Indonesia trip : Yogyakarta (Jogja)

Indonesia trip : Yogyakarta (Jogja) - Borobudur - Dieng
^12 - 18 March 2015^

12/3 Arrived airport. Taxi to hotel: 45 minutes, IDR100k
^^Found that public bus goes to this airport, bus fare only IDR 3600 per person.^^

13/3 7 am to 2 pm : Visited Kraton palace ( entrance ticket 15k), Water Castle (Taman Sari, entrance ticket 7k), Malioboro street (Tourist Info Center is located here, shops opened at 9 am!) and some batik & silver workshops. Transport: becak ( trishaw)

2 pm to 5 pm : Visited Prambanam Temple. Transport: Public bus, 3600 per person + 60k for becak. Entrance ticket: 225k per person.

^^^^^ Important note: Can buy combined ticket for both Prambanam ( 225k) and Borobudur temples (250k) at 375k, can save 100k per person. Valid for 2 days. ^^^^^^

14/3 Visited Mt Merapi.
Transport : Taxi, IDR 300k (for half day) booked at Tourist Info Center & Jeep 350k for 1.5 hour tour (don't need prebooked).
Entrance ticket : 3k

15/3 Walked around Jogja town. 12 noon: Taxi to Borobudur homestay: 250k.

16/3 Borobudur temple.
Entrance ticket: 250k per person ( normal hour 6 am to 5 pm)
Note : For Sunrise tour, the entrance ticket is 380k, starts at 4.30 am, need to go to Manohara entrance.
Transport : 5 minutes walk from homestay.
Also walked to Vihara, a small buddhist temple, about 15 minutes walk from Borobudur temple. Managed by a Muslim.

4.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Visited Mendut & Pawon temples
Entrance ticket 3k
Transport : FOC provided by homestay owner.

17/3 4.30 am to 6.30 am
Punthuk Setumbu : Sunrise at hilltop
Transport : Taxi 75k, arranged by homestay, need to walk up the hill for about 15 minutes.
Entrance ticket: 30k per person

7.00 am to 5.00 pm
Dieng Plateau
Transport: Taxi for whole day, 500k, 2 hours of hilly road.
4 stops: Kawah Sikidang & Candi Arjuna (entrance ticket for both places 10k), Tasik Warna ( Coloured Lake, entrance ticket 20k, need to climb up hill for about 10 minutes), Pandangan (Scenic place for photo)

18/3 back from Borobudur to Jogja airport . Transport : Taxi 250k.

Accommodation
12 to 15 March: Jambuliwuk Hotel,
970k for 3 nights, air conditioned double room without breakfast. About 10 minutes walk to Malioboro street.
Very good environment with nice swimming pool n a small pub with live band n cheap beer.

15 to 18 March
Efata Homestay Borobudur
750k for 3 nights with home cooked breakfast
Nice environment with fruit trees (rambutans, papaya, pink guava, banana, buah salak).
Mini market and food stalls around the corner.
Owner is ex English teacher.
Note: room with fan only.

Weather
HOT HOT HOT, except for Dieng Plateau ( a mountain cooling place)

People
Indonesians are very friendly and helpful. The youngsters can speak English.

Food
Delicious and cheap.
Fried rice or noodle costs 8k to12k
Teh panas (hot tea, nice jasmine fragrance ) 2k only
Food at hotel nice and at affordable price. Had lunch at Jambuliwuk at pool side, costs only 185k for 2 persons
Had lunch at Restaurant RM Timbul Roso (mid way from Mt Merapi to Jogja town, very very big place) costs only 46k for 2 persons.

Currency
Indonesia rupiah

Summary of Expenses for 2 persons
Flights (all in) RM400
Taxi in Malaysia RM150
Accommodation RM500
Transportation RM650
Entrance tickets RM300
Meals RM300
Souvenirs RM700
Total RM3000

Souvenirs : Silver earrings + others.

Via Misty Tee