ITINERARY:
Day 1: Singapore - Jogyakarta - Borobudur
Day 2: Borobudur - Ketep Pass - Kaliadem - Prabanan - Yogjakarta
Day 3: Yogjakarta - Kota Gede - Kansongan - Parangtritis - Yogjakarta
Day 4: Yogjakarta - Singapore
DAY 1 (24 March 2012, Saturday)
The 5 of us managed to capitalised on the airfare promotion 10 months ago to get a cheap deal on Air Asia. The flight and taxes for the return ticket cost just $103, a deal too good to resist!
It was a great flight with nice landscapes to keep me busy nearing arrival at Yogjakarta.
Flight QZ7643 arrived at the Adisucipto Airport at 1230hrs local time.
When we headed out of the airport, we were being approached by dozens of taxi operators which we cooly rejected all. We managed to get a 6-seater Toyota Avanza car from the airport to Borobudur for Rp250,000.
On the way to the airport, we convinced the driver to send us to the famous Ayam Goreng Suharti restaurant, few kilometres from the airport. The chicken served at Ayam Goreng Suharti for a whole chicken 'komplet' – served with lalapan and sambal is so tender it slips right off the bone. The fried crumbles, golden and glistening with chicken fat, are a guilty pleasure.
Following a heavy lunch, we fell asleep on the 1hr journey to Manohara Hotel in Borobudur. We were greeted with some refreshing hebal welcome drink on arrival at the hotel.
Manohara Hotel Borobudur is the only hotel located within the sanctuary of Borobudur, with the limestone Menoreh Hills rising gently behind, the Kedu Plain in front and four volcanoes (Sumbing and Sundoro to the West, Merbabu and Merapi to the East) on the horizon.
After checking in, immediately we went over to Borobudur to catch a glimpse of the sunset before they close at 1730hrs.
Night view of the Borobudur temple from far
Dinner at the hotel's restaurant
After dinner, we went back to hotel to shower and laze around while we get our equipments charged. Suddenly we notice a sky clear of stars, and decided to try shooting star trails. The beginning was great, till the clouds came in, and our stars were covered.... :( Good night!
DAY 2 (25 March 2012, Sunday)
We joined the sunrise tour at the hotel for Rp185,000 per pax, where we gathered at the reception lobby at 0430hrs and was led to the Borobudur temple. The tour includes a complimentary torchlight and light refreshments.
View of Yogjakarta from the top of Borobudur just before sunrise.
Sunrise!
Getting misty
Group photos!
Back at the hotel, we managed to secure a driver to send us for sightseeing for Rp400,000 per day. Sabar (hp:085643029709) came with a 6-seater Toyota Innova at 0900hrs and agreed to send us to the places we intended to visit.
Our first destination is Ketap Pass, on the Mt Merapi. It has a beautiful mountain scenery of the Mount Merapi, with an audio visual Merapi eruption at the Volcano Theater.
Corn sellers by the roadside stalls
Deep fried soya crackers
Kaliadem probably is one of the best sites to watch Merapi Volcano from a close distance. It’s about 6 km from there to its summit. This was the place where the hot lava from the crater was flowing down, setting afire warungs and plantations, and burying them under the hot sands. People called Kaliadem the highway for the lava, spouting from the 2.900 m high volcano. But activity has become normal again and Kaliadem now is a famous spot, where the hidden and dangerous beauty is revealed.
It was however unfortunate that it began raining when we arrived and did not manage to get much photos of the place.
It was another hour's jouney to get to Prambanan, where we stopped for Nasi Padang lunch outside Prambanan.
Prambanan is a 9 century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta. The temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. It is characterized by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the towering 47m high central building inside a large complex of individual temples.
After a tiring day walking quite a distance in the Prambanan compound, Sabar sent us to our hotel in Yogjakarta. The All Seasons Yogyakarta Hotel is a colourful concept blend with art, modern, chick and sophisticated design among the traditional drift of Yogyakarta.
The rooms bring the coziness and comfort with free wifi internet, 32 inch LCD TV with cable channels, iPod dock, safety box, tea and coffee maker.
The All Seasons Yogyakarta Sky Bar provides a perfect experience, especially during sunset. It has a cozy atmosphere, colorful modern decoration and contemporary furniture and a view of the beautiful Yogyakarta skyline.
Grilled fish and chicken by the roadside
Nasi Goreng along Jalan Malioboro
Chilling out for drinks and snacks at the Sky Bar
DAY 3 (26 March 2012, Monday)
Having had a great rest, we got up for breakfast at the Colours Restaurant.
After breakfast, we went on foot to tour around the city area.
Jalan Malioboro
Pasar Beringharjo
Protestors on the streets
Kraton Sultan's Palace
Taman Sari Water Castle
Nasi Padang for lunch
After lunch, we engaged in the services of Sabar again for the afternoon for Rp250,000. We started off with a visit to Kota Gede, the hub if the silver industry of Yogjakarta.
Moving on, we headed over to Kansongan, Yogjakarta's pottery centre.
Heading south, we arrived at the Parangtritis Beach in about 45mins. Windswept and sandblasted, with crashing waves on one side, and craggy, looming cliffs on the other, Parangtritis Beach is the local's favourite seaside escape.
Dramatic sunset at Parangtritis Beach
Fried Kway Teow
Nasi Gudeg dinner with fried and BBQ piegons
DAY 4 (27 March 2012, Tuesday)
Our regular driver Sabar was at our hotel at 0500hrs to send us to the airport to catch our flight at 0735hrs. We then departed on Air Asia flight QZ7138 back to Singapore safely.
MORE PHOTOS
Click Here
VIDEO
Ancient Borobudur & Yogjakarta
FAST FACTS
Flight (SIN-JOG-SIN): $103
Accomodation (3 nights): $95
Car rental with driver: $31
Tours & Entrance Fees: $51
Food & beverage: $71
Departure Tax: $14
Shopping & Miscellaneous: $34
TOTAL EXPENDITURE: S$399
EXCHANGE RATE
S$1.00 = Rp7,163
TRAVEL GUIDES / NEWS / MAGAZINES
Tourism Portal of Yogyarkarta
http://www.yogyes.com/
Borobudur Park
http://borobudurpark.com/
Wikipedia Travel
http://wikitravel.org/en/Borobudur
Manohara Hotel
http://manoharaborobudur.com/room/
All Seasons Yogyakarta
http://www.all-seasons-hotels.com/gb/hotel-7460-all-seasons-yogyakarta/index.shtml
Java is Beautiful
http://www.javaisbeautiful.com
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