After breakfast we set out along Jalan Malioboro to the Sultan’s Palace admiring some of the Dutch colonial buildings on the way.
At the Kraton we watched a shadow puppet show and then took our time wandering through the various courtyards and pavilions.
In one of the displays we found this painting of the Sultan complete with ceremonial ears!!
After leaving the Kraton, we caught a taxi to the Bird Market located on the outskirts of Jogja. There we saw snakes, bright green iguanas, turtles, a small Komodo dragon and a huge Burmese python (reputedly fed a dog every three weeks). There were also hedgehogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, a hare, mice, squirrels, tiny gliders, bats, and a mongoose. The range of birds was amazing from tiny hummingbirds, silver eyes and finches through to owls, parrots, woodpeckers, cuckoos, and various songbirds and more mundane birds – chickens, budgies, doves, pigeons and canaries all stored in large wicker cages. Some of the birds were incredibly beautiful but it was a little sad to see them all in cages.
Then there was the live food for the birds – mealie bugs, crickets and ants’ eggs all writhing in their different baskets.
In another section were all the dogs and cats – including some dogs with their ears cut off apparently to assist in hunting for pigs in the jungle. A helpful stall holder told us that there was a singing contest (birds only) and cock fights on Sundays.
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