the colors of Yogya

Blame it on the Dutch. The city of Yogyakarta hs schizophrenic spellings. One can spell it Jogjakarta or Jogyakarta. It can be referred as Yogya or Jogya. Whichever you choose, one thing is undeniable. Jogya is the epicenter of culture in Central Java. Think of the royal court of Keraton, the best batik tulis (handpainted batik), the dance drama of Ramayana and the wayang kulit shadow puppets. It goes natural then that the people, seeped with the heritage that dates back centuries, have an innate love for colors.


a collage of bright doors in Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia


I am not talking about soft pastels or cleverly coordinated complementary hues but solid blocks of bright, loud, clashing and screaming colors. The Central Javanese certainly don't want their buildings dark and somber.


even windows of Keraton Palace of Yogya are not spared with neon splashes
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/80s, f/5, 10.3mm



street scene at Jln Brig Jen Katamso, Yogyakarta
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/250s, f/4.5, 12.3mm


In one visit there in 2005, I took numerous pictures of nearly 20 attention-grabbing doors from just a 50 meter strip in downtown Jogya with my old point and shoot. Soon enough, I had to stop myself or else I would run out of batteries.


a becak at Jln Brig Jen Katamso, Yogyakarta
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/500s, f/5, 7.1mm


Colors are there to entertain. So I was just there to enjoy.


night rush in Jalan Malioboro, Yogyakarta
Canon PowerShot S40, 8s, f/8, 7.1mm