One of the best things about travelling is learning new things, and it would be impossible to visit or live in Indonesia and not to notice one of the country’s most highly developed art forms, the batik.
The Indonesian Batik is part of the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Batik is a method originally used in Java of producing coloured designs on textiles by applying wax and them dyeing them.
Felling the Batik smell, admire its patterns and learn about its processes needs to be part of any visit to Yogyakarta because is such an important part of the Indonesian culture and heritage.
Where to learn about the batik process
If you want to see and learn about the batik process the Batik Winotosatro in Yogyakarta, shows it for free.
The manual process uses fabric, hot wax, tjanting and colours. Tjanting is a bell metal tool used in outlining the design of the batik art.
The Batik can also be made by stamp.
Where to try the batik process
Mirota Batik is a fixed-priced store, located in the Malioboro, that sell batik fabric and clothing, but also has a small space where you can try this technique (Rp.30,000~$2)
Batik scams
Batik is very popular in Yogyakarta among tourists, making it a great opportunity for scammers.
Everywhere you go, someone will be trying to sell you batik, or they have a friend that does it, or they know the most authentic place to buy it, or they are a teacher in the University of Batik… well… the stories are many and I assure you; you will hear them all. The important thing is to decline all offers politely and choose wisely where you want to go.
If you want to buy some batik my advice is for you to go to a shop with fixed prices.
photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha