Yesterday we drove from Madiun to Malang, where we stayed in a relative’s house. The trip took around 6 hours including stops in between. I discovered that the small roads we were taking in the countryside were not included in my GPS map.
GPS track log.
The Malang residence.
Road at Batu, near Malang.
This Saturday began with a so-called Arisan event, which is a family gathering.
Later in the evening, when Arisan was over, a few of us drove the short trip to Ponorogo, where a week-long festival to mark the Javanese New Year was held. There was a big market and an amusement park, but more interesting [...]
We made a daytrip to Semarang today to visit some relatives, and thanks to my GPS with detailed maps of Java, we drove straight to the destination.
In the morning before departure to Semarang, however, we first made a visit to the nearby grave yard. The grave mentioned in this post is now finished, and the [...]
I flew to Yogyakarta, Central Java, on Tuesday 23 December at 18:55, with Mandala Airlines. We were picked up in the airport in Yogya and then drove to Solo, where I am now.
Here is another interesting photo I took back in May 2003, when driving around in Solo, Central Java:
I took this photo a few years ago (May 2003) in Jakarta.
I purchased a bicycle today at ACE Hardware here in Balikpapan. I paid Rp 1,475,000 (US$ 124).
My new bike.
I went to the Norwegian embassy today to apply for a new passport, since the one I have is full already, after less than 3 years of usage.
I then decided I had enough of Jakarta and flew back to Balikpapan in the evening, after having booked the flight online.
I started this Saturday by flying from Manila to Singapore with Philippine Airlines, then took a taxi (SGD 18.80) from Changi to Harbourfront ferry terminal and catched the first ferry to Batam.
After the passport control in Batam I took a taxi straight to the airport and catched the first flight to Jakarta, where I checked [...]
I picked up the Indonesian visa this morning when the embassy opened at 09.00.
I went to the Indonesian embassy this morning to apply for a social visa, valid for 60 days, and extendable up to 6 months. Visa fee was 2250 pesos.
Last evening I and a colleague catched a bus from Manila to a beach south of Manila (the trip took around 4 hours), called Munting Buhangin near the town Nasugbu. I was rather disappointed, the beach was nothing special at all, and the environment was boring. Overpriced lodging.
Today we rented a boat together with an [...]
I am now sitting in the airport in Taipei waiting for a China Airlines flight to Manila.
I flew back to Balikpapan the day after Uno left, with Lion Air.
Today I am going on another business trip, and I flew from Balikpapan to Jakarta with Garuda this morning at 09:50.
I have just checked in again in Jakarta, waiting for the China Airlines flight from Jakarta to Taipei, which leaves at 14:40. I [...]
This is Uno’s last day in Indonesia, and at 20:05 he will catch a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt, and then Oslo.
Uno at the residence in Cibubur, Jakarta, before departure to the airport.
Uno is leaving.
Uno is leaving.
Together with our hosts we drove to Museum Nasional (history museum) in central Jakarta, and thereafter all four of us had lunch at a Padang restaurant near Pasar Baru.
After lunch Uno and I separated from our hosts and took a bus to Kota, the old Jakarta, and walked a bit around. Beer at Cafe Batavia. [...]
Car trip to Kebon Raya Bogor (Bogor Botanical Gardens), Puncak Pass (where we had lunch), and Taman Safari Indonesia (a drive through zoo).
Dinner in the evening at a Malaysian restaurant in downtown Jakarta (near Senayan).
Dutch cemetery at Kebon Raya Bogor.
View from restaurant at Puncak Pass.
Taman Safari Indonesia.
Today we took the Parahyangan train service to Jakarta, departure 12:45, arrival 16:00, 15 minutes behind schedule. Ticket price was Rp 40,000 each.
I decided to take a quick trip to Paberik Kopi Aroma (Aroma coffee factory) before departure, and took a becak from the hotel while Uno was on internet. The coffee factory dates back [...]
Today we negotiated with a taxi driver outside our hotel to take us to Kawah Putih (White Crater), which is about 40 km south-west of Bandung. The trip lasted from 11:00 to 18:00 and cost Rp 400,000.
Kawah Putih is 2200 meter above sea level (according to my GPS), and is a sulphuric lake inside [...]
We started the day by walking from the hotel to the Asia Afrika conference building museum (Gedung Merdeka).
From Gedung Merdeka we walked to the city square (alun-alun), where a big, relatively new (2004) mosque is situated. Uno searched for a place to fix his camera; a memory card was stuck inside. So we took a [...]
During breakfast at our hotel today, Uno had an intellectual conversation with a British national, who himself indulged in beer only. The British guy soon fell asleep on the floor, however. Afterwards we took a taxi to the train station to catch the Lodaya Pagi train service to Bandung. Tickets cost Rp 150,000 each, first [...]
Thursday was again spent walking around the city, with a stop at the Kraton, where the Sultan lives, and a nearby bird market. In the evening we went to see the Ramayana performance.
This guard was sitting outside a bank near our hotel.
Kraton Yogyakarta.
Uno with a woman at the Kraton.
Ramayana performance.
Wednesday was devouted to these two famous temple complexes, which are located outside Yogya. I have visited both places several years ago, but for Uno this was something new. The tour also included a stop at the foot of Gunung Merapi.
Pictures (click to enlarge):
On top of Borobudur.
School girls at the temple.
Borobudur stone carving.
Walking between the [...]
Uno and I left Balikpapan yesterday aboard a Mandala flight to Yogyakarta, and checked into Mercury guest house in Prawirotaman area. I always stay at this place when in town, unless it’s full (happened only once). Uno opted for an aircon room, while I chose a non-aircon room. Today was spent walking around downtown Yogyakarta.
Mercury [...]
On Sunday we went to a crocodile farm an half hour drive North of Balikpapan. They also make sate from the meat, which we tasted.
Pier at beach. We made a stop here on the way to the farm.
Crocodile farm.
Crocodile farm.