Thinking about Java.
Jan 2nd, 2016, 08:58 PM
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Thinking about Java.
Another preliminary planning thread for Java (plus Penang).
I'm considering central and eastern Java, plus Penang in Malaysia for May 2016. We have about 3 weeks, although can be flexible. Our interests are similar to kja (with the great and specific thread) although perhaps we have less energy for climbing/hiking.
It's easy to get from home to KL for an onward flight to Penang, we would spend 3 or 4 nights in Penang, then we're considering catching a day time train to KL. Has anyone experience here ? Is the scenery worth the 5 + hour journey ?
We would then fly from KL to Yogyakarta to see Borobudur, Prambanam and perhaps Mt Bromo and ijen. Thinking 12 nights, how should I split them ? Any accomodation recommendations? We like small boutique type places where you're not a number.
Ideally we'd like to fly home from Denpasar, as it's only 5.5 hours to Brisbane. How is it to travel from the ferry port on Java to DPS ?
Crellston, I think you said the bus was a long ride and you could have spent some time in Permuteran.....we could probably add a night here to break the journey a bit.
The alternative is back tracking and then flying from Jakarta.
Thoughts from those who've been ?
I'm considering central and eastern Java, plus Penang in Malaysia for May 2016. We have about 3 weeks, although can be flexible. Our interests are similar to kja (with the great and specific thread) although perhaps we have less energy for climbing/hiking.
It's easy to get from home to KL for an onward flight to Penang, we would spend 3 or 4 nights in Penang, then we're considering catching a day time train to KL. Has anyone experience here ? Is the scenery worth the 5 + hour journey ?
We would then fly from KL to Yogyakarta to see Borobudur, Prambanam and perhaps Mt Bromo and ijen. Thinking 12 nights, how should I split them ? Any accomodation recommendations? We like small boutique type places where you're not a number.
Ideally we'd like to fly home from Denpasar, as it's only 5.5 hours to Brisbane. How is it to travel from the ferry port on Java to DPS ?
Crellston, I think you said the bus was a long ride and you could have spent some time in Permuteran.....we could probably add a night here to break the journey a bit.
The alternative is back tracking and then flying from Jakarta.
Thoughts from those who've been ?
Jan 3rd, 2016, 12:35 AM
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The day train from Penang to KL is fine, the scenery ok. Is it worth the 5 hours? Probably not. Much of Malaysia these days seems to be covered in palm oil plantations!
If you are foodies then a stop at Ipoh is worth considering - the most amazing steamed chicken with bean sprouts and people come from Singapore and KL just for the dim sum. Also some nice cave temples just outside town.
If you don't plan on spending any time in KL, I would fly..
Whilst you can visit Borobodour from Yogyakarta, it is better to stay overnight so as to visit at sunrise and sunset. Staying at the Manohora hotel provides the dawn access which is otherwise limited.
I would allow 4 nights for Yogyakarta, Borobodur and Prambanan. Tours of Bromo and Ijen are usually 2 night, 3 days and may be better organised from Malang, itself a pleasant enough place which is eight hours by train through some pleasant scenery. Here would be an interesting place to stay in Malang http://www.tuguhotels.com/malang/tug...2-concept.html
The driver will drop you off on the last day At Gilimanuk for the ferry to Bali, probably around 13.00. The bus to Denpasar was long and boring, I think scheduled for 4-5 but took closer to 6 or 7. We did think of going to Permuteran for some diving ( some nice hotels there too) which is only a couple of hours and from there to Denpasar.
Nakula Familar Inn is a great little B and B in Denpasar - I would recommend it if you need an overnight. Very friendly hosts.
More info on our Java trip here http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...rough-java.cfm
and some photos here
http://accidentalnomads.com/category/indonesia/
If you are foodies then a stop at Ipoh is worth considering - the most amazing steamed chicken with bean sprouts and people come from Singapore and KL just for the dim sum. Also some nice cave temples just outside town.
If you don't plan on spending any time in KL, I would fly..
Whilst you can visit Borobodour from Yogyakarta, it is better to stay overnight so as to visit at sunrise and sunset. Staying at the Manohora hotel provides the dawn access which is otherwise limited.
I would allow 4 nights for Yogyakarta, Borobodur and Prambanan. Tours of Bromo and Ijen are usually 2 night, 3 days and may be better organised from Malang, itself a pleasant enough place which is eight hours by train through some pleasant scenery. Here would be an interesting place to stay in Malang http://www.tuguhotels.com/malang/tug...2-concept.html
The driver will drop you off on the last day At Gilimanuk for the ferry to Bali, probably around 13.00. The bus to Denpasar was long and boring, I think scheduled for 4-5 but took closer to 6 or 7. We did think of going to Permuteran for some diving ( some nice hotels there too) which is only a couple of hours and from there to Denpasar.
Nakula Familar Inn is a great little B and B in Denpasar - I would recommend it if you need an overnight. Very friendly hosts.
More info on our Java trip here http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...rough-java.cfm
and some photos here
http://accidentalnomads.com/category/indonesia/
Jan 3rd, 2016, 01:26 AM
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The advantage of taking the ferry from Java to Bali is the proximity to North Bali. If you're just trying to get to Bali airport, then you'd be better off flying from Surabaya to Denpasar. Depending on where you are in Bromo, it's about 3 hours to Surabaya airport.
Getting to Ketapang, the ferry departure point on the eastern tip of Java, from Bromo is quite a long journey -- about 6 to 7 hours. From Ijen it's about an hour.
Once you're at Ketapang, the journey to North Bali -- for example Pemuteran or Munduk -- is fairly straight forward. Pemuteran is about an hour from Gilimanuk, Munduk about two. The simplest connection is to ask your Bali resort to pick you up at the ferry arrival point.
Pemuteran is a pleasant coastal town with good access to snorkling and scuba. Munduk is a pretty mountain retreat. Pemuteran is about 4 hours to the airport. Munduk about 3 hours.
I haven't stayed at this place, but it's on my list: http://www.mundukmodingplantation.com/
As Crellston notes, it's nice to split your time between the town of Yogya and the countryside around Borobudur. Manohara is bare bones, but you can't beat the location. The Plataran Borobudur is lovely but in a different price range.
In Yogya, I like the Hyatt because of it's spacious grounds. Yogya and Solo are hot and congested and it's nice to get away from the crunch.
I would also recommend staying in the Bromo area instead of "commuting" from Surabaya or Malang. Java Banana is considered the best of the worst -- pretty basic, but in a very scenic area. (Haven't been there myself.) Nor have I been to Ijen. Ijen Resort & Villas looks good.
I would plan a minimum of two nights each: Yogya, Borobudur, Malang, Bromo, Ijen. The remaining two you could either add on or spend in Bali.
You'll note from kja's threads that May is a holiday heavy month in Indonesia. Temples and other attractions will be quite busy on the long weekend of May 5-8 and again May 20-22. May 27-29 is the Ubud Food Festival so either plan to attend (it's recommended) or avoid Ubud that weekend.
Getting to Ketapang, the ferry departure point on the eastern tip of Java, from Bromo is quite a long journey -- about 6 to 7 hours. From Ijen it's about an hour.
Once you're at Ketapang, the journey to North Bali -- for example Pemuteran or Munduk -- is fairly straight forward. Pemuteran is about an hour from Gilimanuk, Munduk about two. The simplest connection is to ask your Bali resort to pick you up at the ferry arrival point.
Pemuteran is a pleasant coastal town with good access to snorkling and scuba. Munduk is a pretty mountain retreat. Pemuteran is about 4 hours to the airport. Munduk about 3 hours.
I haven't stayed at this place, but it's on my list: http://www.mundukmodingplantation.com/
As Crellston notes, it's nice to split your time between the town of Yogya and the countryside around Borobudur. Manohara is bare bones, but you can't beat the location. The Plataran Borobudur is lovely but in a different price range.
In Yogya, I like the Hyatt because of it's spacious grounds. Yogya and Solo are hot and congested and it's nice to get away from the crunch.
I would also recommend staying in the Bromo area instead of "commuting" from Surabaya or Malang. Java Banana is considered the best of the worst -- pretty basic, but in a very scenic area. (Haven't been there myself.) Nor have I been to Ijen. Ijen Resort & Villas looks good.
I would plan a minimum of two nights each: Yogya, Borobudur, Malang, Bromo, Ijen. The remaining two you could either add on or spend in Bali.
You'll note from kja's threads that May is a holiday heavy month in Indonesia. Temples and other attractions will be quite busy on the long weekend of May 5-8 and again May 20-22. May 27-29 is the Ubud Food Festival so either plan to attend (it's recommended) or avoid Ubud that weekend.
Jan 3rd, 2016, 03:52 AM
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If you get lost for something to do in Yogyakarta, then the zoo is worth a few hours...
http://gembiralokazoo.com/ [hit the translate button]
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attract...arta_Java.html
We thoroughly enjoyed the place, and there were loads of locals, and Asian tour groups who wanted us in their photos!
http://gembiralokazoo.com/ [hit the translate button]
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attract...arta_Java.html
We thoroughly enjoyed the place, and there were loads of locals, and Asian tour groups who wanted us in their photos!
Jan 3rd, 2016, 04:50 AM
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In Yogyakarta we stayed at the Phoenix Hotel, which is now an Accor property. It is a larger hotel but it has charm and character, and the rooms are comfortable.
On Bali the Alam Jiwa outside of Ubud would satisfy your criteria. There are about 10 units and they are all somewhat different. Tye rooms come with indoor and outdoor showers, and some overlook the nearby rice paddies. The staff is very warm and attentive. The breakfast is great. And it is a nice walk into town, or a 10 minute shuttle ride away.
Happy planning!
On Bali the Alam Jiwa outside of Ubud would satisfy your criteria. There are about 10 units and they are all somewhat different. Tye rooms come with indoor and outdoor showers, and some overlook the nearby rice paddies. The staff is very warm and attentive. The breakfast is great. And it is a nice walk into town, or a 10 minute shuttle ride away.
Happy planning!
Jan 3rd, 2016, 07:30 AM
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We stayed at the Phoenix in Yogya. It's a grand old hotel which has been refurbished and updated. As an added bonus, the food at the hotel was excellent.
Let me put in a plug for spending a couple of nights in Malang or even Blitar and visiting Panataran. We stayed at the Tugu Malang and loved it. There is also a Tugu in Blitar, which we toured when we went to Blitar to see the temples at Panataran. The manager at the Tugu in Blitar suggested if we wanted to see a volcano close up, to visit nearby volcanoes from Blitar rather than the exceptionally crowded Mt. Bromo.
I'm pleased to see my Fodor friends planning trips to Java!
Let me put in a plug for spending a couple of nights in Malang or even Blitar and visiting Panataran. We stayed at the Tugu Malang and loved it. There is also a Tugu in Blitar, which we toured when we went to Blitar to see the temples at Panataran. The manager at the Tugu in Blitar suggested if we wanted to see a volcano close up, to visit nearby volcanoes from Blitar rather than the exceptionally crowded Mt. Bromo.
I'm pleased to see my Fodor friends planning trips to Java!
Jan 3rd, 2016, 01:45 PM
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Thank you all so much for your considered replies.
I have much planning to do now.
No doubt I'll be back with more questions.
kja, great info on your planning thread too, aren't we lucky....
I have much planning to do now.
No doubt I'll be back with more questions.
kja, great info on your planning thread too, aren't we lucky....
Jan 3rd, 2016, 04:03 PM
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@ satoric -- we are, indeed, lucky! We get to travel, to do so for extended periods, and with the benefit of the freely shared wisdom and experience of fellow travelers. Oh, and we're going to travel to Indonesia!!! Doesn't get much better! 
