Out of the over 17.000 islands that form Indonesia, two stand out the most when it comes to tourism. Bali, the world-famous holiday destination is a compact packing of beaches, surfing, Hindu culture, waterfalls, and an international crowd. On the other hand, Java, the most populous island, offers a more rugged travel experience complete with…
What is it that makes people visit Yogyakarta? Three words: Culture, Temples, Adventure. This 3-day itinerary devotes 1 day to each of them. Why listen to me? I first went to Jogja (Yogyakarta’s nickname) as a tourist, returned as a traveler 3 years later, and then stayed as a local for 6 months. I know…
Yogyakarta is the place in Java with the highest density of cultural and historical places you can visit. There are tens of ancient temples, authentic markets, history museums, royal Javanese architecture, you name it. There are also so many different activities that you can partake in while in the city of culture and education (it’s…
No visit to Yogyakarta is complete without watching the sunrise at Borobudur and the sunset at Prambanan. These two activities offer incredible scenery in the backdrop of two ancient and majestic temples. What’s so special about the Prambanan temple sunset? It’s the combination of being surrounded by over a hundred Hindu shrines, a clear view…
Yogyakarta is the most popular city for backpackers on Java and do I even have to describe Bali? No wonder traveling between Yogyakarta and Bali is very popular. Here I compare the direct bus from Yogyakarta to Bali, the train, ferry, plus minibus option, and the direct flight and straight-up answer which is best (to…
The island of Java has had multiple empires throughout the ages. Some we know little of, others almost nothing but the one most shrouded in religious mysticism is the Sultanate of Mataram. The third sultan of Mataram, Sultan Agung the Great, unified most of Java under his rule, vehemently fought against the Dutch colonizers in…
The Ramayana ballet at Prambanan Temple is a popular cultural performance in Indonesia that retells the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana, through traditional Javanese dance and music. Prambanan Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Yogyakarta on the island of Java. The temple complex is dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu,…
Traveling from Jakarta to Yogyakarta is one of the most popular routes on Java. There are three ways to go from the capital to the tourism hotspot that Jogja is: The best way to get from Jakarta to Yogyakarta is by train. In this article, you will find all the information to plan your train…