Gus spoke good English, pedaled through more small streets where the Sultan’s servants once lived, and escorted us to where you pay admission at the Sultan’s Palace (Kraton). Both drivers would be waiting for us in a designated spot when we finished. No worries about them finding us since they wouldn’t get paid until the end of the touring. The admission charge was 28,000 Rupiahs for two plus three camera fees at 1,000 Rupiah/camera and we did ask for an English-speaking guide. Even though we had our Lonely Planet pages explaining the Kraton, very glad we took a guide. Indong related lots of interesting trivia that wouldn’t be in a book. We gave her 40,000 Rupiahs as a guide fee and thought it was well worth it. This is totally your choice.

The Kraton consists of the main palace, Sultan’s residential home, two Sultan’s grounds, and large residential area where servants used to reside (we pedaled through that area). More than 25,000 people still live within the greater Kraton compound. You can also visit the Sultan’s Carriage Museum that has two carriages imported from the Netherlands and known as Golden Carts. (We didn’t, because wanted to watch the dancing at 10:30 a.m.)

The current, 10th Sultan still lives in the innermost group of buildings, built between 1755-1756 and just tends to business these days. He has one wife, three daughters, 21 brothers and sisters and his oldest brother will become Sultan when he dies since he only has daughters. Indong escorted us through the courtyard where a bandstand is located with the Sultan’s palanquin (litter)…View image…in the middle and once carried by 20 bearers….View image, the prince’s pavilion, a palace with gorgeous chandeliers…View image, and through the different museums.

Photos are allowed everywhere except the main Ikat museum. The museums were filled with eclectic collections from the different Sultan’s memorabilia. The majority held beloved Sulton IX’s “stuff” including stamps…View image, medals…View image, boy scout badges, photographs…View image, antique repliques, coins and so forth. Even the 9th Sultan’s cookware and hot mitts were on display! He did love to cook.

a very rare Ikat owned by the Sultan in the Kraton Palace, Yogyakarta, Java 

Sultan’s hot mitts for cooking in the Kraton, Yogyakarta, Java
Bits of trivia from Indong. Sultan II had 41 children and Sultan III had 81 children, each with 4 “official wives.” FYI, all facts were supplied by Indong and may not be gospel. Both bride and groom rode in a Wedding palanquin and there was a big cage next to it. Indong said there is a special ceremony when baby Sultan is 6-7 months old. The baby is placed in the cage and surrounded by money, books, pens, make-up, and food while everyone waits to see what baby Sultan reaches for. If books, he will be smart – make-up, handsome, money – rich! According to lore, the 9th sultan reached for all of it.

royal wedding palanquin in the Kraton, Yogyakarta, Java
A photograph of us with the traditionally clothes palace guards…View image…and it was time for the Gamelan performance with dancers.

the very old, and frail looking, Sultan’s palace guards, Kraton, Yogyakarta, java 

dancers at the Sultan’s Palace (Kraton), Yogyakarta, Java
If you’ve never heard traditional Javanese music sung by a chorus…View image, accompanied by Gamelan instruments..View image…. or seen Javanese dancers performing in extremely slow, stylized movements, you are in for a surprise. Sorry, call us uneducated and crude, but it was akin to watching paint dry. A few songs, one dance performed by two gorgeous dancers and we were out of there….View image.

…and on the way to Taman Sari, the Water Castle…View image…
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