Activities in the first week

Orientation

Using a popular Indonesian dance, we learned kiri (left) from kanan (right). Indonesian university students accompanied GC students to get us familiar with public transportation. Since then GC students have been exploring other parts of Yogyakarta, including a traditional market.

• More dancing language instruction.
• The team that has been in charge of our language and culture orientation this week: Bu Mega and her son Krisma, Bu Ninik, Bu Vero, Mbak Fanny, and Mbak Ambar.
  

Around Yogyakarta

At the Wayang (shadow puppets) museum we learned about the role of the Wayang characters in Javanese culture. We also enjoyed trying to identify with some of the statues!

Other sites we visited around Yogyakarta were the ruins of Tamansari -- the Sultan's water garden (at right), and the Kraton (Sultan's Palace).

• Another snapshot in the Tamansari ruins.
  

Mt. Merapi

Near the end of the week we got news that Mt Merapi, the mountain nearest to us, was about to erupt. As one of the world's most active volcanoes, this is not an unusual event. The guest house where we were located is not normally in any danger, but of course we were interested in the potential activity. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we did not witness any spectacular activity and have now moved on to another location on the other side of Yogyakarta (much farther away from the mountain) for our second week of activities.

For more on Mt Merapi, visit this web site: http://www.joglosemar.co.id/mt_merapi.html