A city of students and the arts, Yogyakarta is built on pillars of spirituality. When you arrive, at first glance it looks like a bustling, modern city. Soon you begin to discover the many rich veins of history that run through the city. There is an energy, a magical vibration, that you cannot yet understand.
Amanjiwo resort is the epitome of luxury: one that blends perfectly with the surrounding nature. From your private pool you can enjoy a perfect view of the mountains around Borobudur. Tomorrow, you will study Javanese Meditation in the temple nearby. For the time being, you treat yourself with a spa day and enjoy dinner over the unique sound of the gamelan. Your mind is relaxed, and ready for discovery.
Out of all of Andrea’s friends, Patrick is perhaps the most knowledgeable. He has led you through a journey of spirituality. You learn about the long religious history of Java, and go deeper into its mystical features. Healers, guardians of an ancient art, guide your hand and show you their techniques. Be it as a patient or as a physician, you are forming a deeper connection with this land.
Patrick organises a Wayang Shadow Theatre show. The stories are touching, and the images are enthralling. It is as if the shadows revealed a different reality altogether. You have to see more. So you venture into Yogyakarta with your anthropologist friend, and discover ever more meaningful stories: gods and kings that play in a world of shadows, that seem to come to life.
You ask Patrick to show you something that is rarely seen. A materialisation of the spirit forces, if you like. He knows of a Wayang Topeng performance. It is an endangered art form that is slowly disappearing. The masked and disguised dancers execute powerful movements that bring them ever closer to their history and religiosity. When the characters appear on stage, it is no mere representation: they are embodying the gods.
You have much to ponder, and your luxury suite is the perfect place to do so. For the last evenings, you have been taking Tenaga Dalam lessons, a Javanese Martial Art that focuses on breathing and concentration. Tonight, you sense something different, an inner power that grows with every movement and fills you with excitement. For certain, what you have lived in this trip is difficult to put into words. It doesn't matter, you have something better: the experience.
Provide us with a few starting details about your travel plans, and one of our specialists will be in touch to give you suggestions and ideas.
