An Archaeological Study Tour
Indonesia
The Islands of Java, Sulawesi & Bali

July 15 - August 3, 2011

Led by Professor Richard Cooler


Stretching more than 3,000 miles along the equator, the islands of the Republic of Indonesia are a medley of peoples, cultures and great traditions. The islands, continuously occupied since Java Man, about a million years ago, include cultural types from the tribes of Irian to the sophisticated temple societies of Java and Bali. This tour starts on the island of Java. The glories of the Hindu and Buddhist civilizations have influenced the various and complex local traditions, as seen at the temples of the Dieng Plateau, Borobudur and Prambanan, the kratons of Yogyakarta and Solo and the rarely visited temple complex of Gedong Songo. From Solo we will visit two unusual Bima cult temples known for their fabulous sculptures, some of which are quite erotic, and end our stay on Java at the temple complexes associated with the great Majapahit Empire.

From Java the tour proceeds to Sulawesi and Tana Toraja, a people unaffected by the Hindu and Buddhist diffusions and untouched by the tide of Islam in the 14th century. From Sulawesi we go to Bali, a living example of earlier Hindu culture and society. Here are the rich decorative arts of a complex society: painting, carving and dancing. A full day will be spent exploring tiny villages and seeking out temple ceremonies. We have scheduled special Ramayana dance performances in Yogyakarta as well as a performance of the Wayang Kulit shadow puppets, East Javanese classical dance in Malang and several dances on Bali, including a commissioned performance of the Frog Dance in a small village. The variety of peoples and the mosaic of cultures are all held together in the modern nation of Indonesia, whose slogan, “Unity in Diversity,” testifies to the vibrant plurality of the world’s fifth most populous nation.

Friday, Saturday, July 15 & 16, 2011: HONG KONG: Departure from Los Angeles via Cathay Pacific Airways early Friday morning. We arrive into Hong Kong and tranfer to the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel for the night.

Sunday, Monday, July 17 & 18: YOGYAKARTA: We continue our journey to Yogyakarta. Sunday evening we will meet with Professor Cooler for an orientation lecture and dinner at the Melia Purosani Hotel. Monday our touring takes us into the countryside to visit Imogiri, a royal cemetery since the early kings of Mataram. We will climb to this venerated place, which is located on a mountaintop. Our fellow visitors are likely to be pilgrims coming to worship their ancestors.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & one dinner

Tuesday, July 19 : YOGYAKARTA: Touring today begins at Borobudur, the most important Buddhist monument in the Southern Hemisphere. Built between 777 and 842 CE, this world’s largest stupa houses hundreds of statues of the Buddha. Carvings along the base tell of the lives of the Buddha according to the Jataka Tales, while the iconography of the ascending terraces moves from hell to earth to nirvana. Borobudur has been restored by a world effort through UNESCO. Before returning to Yogyakarta, we will visit the smaller and older temple at Mendut. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure, and in the evening we will have a special dinner and performance of the Ramayana in a lovely pavilion in Kote Gede.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Wednesday, July 20 : YOGYAKARTA: Touring begins with the 9th-century Hindu temple complex of Prambanan. The larger temples, dedicated to Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, are excellent examples of Hindu relief sculpture and architecture. After completing our visit, we continue to the classical Javanese court of the Sultan’s Kraton and the Museum, followed by lunch and a dance performance at Joyokusuman. In the evening we will use “becaks” (3-wheeled pedicabs) to get to a performance of Wayang Kulit, the famous shadow puppet play based on the adventures of the epic hero of the Ramayana. We will be able to view both sides of the stage and the one man who manipulates all the characters.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Thursday, July 21 : WONOSOBO: A spectacular drive brings us into the cool and misty mountains of the Dieng Plateau. “Dieng” derives from the Javanese for “Abode of the Gods,” quite suitable for this lovely place. Here within a volcanic crater we will see the oldest temples in Java, dating from the early decades of the 7th century. We overnight in the mountain market town of Wonosobo, at the Kresna Hotel Wonosobo.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Friday, Saturday, July 22 & 23: SOLO: Friday’s touring takes us to the Shivaite-Hindu temple complex of Gedong Songo. This nine-temple complex stands on top of six hills and is considered the most beautiful temple location on Java. We continue to Solo, the oldest center of Javanese culture. Saturday morning we will visit two unusual 15th-century temples, Candi Sukuh and Candi Ceta. These Bima cult temples are known for their fabulous sculptures, some of which were done in the Wayang puppet style. Novotel Solo Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Sunday, July 24 : BLITAR: We drive through lovely mountainous countryside to the Panataran temple complex, one of the largest temple sanctuaries in Indonesia. This extensive site took over 250 years to build, beginning in about AD 1197. This complex provides a good opportunity to study the evolution of sculpture in relation to Balinese art. We will spend the night in the colonial city of Blitar. Tugu Hotel Blitar.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Monday, July 25 : SURABAYA: En route to Surabaya we stop to visit the remains of the capital of the great Majapahit Empire (1292-1389 CE), near Trowulan. This ancient city of over 15 square km had pools, palaces, Shivaite and Buddhist temples and lavish pavilions. Its museum contains a superb collection of terra-cotta figurines and other artifacts from the site. A short drive brings us into Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia. Time permitting, we will visit its wonderful zoo and fascinating harbor. Majapahit Surabaya Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, July 26, 27 & 28: RANTEPAO (TANA TORAJA): This morning we fly to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi and make a long but senic drive north into the remote highlands of Tana Toraja. After a lunch break in the colorful fishing village of Pare, we continue to Rantepao, the central town in the Tana Toraja region, and our hotel, Toraja Heritage Hotel. Torajans are known for their distinctive steep-pitched houses, their spectacular funerary rituals and ancestor cult worship. During our three-night stay, we will hope to find a ceremony in progress. Our days will be spent exploring the hanging graves, burial caves and the craft villages.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily

Friday, July 29 : BALI: We return to Makassar for our late afternoon flight to Bali, where we will stay at the gorgeous Bali Hyatt set amid tranquil gardens on Senur beach. In addition to our scheduled visits to temples, artist villages, dance performances and shrines, there may be unscheduled religious rituals, dances, pageants and cremations. We hope to see some of these events as they occur during our visit.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Saturday, July 30 : BALI: This morning, touring begins with a drive to Goa Gadjah to visit the Elephant Cave and Penataran Sasih Temple, with its ancient Balinese sculptural heritage. This evening we will go to a nearby village to see the Kecak (Monkey) dance, the love story of Prince Rama and Princess Sita of the Ramayana epic.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Sunday, July 31 : BALI: After a morning performance of the Barong (Kris) dance, a battle between good and evil, our touring continues to Besakih Temple, the “Mother Temple of Bali,” nestling on the slopes of Mount Agung. After lunch, we will visit the Courthouse of Justice at Klungkung.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Monday, August 1: BALI: Today will be at the discretion of our lecturer. We have arranged for the use of our bus and a performance of the Frog Dance at a small village at the end of the day. The rest of the time will be used to explore areas of Bali not usually frequented by tourists.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Tuesday, Wednesday, August 2 & 3: BALI: Our last day in Indonesia will be completely at leisure to relax on the beach or explore the area on our own. We will offer an optional morning excursion to the craft village of Ubud (painting). This evening we will have our gala farewell dinner at our hotel and prepare to leave Indonesia, the sound of the gamelan singing in our hearts. Wednesday we transfer to the airport for our Cathay Pacific Airways flight to Los Angeles via Hong Kong.
Meals: Breakfast & 1 dinner