Discovering Cirebon: A Haven of Handicrafts

A mix of cultural influences and media on Java’s North Coast

cropped-logo_ie_99.jpgOctober 6, 2015

Story & Photographs by Gail G. Collins

When one looks to Mount Ciremai, with scudding clouds against a sapphire sky, it is impossible to miss the trademark design of Cirebon’s batik. Its bright, spare ground with clean, curling lines and graduated hues on fine cotton is unmistakable. The seaport town of 350,000 people on the north coast of Java has long been a trading and cultural hub. Only a three-hour train ride from Jakarta, it siphons off the overflow of Bandung tourists and has become a pleasant diversion in its own right with four- and five-star hotels. Continue reading “Discovering Cirebon: A Haven of Handicrafts”