Where is Rune?

Train ticket

I arrived at Mercury Guest House, Yogyakarta, on 7 June, spent 4 nights here, and then went to Solo on 11 June, a one hour train ride from Jogja. I went back here at Mercury yesterday, 14 June. In Solo I stayed at a house in a village just outside the city.

The ticket shown is a bisnis, or business class train ticket, from Solo to Yogya. It costs only Rp 7000, or about 75 US cents. It is written on the ticket that insurance is included in the price.

Solo Balapan train station

Right now I am sitting at the veranda (see picture below) outside my room at Mercury Guest House, overlooking a nice garden, with my mobile internet connection. I am paying Rp 80,000 per night here (USD 8.50), which is only 44 Norwegian kroner. The rooms in the second floor, facing the veranda and garden, are the best in the guest house: Room number 12, 14, 15, and 16. I have room 15.

Waiting at train station in Yogya.

Mercury Guest House veranda.

Not the worst thing to do to make time pass while waiting for my flight to Jogja. Bintang is the biggest beer brand in Indonesia. The internet connection is also good, so time is passing quickly.

However, I am constantly being approached by shoe shine boys, begging to shine my shoes. They just walk directly into the restaurant. I politely say no thank you.

Visa extension

I feel it’s about time to leave Balikpapan again, so first thing today was to book a (direct) flight to Yogyakarta, or just Jogja as it is informally called, Central Java. I will be leaving 19:50 tonight from Balikpapan and arrive in Jogja 20:30 (it’s minus one time zone). Price of ticket: Rp 760,000 (USD 82). Phoned Mercury guest house already, to book a room for me. I always stay at Mercury when in Jogja, or at least since 2000.

Wednesday I went to the immigration office in Balikpapan to extend my visa another month. Filled in a form and talked to an officer there. Spent 30 minutes all in all. Was asked to return yesterday to pick up my passport. So I did, and after an interview with another officer (probably the chief of immigration), I paid Rp 250,000 (USD 27) at the cashier and picked up my passport with the visa extension stamped in it. Took me one hour all in all. So now my visa is extended until 22 July.

Visa extension payment receipt.

For some reason I quickly became bored after a few days in the big durian (Jakarta), not sure why. So when I woke up yesterday, I grabbed my laptop and booked an evening flight back to Balikpapan. Luckily, flights are cheap and frequent in this country (and easy to book on Internet!), so I only paid Rp 620,000 (around USD 65).

Astrid, Made and Sanjay picked me up in the airport. Those 3 (and Caecil) are the people I hang out most with in Balikpapan.

I will still be roaming Java, but I will stay here a few days first, before flying directly to Yogyakarta in Central Java, or just Jogja as it is most commonly called.

Yesterday I relocated myself from Balikpapan to Jakarta by way of Mandala Airlines, and guess where I’m staying? Yes, the good old Penginapan Asri at Rp 70.000 per night (or USD 7.50). I just called them before I left Balikpapan to reserve a room for me. Their complete address is: Jl Kebon Sirih Barat I Gang 10 No. 18, Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Telephone: +62213147684. It’s inside a “kampung”, or city village. Narrow streets where no car can pass, so it’s very quiet too.

Since Caecil is in Europe until end of June, I will take advantage of the situation by roaming around Java in the mean time. And Jakarta is where it all begins of course.