At Semurang, we toured the Gedong Songo park, an area containing seven Hindu temples dating from around 700. Apparently, if one wants want to get anywhere on time in Semurang, one can forget it because of the traffic. But our tour did want to get there on time, so we left the dock with a police escort that took us all the way to the park. Upon arrival, we had the choice of riding a horse or walking, since the pathways to the temples are very steep. We walked, but the horses were fun to have around.
On the path, headed for the temples, what an outrageous view!
The temple top of the hill is called Number 5. Extremely complex naming culture, here. We didn't get to Number 5. No horse and too tough of a climb.
Some more views of the ancient temples:
The tour provided snacks (pronounced "snakes", which upset a couple of people) of fried casava, fried banana, and fried tempeh that were fantastic. Here, the horses chow down while we do the same.
We had lunch at the Susan Resort (pronounced "soo-san" and not "suzan"). See www.susansparesort.com. Small vans are used to get people from the bus parking to the park and around the area because the streets are narrow and twisty. We had to walk the last 100 yards or so from the van to the resort because the little van's engine couldn't get a full load of people up the hill, especially after we'd all had "snakes". Here's the resort:
And some of its locals:
It was a wild bus ride in both directions once we left the highway, but now our police escort, having been fed at the Susan, got us back in fine form. By the way, when the tide comes in at regular intervals, many streets in Semurang flood each time. The tour guide said that when the Dutch left, they took their water management skills with them and Indonesia's never been able to figure it out.
