Java worth visiting?
Jan 12th, 2007, 06:39 AM
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Java worth visiting?
Hi there,
I'm planning a trip to Indonesia and while am mostly visiting Bali, am wondering if goign to Java is worth it. If so, where would you recommend and for how long? What's the best way to get there & back to Bali?
I'm planning a trip to Indonesia and while am mostly visiting Bali, am wondering if goign to Java is worth it. If so, where would you recommend and for how long? What's the best way to get there & back to Bali?
Jan 12th, 2007, 07:50 AM
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Do a search here to see info about Java. Borobudor is one of the wonders of the world. And while you are in Jogja, do visit Prambanan and see part of the Ramayana Ballet.
Since you seem to have absolutlely no information about Java, I'd suggest you get yourself a good guidebook. This will give you some background and you'll be able to ask specific questions.
You'll want to fly from Bali to Java.
Since you seem to have absolutlely no information about Java, I'd suggest you get yourself a good guidebook. This will give you some background and you'll be able to ask specific questions.
You'll want to fly from Bali to Java.
Jan 12th, 2007, 03:28 PM
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flying, making a side trip from Bali to Central Java is worthwhile if you're interested in what Central Java has to offer. To me a visit to Borobudur and Prambanan would be worth the time and effort, but then I'm a culture fanatic.
The town of Yogyakarta has a lot to commend itself as well. It's where most of the arts and crafts that you see all over Indonesia (including Bali) originate and has many historical and cultural sites. It is also a crowded, hot, frustrating, third world city and tourism is not particularly well developed.
If you go, you should plan at least three days -- one there, one back, one to enjoy. The flight from Bali is short, but when you add up the transit etc getting there can take up half a day. I'd suggest that you fly Garuda as they are reasonably reliable, though they also have their lapses.
I'd recommend staying in the Borobudur area so that you can visit the monument at dawn. If your budget can afford it then stay at the Amanjiwo. It is VERY pricey but spectacularly beautiful. There are a couple of other less expensive hotels nearby which are serviceable and clean. The Losari Coffee Plantation has been well recommended.
In Yogya I'd go with the Hyatt as it has big green grounds which are a relief in the urban confusion. The Melia is also good as it's within walking distance of the town center. I haven't been in the area since the earthquake, however, and I'm not sure how much damage remains.
As Kathie say, do some research on what other posters have written about Central Java. It's really la ove it or hate it situation. The culture is significantly different from Bali -- Islamic, reserved, subtle, mysterious. But if you take the time to appreciate it, it's also profoundly beautiful and spiritual.
The town of Yogyakarta has a lot to commend itself as well. It's where most of the arts and crafts that you see all over Indonesia (including Bali) originate and has many historical and cultural sites. It is also a crowded, hot, frustrating, third world city and tourism is not particularly well developed.
If you go, you should plan at least three days -- one there, one back, one to enjoy. The flight from Bali is short, but when you add up the transit etc getting there can take up half a day. I'd suggest that you fly Garuda as they are reasonably reliable, though they also have their lapses.
I'd recommend staying in the Borobudur area so that you can visit the monument at dawn. If your budget can afford it then stay at the Amanjiwo. It is VERY pricey but spectacularly beautiful. There are a couple of other less expensive hotels nearby which are serviceable and clean. The Losari Coffee Plantation has been well recommended.
In Yogya I'd go with the Hyatt as it has big green grounds which are a relief in the urban confusion. The Melia is also good as it's within walking distance of the town center. I haven't been in the area since the earthquake, however, and I'm not sure how much damage remains.
As Kathie say, do some research on what other posters have written about Central Java. It's really la ove it or hate it situation. The culture is significantly different from Bali -- Islamic, reserved, subtle, mysterious. But if you take the time to appreciate it, it's also profoundly beautiful and spiritual.
Jan 12th, 2007, 04:29 PM
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Well said Marmot.
As with all things, flyingaway, it depends on what you like and your budget. We visited Java on our way to Bali and am very glad we did. A big contrast to Balinese culture and for us at least as enjoyable. Our choice was not to spend any time in the city of Yogyakarta but stayed in the rural area near Borobudur and found everyone so friendly and the area extremely peaceful. We found many things to do including the dawn visit to Borobudur, the Ramayana ballet (an hour drive) at Prambanan, a visit to a local market and a monastary for chanting, meditation at a temple and cycling through small rural villages (my favorite).
Some might find spending their time in the city of Yogyakarta more to their liking. For an idea of some of the available activities and sites here is the website of a good local tour company http://www.borobudurtourandtravel.com
We stayed one night at the Hyatt due to a very late arrival in Java. Very nice and a reasonable price. Although as Marmot says the Amanjiwo is VERY expensive, we loved it and wished we could have extended our stay there. There is a modest but what apppeared to us as a nice basic hotel in the Borobudur Park which is very reasonably priced.
We did not see any earthquake damage in Central Java and were told that the areas south and east of Yogya sustained the vast majority of severe damage. Some of the temples at Prambanan (east of Yogya) were damaged, some heavily.
Personally, I will always have great memories of the Borobudur area and hope I will return. The people were so warm and made me feel so welcome. In my mind it is definitely worth a visit if you enjoy culture and and less touristy locales.
As with all things, flyingaway, it depends on what you like and your budget. We visited Java on our way to Bali and am very glad we did. A big contrast to Balinese culture and for us at least as enjoyable. Our choice was not to spend any time in the city of Yogyakarta but stayed in the rural area near Borobudur and found everyone so friendly and the area extremely peaceful. We found many things to do including the dawn visit to Borobudur, the Ramayana ballet (an hour drive) at Prambanan, a visit to a local market and a monastary for chanting, meditation at a temple and cycling through small rural villages (my favorite).
Some might find spending their time in the city of Yogyakarta more to their liking. For an idea of some of the available activities and sites here is the website of a good local tour company http://www.borobudurtourandtravel.com
We stayed one night at the Hyatt due to a very late arrival in Java. Very nice and a reasonable price. Although as Marmot says the Amanjiwo is VERY expensive, we loved it and wished we could have extended our stay there. There is a modest but what apppeared to us as a nice basic hotel in the Borobudur Park which is very reasonably priced.
We did not see any earthquake damage in Central Java and were told that the areas south and east of Yogya sustained the vast majority of severe damage. Some of the temples at Prambanan (east of Yogya) were damaged, some heavily.
Personally, I will always have great memories of the Borobudur area and hope I will return. The people were so warm and made me feel so welcome. In my mind it is definitely worth a visit if you enjoy culture and and less touristy locales.
Jan 13th, 2007, 05:07 AM
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Java is wonderful - and so different from Bali.
I also highly recommend a stay at Amanjiwo, even if you can only afford one or two nights. I've written a detailed report in this forum with lots of information on the many activities available. It was posted last summer. Please do a search and let me know if you have any questions.
I also highly recommend a stay at Amanjiwo, even if you can only afford one or two nights. I've written a detailed report in this forum with lots of information on the many activities available. It was posted last summer. Please do a search and let me know if you have any questions.
Jan 29th, 2007, 06:09 AM
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I have just got back from Yogya, and although on the surface the city did not look too bad, I note from previous visits that indeed the quake did leave some scars in the City itself. As of last week (20th Jan 07)- the Sheraton, IBIS, Jayakarta, Melia and several other big hotels were still either closed or operating on minimal rooms while being repaired. The Hyatt, Mercure, Novotel, Holiday Inn etc all are fine, but quite full.
Driving around the city itself I noticed a lot of vacant lots where previously Warung or older houses stood. This is mainly on the smaller through roads, rather than the main roads running North-South and East-West.
I lived in Yogya 98-99 and it always has been one of my favorite parts of Indonesia. On my initial visit back in October 98 I must say I did not instanty fall for the place. However on a return visit in Dec that year, for a language course, I changed my mind completely.
Central Java is in many ways quite mystical. Many of the places to visit have been well outlined above. I would add a few more. Imogiri, the royal tombs for both the Surakarta and Yogyakarta Sultanates is a fascinating place. It is not far from Bantul, so not sure how it fared in the quake. I would add in a visit to Kote Gede, the old part of the City as well. A trip around the city in the early evening by Becak (bike taxi) I reckon is priceless. If you are staying in the Hyatt you would probably have to taxi into the city, maybe as far as the Tugu monumant- which is easily accessible from the Hyatt. By becak you could do a circuit including Marlioboro, Kraton, Alun-Alun Kidul and Alun-Alun Lor. Going through the traffic in one of these Becak can be terrifying at first, but it grows on you. Evening is best as its cooler and you do not have to worry to much about the heavier traffic of the day.
Outside of Yogya is well covered by other posters. For sure a trip through to Losari or even further is worthwhile. The Railway museum at Ambarawa has trains that run on occasions up to Losari. The museum itself is excellent. Ifyou go as far as Ambarawa you will pass through Magelang (an old Dutch resort town- a bit like Bogor in West Java) and also through plantation lands. PTPN9, the plantation division of the Min of Ag, runs a couple of large planations in the area. One, Tlogo, grows coffee, cloves, pepper, Rubber and some other crops. It is huge and there are about 18 chalets where you can spend the night. The old planation house is still used as an office and you can have dinner there on the huge open veranda in the warm, cicada serenaded Central Java evenings. Mid week Tlogo is empty, however you must book Fri-Sunday as expats from nearby Semerang often make the trip up there. Tlogo is a working estate, so you can easily get involved in seeing Coffee being processed, as well as the rubber/latex sheets being made.
A trip out on the nearby lake is fun- there are some close by volcanic peaks that look quite impressive from the lake. The lake- Rawan I think- is big but shallow.
Driving around the city itself I noticed a lot of vacant lots where previously Warung or older houses stood. This is mainly on the smaller through roads, rather than the main roads running North-South and East-West.
I lived in Yogya 98-99 and it always has been one of my favorite parts of Indonesia. On my initial visit back in October 98 I must say I did not instanty fall for the place. However on a return visit in Dec that year, for a language course, I changed my mind completely.
Central Java is in many ways quite mystical. Many of the places to visit have been well outlined above. I would add a few more. Imogiri, the royal tombs for both the Surakarta and Yogyakarta Sultanates is a fascinating place. It is not far from Bantul, so not sure how it fared in the quake. I would add in a visit to Kote Gede, the old part of the City as well. A trip around the city in the early evening by Becak (bike taxi) I reckon is priceless. If you are staying in the Hyatt you would probably have to taxi into the city, maybe as far as the Tugu monumant- which is easily accessible from the Hyatt. By becak you could do a circuit including Marlioboro, Kraton, Alun-Alun Kidul and Alun-Alun Lor. Going through the traffic in one of these Becak can be terrifying at first, but it grows on you. Evening is best as its cooler and you do not have to worry to much about the heavier traffic of the day.
Outside of Yogya is well covered by other posters. For sure a trip through to Losari or even further is worthwhile. The Railway museum at Ambarawa has trains that run on occasions up to Losari. The museum itself is excellent. Ifyou go as far as Ambarawa you will pass through Magelang (an old Dutch resort town- a bit like Bogor in West Java) and also through plantation lands. PTPN9, the plantation division of the Min of Ag, runs a couple of large planations in the area. One, Tlogo, grows coffee, cloves, pepper, Rubber and some other crops. It is huge and there are about 18 chalets where you can spend the night. The old planation house is still used as an office and you can have dinner there on the huge open veranda in the warm, cicada serenaded Central Java evenings. Mid week Tlogo is empty, however you must book Fri-Sunday as expats from nearby Semerang often make the trip up there. Tlogo is a working estate, so you can easily get involved in seeing Coffee being processed, as well as the rubber/latex sheets being made.
A trip out on the nearby lake is fun- there are some close by volcanic peaks that look quite impressive from the lake. The lake- Rawan I think- is big but shallow.
Jan 29th, 2007, 06:12 AM
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Just fyi, since I just read this yesterday, there is a good feature article in the travel section of the Washington Post edition of yesterday about visiting Java. Two full pages. It will be online at their website later this week. www.washingtonpost.com
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