Kraton—the Sultan's palace—is a communal space which houses not only the actual residence of the Sultan of Yogyakarta but also the work and living areas of the king's "subjects"- the common man, in other words. From the sprawling "grounds," where probably large gatherings of people or sporting or ceremonial events occur, to the lanes and bylanes around the Kraton, one can almost feel the structure and serenity that make their way out of the monarchical foundations of this town center.
Archways and balustrades adorn the little streets, with shops and restaurants making up the human elements. The people are extremely friendly and generous, and would smile and pose happily for pictures from complete strangers like me who do not even attempt to hide their tourist status.
The trishaw is the main form of local transportation, and also horse drawn carriages, small and large buses, and of course cars, motorbikes and bicycles. But a good number of wartime jeeps and similar vehicles make for interesting photo-ops if one keeps a keen eye out, as do the luscious "rambutans" that tempt like any other low hanging fruit when one is sauntering by in hope of serendipity.
The museum Sonobudoyo is the principal repository of national heritage and is located in the Kraton, and boasts of hour long performances of "wayang kulit"- the traditional puppet shadow dance, in the late morning hours almost on a daily basis, free for viewing by the public. I missed this as I happened to be there on a Monday morning, the only day it is closed (so much for serendipity!)." Hope luck will favor you.
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