Travel #1: Candi Ijo

A must place to visit when you are visiting Yogyakarta, Indonesia is the temples. There are two famous temples: Prambanan and Borobudur Temple. These two temples are amazing with their unique architectures and stories. However, if you want to see something else beside these famous landmarks, I will tell you about Ijo Temple.

It is an Hindu temple that has three main temples and three smaller temples in front each the main temples. It was built around 9th or 10th centuries. 

At this moment, only 6 temples are rebuilt. However, you can still see stones debris around the site. It is said that if all the temples have been rebuilt, Ijo Temple site will be bigger than Prambanan Temple site. Wow...

The name Candi Ijo is taken from the word 'ijo' that means green in English. It is named Ijo because the temple is placed in green hill area.

My friends and I in front of one of the temples.

This temple is placed near Prambanan Temple. From Jogja-Solo highway, you take the right-turn  on the T-junction, right before the site of Prambanan temple. Straight on until you see a big sign in green color: "Candi Ijo turn left". Oh yeah, candi means temple :)

Follow the way till you find small crossroad. Turn right. Keep following the way. And there it is, the temples lay on you left side :)

Sounds easy to be found, huh? Actually, it is indeed easy to be found. However, the challenge is the long uphill track. It is uphill... I mean REALLY uphill. It is like 45-50 degrees. Besides that, the path is not smooth, it's extremely bumpy with holes and medium-size rocks.

So, if you go by motorcycle, make sure that it is in a fit condition, full gas, and the passenger is not too heavy too be carried. If you go by bicycle, you must be very strong and have a LOT of energy. But it's not something impossible to be done :D

After the wonderful journey to the temple, park you vehicle and enter the site. It's FREE. The guard will only ask you to write down your name on the guest book. However, if you want to give some donation, that is okay.

So, so, Ijo Temples is the highest temple in Yogyakarta.

Q: How tall is it? 5 meters?
A: Hahaha no no no. It is mentioned as the highest temple not because the height of the temple but because the height of the site. It is around 410 meters above sea level.

From this site, you can see the Jogja city~
Plus, you can see the planes land or take off on the airport. 
And if you love to make photographs, Ijo Temple is a great spot for hunting ;)