The city of Solo, officially named Surakarta, is located in central Java about 65km north-east of Yogyakarta. Like competing Yogyakarta, it is a royal city but it is a bit older having been founded 1745. With a population of about 500,000 it is larger than its neighbour but it is more traditional and unhurried and arguably more Javanese. The city has two palaces and academies of Javanese dance and music. Solo is renowned for its traditional textile industry producing batik.

We spent the first 5 days of 2013 in Solo.