Nice article on East & Central Java from NYT
 

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/05/08...tml?ref=travel

Surakarta is AKA Solo.

Interesting article!

Brings back memories of when I used to live in Surabaya and we used to have dinner at the Majapahit during the week and spend weekends in Malang and Batu. I don't know if this is true but supposedly the Sarkies Brothers who owned the Raffles Hotel in Singapore once owned the Majapahit as well. It's also famous as being one of the historical venues in the war for independence from the Dutch.

Very engaging article.

Back here in the capital, I am presently trying to sort myself out and will be sure to provide a review of the Grandkemang Hotel once we have concluded our stay here.

Marya: I was just staying at the Grand Kemang this past weekend! Hope you are having a good stay there...