Borobudur/Java
Our bus left at 3 pm in the afternoon taking us across to the ferry teminal at Gilimanuk. After waiting one hour a second bus picked us up and we went straight on the ferry across to Java. All up we travelled 17 hours to Jogyakarta. The bus was full with locals going on Ramadan vacation. Blankets and pillows were provided and we stopped at a Indonesian truckstop for a hot meal. Unfortunaly we travelled at night and could not see the towering volcanoes. 50 % of the Indonsesain population live on the Java Island, around 120 million people. The towns are big and they are continuous. I never figued out were one city stopped and the next one started. Shops were open 24 hours and people selling produce on the raodside as well. On arrival at the bus teminal in the morning we booked the return ticked and got a taxi to the hotel, which was very nice, with comfortable bed and Ikat decoration, a fantastic breakfast and pool to cool, all for 25 Dollar a night for 2 people.The reception organized our tours to Borobodur and Prambanan temples for the next day. In the afternoon we visited the Kraton (Sultan Palace) not far from the hotel, but went back to Hotel for early dinner and night. We all didn’t sleep much on the bus.
On Tuedsay 23 Sep after breakfast we first had free time till lunch so we visted a big market selling everything from fruit and vegies to spice, fish to craft and clothes. I could have spent all day there. On the way back we stopped at the birdmarket where we saw all sort of singing birds, roosters, insects (for birdfood), bats, cats, dogs, squirrels and even an owl. A fellow cruiser poined out that we probably had eaten bats when we asked for sate sticks at the eateries. What the hell, they taste good.
At 12 noon we left for Borobudur, 26 km away. We took a guide and were overwhelmed with old, historic and enormous temples.Later on our next destination was the temple Prambanan wich is a Hindu temple. Unfortunately it was nearly destroyed by the 2006 earthquake. Many smaller temples lie there in pieces. Locals have taken the stones away and cut them up for houses. But the 3 big main temples still stand and are getting restored. But is was all fascinating to see and we were the last visitors at sunset until the warden let us out of the gate.
We found our bus but not the driver, so we sat in and beeped the horn for a while. He was waiting at the other exit for us. He took us to the restaurant around the corner where we had a very good buffet dinner with the background of the illuminated temple. After dinner we walked next door to the stage of the Ramayan ballet. A two hour opera/ballet telling the story of Rama and Sita. It was very good , beautiful costumes and they even set the rooftops of the background houses on fire as a special effect. We had a big day and arrived totally exhausted at the hotel at 11pm.
Next day we had till 2pm free time to walk the main street Malioboro of Jogyjakarta, resited all selling touts and stopped at the siver smiths capital of Kota Gede.We did no buy anything so, whats wrong with us? Our bus left at 2pm and we got back to Bali next morning at 10 am.
Cheers
R & M
Our bus left at 3 pm in the afternoon taking us across to the ferry teminal at Gilimanuk. After waiting one hour a second bus picked us up and we went straight on the ferry across to Java. All up we travelled 17 hours to Jogyakarta. The bus was full with locals going on Ramadan vacation. Blankets and pillows were provided and we stopped at a Indonesian truckstop for a hot meal. Unfortunaly we travelled at night and could not see the towering volcanoes. 50 % of the Indonsesain population live on the Java Island, around 120 million people. The towns are big and they are continuous. I never figued out were one city stopped and the next one started. Shops were open 24 hours and people selling produce on the raodside as well. On arrival at the bus teminal in the morning we booked the return ticked and got a taxi to the hotel, which was very nice, with comfortable bed and Ikat decoration, a fantastic breakfast and pool to cool, all for 25 Dollar a night for 2 people.The reception organized our tours to Borobodur and Prambanan temples for the next day. In the afternoon we visited the Kraton (Sultan Palace) not far from the hotel, but went back to Hotel for early dinner and night. We all didn’t sleep much on the bus.
On Tuedsay 23 Sep after breakfast we first had free time till lunch so we visted a big market selling everything from fruit and vegies to spice, fish to craft and clothes. I could have spent all day there. On the way back we stopped at the birdmarket where we saw all sort of singing birds, roosters, insects (for birdfood), bats, cats, dogs, squirrels and even an owl. A fellow cruiser poined out that we probably had eaten bats when we asked for sate sticks at the eateries. What the hell, they taste good.
At 12 noon we left for Borobudur, 26 km away. We took a guide and were overwhelmed with old, historic and enormous temples.Later on our next destination was the temple Prambanan wich is a Hindu temple. Unfortunately it was nearly destroyed by the 2006 earthquake. Many smaller temples lie there in pieces. Locals have taken the stones away and cut them up for houses. But the 3 big main temples still stand and are getting restored. But is was all fascinating to see and we were the last visitors at sunset until the warden let us out of the gate.
We found our bus but not the driver, so we sat in and beeped the horn for a while. He was waiting at the other exit for us. He took us to the restaurant around the corner where we had a very good buffet dinner with the background of the illuminated temple. After dinner we walked next door to the stage of the Ramayan ballet. A two hour opera/ballet telling the story of Rama and Sita. It was very good , beautiful costumes and they even set the rooftops of the background houses on fire as a special effect. We had a big day and arrived totally exhausted at the hotel at 11pm.
Next day we had till 2pm free time to walk the main street Malioboro of Jogyjakarta, resited all selling touts and stopped at the siver smiths capital of Kota Gede.We did no buy anything so, whats wrong with us? Our bus left at 2pm and we got back to Bali next morning at 10 am.
Cheers
R & M
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