Monday, June 12, 2017

Not your usual bicycle sightings in Indonesia ;b

A higher and more difficult-to-ride-than-usual bicycle 
being ridden over in the vicinity of Yogyakarta's Kraton 

Riding around on a bicycle built for two 
in the grounds of Prambanan

What is it with Indonesians and novelty bicycles?  On my German friend's and my first full day in the central Javanese city of Yogyakarta, we decided to walk from our hotel to the Kraton that is the official residence of the sultan and current political ruler of the area (after being told by hotel staff that parts of the city's main thoroughfare would be closed off to vehicular traffic that day).  As we approached the place, what caught my eye the most, aside from the palace architecture itself, was the sight of a few folks transporting themselves about on some really interesting looking contraptions!

The bottom of those vehicles looked like regular bicycles but the actual contraptions had extensions installed to make it so that their riders were considerably further from the ground than would have been the case if they had been atop a regular bicycle.  Yet those who had deigned to ride on them looked pretty comfortable for the most part atop them and were languidly, and happily, manouvering them back and forth along a section of paved road close to the official entrance of the Kraton!

As if this wasn't novel enough, a few days later, we spotted a group of kids happily riding on bicycles built for two like in the Daisy song -- which I felt compelled to sing on the spot to my German friend who was not familiar with it!  And for those who don't are unfamiliar with it: it's a simple song but one I find pleasantly romantic and very memorable... and maybe you'll feel that way too after hearing this rendition of it that comes courtesy of the legendary Nat King Cole! ;b

2 comments:

Bill said...

Hi YTSL,

The street life you capture in these photos is often just as memorable as visiting tourist sites. The Daisy song seems perfect for this blog entry...
The Daisy song first stayed in my memory because it is the song the Hal 9000 computer sings when it is disconnected in 2001 A Space Odyssey.

Bill

YTSL said...

Hi Bill --

It's one of those things that I often am attracted to visit a place because it's where a certain monument or natural wonder is located but then find myself fascinated, even charmed, by the local people. And while there's little question that the two major highlights of my visit to Indonesia were Borobudur and Prambanan, I must say I really was pleasantly surprised by much of my interactions with local folks.

As for the "Daisy" song: it completely slipped my mind that it figured in "2001: A Space Odyssey"! I guess I think more of the classical music pieces in it...