Journey Through Java

Jakarta

5th May - Arrived in this smeggy city late afternoon, just in time for some rip-off taxi driver to transport me through the rush hour of the Indonesian capital with a horrendous driving style, common to that of every other road user here. How I didn't witness a single accident during my 2 hour drive I couldn't work out. Arriving at a hostel on Jl Jaksi (the Ko Sam road of Jakarta, but rubbish) I went for a quick exploration on foot of the local area.

The next day I headed to the developed part of town where the shopping malls and business district were. Here I found a place to buy the Indonesia Lonely Planet guide. Thank God; I was going to need this. I looked around parts of the city some more, and went to see the national monument, though by this time it had reached the evening and I couldn't go inside or up to the top of it. Shortly after dinner in a roadside cafe, I tried to book transport out of the city, only to find that the next minibus to Yogyakarta was the next day at 7pm. I had another 24 hours to kill here.

Jakarta is very overcrowded and overpoluted with many unkind, poor people living next to a few of the wealthy. My next day here consisted of going to the national monument, and it's museum, where I could learn about Indonesia's history of occupation by the Dutch, English and Japanese. The monument is situated in the middle of a large park in the centre of the city, so away from all the noise and hastle. It was here I spent the rest of the day reading the LP guide to decide what I would want to see during my limited rush through Java. So many people stop to talk to you in Jakarta. I suppose it's friendliness, but I think they just wanted to practise their English. The same 5 questions asked by everyone: Hello, what is your name? Where are you from? How long you stay in Jakarta? Where are you staying? How old are you? It was today that I grew somewhat homesick and thought to myself that this travelling may have been a mistake. Luckily, I was very wrong, and I've been having the best time since leaving Jakarta.

Yogyakarta

The overnight bus from Jakarta to Yogyakarta (7pm - 7am); a somewhat uncomfortable ride and certainly not the sort I could sleep on. It was this journey that I met Will (another dude from England). Lengthy conversation kept our minds off the driver's driving. Non of these vehicles have seatbelts; oh well; still living. Breakfast when we arrived and then a trip to Borobudur, a Buddhist monument (one of the biggest in the world). While there it was interesting to hear the sound of Muslim calls to prayer eminating from the surrounding areas. Buddhism now has a very small presence in Java, and Islam is the primary religion throughout this land.

Bromo

Following day was a full day trip to the area near Mount Bromo, an active volcano. It was a 4am start the next morning to hike across the eerie volcanic planes, under the starlit sky, surrounded by mist, trying desperately not to get lost as I had refused the guides offering to take me. Reached the volcano summit just in time for the sunrise, but it was so cloudy up there that the sunrise made no difference; I was just colder. The strong sulphur fumes from the volcano made it difficult to breathe, so I didn't stay up there for the lack of view for long. I just returned on the hour and a half walk back to the guesthouse in time for breakfast and arrange transport to my next destination, leaving at 9am.

Ijen

This journey took most of the day with a quick stop at a coffee plantation where I picked a few of my own coffee beans (Arabica variety if I remember correctly). Arrived at a village near Ijen at 7pm and was shown around by a most friendly guide. Start at 4am the next morning. Walk up to the Ijen Plateau, another active volcano, this time with spectacular views. This one had a lake in the crater which we could decend into once up there. Touching the water of a volcano crater lake, now there's something I won't be doing very often. The unbelievable stench of sulphur fumes (an eggy smell) was much stronger than at Bromo, and different; it didn't sting the eyes or hurt the throat like before, it simply made me want to vomit. I took many quick photos, observed the surroundings quickly, then headed back out of there up to the summit with the views. One could see the sulphur collectors carrying their 78kg of sulphur out of the very steep crater and then back down the mountain side (another 90 minute hike down steep tracks); these men have a tough job!

Straight after, we had another minibus ride to the east coast ferry port where I would be leaving Java for the one hour crossing, early afternoon.

I have to say, the few sights that I saw in Java, were rather spectacular, however, I didn't see much of the culture there. I will say that the people of Java (outside Jakarta) are very friendly and sociable.

As with my last entry, I will post photos of these sights in time, so do check back. I will also update this page when I remember things that I've forgotten to include.

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