Bali 2007 26th May to 9th June
Background, had booked flights through Jetstar ok price, but in hindsight I probably would pay the bit extra and go Garuda, or try through Malaysian it may be imaginary but at 5ft 10 and 6ft 2 respectively the seats seemed to be more crowded than on other airlines. Having said that I could not fault the service on time leaving and ½ late coming back the staff were pleasant and the food just like all airline food. Even though it is a short flight we always have a six hour drive on the way home, so need a bit of sleep before hitting the road. Drive to Melbourne was good and we arrived in plenty of time.
Days 1 to 3
Arrived in Bali about 10.30pm caught a taxi to the Wida Hotel, to find it deserted we spoke to one of the other guests but there were no staff to be found anywhere could see the Bintang in the fridge, and damm it was locked, tried a number of different keys but to no avail. Ratted through reception and found our paperwork and a room key, so we broke and entered for our first night. About ½ hour later the phantom security guard arrived, and opened the fridge so not only did we have a room we also had a beer its now midnight. The smell the warmth and the beer all is now good with the world.
As we were only staying Legian for the first two days, shopping was more a look than actual purchase am pleased to say that Charlie bought the first item, for once and I was happy to keep reminding him of this. Went to St Isidor in Seminyak to look for a doona cover as we arrived they were busily finishing a bed with the most gorgeous pale green cover and all the bits, bought the cover straight away for 500K well worth it for the silk fabric and it was exactly what I was looking for. Lunch and dinner at Sana on Melasti, BBQ for the night and the food was great, Lamb shanks done on the BBQ all a at very reasonable price.
Went off to Supernova to buy supplies, only to find Charlie at left his hat in Seminyak he went back in the taxi and I shopped, finished fairly quickly and waited with one of the food ladies, she provided the stool and shade, and some really nice coconut biscuits, tonight was dinner at Ketumbar and the food was good as usual.
Day 4
Early call as we are flying to Yogyakarta this morning on the 8am flight, (I organised the flights through Vayatour Travel in Sanur at a very reasonable cost, all done on the net) taxi to the airport and really straight forward check in, food on the plane was interesting a jelly cup with fruit that was so tough you couldn't break the top with a spoon and a cold sausage but the water was warm. The landing is amazing flying in between the mountains, got some shots from the plane. The airport is so clean, and within minutes our luggage was off and we had found a driver to take us to the Rumah Mertua our accommodation for the next four nights, five days. Yogya is such a large city and is so well layed out with lanes for motor bikes separate to the car lanes, and ring roads round the city to allow for easy access. We knew when we booked that check in time was 2pm and because we were arriving at 8am had organised to leave our luggage there and have a look round. On arrival our room was ready, and it was lovely. Huge bedroom with one of the cleanest bathrooms I had come across in all our stays in Indonesia, the pool side room has a great sitting area at the front of the room with a day bed and table and chairs the ideal place to while away the morning with a beer and a snack.
The gardens are full of succulents and heliconias all clipped to create the moist amazing views from the room and the restaurant. I am always so jealous of tropical garden because even though we have the heat in the summer, the frost is savage at home in the winter. Went for a look in Malioboro Street, so many becaks, andongs and batik stalls got our bearings as to where things were and had a look at the mall. Everywhere I went there is pink, shoes, bags, clothes they even had a motor bike display with blue for boys and pink for girls. A house just a few doors down is 3 shades of pink, including a vibrant hot pink round the windows. The position of the Rumah Mertua is quite some distance from the main shopping area, in a residential area, but so peaceful and for the cost of taxi it was nice to be in such a peaceful area. Spoke to the reception staff about organising a tour to Borobodur for the next day.
Day 5
The day started at 4am (not the best time of the day for me), and breakfast was delivered at 4.30am I had thought that we would eat after, but the staff felt we needed something before we went, breakfast considered of cold toast with chocolate sprinkes, a egg sandwich and tea, it was interesting but it did the job. Picked up by the guide at 4.45am. On the way was the only time we saw Mt Merapi clearly as all the other days it was shrouded in cloud, funny really because last year we had booked and paid to go to Yogya mainly with the intention of getting shots of the mountain during the eruption, but were unable to go due to the earthquake that occurred the day after we arrived in Bali. Charlie had bought all the extra camera gear, tripod remote etc and it hadn't been used, this time the only shot we got was taken balancing on the roof of the car in the dark. I guess we were just not meant to see the mountain.
Arrived a the temple around 5.45am to be met by sellers with photos and books etc very pushy (one called himself Ali Baba, and I wondered were the forty thieves were) at that hour of the morning, office to buy tickets opens at 6am so we waited with the few other tourists. Heavy cloud so I am doubting sunrise will prove to be very spectacular. Hired a guide to explain the history of the temple, Oon was very good and took his time explaining the Buddhist history as well as the Javanese legends that go with the temple. The grounds are superb with gardens like botanical gardens all so well maintained. Looking towards the temple in the early hours of the morning shrouded in fog, it is a breathtaking sight and you can't imagine the time and dedication it took to build. So many photo opportunities, managed to touch the ring finger of the lucky buddha so heres hoping that my wishes come true. By 8am bus loads of people are arriving there were hundreds of school children on an excursion from West Java, so things are starting to fill up. Moved back to the carpark and bought one of the hundreds of stupas for sale and headed off to Mendut a temple only a few kilometres from Borobudor. Massive organisation is taking place here as on Friday it is a public holiday for a Buddhist festival. Busloads of worshippers have been arriving for days and the preparations included a stage that would have suited a rock concert, sound and lighting everywhere. The floral arrangements are so lavish, with gold and bamboo all set on columns. My only purchase here was a little statue of Brorobodur like a snow dome, so tacky but I just had to have it.
Off the Malioboro and shopping, bought a bird cage much to my husbands horror which he informs me I will need to carry all the way home also needed to get my mobile fixed as it would not work this year with the sim, found a nokia shop and they were very helpful I needed a security code, not a pin and they ended ringing Nokia and organising it all for no charge. Wandered down the road just taking in the sights, stopped at a very official looking building and guy who had helped us earlier with the phone wandered up to say hello. He was there to try and catch a glimpse of the President was arriving in the next 1 hour for the festival on Friday. Had a great chat to him and he told us not to buy the batik on the main street, but to go to the Museum and have a look at real batik. We didn't wait around to say hello to the president but wandered up the road further towards the Kraton. Once again a local stopped to chat as we were waiting to cross the road, he worked for Jogya aid, and was off to collect his son from school, so we walked all the way to the Kraton with him. He also warned us about the Batik and suggested we have a look at a local cooperative that has a school and workshop open to look at. Now I have to admit Batik is not my favourite art form (I'm probably a heathen, but the stuff I had seen to date did nothing for me at all). Had a look round the Kraton however it started to pour with rain and within minutes we were standing in water. Our guide suggested we retreat and we ended chatting him under cover, once again the Batik thing came up and he also suggested the co-operative, once the rain cleared a little we hopped on an andong and went round to a building in a lane that had no signage to indicate what it was, this was the co-operative. Had a look at the traditional artwork and saw how much work is involved in producing the work. Then I spied some modern pieces with the most amazing colours and designs done on silk. Yes I weakened and some time later my visa card and I left with three pieces of batik on silk.
To be continued........