ABOUT THE JAVANESE

My dad comes from a small town called Magelang in Central Java, at the foot of the mighty Mount Merapi where the river Progo runs through its veins. Contemporary Magelang makes its name by being home to the Army Academy and local delicacies of kupat tahu, mie jawa, getuk eco, and more things I do not know about. My knowledge about this place is limited because other than the bi-annual family trips, it was never my home.

Having said that, much of my life is partly shaped by Magelang -- by the mixture of babah culture; of the Chinese and Javanese through the set of values placed by my father and applicated loosely by my mother. We like our food on the sweet side, like Javanese food. Sweet soya sauce is almost a staple condiment. We do not express emotions verbally, much like the Javanese. Regretfully, we're not fluent in the arts and culture... very unlike the Javanese!

Ullen Sentalu is a private musem in the heights of an area called Kaliurang. It is a private museum dedicated to the stories of Javanese royals, arts and culture. Who would have thought that a Javanese kind must be able to dance, and coreograph a royal dance too? Who would have thought that 15 century Javanese royals were so in tune with European fashion that a queen would have a feather fan? Or a King with tuxedo style top, all whilst wearing his royal batik bottom?

The star of the museum is definitely the legacy of the late king of Jogjakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX. His Highness created 9 dances during his reign, paid the salary of the 1st Indonesian President when he was in exile, became a Vice President, eliminating class boundaries between Javanese royals and the common folk by releasing traditional royal batik patters for all, fluent in several languages. Did I say that he was also good looking?

All at the entrance price of 25,000 IDR, you would get so much more by listening to the guided tour given with much jesterly fun. About an hour from Jogjakarta, it is not to be missed.