Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine June 2016 | Page 110

108

Travel | Solo
© Mark Eveleigh

“The people of Solo are very
proud of their romantic past,”
says Ibu Endang Widiastuti.
“Of course, our royal families
don’t have anything like the
power they used to have, but
the king is still a highly
respected figurehead.”

In the pendopo (pavilion) of Pura
Mangkunegaran Palace, Dutch cast-iron
pillars mingle with beautiful batik-engraved
teak beams tinted with gentle pastels.

As a guide at Pura Mangkunegaran Palace,
Ibu Endang is doubly well-qualified: not
only is she imm