Yet another blue sky, blisteringly hot day - 30 degrees plus, yesterday. It was also the start of Ramadan so no eating during the day. We wanted an adventure, so we decided to make our own way to a couple of temples / stupas outside Melang. This means using the local transport - super cheap Angkots - mini vans. A guy outside our hotel, who we thought was probably a bit mad, but was actually very helpful, stopped the correct bus for us and ushered us on. The guys at the bus terminal were great also, they told us which bus to look for. No clues as to the destination, just you need a blue bus
with LE on it or you need a green AT. We followed some directions in Lonely Planet and got to the first temple Candi Singosari after a 1KM walk. Beautifully kept grounds but the inside smelled of wee. The temple was incomplete only the detail on the upper face carvings had been finished. The Lonley Planet said take another bus, then a scenic 1KM walk along a canal to the second temple, but we spotted a sign at the first temple which said Candi Sumberawan 6Kms. We needed the exercise and like taking the road less travelled - we passed through three villages to the temple, regularly taking water to keep us going. The road, narrow and dusty, sloped gently upwards for the whole journey. As usual in Indonesia, people are amused and bemused to see westerners. All of the children said "hello Mister", most adults said hello and we were even stopped by a couple of older men who shook our hands and had a conversation with us, even though we had no idea what they were saying. Everyone pointed us in the right direction. The main business of these villages was sandal and wooden sole production. See photo of shoe maker. The Candi Sumberawan temple was set by a canal among rice paddy fields against the backdrop of a huge mountain - Gunung Arjuna (3339m). As we were warned by Lonely Planet the canal is used by local men and boys for washing, so I hid behind my parasol to give them their privacy when I passed (I didn't peek, honest). Local children had been for a swim and got dressed and stood shivering talking to us. This time they wanted to take a picture of us. The temple grounds were again beautifully manicured, the Stupa was less exciting, a simple structure. We were keen after our hot walk to take the 1KM walk back to the road, but couldn't find it, so we headed back the way we came and eventually jumped another bus. It looked like something used for kids in Knowsley Safari park, painted in stripes. It winded its way deeper into the villages and through to the highway. Again helpfully the bus driver stopped a bus going the other way for us which took us back to Malang. Indonesia has its frustrations - pollution, traffic, lack of pavements... but consistently the people have been welcoming and friendly. Relaxing today, then we will set off for the Bromo area at 1am. Will blog again when we get to Bali.