Traveller Alert: We went to Kraton on a Friday, and on the way, we got turned away by 2 separate shady fellas who insisted that the palace was closed for Friday prayers and suggested that we go to an art museum or something instead. A very organized syndicate, I doubt they were that bad, they just wanted us to buy some substandard batik paintings (check out Batik Keris at Yogya, much cheaper than at Bali), but we had better things to do than to waste our time. We had read previously about such scams in Lonely Planet guidebooks, had some doubts about their honesty, checked with confused honest becak drivers, but we still had to see it closed (or open) for ourselves. The first guy claimed to be working in the palace while the next guy even had the cheek to lie to us in front of a police station! Shame on them, giving such a lovely city a bad name. Thankfully, the city also has some pretty decent and kind local folks around.
Upon arrival, you are automatically assigned a guide (whom you should tip). As the palace is still the actual residence of the King, the guides would keep us out of restricted areas. We were quite reluctant, our guide was frequently on her phone, messaging, but she did furbish us with TONS of juicy palace gossips. Yay.
Breakfast by the Roadside
Some basic Bahasa Indo you should know.
NASI - Rice, MEE - Noodles, Goreng - Fried, Ayam - Chicken (haven't learnt much)
Puny Ayam (definitely au naturale), think I popped over to KFC for seconds (LOVE BALI KFC).
Sheltered Guards
He's not real
Crest
Violent Photogs Shooting
Pretty guide at 'rolling pint'
Floral offerings to places and things on the floor
To store knives and swords
Typical Family Tree (note flowers, leaves and dragons bases)
Current Princesses (very pretty)
Puteri for Princess
Slumped
The Kraton was NOT CLOSED.
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