Landing In Yogyakarta

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We have now been in Yogya for four days and what a crazy, busy, full of surprises, kind of place we have found it to be. It is the busiest place I've ever seen. Ramadan has just finished and everyone has come here on holiday. It is heaps of fun though - not oppressive crowds, just happy, party folk, mostly families. And they love us. Or at least, we give 'em a laugh. They love the number of kids, the twin factor, the cuteness of us all (!) but Michael probably cops the heat the most for being so tall. We have had a ridiculous number of pics taken of us - kooky to think of other people's albums being stuffed full of us. The hotel Istana Batik Ratna is great, wrapped around a cute little pool and dining pavillion. We've been swimming every arvo (it is pretty hot, early to mid 30s, humid) and early in the morning too, after certain children (thank you Truman and Edi) have hit the breakfast buffet bar shortly after 6am for their noodles, their vegies and rice, super-sweet fruit juice, tropical fruit and toast. Food isn't quite on par with Laos, but it is fun. We've tried lots of different sweets, Truman loves the steamed buns from the street sellers, we've had truckloads of nasty goreng already (Linda, noted one very dubious kitchen already, but didn't have heart to photograph it as I was sure we'd end up crook - three cheers for the 14,000 bottle of Yakult we've had so far), lots of strange and wonderful fruit. Had a great dinner last night. Went by cab to an open air restaurant outside town, chose beautiful fresh fish from the icy display, they cooked it for us over the coals, with vegies and rice, served on banana leaves. Opa heaven! We've travelled by rickshaw, which is quite something surrounded by a million motorbikes, people movers, horses and carts, cycles - it is absolute anarchy but it seems to work. It really is the most alive place. Today we went to the bird market - they love their songbirds and homing pigeons here, but there were owls and all sorts of kooky animals. We also went to what remains of the Sultan's pleasure gardens. Thanks for asking, my right lung is working just fine despite the hideous smog and the fact that everyone smokes. We were fumigated for swine flu at Yogya airport, which was jolly handy. Henry had a blast at KL airport as we changed terminals in a maglev train, and he's keeping a good list of the vehicles we've seen. Truman is stuffing himself with everything sweet, Edi and Joni are making buddies - the hotel is full of families and while they all think we are a bit nuts, everyone is welcoming and curious. Having fun, will blog again soon,
Team Schlechta

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Photos

Photo 1
Joni and Edith with some new friends

Photo 2
Strange animals at the bird market

Photo 4
Birds at the bird market

Photo 3
Drinking and eating coconuts

Photo 5
Hanging out in the main street