2008 Solo:05 Goodbye to a beautiful adventure...

“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results...” - Anonymous

(The Wayang Golek - Indonesian rod puppets)

Day 05: Sunday, June 1, 2008
Route: Solo - KL

Morning came softly to Solo. After days filled with movement and discovery, the pace of the city felt slower - almost meditative. We gathered for breakfast at the hotel, some of us still half-lost in dreams of the temples, mountains, and markets we had explored over the past few days.

(A nasi goreng breakfast)

While a few chose to rest, others set out for a brief visit to the Mangkunegaran Palace, another remnant of Java’s royal heritage. The palace, though smaller than Jogja’s Kraton, carried its own quiet grace - with elegant pavilions, polished teak floors, and the faint echo of gamelan music filling the courtyards.

 

(The Pura Mangkunegaran Palace Complex)

(The palace main hall)

(The Puspanita Kijang team)

(Relaxing in the garden)

For those who still had a little energy (and Rupiah) left, the morning offered one last shopping adventure at Pasar Klewer, Solo’s famous traditional market. The narrow lanes were alive with colour and chatter - vendors calling out their prices, fabrics in every shade of batik swaying gently from wooden racks, and the irresistible aroma of local snacks wafting through the air.

(Resting tired legs)

After checking out, we gathered for a final nasi padang lunch at the well-known Wong Solo Restaurant. Plates of rendang, sambal hijau, and spicy fried chicken filled the table - a feast that perfectly summed up the warmth and generosity of Javanese hospitality.

(The famous Nasi Padang Wong Solo Resto)

Before heading to the airport, we made one last stop at the antique market, where time seemed to stand still among collections of old wood carvings, porcelain, and curious relics of the past. Along the way, we caught a glimpse of the legendary Bengawan Solo River, Indonesia’s longest river, its calm waters gliding gracefully through the land - a fitting symbol of continuity and life’s quiet flow.

(A typical antique shop)

(Antiques from bronze and wood on sale)

At the airport, reality began to settle in as we weighed our luggage (and the inevitable excess baggage from all that shopping!). Still, there was laughter in the air - the kind that comes from shared memories and the bond of travel.

As the plane lifted off from Solo, I looked down at the vast expanse of Java beneath us - the green rice fields, the winding rivers, and the faint outline of mountains fading into mist. Jogjakarta and Solo had given us more than sights to see; they had offered moments to feel - of culture, friendship, stillness, and joy.

This journey through the heart of Java would remain etched in memory.