Ancient temples, textiles arts, and flavorful food - island of Java, Indonesia

This is an informational message, so please disregard the date and time. By way of introduction, I am a Meetup Organizer and Event Organizer for over a decade and a friend of Globe Drifters for almost that time. After I return from my travels in late summer, I will be doing a few meetups in this group at neighborhood ethnic restaurants in Seattle/Eastside, in keeping with the travel theme of the group, where you can meet other group members.

I put together one or two vacations a year and often look for one or two very responsible travel companions over 40/45. This is independent travel, not a tour, so cost depends on the person's choice of airfare, lodging, etc. As I have already done the research for the trip, I can provide guidance on all aspects of the trip. The following is one of two trips this year. If you are seriously interested in this trip, please send me a message through Meetup (you can click on the Event Host photo to send a message), and we can talk further on the phone.

July 16 to 27:

The island of Java in Indonesia is in the southern hemisphere, and July falls in the middle of the dry and cool season. The more famous Bali is the next island over and a short flight away. I am familiar with Bali and can help someone who wants to extend the visit to Bali. In Indonesian terms, Java is the more sophisticated and cultural island. It has been the seat of the royal court, and over a thousand years ago, it was the center of two great Hindu and Buddhist maritime empires that are still shrouded in mystery.

There are two great monuments from those times in Java. Prambanan is the world's second largest Hindu temple complex after the more famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Borobudur, in another part of the island, is the world's largest Buddhist temple, built like a three-dimensional Tibetan mandala that you can climb, about 115 feet. There are finely carved sculptural friezes depicting various Buddhist stories that wrap around the several levels of Borobudur. The monument is located in a historical park with a couple of other smaller and lesser known monuments.

The two great ancient Indian epics—the Mahabharata and the Ramayana—are important in Javanese culture and art. I will be seeing two performances of the Ramayana in outdoor theatres, one against the backdrop of Prambanan temple, which must be the most magnificent staging of either epic in the world.

The former colonial Dutch government has just returned about 15 major works of art to the National Museum in the capital, which will add to the riches of the museum's permanent collection.

Java is also home to the most beautiful and intricate resist dyed fabrics in the world: batik and ikat. I will be visiting batik museums and a company that reprints designs to produce very reasonably priced clothing.

This trip covers all the major cultural sightseeing in Java, including the cultural capital of Yogyakarta and the secondary cultural capital. Also on the itinerary is a day trip to a yellow-sand tropical beach.

Southeast Asia has atmospheric dining experiences, with exotic restaurants that open to the garden and the outdoors. I hope to enjoy the cuisines of other Southeast Asian countries as well, and also discover the colonial cuisine influenced by the Dutch.

I will have an air-conditioned small van for transport throughout the island, so there is space for one or two more people and their luggage. The dollar goes far in Java; prices are much lower than in other parts of the world, including South and Southeast Asia today.