Thanks Marmot, that's very helpful info. I think if we do go to the Kraton we will time it for the Sunday so we can see the cultural performance.

Stan: I looked at the Borobudur Tour web site. Their grand Java Discovery tour would work for me with some modifications.I'd start at day 6 upon arrival to YOG and go eastward to Bali. They do customize tours for 2 people, don't they?

Anyone here use this company recently for your tour on Java? Any feedback?

The owner can customize as he did for us one of the excursions so you can sort of pick "one from column A and one from column B" if you prefer. It might come out cheaper based on selection. You have to tell Wiedy you do not want a group of more than 4-6 people. We actually did all of ours private, just us for the equivalent in todays dollars of $82 for 10-11 hours. In Sept. it is light out until about 7 or so. Do not hestitate to mention my name. I mentioned based on your abbreviated name awhile ago that he "might" hear from you. His other email at his home office is [email protected]. He is flying to Bali in Dec. to suplement our driver since he lived in Bali and built up tourism there with several others 17-18 years ago. We will see him Dec.7-8, not the best time of year, but we then leave for the Raja Ampat Islands on a livaboard and far better weather, equal to June in Bali, and 12 days of diving and snorkeling.

Stan: Even though my trip is a year away and not confirmed yet, I will email Wiedy for help in planning a rough outline of a Java itinerary which will help me in determining what award flights to book into and out of Indonesia. I'm sure we will want a private tour for 2. This is how we traveled Vietnam in 2004 and Peru in 2009.

Does Wiedy book hotels and get the locals discount? Can he book domestic flights at a better rate than a foreigner can get?

It's looking like the Java part of the trip will use Jakarta as an entry or exit city since flights to Surabaya don't match up with TPAC flights Hong Kong.

Wiedy was able to get us discounts on hotels. At the Hyatt in Jojga he was able to get us us a Club Room will access to the Club Lounge for $$60 I think under rack rate where I could onle get $35 and on Agoda.com pr sawadee.com there was no discount. I assume the discount might be less but proportional. Because the airlines gibe such small commissions 1-4% even in the US he rather spend time on itineraries.

This is great info. I am bookmarking it for a future trip.

Just been emailed this linked from travelfish which may be of interest:

http://www.travelfish.org/trip_planner/one-week-java

Wiedy is an individual who sources a small group of quality guided to handle the tours he cannot but all that I refer if that mention my name in advance will get wiedy as their tour weidy. his rate is, I think, $5/day or no more than his other staff.

Not sure what the commentastors problem is, I thought the Forum was a place to share good experiences, food restaurants and good guides. You can Trust my recommendation. I have zero motive other than to share a very good guide with others.

Forodors; Wishes me to no longer share my knowledge traveling in Bali, Central, Eact and West Java for some reason,.
It is true I have focused on two very good guides Wiedy and Putu because I thought they would enhance your trip based on how they did ours for a total of 11 days.
Here is the feedfack I gave to Fodors and I will not use the Forum any longer, unfortunately.
"StanKase on Sep 4, 12 at 9:17am Natalie; I have used a guide in Yogjakarta two times in Bali and Java in 2 years and will be using Both of them in Bali gain this Dec. We have sent 11 days with them and found them to be to be some of the best guides we have used in over 40 years of travel partially beause of his academic training and there excellent English plus Wiedy would not be appointed the UNESCO Advisor to Boboburur if you are a no-body, I saw the handsome certification documenting it. Neither is allowed to advertise but I wanted travalers to be informed by me of such an effective guide/drivers if I were going to a remote area of the world. This is not Boston. Please explain and remove the unjustified warning signs.Thank you. I am not in business with them."

Interesting thing the Fodor's "monitor" never responded to by email to them of yesterday.Maybe they were embarrassed.

Stan: I have contacted Wiedy myself and he will be getting back with me to help plan my trip. Since it is not until Sept. 2013 I told him I'm not in a rush.

Please don't stop sharing your knowledge of Bali and Java here on Fodors. I've only been looking at this forum for a week and have gleaned many many good tips and useful information. if you do decide to quit Fodors please go over to TA and post your advice and wisdom.

Many people here on Fodors have given guide recommendations. When I went to Siem Reap in 2010 the guide I used was recommended here. I don't know why the mods don't want guide referrals from satisfied clients on the Indonesia forum but allow them everywhere else.

susiean, people are welcome to give guide recommendations. Indeed, Stan has recommended his favorite guides many times here on Fodors. What is forbidden is advertising. There are many guides and travel agencies that post reviews of themselves here as if they were the satisfied customer. Those kinds of posts get deleted. We all value getting recommendations from fellow travelers, none of us want to be deceived by an advertiser.

I now think guides reported the abuse to eliminate competitors. I am going to hang in there.

Wow, Indonesian guides must be so competitive as to read here and report you posting as abuse to eliminate the competition. If you look at TA forums when questions are asked about guides you will see many deleted responses probably for the same reason.

I am looking at Kathie's upcoming trip in Nov. as another outline of what to do with my time on Java. Once I get actual award tickets, I will be looking for more detailed help in planning an itinerary of 16-17 days between Bali and Java.
Susie

Depending on when you feel the need to book your ground arrangements, you may have my report to help you.

It looks like I was correct that some one advertises their services. Her is a email I received from Fodors.

Hi Stan,



I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. I’ve gone through our records and I don’t see any comments removed that you started. Is this the thread you’re referring to? http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...eas-please.cfm



We did remove a comment from this thread, but it was from an advertiser. All of your comments are still on that thread and have remained intact. If this isn’t the correct thread, please let me know what you’re referencing and I’ll look into it ASAP.



Best,

Amy_D
Fodors.com/Community

Stan, most of the deleted comments on Fodors are from advertisers. Often the ads are not even related to the thread. For instance, I've seen ads for fake Nike shoes from a guy in China, or there are a bunch of people advertising parking at UK airports in the last week.

Frankly, I wondered what you were so upset about. I wondered if someone had accused you of being a spammer.

Not knowing otherwise, yes Kathie that is what I thought.