susncrg

Kathie - Just found this TR and am glad you were able to visit this area again. We went there several years ago and added the Dieng Plateau to our itinerary based on your post about it and had a delightful day. Next time, we may just follow in your footsteps to Malang, as you make it sound very good. Thanks.

susiesan

Unfortunately, Kathie, that's the time in Indonesia that worked out using my AA miles for flights on CX and JL. I took what I could get. I'm looking at adding a day or 2 at either end, but there have to be flights available.

I was thinking 3 nights on Bali at a coastal town, like Amed or Candi Dasa, 3 nights in Ubud. Fly to Surabaya and work our way to Yogya by way of Solo and/or Malang. We do like temples and I had put Borobudur and Prambanan on the must-see list. I don't feel a need to go to Bromo and the early morning sunrise viewing thing that everyone does. I'll research the Blitar area for volcanoe viewing/climbing.

I have been in touch with Wiedy, he has made a suggested itinerary, but it involves all driving. I plan to contact Wiedy again after Jan. 1 to fine tune an ititnerary after doing some more reading and research with travel books and blogs like this. I was waiting for your trip report as part of my research.

Kathie

If you want to go to Malang, you can fly there directly from Bali, no need to go through Surabaya. The problem, then is getting from Malang to either Solo or Yogya - no flights. That's why we ended up taking the train.

susiesan

What airline flies Bali to Malang? Is this a ticket I could book myself online or would Wiedy have to buy it for me? I only thought of flying to Surabaya if there is limited flights to Malang. Since it is a 2 hour drive from Surabaya to Malang and I'd have more flight choices, the timing could actually work out better depending on what time the flight from Bali-Malang is.

Is there an online schedule of trains from Malang to Solo and/or Yogya? I'm okay with a train ride.

I'm working on getting my husband to agree to add at least 1 more day at the end maybe 2 days. There is plenty of award tix available on JL flights from CGK-NRT-ORD.

Kathie

I'm sorry, I no longer have my notes on the airlines and flights between Bali and Malang. Ask Wiedy, he can check that and book it for you if you would like. There are two trains that go from Malang to both Solo and Yogya, the one we took, the all-Exec class Gayana, and a new train, the Maliboro. Go to Seat 61 to get all of the info about the trains and a link to the schedules. Wiedy can buy your train tickets for you.

I do think another couple of days would make a difference for you.

mareeS55

Kathie, it is very easy to travel around Java by rail. You need never go near an airport except for FIFO. We were there in June, and all of our travel was by train, very comfortably.

Malang is a lovely city, probably the nicest place on Java. I would recommend anyone planning to travel to Indo to spend several days there exploring the town and the surrounds.

Jogjakarta is also a nice place, easy to walk around and with good links to interesting places outside of the city.

We found Surabaya VERY interesting for what people tried to let us NOT see, ie, the massive arab trade near the port, people waiting to board illegal boats to Australia. We did a boat survey with a local fisherman who took us out and showed us some sites loading up the illegals on their way to Australia.

Our official guides tried everything to divert us, but a local organised us into the port for a few bucks and took us out on the water to see the boats that were loadinng illegals. This was through the main naval centre at Surabaya. Money buys anything in Indo, Think Cuba, think Indo.

Anyhoo, we had a nice time on Java, but the only place to steer clear of for your readers is Bandung. It's one of the most fundamentalist cities in Indonesia, not worth going to except for the train trip that takes you there from Jakarta and then takes you away from it to Jogjakarta.

All of the recommended places like Borobadur and Bromo are not to be missed, but it is hard to fall in love with Java.

It's my least favourite place from a lifetime spent sailing and travelling Asia and the Pacific, and I'm not sure why it has left me cold, because the people are nice enough, but not nice enough, if you know what I mean.

We're off to Burma next week and wending our way back through indochine to Australian in January. I will write about the changes, which I expect will be large, as happened during our early travels in Vietnam and Cambodia in the 90s.


BTW, it's still not a good thing when applying for a visa to Burma to say your career is "journalist." I specified myself as "housewife" and the spouse specified himself as "retired company director." We're both from the media.

We Sent our passports 8 weeks ahead to the Myanmar embassy in Canberra for visas, and received them back last week, 6 weeks processing time...be warned, if people are planning Burma travel from Australia, 8 weeks is a minimum for your visa, and you must have flights and accommodation booked before you apply.

susiesan

Kathie:
Here is an itinerary for Java suggested by Wiedy. It has us flying from DPS to Surabaya after 6 nights spent on Bali.

Aug 22 Surabaya – transfer 3 hours to Bromo – Stay LAVA VIEW BROMO.
Aug 23 Bromo Adventure – Malang – Stay at VILLA DEDAUN BATU MALANG.
Aug 24 Malang Tour Water Fall – Drive to Blitar – Stay TUGU HOTEL BLITAR.
Aug 25 Blitar – Anak Kelud Volcano – Stay RUMAH TURI SOLO.
Aug 26 Solo – Drive to Borobudur – Stay MANOHARA BOROBUDUR.
Aug 27 Borobudur Tour – Dieng PPlateau – Stay BERG VIEW MAGELANG.
Aug 28 Magelang – Yogyakarta City Tour – Prambanan Temple – Stay RUMAH PALAGAN
Aug 29 Free and Easy Yogyakarta – RUMAH PALAGAN
Aug 30 Airport transfer – Morning flight – connect to Jakarta – overseas

We actually have one more day, Aug. 31. The JL flight home from CGK does not leave until 10:10pm so we have most of the last day to spend before flying from Yog to CGK in the evening.

I would probably choose my own hotels. I'd also eliminate the Bromo part and look at somewhere else.

Do you think this plan would give us a taste and overview of central Java?

Kathie

susiean, there is plenty to do on Java, so the task will be choosing what you want to do/see. If you aren't interested in Bromo, you might want to fly into Malang rather than Surabaya. Ask Wiedy about flights from DPS to Malang. I don't know what the Malang Tour waterfall is - do you want to spend some time in the city? visit temples? you'll need to specify what you want. I also notice that Wiedy doesn't mention going to the temples at Blitar, Panataran, which we thought were just wonderful.

I'd also opt for the train (rather than driving) from Eastern Java to Central Java. You can take the train from Blitar to Yogya.

You'll have to decide if you want to stay at Borobudur or stay in Yogya. We opted to stay in Yogya. The Manohora is very basic, and I preferred comfort and an early start from Yogya. He also doesn't mention going to the Ramayana Ballet which we just loved.

Maree, I am back from my second trip to Java. You and I had different reactions to Java. When I visited 20 years ago I loved it and knew I'd return. We very much enjoyed this trip.

Have a wonderful time in Burma!

susiesan

Well, I was able to convince my husband to give us one more day in Indonesia, so I now have changed my tickets to leave Jakarta on Sept.1. The bonus was I got F seats for the long NRT-ORD segment of the flights. I may be able to get F on the CGK-NRT JL flight if they become available.

Anyways, we now have 16 nights and 15 1/2 days to fill. We are interested in seeing the ballet and do enjoy temples. It's easy to get "templed out" though and I want to avoid that. We are both artsy types and like to cook, so taking a cooking class and batik making class somewhere along the line, either on Bali or Java, would be fun for us. Which island would be best for the classes?

Kathie

That's great, susiean. I'd say that Bail is more likely to have both cooking classes and batik classes. In contrast to Bali, Java is relatively untouristed.

katherinenell

Hi Kathie, if it's okay, I'd like to get the contact info for Wiedy. My friends and I are going to Jogja and Mt. Bromo in July. Thanks!

Kathie

Sure. Here is his email: [email protected]

Have a great trip!

susiesan

Kathie: I will be doing the cooking class as part of BeBaliDay on Bali as suggested by Putu, who will be our driver there. It looks like a fun day.

http://www.balifriend.com/be-bali-day/

I may look for another cooking class in Jogya. I'll wait until we get there and see what Wiedy recommends.

Kathie

Have a great trip, susiean!

katherinenell

Thanks!

Kathie

Cheryl has re-done her website, so a new link to the Java photos:
www.marlandc.com/java-2012.html

progol

Nice site!

kja

Hi, Kathie --

Thank you so much for posting this inspiring trip report, and thanks, too, to Cheryl for her stunning photography and the YouTubes on the Ramayana Ballet! I am at the very earliest stages of planning my trip for 2016, and Java is definitely on my radar. This report has certainly kept it there!

A few preliminary questions, if I may:

- Is there a trip report of your earlier travels to the area that I can access?

- You noted that the drives were generally much longer than you expected. How did you estimate how long they would take?

Thanks again!

Kathie

Sorry, my first trip to Bali preceded the Fodors site by a number of years. I did write it up for ITN and it was published, but I don't think it is online.

I had estimated how long the drives would take from my previous experience. I knew there would be more traffic now than there was 20 years ago, but I underestimated how much more traffic there would be. The agent I worked with did give me better estimates. Indeed, we alter our schedule a bit because he felt some of the days had too much driving (and he was right).

I love Java and am glad to try to answer any questions you may have.

kja

Thanks so much, Kathie! As I proceed with my research, I'm sure I will have MANY more questions and look forward to learning from you and others who have visited the area before.