husband!  Well the dirt field is a good place to get some confidence - but a bit bumpy right Deborah???? 


Before you know it these two will be whizzing down Jalan Merak and downtown doing their shopping just like us!  AND we can't wait to share with them some of the sights we have so' enjoyed in the area!!!!  Way Cool you guys!!!

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Kristian & Lianne our Dutchie friends have company from Holland...Kris' parents are visiting for a few weeks!  They invited Nick & I to join them for dinner and we so' enjoyed our time together...yes & speaking Dutch...too! 

Kris & Lianne brought us to a restaurant in town that was new to us.  It was a pavilion with a 2nd floor and you could either sit downstairs  

 ....or climb the steep stairs up to the top floor and enjoy a great view!  

And of course we did that!

 The view was so pretty - with all the little lights flickering on the mountains surrounding Salatiga.

Such a pretty sight!  Lianne showed us the old Dutch bikes too!

 Dirk & Annaliam (I know that is not correctly written- sorry!) are enjoying their stay with the 'kids' and are riding around on the back of the motorbikes too.  They said it has been a while since riding on a motorbike and a bit more "exciting" here in Indonesia too!  Kris & Lianne takes them out to see the pretty sights and everything has gone well- Mom & Dad climbing on the back....and they are having a special time together!  What fun!  

We had a really nice dinner!  Dirk & Annaliam invited us to come to visit them when we are in Holland...we surely will!  They live close to Kris & Lianne - so it will be great to see them in Holland when Kris & Lianne also leave in June.  We look forward to that! 

The weather changed...it began to rain, and rain and rain some more!  All day had been great with lots of sunshine...so when the rain starts up...well it can go for quite a while...which it did!  We waited and waited for it to stop...but NO it did not come....so after a while---it was getting quite late...we all grabbed our poncho's and helmets and raced out there into the rain...and off we all went! 

 We noted the address - so we could come back to this place again...very cute indeed!

 The old Dutch colonial lamps are still being used here in Indonesia - so cute to see! 

 Ah...a cute becak!  We sure would like to buy one of these to bring back home...maybe we better start thinking about a BOX to fill huh? 

 Ah...the "dokar" we remember the times we have sat in one!

"Hello? Hello?  Is anyone home??? Are you there...Lianne...do you hear someone?"

What a great family picture....how nice ...and we had a lovely evening!  

 Hartelijk dank Kris & Lianne, Dirk & Annaliam het was reuze gezellig!  And would you believe it....they brought a BIG box full of 'stroopwafels" syrup wafels from Holland - to give as a gift for people -  fresh from the Dutch bakery!   D E L I C I O U S !!!!  Lekker!!!!!

  

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Let us share with you an update...we went to Semarang with the local bus yesterday.  Semarang is about an hour drive (normal conditions) but can & did take a bit longer.  It is a very busy road going through the town of Bawen which is a town that has 3+ big factories including Pepsi Cola, Coca Cola, Garment Factories and a Breakfast Cereal factory...just to name a few.  There is a new highway being built around Bawen - and has been in the working for quite a long time - but has not yet opened up...so getting through Bawen is tough to say the least!  Once you are through - we get into Semarang which is a coastal town and has a large harbor.  Semarang is a bustling town with lots of activity. 

Our plan was to go to the airport to reschedule some flights we had  booked online.  Nick & I took another hour to get from one side of the town to the other side...taking 3 transfer city buses to get there!  Yep and with about 90+ degrees out there...we were hot to say the least!  Coming down from elevation 2100 ft to sea level - you can feel the difference in weather & humidity!  Man oh Man can you ever!  Sticky business!

Anyway...we were thankfully successful to change our flights - Air Asia gave us a refund and we re-booked to Bangkok, Thailand instead.  If you recall we had initially booked to Singapore.

  The reason for the change is that I discovered I have a "hernia" right under my rib cage...yep...possibly from carrying suitcases and backpacks?  I found this lump and it is a weird lump...and I showed it to Beppie our friend who is a nurse...and she conferred...yes Ellen it is a hernia.  And then I found another smaller one too...so Nick & I decided we would deal with this in Bangkok.  

7 months ago when we were traveling from Cambodia to Bangkok, (after visiting Jerry & Wilma our friends) - Nick had some dermatologist work done and we both ended up having some dental work done too.  Jerry & Wilma had told us about this great hospital where, for the last 12 yrs of living in Cambodia - would go to Bangkok - to this hospital for all their medical needs, procedures & surgeries they have needed through the years. 

Nick & I discussed it and we decided it would be better 'if we need to leave Indonesia anyway to update our visa' to go ahead and make the effort to deal with this in Bangkok.  And I, not having any health insurance in the States anyway...might as well have it done here in Asia.  

So - that is now our plan...Nick needs to see the Dermatologist there again, and we both need some dental work done as well.  We can have all this done in the same hospital. 

 So our departure date is April 21 - (Polly's Birthday!) and we booked a one way ticket so that if we need some time to re-coup - we have it...and need not be worried about a return flight.  We can deal with the Indonesian Embassy there and get our application in - for a 2 month visa. This will give us till the end of June to stay in Indonesia...and then we will be heading in the direction of Holland! 

On the way back to Salatiga our Bus driver - let me tell you....gave us another adventure in the bus! 
 Nick & I sat in the very front seat - right behind the ticket collector - so we had a great view.

We left Semarang around 12 noon and had an exciting drive...ha!  It was already busy on the road going out of town.

 But what did our driver do?  OK picture this: there was a lane going one direction and then a dirt shoulder - and this bus driver - decided he did not want to wait in line...with all the other cars/etc...so he went on the dirt shoulder...VERY VERY narrow mind you - and raced past all the cars that were bumper to bumper!  We held on for dear life...seeing the "warungs" and "toko" and street vendors/stands real close!

Then two other times...this driver did not want to wait for the traffic again and went on the on-coming lane (just one lane mind you!!!) and pushed on past all the cars that were bumper to bumper on our side and just headed straight into head on traffic...honking continually!  The cars/trucks/motorbikes...coming down the road...either honked, or just went into the dirt shoulder themselves...to avoid him..he was determined to pass up all the traffic.  Oh my you guys...can you picture this?? Nick & I just looked at one another and thought...can we believe this is happening?  The driver laughed to the ticket guy next to him...yeah he thought it was pretty funny...to by-pass at least 20+ cars and go on ahead.....on his way!

 ...we arrived safely into Salatiga...with a BIG sigh when we got off the BUS! Crazy driver...and to think he was heading to Solo which is another hour up ahead and then to turn around again back to Semarang!  Golly!

This particular road was a toll road- so it had two lanes in each direction. 

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 Here is our dear friends - Endah with two of her children - Diva & Muhummad - and they came by to visit us last evening!  We are encouraging Endah to teach English conversation to people...for she is well spoken in English - having learned it from "watching movies" she said!  She speaks English to Muhammad only and he speaks back to her in English...he is 3 1/2 yrs old...amazing huh?  Little Diva is almost 13 yrs!  Endah has another daughter,  Karina.  She has gone with her grandfather for a week visiting family members in Kalimantan - (former name of the island - Borneo)

 Muhammad was able to borrow a book from a friend - and it had big trucks and boats and a Bull dozer & also a Scavenger in it - and Muhammad liked his book VERY MUCH...and came to show it to us!  Isn't he cute?  Yes a handsome one he is!  WOW.... Muhammad LIKES!

We'll keep you posted - as we have more to share!  

Hugs from us to you!