We arrived in Jogyakarta bribed by the agency to take a minibus instead of waiting for the night bus of the night we had worked with them, and we did not regret it. We shared the trip with another German couple, with whom we had already done the jeep tour of the volcano, and with Fulvio, an Italian boy who played DJ. It was thanks to him that he put the karaoke, that we could know the name of one of the songs that were being repeated in Indonesia ... Iwak Peyek (or just like yesterday), of Sagita! The Indonesian star!
We didn't see anything about the intellectual, cultured, student city… that Lonely speaks. Basically, there is a street full of shops that sell the same products, horse cars and bike taxis waiting on the sidewalks, and many hustlers willing to accompany you to look for a hotel, travel agency, laundry, or whatever. Ah! And a new shopping center, with its escalators and everything! Do you remember the fear that was spent as a child before the evil steps of these stairs? Here not only children are afraid. Although they thought it was worth having a hard time for a few moments to get to the room of the little machines on the top floor.
If you have to recognize the wonderful art of Batik, or as it translates, "many points." The paintings are fascinating and the artists are all characters. Although, it seems that this has also drunk from the tourism poison and is now more a circus than anything else, the workshops, the supposed teachers, and of course, the duplicate or tripled prices of the paintings.
In these 6 days that we have been in this, despite everything, quiet city, we visit the Kraton, or Sultan's Palace, which has nothing. The best thing was to make mistakes on the way back and find a rather unique neighborhood, with low houses and small mosques, where we met Toto, a musician who has learned Spanish based on listening to Latin music, of which he is passionate. Even the "malagueña salerosa" and one of Pavarotti launched in the middle of the street! Ah if we also find the nutella cousin….
In the surroundings there are two important temples, they must be for what they charge to enter! Luckily we are still students and we carry the university cards with which to get a discount (shhhh, say nothing). The awesome Borobudur Buddhist Temple It is a pyramid built on a hill, with 7 floors, the first square and the last round. It is full of reliefs and fantastically preserved Buddha figures thanks to the dust that covered them for many years after a volcanic eruption. To enter, again we have to make use of our sarongs, although inside we see a group of bikers who do not wear them, I suppose to save us the collective disgust of seeing about 30 hard uncles with their Harley shirts with skulls, and underneath the colorful scarf tied at the waist.
I will personally remember Jogya for the semis matches of the champions, those that should have given glory to the league, and supposed a new lesson in humility. Although waking up at 2 a little disturbed me the dream of the following days, seeing them in the room with the father and the son of the Homestay was very beautiful (joy and disappointment included). Lety surely remember her for being a victim of bed bugs, for the second time on this trip! At least we know it's not the crab!
Transportation How to get to Yogyakarta from Bromo?
We arrived from Probolinggo with minivan, entered the tour contracted for the visit of the bromine volcano
Accommodation Where to sleep in Yogyakarta?
We spent the first night at Homestay La Javanaise for 100,000 IRP, the problem was that the bed was infested with bed bugs, we think the other rooms were better. If you go, take a look at the bed, if you have blood stains escape! That if the old lady very nice, and breakfast a fried rice of champions.
The other nights we slept in Tiffa Losmen, room with bathroom and breakfast for 100,000 IRP, highly recommended, very nice family and for breakfast you can choose between many things (even Spanish tortilla! Although for us the best was the egg and cheese waffle mmm)
Visit Borobudur for free. How to get to Borobudur from Yogyakarta by bus?
We visit it for free. Bus in Malioboro to Jombor station (3A), 3,000 IRP. from there bus from an hour to the town of Borobudur, it costs 12,000 IRP, ask for more but refuse to pay more for this. From where the bus leaves you there are about 500m to the temple. Student admission costs 72,000 IRP. Normal entry costs double!
Do you know more stuff What to see in Yogyakarta?
