mikpreston

I am about to finalize a December vacation trip to Indonesia including Yogyakarta and Bali. I have heard that Mount Merapi is still active and that some hotels are closed due to volcanic ash. I can go somewhere else, change my reservations now without paying anything extra. Once i confirm it would cost a lot to change. Anybody been there recently? What is the situation concerning flights, visiting the temples? Finally does this impact Bali too? HELP!

ekscrunchy

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/busin...ivities/406801


http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-c...und_Yogyakarta

marmot

I’m in Jakarta, not Central Java so this informtion is not from first hand experience, but I’ve been following this disaster closely. As far as I know Bali has not been affected. I’m going there myself next week.

Mt. Merapi has calmed down somewhat but is still active and unpredictable. It’s impossible to say whether the eruption cycle is finished for now or if there’s more to come. If your trip is in early December, then I would, unfortunately, skip Central Java this time. If it’s in late December, then I’d wait a week or two before finalizing. Local resorts, airlines should be sympathetic to your situation.

Reliable information is hard to come by. As of today, there are still some 400,000 displaced persons in the area. Many are starting to return to their villages but they haven't been given official clearance.

The service at Yogya and Solo airports is intermittent. I believe the airports are closed this week, but information is scanty. Borobudur is closed for cleanup; Prambanan is partially open. Some hotels near the volcano are also closed, but those in Yogya appear to be in business as usual mode. Issues with volcanic ash have also been variable, depending on wind direction.

StanKase

I can suggest first hand reliable information from a fellow who does public works projects and we used as a guide in Yogya in March for 4 long exciting days. He lives 25 miles from the volcano so he is "right there". He also is a terrific guide. You can tell him I suggested you contact him. [email protected]

sukohadi

Bali is definitely not affected by Merapi's eruption. I was there on November 4-9 when the biggest eruption happened.
It is true that at that time Yogyakarta and Solo Airports were closed. But you still can get to Yogyakarta by plane through Semarang (from Semarang to Yogyakarta is approximately 3 hours by bus).
Right now, the intensity of the eruption is decreasing. We do hope that in December Merapi's activity would have been back to normal.

fadli

Yogyakarta is safe for visit. The city is located 30kms from the summit. The fact is that when the eruption happened, no hotel in town was closed. Everything was operating normally. Only several hotels within the danger zone was closed due to safety reason. But now the small hotels in that zone are already open for business. Even now in Kaliurang (resort area - 7km from summit) is very busy with travellers coming to see the affected area.