Villages around Borobudur: immersion in local life

Update

08/01/2025

By Romain

0

After a little rest we were ready to set off again on our bikes and explore the surrounding area, this time with much more clement weather:

Ready to explore the surrounding area again.

Well almost, first a small all-you-can-eat buffet for lunch right next to our GH. It wasn't memorable but at least our stomachs were full. We ate alone too, a big buffet just for 2...

Following the guide (the book I mean, at no time will we have a guide as a person) we land at this temple which is composed of only one tower enthroned at the side of the road, so we didn't really stop there.

There are always smiles when they see us (well, we can't really see it, but that was definitely the case)

I drove in one direction for a while before deciding to turn around.

And my curiosity pushed me on the way back to go in the direction of the sign indicating a no entry (yes, even if I'm going to drive around the area, I'll take a look at all the roads...), still seeing people coming and going and no one stopping me.

I stopped just after skidding on the road which had a thin layer of ash making the ground very slippery, I lost my balance but without falling over because I was going at 5 km/h.

As the curious, locals in this case, come to take a look, a lady (not the girl in the photo obviously) has made a business out of it by setting up her stall there.

A father and daughter observe the damage.

As I mentioned, the previous eruption was due to the Merapi volcano, it took place last October, 6 months ago, and the cleanup is not yet finished.

The bridge has disappeared… that is why there was a one-way street, the road is simply closed.

Observe the palm leaves falling downwards, this is due to the eruption and in this case the weight of the ash which fell, as the photos attest, in large quantities.

I still have trouble getting used to seeing people actually ask to have their picture taken.

We feel a little small in the face of this.

I don't know what the function of plastic bags is, but we can't say that they make things more beautiful... (probably scare the birds by vibrating in the wind?)

As I left school, the little girl in red stared at me for a moment...

Greenery as far as the eye can see, with Merapi in the background.

At any time and almost anywhere you can come across people in the fields.

Back towards Borobudur we go to the market, this time not empty, although rather towards the end because the bulk of the activity is rather in the morning when the goods are still fresh.

Once again many of us will watch with amusement and will take part in the photo game with pleasure for many (but not all either)

Under the covered part it is relatively dark because there is little lighting apart from natural light.

You had to see this man, poor in every way, sorting and dealing with waste, whistling and singing, it offered a striking contrast between his livelihood, it's really not the same philosophy of life...

Convinced by the place, we decided to stay one more night to allow us to go and see the villages in more detail, and while we were at it, as usual, print the pictures taken at the market and distribute them (and bravo for the rhymes). Also, we decided to try the sunrise for the next day (the weather has to be favorable and given the gloomy weather until now it was not a given...)

Roman

When I discovered Thailand in 2006, I certainly didn't expect to settle down there 2 years later! Since then, I've been based in Bangkok and regularly travel throughout the country (especially in the north!). I share my stories, photos, and tips to help plan your trip to Thailand and other Asian countries. This blog is for anyone who wants to discover the land of smiles, who's looking for a bit of adventure, and those who dream of Asia.

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