Java: Colourful Kampung Pelangi (Rainbow Village) Photo Diary

Java: Kampung Pelangi (The Rainbow Village) Photo Diary

12/7/2018

Colourful Kampung Pelangi (The Rainbow Village) Photo Diary. Wonosari, Semarang, Java, Indonesia.

Kampung Pelangi, Wonosari, Semarang.

As a lover of street art and all things colourful, as soon as I found out about Kampung Pelangi's existence, I was drawn to Wonosari, Semarang in Indonesia like a moth to a bright light. I knew I must visit and see it for myself.

One year ago Kampung Pelangi village was run down and a borderline slum, after $22,000 and a whole lot of paint, now the location has been labelled by Vogue as an Instagrammers paradise and attracts tourists from all over the world pumping money into the local economy, enriching the lives of the occupants. Inspired by the flower market which runs along the main street at the entrance to the village, the colourful update was painted by inhabitants and initiated by Slamet Widodo, a local junior high school principal who dreamed about turning his village into a vivid rainbow and attracting visitors.

Colourful Kampung Pelangi (The Rainbow Village) Photo Diary.Before and after. Wonosari, Semarang, Java, Indonesia.

(Image source)

As a solo female traveller, I felt very safe walking around alone, DSLR camera in hand. I spent roughly four hours there and all of the locals I met on my journey through Kampung Pelangi are lovely. Children that live in the village were running around having so much fun. When it started raining one of the local shop owners even went to cut down an umbrella for me, which I appreciated, however, politely refused as I did not want to make a negative impact and change anything that made the location such a great place to visit.

I'm so glad I travelled to Java to visit Kampung Pelangi! It was well worth the time, effort and money spent. It is incredible how an injection of colour can brighten the lives of so many people.

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