..............Touchdown in Java. As I previously said, great morning flight. Java is 1 hour behind Denpasar so it was still 6.50am.
Prior to leaving Darwin I had organised a driver to meet me at the airport. I also had a friend in Semarang who ended up being a great help.
Anyway tap dancing across the Tarmac, once again dodging the traffic, I had to laugh watching people taking different routes to the terminal. But that is just Indonesia, organised chaos. Innocent in its strange way.
Once inside I began looking for my driver. I couldn't find a any cards in hands saying Mr Craig.........I wondered, how do you spell my name in Indonesian?....... Craig...haha.
Ok so maybe he slept in? We had also arrived early. I had his number and rang......not once but twice....uh oh.........no answer.
Rang my contact in Semarang who advised me to get a taxi to Malioboro. I had phone numbers from the internet for hotels and losmen(homestays) in Yogjakarta so rang a few on the way. Unfortunately they were booked out. When I arrived I walked around looking at a few but either a bit dodgy or expensive.
Suddenly my phone rings. It's my driver. He is in the same area as me so we meet up.
Now he decides that there are a few hotels about 10 minutes away that I can look at. So we take the local bus for 3 stops then both jump into becaks. For those who don't know a becak it is a form of transport that is like a bike at the back with someone pedalling but the front has 2 wheels either side of padded seat with a small roof. They defy road rules including lights and traffic directions but I assume all drivers have passed rigorous motor vehicle examinations and tests?
I went through a period of being scared of flying but I have heard stories of people coming into contact with heaven while sitting in a becak. The signal being strongest when you are driving in the opposite direction to the rest of the traffic. There are no seat belts in a becak. I think if you get hit head on, the vehicle just run straight over you. Splat. Imagine your car and then its bumper bar. Well in a becak you are the bumper bar. Hahaha.......
Anyway I arrive safely at Duta Hotel. I am pleasantly surprised. I booked a garden view room for 325,000 per night. The rooms range from 200,000 but just for 1st night I was happy with this. The hotel is a bit further out but you can get taxi or becak back to malioboro.
I am so hungry so I go about 20m from hotel where there is a great little restaurant called Via Via. I missed dinner on Jet* the previous night which was no loss and had no makan pagi (breakfast).The food here is very nice. I would recommend it.
Anyway if you haven't wondered yet, I was thinking why my driver didn't take me in his car to hotel? Perhaps he wanted to leave it in the city and reduce his carbon footprint?
As it turned out, today he didn't have a car. I had a chuckle to myself. Perhaps this is a new style of being Driver/Guide? Use the public transport to show people around?
Saves on fuel and rego... Haha. Anyway I organise with him for the following morning at 5.30am including CAR.
So I have shower and decide I want to go to Prambanan to see the Hindu Temples. I ask at front counter and receive a map with public transport locations. Now I am an expert with public transport having travelled 3 stops. Well I get on the bus for 3000 rupiah and just in time. The rain starts and follows me all the way to Prambanan. I met 4 Uni students on the way and they were heading to the same location so I latched onto them.
They joked that I looked like Bruce Willis but I insisted I was his poor cousin Brad.
When we arrived at the last bus terminal the rain was so heavy and we still had 400m and 6 lanes of traffic before we entered the grounds. We saw 2 becaks who wanted 25000 rupiah to take us the last bit. The students thought it was too expensive but we were so close. I just paid for us. It was cheap for me. The becaks came over to edge of terminal and 3 ladies jump in 1 and younger man and myself in the other. Then they zip you up using plasic cover over front. We cant see where we are going all I know is that there are 6 lanes and once again we are bumper bars. I figure if we get hit the ambulance will find us already zipped up in body bags ....... Be a clean kill....
Prambanan is a must. Even though it was wet the Temples were inspiring. We paid for 3 umbrellas and walked around taking pictures while trying to keep dry. I had a great afternoon and enjoyed the youngsters company. We then headed back to Malioboro.
It was so cold and the Bus was airconditioned. Takes about 1.20 by local transport but 3000 rupiah either way is murah. (cheap).
I was very tired and it was wet so I just went back to Via Via and had dinner. Big day tomorrow. Selamat tidur.