Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta ‣ Walking tour around Kota Tua ‣ Fatahillah Square ‣ Sunda Kelapa ‣ Evening at Jalan M.H. Thamrin ‣ Overnight in Teduh Hostel Kota Tua
Minibus from Wonosobo to Dieng Plateau ‣ Sightseeing around Dieng Plateau by motorcycle ‣ Kawah Sikidang ‣ Candi Arjuna ‣ Overnight in Flamboyan Homestay in Dieng
Sightseeing around Dieng Plateau by motorcycle ‣ Sunrise at Sikunir hill ‣ Batu Pandang Dieng ‣ Check-out from Flamboyan Homestay ‣ Minibus from Dieng to Wonosobo ‣ Shuttle van from Wonosobo to Yogyakarta ‣ Overnight in EDU Hostel in Yogyakarta
Angkot from Malang to Tumpang ‣ Ojek from Tumpang to Ngadas ‣ Sightseeing tour by ojek from Ngadas to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park ‣ Bromo Savannah ‣ Teletubbies Hill ‣ Pasir Berbisik ‣ Overnight in Subur Homestay in Cemero Lawang
Sightseeing tour around Bromo by ojek ‣ Sunrise at Gunung Penanjakan ‣ Bukit Cinta ‣ Mount Bromo crater ‣ Check out from Subur Homestay ‣ Minibus from Cemero Lawang to Probolinggo ‣ Train from Probolinggo to Banyuwangi ‣ Overnight in Hotel Baru Banyuwangi
8.05 am - Arrival at Soekarno Hatta international airport by flight (Air Asia) - RM99 (one way)
Immigration clearance
9.05 am - Ride DAMRI bus from the airport to Gambir train station - 40,000 rupiah
10.15 am - Arrival at Gambir train station. Queued up at the ticket counter to buy a one way ticket for 3.30pm train (Argo Parahyangan) departing for Bandung the next day - 100,000 rupiah (executive seat). I learnt later that you can also book your train ticket from Indomaret, the equivalent of 7-11 here in Indonesia, definitely a time saver if you're not in the mood for long queues
Arrival at Soekarno Hatta international airport, Jakarta
Cheapest and easiest way from the airport to Jakarta city centre, by taking the DAMRI bus. Drop off is at Gambir station
View of Gambir station, located near Monumen Nasional or MONAS
Queued for almost an hour to book my train ticket to Bandung the next day
Getting to Kota Tua & Hostel check-in
11.30 am - Hire ojek to take me from Gambir train station to Kota Tua - 50,000 rupiah (a bit of a ripoff for the distance traveled but decided to go with ojek as I was in a bit of a rush)
Note: Alternatively, to get to Kota Tua from Gambir, you can ride Transjakarta bus #2 from Gambir to Harmoni bus stop and from there, Transjakarta bus #1 to Kota bus stop. Keep in mind this means two trips (or 7,000 rupiah). Cheaper still, you could walk to Bank Indonesia bus stop, then take Transjakarta bus #1 to Kota. Either way, it's still cheaper than hiring an ojek
12.15 pm - Check-in to Teduh Hostel Kota Tua - 135,000 rupiah per night (staying for 1 night). Well worth the price in my opinion, although the beds are a bit small. Try requesting for the bottom bunk bed as the top one is pretty hard to climb into
Bought data plan (Simpati) - 20,000 rupiah (for starter pack) + 50,000 rupiah (top-up for internet)
View of Kota Tua, Jakarta
Teduh Hostel Kota Tua. Very conveniently located, just next to the Kota bus station and only a few minutes walk to Fatahillah Square and Old Batavia
The dorm I got in Teduh Hostel
Fatahillah Square
1.45 pm - Walk from the hostel to Fatahillah Square (under 10 minutes). Walked past Museum Mandiri and Museum Bank of Indonesia on my way to Fatahillah Square
2.00 pm - 3.00 pm - Photo walk around Fatahillah Square. Besides the usual museum tours, you can also rent out onthels (or old-style bicycles, they usually come with an old-style hat if you feel like being a Dutch for a day) for a day of cycling or just hanging out with the mascots
Museum Mandiri and Museum Bank of Indonesia on my way to Fatahillah Square. Also pictured are bajajs, the equivalent of tuk tuks in Jakarta
Street market on the way to the square. At night, the market is closed and moved to another spot just beside Kota post office
Jakarta History Museum, one of the important landmarks in Kota Tua and a main focal point for the crowds at Fatahillah Square
Kota post office. Pictured here are onthels that you could rent if you want to get around Kota Tua quicker
Spot the invisible chair
Sunda Kelapa
Walk from Fatahillah Square to Sunda Kelapa (under 30 minutes)
3.30 pm - Photo stop at Sunda Kelapa. Keep in mind it's still a working port, but that doesn't mean tourists aren't welcomed. Spotted a few friendly faces offering to give a tour of the port, which I turned down, fearing a scam
Pinisi lining the docks of Sunda Kelapa, which served as the port of old Jakarta a few hundred years ago and is still in operation even to this day
Back to Fatahillah Square
4.00 pm - Walk back to Fatahillah Square (under 30 minutes). Photo stop at Kota Intan bridge
Photo walk along the canals of Old Batavia on the way back
Late lunch - Nasi goreng gila (15,000 rupiah) & kerak telor (20,000 rupiah)
Kota Intan Bridge. In the old days, it was called Engelsebrug, meaning English bridge
View of the canals of Old Batavia from Kota Intan bridge
Kota Tua to Jalan M.H. Thamrin
5.30 pm - Walk to Kota bus stop (under 5 minutes)
Bought an e-ticket to be used for Transjakarta bus trips - 40,000 rupiah (comes preloaded with 20,000 rupiah credit, can be used for about 5 bus trips, as each trip costs 3,500 rupiah)
5.50pm - Ride Transjakarta bus #1 (Kota - Blok M)
Jalan M.H. Thamrin
6.15pm - Hop off at Tosari ICBC bus stop. Walk to Grand Indonesia Mall (under 5 minutes)
6.30 pm - 7.30 pm - Sightseeing & shopping around Grand Indonesia Mall
7.45pm - Walk to Jalan Kebon Kacang near the mall for dinner
Dinner at Bakso Malang stall - Bakso (12,000 rupiah)
8.15pm - Photo walk around Jalan M.H. Thamrin
View of Jalan MH Thamrin from the Tosari ICBC bus stop
Grand Indonesia Mall, one of Indonesia's largest shopping malls
Bakso for dinner at Jalan Kebon Kacang, just outside Grand Indonesia Mall
Selamat Datang Monument is one of Jakarta's most iconic landmarks
Back to Kota Tua
9.15pm - Walk back to Tosari ICBC bus stop. Ride Transjakarta bus #1 (Kota - Blok M) back to Kota bus stop
9.40 pm - Arrive at Kota bus stop. Walk to Fatahillah Square (under 5 minutes)
Walk around the night market in Fatahillah Square
Note: There are plenty of night spots in Jakarta where you can spend your evenings at, and Fatahillah Square is one of them. MONAS is also worth checking out if you're staying for two nights, or longer
11.00pm - Return to hostel
Back in Kota Tua
Fatahillah Square at night
Spending my last evening in Jakarta walking around in the night market
The night market extends to another part of Kota Tua, located near the canals
Breakfast at the hostel - Toast & coffee (included in the room rate)
11.00 am - Pack up & check-out from hostel
Kota Tua to Glodok
Walk from Kota Tua to Glodok (under 20 minutes)
11.30 am - 1.00 pm - Photo walk around Glodok, also known as Jakarta's chinatown. A treasure trove for street food lovers. There's so much interesting food that looks very familiar to me but I just can't quite name it.
Lunch at a stall in Glodok - Hainan chicken rice with bebek & teh botol (40,000 rupiah) & pukis (8,000 rupiah)
Entrance to Pasar Glodok
Walking around Glodok, the chinatown of Jakarta
Glodok is a treasure trove for food lovers
Pukis is one of those interesting street delicacies I came across while exploring Glodok. They are sweet tasting and have hints of pandan
Glodok to Monumen Nasional (MONAS)
1.00 pm - Walk to Glodok bus stop (under 10 minutes)
1.25 pm - Ride Transjakarta bus #1 (Kota - Blok M)
1.45 pm - Hop off at Bank Indonesia bus stop. Walk to MONAS (under 15 minutes)
2.00 pm - 2.50 pm - Photo walk & last minute shopping for souvenirs around MONAS
View of Jakarta downtown from the Bank Indonesia bus stop
Spotted this interesting water fountain on the way from Bank Indonesia to MONAS
Decided to spend my afternoon in MONAS. With Gambir station only a stone throw's away, it's a good place to pass the time while waiting for the train
Jakarta to Bandung by train
2.50 pm - Walk from MONAS to Gambir station (under 10 minutes)
Board 3.30pm train (Argo Parahyangan) from Gambir train station to Bandung
Waiting for my train at Gambir station
My train arrives, just on time. I found the train service here to be pretty reliable, haven't encountered any delays so far, unlike back home *cough*
Getting comfy for the 3+ hour train ride. Next stop, Bandung!
Arrival in Bandung & Hostel Check-In
6.40 pm - Arrive at Bandung train station
Walk to Paskal Hypersquare (under 10 minutes)
7.15 pm - Check-in to Hunny Hostel - 110,000 rupiah per night. Staying for 2 nights (total cost - 220,000 rupiah). Not exactly the cleanest hostel I've been to, but the price is unbeatable around these parts
Paskal Hypersquare is only a few minutes walk from the train station
My dorm in Hunny Hostel, located in Paskal Hypersquare
Paskal Food Market, located just a few minutes away from the hostel. Loved the ambience of the place, though I can't say the same for the prices of food here, yikes!
The decor here is simply sublime. Loved spending my evenings here
Jalan Pasir Kaliki at night. No plan, just wandering aimlessly. Good first experience of Bandung
7.30 am - Rent scooter from hostel - 100,000 rupiah per day (renting for 1 day)
Refuel at nearby gas station - 23,000 rupiah
7.45am - Ride scooter to Kawah Putih
Made several short photo stops along the way, particularly in Soreang & Ciwidey
If you're looking for somewhere to escape, the verdant rice fields in Soreang is a nice change, located just an hour away from Bandung
Sights and sounds of Ciwidey
Scenic farmlands somewhere between Ciwidey and Kawah Putih
The views from Ciwidey to Kawah Putih constantly impresses
Kawah Putih
10.30 am - Arrive at Kawah Putih entrance. Admission - 70,000 rupiah (inclusive of entrance, parking & transfer by ontang anting to & from Kawah Putih)
10.50 am - Ride ontang anting to Kawah Putih (under 10 minutes). Ontang antings are open air angkots you can hop in to get to and from Kawah Putih, located at the top of Mount Patuha
11.00 am - 1.00 pm - Photo ops around Kawah Putih
Entrance to Kawah Putih
Brightly colored ontang antings parked near the entrance of Kawah Putih
The mesmerisingly beautiful Kawah Putih
The turquoise colored lake of Kawah Putih glistens in bright sunlight, giving the place an almost unearthly glow
Kawah Putih to Rancabali
1.00 pm - Ride ontang anting back down to Kawah Putih entrance (under 10 minutes)
1.30 pm - Ride scooter to Rancabali with photo stops at the tea plantantions along the way
Decided to skip Situ Patenggang lake as the admission was 135,000 rupiah (too expensive!)
Tea plantations in Rancabali, located just a short distance away from the Kawah Putih turn-in
Another part of Rancabali
Situ Patenggang lake entrance
Back to Bandung
3.00 pm - Ride from Rancabali back to Bandung
5.00 pm - Arrive in Bandung
Stopover at Cicaheum bus terminal to buy one way ticket for 6pm bus (Sinar Jaya) departing for Wonosobo the next day - 70,000 rupiah
Buying my bus ticket to Wonosobo at the ticket counter in Cicaheum bus terminal
Cihampelas Walk
6.00 pm - Stopover at Cihampelas Walk for dinner & shopping. Good place to buy souvenirs in Bandung!
Walk to main road opposite Paskal Hypersquare (under 5 minutes)
9.05 am - Ride angkot (light green color with letters "stasiun hall - gede bage") - 5,000 rupiah
9.15 am - Hop off at Jalan Braga
9.20 am - 10.00 am - Photo walk along Jalan Braga
10.00 am - Stopover at Braga Citywalk mall
Breakfast at Bangi Kopitiam to get my Malaysian food fix - Nasi lemak ayam (35,000 rupiah) & durian coffee (25,000 rupiah)
Jalan Braga is one of the reasons why Bandung is often called ' The Paris of Java'
Another view of Jalan Braga, with Braga Citywalk mall in the distance
Jalan Braga to Pasar Baru
11.00 am - Walk from Jalan Braga to Pasar Baru (under 15 minutes)
Stopover at Pasar Baru Trade Centre for last minute shopping
Refreshments at the Pasar Baru food court - Es kelapa jeruk (15,000 rupiah)
Pasar Baru Trade Center
Inside Pasar Baru
Pasar Baru to Rumah Mode
12.45 pm - Walk from Pasar Baru to Stasiun Hall (under 5 minutes)
1.00 pm - Ride angkot (dark green/blue color with letters "ciumbuleuit") - 5,000 rupiah
1.25 pm - Hop off at Rumah Mode for shopping and a bit of sightseeing. Supposedly, this is one of the best places in Bandung to shop for branded wear. Not really into shopping though, reason I came here was to pass the time while waiting for my bus to Wonosobo
Tea at Eaton bakery - Kaya toast set (32,000 rupiah)
Stasiun Hall angkot terminal, located just a few minutes walk away from Pasar Baru
Rumah Mode, one of the most popular factory outlets in Bandung
Balinese inspired decor in Rumah Mode
Bandung to Wonosobo by bus
4.00 pm - Walk to main road opposite Rumah Mode
Ride angkot (green/black color with letters "ledeng-cicaheum") - 7,000 rupiah (bargained down from 8,000 rupiah)
5.15 pm - Hop off at Cicaheum bus terminal
5.30 pm - Ride 6pm bus (Sinar Jaya) from Cicaheum bus terminal to Wonosobo. My bus departed almost half an hour earlier than scheduled, so make sure you're there early
One of the cheapest ways to get around Bandung. Riding an angkot to Cicaheum bus terminal
4.50 am - Arrive in Wonosobo (dropped off at Mendolo bus terminal)
Breakfast at a stall - Mixed rice (ikan tongkol & tofu) & hot tea - 11,000 rupiah
Watching the sunrise in Wonosobo, with Mount Sindoro in the horizon
Just biding my time at Mendolo bus terminal. Apparently, the minibuses doesn't start their runs until after 7 or 8am
Wonosobo to Dieng Plateau
If you're coming to Wonosobo by bus, it's advisable that you request to be dropped off at Plasa (which is one stop away from Mendolo) to take the minibus to Dieng Plateau. There are no minibuses from Mendolo to Dieng!
Fortunately for me, there was a backpacker group there who wanted to get to Dieng and managed to charter a minibus. Alternatively, you could ride an ojek to Plasa yourself for 5,000 rupiah
8.15 am - Ride minibus from Mendolo bus terminal to Dieng Plateau - 20,000 rupiah
On the way to Dieng Plateau
Arrival in Dieng Plateau
9.45 am - Arrive in Dieng Plateau (dropped off near the huge 'Dieng' sign at the town centre). Minibuses from Wonosobo usually drop you off near here. Similarly you can wait for the minibuses here when you want to go back down to Wonosobo
10.00 am - Check-in to Flamboyan Homestay - 150,000 rupiah/night (staying for 1 night). The accomodation provided was very basic. Not very clean either but at least there's hot water. There's no heater though so it does get really frigid at night
Welcome to Dieng signboard
Flamboyan homestay, located not very far away from where the Dieng sign is
Very basic accommodation in Flamboyan
Dieng town centre
Kawah Sikidang
Rented a scooter from homestay - 100,000 rupiah per day (renting for 1 day)
Ride scooter to Kawah Sikidang
11.00 am - Quick photo stop at Candi Gatot Kaca
11.30 am - 12.20 pm - Photo stop at Kawah Sikidang. Parking - 2,000 rupiah
Lunch at a stall in Kawah Sikidang - Kripik jamur (5,000 rupiah)
Rented a motorcycle from the homestay and decided to explore Dieng in the afternoon. This place is absolutely breathtaking on a clear day when everything is in clear visibility
Entrance to Kawah Sikidang
Kawah Sikidang from afar. You can already smell the fumes from way over here
Bubbling mud pit of Kawah Sikidang, so hot that you could even boil eggs in it. Heard that some people died after they fell in, so watch your step
Candi Arjuna
12.30 pm - Photo stop at Candi Arjuna. Admission - 10,000 rupiah (managed to get the local price, price for foreign tourists is 25,000 rupiah). The ticket can be used to enter Kawah Sikidang as well
Candi Arjuna. Supposedly the oldest known Hindu temple in Java, older than even Borobudur! A good reason to come to Dieng
Sightseeing around Dieng Plateau
2.00 pm - 5.00 pm - Photo ops around Dieng by motorcycle before returning to the guesthouse
Exploring another part of Dieng. This is past the turn-in to Candi Arjuna and Kawah Sikidang
On the way back after an afternoon of exploring Dieng
Mie ongklok, a popular local delicacy in Wonosobo. Easily the most repulsive thing I've ever eaten during the trip. The slimy broth was kinda off putting but taste wise it's okay I guess
Breakfast bought from Indomaret nearby - Raisin bread & hot milo (10,000 rupiah)
5.00 am - Ride scooter to Sikunir Hill
5.20 am - Arrival at Sikunir Hill's entrance. Admission - 5,000 rupiah (managed to get the local price)
Walk up to Sikunir Hill's summit (under 30 minutes). Could've done it in 15 minutes, but there were plenty of people going up too. Don't go here on a weekend or public holiday if you dislike crowds. Alternatively, you could try scaling Gunung Prau, a bit more challenging but with less crowds
6.00 am - 9.00 am - Photo ops & sunrise viewing at Sikunir Hill
Waiting for the sunrise at top of Sikunir hill. Tends to get crowded during weekends, so plan your trip wisely
Sun rays bursting forth illuminating the valley below
View of Mount Sindoro from Sikunir hill
Heading back down
View of Telaga Cebong, at the base of Sikunir hill
Batu Pandang Dieng
9.00 am - Ride scooter from Sikunir Hill to Batu Pandang Dieng (just located behind Dieng Plateau Theatre)
9.15 am - Arrive in Dieng Plateau Theatre. Parking - 2,000 rupiah
Walk to Batu Pandang Dieng (under 15 minutes). Paid the entrance fee - 10,000 rupiah
Photo ops at Batu Pandang Dieng. From here, you get uninterrupted views of Telaga Warna and Telaga Pengilon
Batu Pandang Dieng offers excellent views of both Telaga Warna and Telaga Pengilon
Another view from Batu Pandang Dieng
Guesthouse check-out & Back to Wonosobo
11.00 am - Return to homestay
12.00 pm - Pack up and check-out from homestay
Walk to main road opposite the huge 'Dieng' sign
12.10 pm - Ride minibus bound for Wonosobo - 15,000 rupiah (bargained down from 20,000 rupiah)
1.10 pm - Arrive in Wonosobo (dropped off at Plasa). From here, you can hire an ojek for 5,000 rupiah to Mendolo bus terminal. There's no direct bus from Wonosobo to Yogyakarta unfortunately, but you can take a bus to Magelang first, then another bus from Magelang to Yogyakarta
Taking the minibus down to Wonosobo
Final stop in Plasa, Wonosobo
Wonosobo to Yogyakarta
Walk from Plasa to Jalan S Parman (under 10 minutes). Plenty of agents selling shuttle van tickets to Yogyakarta along this road
Alternatively, there are also shuttle buses that go directly to Yogyakarta from Wonosobo. One such company that provides this service is Sumber Alam, you can find several of their agents along Jalan S Parman, just a short walk away from Plasa. Took this option as it was the easiest method and is more or less the same as taking the bus price wise
Bought one way ticket for 1.30pm shuttle van (Sumber Alam) departing for Yogyakarta - 55,000 rupiah
1.35 pm - Ride shuttle bus to Yogyakarta
Waiting for my shuttle bus to Yogyakarta
Arrival in Yogyakarta & Getting to Jalan Malioboro
4.10 pm - Arrival in Yogyakarta (dropped off near Jombor bus terminal)
Walk to Jombor bus terminal (under 5 minutes)
4.40 pm - Ride Transjogja bus #2A bound for Malioboro - 3,600 rupiah
5.00 pm - Hop off at Malioboro bus stop
Walk to Tugu train station (under 5 minutes). Queued up at the ticket office and bought a one way ticket for 8.45pm train (Malioboro Ekspres) departing for Malang (on day 8) - 140,000 rupiah (economy seat)
Terminal Jombor, Yogyakarta
Taking the Transjogja bus from Jombor to Jalan Malioboro
Jalan Malioboro, Yogyakarta
School kids casually crossing the train tracks on their way home
Spotted this steam engine monument on the way to Tugu train station
Facade of Tugu train station, Yogyakarta
Waiting for my turn to buy my train ticket to Malang
Hostel check-in
Walk to my accommodation located along Jalan Let Jen Suprapto (under 30 minutes)
6.30 pm - Check-in to EDU Hostel - 80,000 rupiah per night. Staying for 2 nights (total cost - 160,000 rupiah). Don't let the seemingly low price point fool you! This was the best value for money hostel I stayed during my entire trip
Booked a tour package (transfer only) from hostel to visit both Borobudur and Prambanan temples the next day - 115,000 rupiah
View of EDU Hostel, located along Jalan Let Jen Suprapto, Yogyakarta
Best value for money accommodation I've stayed during my trip. Location is a bit far off from Jalan Malioboro though
Jalan Malioboro
7.30 pm - Dinner at Sambel Layah restaurant (located only 10 minutes walk from the hostel, along Jalan Let Jen Suprapto) - Pecak lele set (8,500 rupiah)
Walk from restaurant to Jalan Malioboro (under 30 minutes)
8.00 pm - 10.00 pm - Photo walk along Jalan Malioboro
10.30 pm - Ride becak from Jalan Malioboro back to hostel - 15,000 rupiah (bargained down from 30,000 rupiah)
When it comes to food choices in Yogyakarta, there's no better value for your money than Sambel Layah restaurant
Pecak lele with jumbo es tea for an insanely low price, only 8,500 rupiah!
Jalan Malioboro at night
A popular means of transport around Yogyakarta is the becak. However, it isn't the cheapest, as a short trip can easily cost more than 15,000 rupiah. If you have good bargaining skills, you can try to lower the fare if you think it is too expensive
6.00 am - Arrive at Borobudur temple entrance & ticket office. Purchased combined admission ticket for both Borobudur & Prambanan temples (valid for one day only) - 375,000 rupiah (a lot cheaper than buying them separately)
6.00 am - 8.00 am - Photo ops of Borobudur temple
Breakfast at a stall nearby the exit - Toast, fruits & coffee (included in tour package)
If you are on a tight budget, buying the combo ticket for same day admission into Borobudur and Prambanan can save you a lot of money
Candi Borobudur, Magelang
Buddhist statue overlooking the temple grounds
An uncovered stupa, revealing a Buddhist statue inside
The view of the surrounding countryside from the top of Borobudur
Another view from Borobudur, with Mount Merapi in the horizon
The souvenir market near the exit of Borobudur, where you can buy various memorabilia of Borobudur and Prambanan
Mendut Temple & Back to Yogyakarta
8.15 am - Ride shuttle van back to Yogyakarta
8.30 am - Short photo stop at Mendut temple on the way back
9.00 am - Return to Yogyakarta to visit Prambanan temple
View of Mendut temple from the outside. I didn't go in as I was exploring the Buddhist park near the entrance
The park outside Mendut temple. Found this place slightly more interesting than the temple itself
Prambanan Temple
10.30 am - Arrive at Prambanan temple entrance & ticket office
11.00 am - 12.00 pm - Photo ops of Prambanan temple
Prambanan temple courtyard
A delicate coexistence of beliefs. While Borobudur is a Buddhist temple, Prambanan is Hindu
View of Prambanan on the way out
Back to hostel
12.00 pm - Ride shuttle van back to hostel
Lunch at Sambel Layah restaurant - Fried chicken rice set (9,500 rupiah)
2.00 pm - Return to hostel for some rest
Jalan Sosrowijayan
6.00 pm - Walk from hostel to Jalan Malioboro for some last minute shopping (under 30 minutes)
Dinner at roadside stalls next to Malioboro Mall - Nasi gudeg komplit & es teh (50,000 rupiah)
8.00 pm - Photo walk along Jalan Sosrowijayan on the way back to hostel
View of the Yogyakarta skyline at night from the rooftop of EDU hostel
Nasi gudeg stalls along Jalan Malioboro, located near Malioboro mall
Nasi gudeg, a must try when in Yogyakarta
Walking along Jalan Sosrowijayan on the way back to the hostel
Breakfast at the hostel - Nasi goreng & hot tea (included in the room rate)
Sultan Palace (Kraton)
8.00 am - Walk from hostel to Sultan Palace (under 20 minutes)
8.30 am - Arrive at Sultan Palace entrance. Admission - 12,500 rupiah
8.30 am - 9.30 am - Photo ops of Sultan Palace
Entrance of Sultan Palace
The beautiful courtyard inside Sultan Palace
The antiquated interiors of one of the buildings in Sultan Palace
A procession of wayang performers taking stage
Underground Mosque (Sumur Gumuling), Taman Sari
9.30 am - Walk from Sultan Palace to Taman Sari (under 20 minutes)
Quick photo stop at the Underground Mosque (Sumur Gumuling). Taman Sari is actually located inside a residential area and the entrance was a bit difficult to find as there were almost no signages pointing the way
Came across this ruined building on the way to Taman Sari and decided to explore a bit
The entrance to the Underground Mosque in Taman Sari was a bit hard to find, so I just followed some locals here
School kids posing for this shot at the Underground Mosque, Taman Sari
Water Castle, Taman Sari
Refreshments at a stall nearby - Es dawet ayu (4,000 rupiah)
10.30 am - Photo stop at the Water Castle. Entered through the back entrance, so surprisingly I did not have to pay any kind of entrance fees
11.00 am - Ride becak from Taman Sari back to hostel - 30,000 rupiah
Nice graffiti along the walls on the way to the Water Castle
View of the Water Castle, Taman Sari
Last peek at Taman Sari before heading back to the hostel
Hostel check-out
12.00 pm - Pack up and check-out from hostel. Hung around and relaxed in the hostel lobby until late afternoon
Dinner at Sambel Layah restaurant - Ayam penyet set (8,500 rupiah)
5.00 pm - Walk to Jalan Malioboro for more last minute shopping (under 30 minutes). Visited Malioboro mall
View of Malioboro Mall
Inside Malioboro Mall
Yogyakarta to Malang by train
8.00 pm - Walk from Jalan Malioboro to Tugu train station (under 5 minutes)
Board 8.45pm train (Malioboro Ekspres) from Tugu train station to Malang
Had to wait for the train to pass through before crossing the tracks to get to Tugu station
Waiting for the train to depart. Malang and Bromo, here I come!
4.15 am - Arrive in Malang (hop off at Malang Kotabaru train station)
Breakfast at some nearby stalls opposite the train station - Kopi susu (3,000 rupiah)
Malang Kotabaru train station
Malang Kotabaru train station to Arjosari bus terminal
Walking out of the station, there will be plenty of touts who want you to charter their angkots. Ignore them and simply walk a few minutes down the road to catch angkots which are passing by
4.40 am - Ride angkot (blue color with letters "arjosari") - 4,000 rupiah
5.10 am - Hop off at Arjosari bus terminal
Going to Bromo using the more direct but less scenic route: Alternatively, you can take a bus to Probolinggo from Arjosari (18,000 rupiah). Look for the Sabar Indah bus (yellow/green color with "Jember - Banyuwangi" written on it). The bus will drop you off at Probolinggo enroute, from which you can find a minibus to Cemero Lawang
Taking an angkot to Arjosari bus terminal. Surprisingly, some angkots operate very early in the morning
First light at Arjosari bus terminal. From here, you can take a bus to Probolinggo. You will be dropped off enroute, and from there, you can take a minibus to Cemero Lawang
Malang to Tumpang
A less direct but more scenic route, which will take you from Malang to Ngadas, then onwards to Cemero Lawang
5.30 am - Ride angkot (white color) from Arjosari bus terminal to Tumpang - 7,000 rupiah
6.15 am - Hop off at Tumpang (dropped off at the office where jeeps can be chartered to Bromo). There's also an ojek post nearby
The angkot terminal at Arjosari. From here, you can wait for the white angkot to Tumpang
Taking the white angkot to Tumpang. Just tell the driver you want to be dropped off at the jeep office
The ojek post in front of the jeep office. From here, you can hire an ojek to get to Ngadas
Tumpang to Ngadas
6.35 am - Hire ojek to Ngadas - 75,000 rupiah (+5,000 rupiah tip for being very friendly and helpful)
Passed by Gubukklakah and Coban Pelangi on the way. The road going to Ngadas was in very bad shape, the ride got so bumpy that it managed to throw me off a few times
7.10 am - Arrive at Bromo Tengger Semeru national park entrance. Admission - 27,500 rupiah (managed to get local price, admission for foreign tourists is 217,000 rupiah on weekdays, 317,000 rupiah on weekends/public holidays). The ticket is valid until you exit the park, which means if you purchased the ticket on a weekday, you won't have to buy another ticket even if it's a weekend or public holiday
On the way to Ngadas. Just a candid moment of the ojek trying to start his motorcycle
Entrance into Ngadas and Bromo Tengger Semeru national park. Beyond this point is the ticket office where you have to pay the admission into the national park
Ngadas
7.35 am - Arrive in Ngadas
7.45 am - 9.30 am - Photo ops of Ngadas. Decided to walk around Ngadas for a bit, before finding another ojek to take me to Cemero Lawang
Heaven on earth is what I thought of Ngadas the moment I saw it
Another part of Ngadas. I just cannot seem to wrap my head around how peaceful this place is
A vast and beautiful countryside opens up when you venture to the other end of the village
The village folk here are very friendly, and did not mind me trodding through their farmland. Some even greeted me 'Selamat pagi', which means good morning
The road that leads to Bromo. You can choose to walk all the way to Cemero Lawang from here if you're up to it, otherwise just hire an ojek to get you there
Ngadas to Cemero Lawang
9.35 am - Hire an ojek to take me from Ngadas to Cemero Lawang - 100,000 rupiah
Photo stops at various points of interest along the way:
Jemplang viewpoint
Bromo savanna
Teletubbies hill
Sea of sand
Views of the Bromo savanna from Jemplang viewpoint, which also happens to be the crossroads for hikers who want to start their ascent up Mount Semeru, the highest mountain in Java
Another view from Jemplang viewpoint
Heading down into the Bromo savanna. The journey down is bumpier than it looks
The vast expanse of the Bromo savanna
Howling wind kicking up dust at the Bromo savanna
The almost surreal Teletubbies hill
A jeep making its way through the savanna
Reaching the arid Sea of Sand, a stark contrast to the green, fertile savanna we just passed through
View of Mount Batok from the Sea of Sand. Bromo is there somewhere
Cemero Lawang and hints of Penanjakan can be seen from here
Arrival in Cemero Lawang & Guesthouse check-in
11.00 am - Arrive in Cemero Lawang
Check-in to Subur Homestay - 150,000 rupiah per night (staying for 1 night). Great location and not too pricey compared to the other accommodation options in the area. The rooms however, are very basic for the price. Still good for just one night I guess
Arriving in Cemero Lawang
Upon arriving in Cemero Lawang, I met an ojek who recommended me Subur Homestay
My room in Subur Homestay
In & Around Cemero Lawang
Lunch at a warung nearby (same row as Cafe Lava) - Mie goreng (8,000 rupiah) & kopi susu (5,000 rupiah)
2.00 pm - 3.30 pm - Photo walk around Cemero Lawang. Walked around the village and the surrounding countryside. Also went to the lookout point (near Bromo Permai hotel), which has good views of Bromo and its surroundings
4.00 pm - Return to homestay for some much needed rest
Dinner at the same warung nearby - Beef rawon & hot tea (22,000 rupiah)
8.00 pm - There isn't much to do in Cemero Lawang, so I went stargazing near the lookout point
9.30 pm - Return to homestay to get some sleep for the next day
Having mie goreng for lunch at a warung near Cafe Lava, it's the only one you can't miss it. The food here was really good
Walking around Cemero Lawang
Views of the countryside near Cemero Lawang
As day turns to night, a couple of warungs have set up shop near the lookout point in Cemero Lawang
There really isn't much to do in Cemero Lawang, so I spent the whole evening stargazing. Seriously, I have never seen so many stars in my life!
3.00 am - Hire an ojek to take me to Penanjakan viewpoint & Bromo - 150,000 rupiah
3.30 am - 6.00 am - Photo ops & sunrise viewing at Penanjakan 2 viewpoint
Note: Unbeknownst to many, Penanjakan actually has several viewpoints, such as Penanjakan 1 (also known as Seruni viewpoint) and Penanjakan 2 (also known as King Kong hill). I went to Penanjakan 2 as it has much better views and is less crowded
6.30 am - Ride ojek up to Penanjakan 1 viewpoint. Photo stop at Penanjakan 1
Breakfast at a stall in Penanjakan 1 viewpoint - Pisang goreng (10,000 rupiah)
7.30 am - Ride ojek down to Bukit Cinta. Photo stop at Bukit Cinta
Watching the sunrise from Penanjakan
Penanjakan 2 viewpoint. Went to both viewpoint 1 and 2, and personally I thought viewpoint 2 was better. Lesser crowds, and the views were a bit better
Views of Bromo from Penanjakan 2
Starting point to start your short climb to the top of Bukit Cinta
At the top of Bukit Cinta
View of Bromo from Bukit Cinta
Mount Bromo
8.30 am - Ride ojek to base of Mount Bromo. Start my ascent to the top of Mount Bromo
Refreshments at a stall on the way up - Kopi susu (5,000 rupiah)
8.45 am - Arrive at the top of Mount Bromo. Photo ops around the crater area before heading back down
9.45 am - Head back down to the base of Mount Bromo
Stopped a few times along the way to Bromo. Here's a candid shot of my ojek with Mount Batok in the background
Penanjakan can clearly be seen from here, thanks to perfect weather conditions
Making my way to the top of Mount Bromo
Still another 250+ steps going up the staircase to reach Bromo crater
At the top of Bromo crater
Bromo's smoking crater. Being up here and knowing that there could be an eruption at any time is both exciting and terrifying
Took it slow going down, the views are breathtaking!
Back to Cemero Lawang
10.00 am - Ride ojek back to Cemero Lawang
Lunch at the same warung where I had my meals previously - Mie goreng special (18,000 rupiah) & teh manis (4,000 rupiah)
11.30 am - Pack up and check-out from homestay
Cemero Lawang to Probolinggo by minibus
12.00 pm - Walk to the minibus stop located at the main road junction (under 5 minutes). Minibuses to Probolinggo only leave when full, so expect to wait quite a while if there aren't enough passengers
1.30 pm - Ride minibus to Probolinggo - 35,000 rupiah
2.35 pm - Arrive at Probolinggo (dropped off at the main road opposite Bayuangga bus station)
Taking the minibus from Cemero Lawang to Probolinggo. Take note that they only leave when full though
Probolinggo to Banyuwangi by train
Walk to an angkot stop just along the main road from where I was dropped off (under 5 minutes)
2.40 pm - Ride angkot (yellow color with letter "F") to Probolinggo train station - 5,000 rupiah
3.20 pm - Hop off at Probolinggo train station
Queued up at the ticket office to buy one way ticket for 4.43pm train (Sri Tanjung) departing for Banyuwangi the same day - 100,000 rupiah (economy seat)
Board 4.43pm train (Sri Tanjung) from Probolinggo station to Banyuwangi
Took this angkot from Bayuangga to Probolinggo train station
Waiting for my train at Probolinggo station
Boarding the train departing for Banyuwangi
Arrival in Banyuwangi & Hotel check-in
9.00 pm - Arrive in Banyuwangi (hop off at Karangasem train station)
Ride ojek to Jalan MT Haryono - 20,000 rupiah
9.30 pm - Check-in to Hotel Baru - 110,000 rupiah per night (staying for 1 night). Got a very basic room in the hotel, fortunately for the price, my expectations weren't exactly that high
Late dinner at a nearby roadside stall - Nasi goreng (9,000 rupiah)
11.00 pm - Return to hotel to get some much needed rest
Arrival in Banyuwangi. I hopped off at Karangasem train station as it was closer to the town centre
Hotel Baru Banyuwangi, located along Jalan MT Haryono
Breakfast at the hotel - Nasi goreng (included in the room rate)
Extend stay at Hotel Baru (+1 night for 110,000 rupiah/night)
Walking tour around Banyuwangi
10.00 am - 11.15 am - Walk around Banyuwangi with photo stops at various points of interest around the city:
Taman Blambangan
Pasar Banyuwangi
Baiturrahman mosque
11.30 am - Rent scooter from Tripoli Tour & Rental (located along Jalan Basuki Rahmat, near Baiturrahman mosque) - 65,000 rupiah per day (renting for 1 day)
Becak rider smiling for this shot taken during my walk around Banyuwangi
Taman Blambangan, Banyuwangi. This municipal park is located quite close to where I stayed
Pasar Banyuwangi, just a few minutes away from Taman Blambangan
Baiturrahman Mosque in Banyuwangi
Rented a scooter from Tripoli Tour & Rental company, as I intend to use it for a day trip to Ijen plateau and for the Kawah Ijen trek the next morning
Day trip to Ijen Plateau
11.40 am - Ride scooter from Banyuwangi to Pos Paltuding (via Licin). Road to Paltuding is in good condition, though the the road beyond Licin isn't well illuminated and can be very dark at night
12.40 pm - Arrive at Pos Paltuding (the starting point where you can begin your ascent up Kawah Ijen)
1.30 pm - 3.45 pm - Photo ops around Ijen plateau on the way to Sempol. Quick photo stop at Ijen waterfall
4.00 pm - Arrive in Sempol. Photo ops around Sempol before heading back to Banyuwangi
Refuel at the gas station in Sempol - 9,000 rupiah
Scenic grasslands in Ijen plateau, located a few minutes west of Pos Paltuding
Ijen waterfall. The water supposedly flows from Kawah Ijen and is therefore acidic by nature. That explains why the water is a sickly green color
A stone bridge, just after the falls
Picturesque grasslands on the way to Sempol
View of Ijen plateau from a rickety watch tower near Sempol. There were wild sunflowers everywhere during my visit, turning the savanna into a sea of yellow
Arriving in Sempol, Bondowoso
Spent some time exploring Sempol before heading back to Banyuwangi
Back to Banyuwangi
5.00 pm - Ride from Sempol back to Banyuwangi
6.15 pm - Arrive in Banyuwangi. Dinner at Roxy mall - KFC (50,000 rupiah)
8.00 pm - Return to hotel to get some sleep for the next day
Spending my evening in Roxy mall before heading back to my hotel room to get some sleep for the Kawah Ijen trek later
12.00 am - Ride scooter from Banyuwangi to Pos Paltuding (via Licin)
1.15 am - Arrive at Pos Paltuding (starting point to Kawah Ijen). Admission into Kawah Ijen - 7,500 rupiah (managed to get local price, admission for foreign tourists is 100,000 rupiah on weekdays, 150,000 rupiah on weekends)
There was a long queue at Pos Paltuding before I could get my hands on this. With a stroke of luck, I managed to get the local price for admission into Kawah Ijen, which saved me a lot of money
Trek to Kawah Ijen
1.40 am - Start my ascent to the top of Kawah Ijen. The distance to the top of is roughly 3km, the path starts out fairly flat for the first km or so, becomes very steep for the second km, and then after reaching the canteen, starts to even out again for the last one km to the top
2.50 am - Stopover for a break at the canteen (also acts as a weighing station for miners) halfway to the top
3.30 am - Arrive at the top of Kawah Ijen. Start my descent to the bottom of the crater to witness Ijen's famous 'blue fire' phenomenon. Be extremely careful as the path down is narrow and quite slippery, not to mention you will be trudging around in complete darkness. Any missteps and it's a long fall to the bottom
4.00 am - 6.30 am - Arrive at the bottom of the crater. Photo ops of the 'blue fire' and around the crater lake area
6.30 am - Start my ascent back up to the top of the crater (30 minutes)
7.00 am - 8.30 am - Arrive at the top of the crater. Photo ops of the surroundings
Having a break during my ascent to the top of Kawah Ijen
At the top of Kawah Ijen. Beyond this signboard, there's a path you can follow to get to the bottom of the crater to witness the blue fires. Be careful though, the path is a treacherous one, do it at your own risk!
At the bottom of the crater. Just in time to see the blue fires of Kawah Ijen
Kawah Ijen's blue fire upclose
Daybreak in Kawah Ijen. The blue fires are gone and finally you can see all around you
A sulfur miner hard at work
Kawah Ijen is also the world's largest acidic crater lake
Making my way back to the top of Kawah Ijen
Going to the top was already difficult, now imagine yourself attempting to carry a heavy load of sulfur on your shoulders while doing that
Back at the top of Kawah Ijen again, and got some really nice views of the crater below
Another view from the top of Kawah Ijen on my way back down to Pos Paltuding
Back to Pos Paltuding & Banyuwangi
8.30 am - Descend back down to Pos Paltuding
10.00 am - Back at Pos Paltuding. Ride back from Pos Paltuding to Banyuwangi
11.15 am - Back in Banyuwangi. Return to hotel
The canteen, located about a third of the way from the top of Kawah Ijen to Pos Paltuding
Took it slowly as going down was pretty hard on my knees
Banyuwangi to Bali
12.00 pm - Pack up and check-out from hotel
Return scooter back to the shop (Tripoli Tour & Rental at Jalan Basuki Rahmat). Lunch at a nearby restaurant - Bakso lontong (8,000 rupiah)
1.20 pm - Ride angkot (yellow color with number "6") from Jalan Basuki Rahmat to Ketapang ferry port - 7,000 rupiah
1.50 pm - Arrive at Ketapang ferry port
Board 2.15pm ferry bound for Bali - 7,500 rupiah (one way)
Thanks for this helpful itinerary! Can you tell me how was the backpacking scene in Indonesia compared to other SEA country. For example, is it easy to find a dorm room full of backpackers there. I usually travel alone but in country like Thai, Vietnam, Cambodia i find it very easy to mix and join with other backpackers.
Indonesia definitely has a rather healthy backpacker scene, with its backpacker meccas mainly in Yogyakarta, Bali & Gili Trawangan. Outside of these places, it's rare to meet other backpackers, let alone find a dorm/hostel to stay in.
Thanks for the info. It was like that before, as payment was collected at the gates and not on the bus, so technically you can hop on and off on a single bus fare as long as you didn't didn't exit the bus stop :)
Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta ‣
Walking tour around Kota Tua ‣
Fatahillah Square ‣
Overnight in Teduh Hostel Kota Tua
Sightseeing around Jakarta ‣
Train from Jakarta to Bandung ‣
Day trip to Kawah Putih by motorcycle ‣
Evening at Cihampelas ‣
Sightseeing around Bandung ‣
Ojek from Tumpang to Ngadas ‣
Ferry from Banyuwangi to Bali
Thanks for this helpful itinerary! Can you tell me how was the backpacking scene in Indonesia compared to other SEA country. For example, is it easy to find a dorm room full of backpackers there. I usually travel alone but in country like Thai, Vietnam, Cambodia i find it very easy to mix and join with other backpackers.
ReplyDeleteIndonesia definitely has a rather healthy backpacker scene, with its backpacker meccas mainly in Yogyakarta, Bali & Gili Trawangan. Outside of these places, it's rare to meet other backpackers, let alone find a dorm/hostel to stay in.
DeleteThanks for the sharing and beautiful pictures. Your blog is helpful for my upcoming trips in Vietnam and Java. :)
ReplyDeleteNow Transjakarta Bus changing Line does't need to pay again. As long you didn't exit the shelter. 3,500 Rp from Gambir to Kota
ReplyDeleteHi Regentcid,
DeleteThanks for the info. It was like that before, as payment was collected at the gates and not on the bus, so technically you can hop on and off on a single bus fare as long as you didn't didn't exit the bus stop :)