Magelang: “My Indonesia” Photo Series (2)

Rice fields. Kampung Gunuh Lemah. Magelang, 12 November 2017

Magelang was the second destination, near Pekalongan. I stayed there for three days, sharing the atmosphere of the kampungs far from the city, between the hills and the rice fields that have been, since the first moment in Indonesia, my imprinting of love.

When asked what I loved about Indonesia, my first answer was always its “sweet light”, which became my favorite saying and title of my book, and its two strongest colors: blue deep sky and green fields.

Every time I visit the kampungs I am transported to another dimension, where time passes slowly, the colors are more intense, and where it seems like you can almost hear the dry sound of the split wood.

Apart from the lively life in traditional markets, everything in the villages seems suspended in time, with a rhythm that beats differently to the rest of the world: between a bath in the tub in the woods and the ducks that dictate the direction to follow.

Traditional market. 12 November 2017

That's why in this case I prefer that it's your eyes and heart, rather than words and mind, to enjoy something that is, yes, extremely simple and ordinary, but that has its charm in this.

Enjoying banality and simplicity seems to be one of the most difficult things in the world, but it is no coincidence, perhaps, that the Zen tea ceremony (Cha no yu) in Japan is among the longest and most complex to perform.

Welcome to Magelang.

Kampung Tagalsari Bojong. Kc. Mungkid, 11 November 2017

“Joglo”, traditional wood house from Central Jawa. Kampung Tagalsari Bojong. Kc. Mungkid, 11 November 17

 

Bath. Kampung Sadang, 11 November 2017

Rice fields. Kampung Sadang, 11 November 2017

Kampung Nglarangan. 11 November 2017

Kampung Gunuh Lemah. 12 November 2017

About the city (from Wikipedia):

Magelang is one of six cities in Central Java, each of which is governed by a mayor rather than a bupati. It is located in the middle of the Magelang Regency, between Mount Merbabu and Mount Sumbing in Central Java Province, Indonesia. Magelang is located 43 km north of Yogyakarta, 15 km north of Mungkid and 75 km south of Semarang, the capital of Central Java.
Magelang was established on 11 April 907. Magelang was then known as a village called Mantyasih, which is now known as Meteseh.
There are three stele of historical importance in Magelang, namely Poh, Gilikan and Mantyasih, all of which are written on a plate of copper. Poh and Mantyasih were written under the rule of King Balitung of Mataram Kingdom. In those stele, the villages of Mantyasih and Glanggang were mentioned. They became Meteseh and Magelang respectively.
In Mantyasih style, it mentioned the name of King Watukura Dyah Balitung, as well as 829 Çaka bulan Çaitra tanggal 11 Paro-Gelap Paringkelan Tungle, Pasaran Umanis hari Senais Sçara atau Sabtu, which means Saturday Legi, 11 April 907. The village Mantyasih was made by the king as tax-free village which was led by a patih (similar to Prime Minister nowadays). Also mentioned are Mount Susundara and Mount Wukir Sumbing which is now known as Mount Sindoro and Mount Sumbing.
When Britain colonised Magelang in the eighteenth century, Magelang became the seat of the government and was made to the same level as a regency with Mas Ngabehi Danukromo as its first leader (Bupati). Mas Ngabehi Danukromo built Alun-Alun (town square), bupati residence and a mosque. Magelang became the capital of Karesidenan Kedu in 1818. After the Dutch defeated the British, Magelang was made as the central of economy because its strategic location. The Dutch government built drinking water tower (known locally as Menara Air Minum) in 1918 which provides the city with water. Electricity became available in 1927. The roads were remade using asphalt.

Italian version