We were lucky enough to visit Komodo Island in Indonesia to see the legendary Komodo Dragon, the largest living lizard species in the world. The lizard grows to 3 metres (10 feet) in total length and attains a weight of about 135 kg (about 300 pounds). It occurs on Komodo Island and a few neighbouring islands of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands.
Indonesia: Java – A local village tour
Borobudur is surrounded by many vilages or Kampungs. Each village has their unique in culture, typical houses, traditional and local food. The village tour takes after visiting Borobudur temple. There are two possibilities of either by Andong (horse cart) or cycling.
If you go on a tour to Borobudur one popular combination is to do a local village tour on the way back to Yogyakarta. It is questionable how authentic this experience is, but it can be a lot of fun – and informational.
That is how we found ourselves arriving in a small village about a 15-minute drive from Borobudur. It is here where we met up with a lovely young lady to take us around the village to learn about how people have lived their lives here for generations.
This tour was going to be on an Andong, a small horse-drawn cart. The cart was tiny, and we just about all squeezed on. Luckily, it was not too far from our first stop.
We had been eating tempeh quite a lot since visiting Indonesia and had discovered that fresh tempeh tasted so much better than the stuff, we had bought from shops back home that was dry and often unpleasant. In Toraja, we had visited a small factory producing tofu and tempeh and had left with a bag of goodies, but we were going to see a much smaller production shop of tempeh run by a local family of farmers. We were taken into a very small room hot room where a bare-chested older man was processing soya beans to make the tempeh. The process involved boiling and steaming the beans, which is hot work in the Indonesian climate and then wrapping the bean mush in banana leaves to ferment. This takes about 2 days from start to finish and the tempeh, still wrapped in the banana leaf, is sold in the local produce market.
The second shop we visited was a lady making snacks from fried cassava. She had created a paste from boiling up the cassava and was rolling these into hoops. It reminded us of hula hoops from back home. We of course had to buy a packet from here to take back home.
We climbed back aboard our carriage and set off again through the village. Our final stop before lunch was a private house of a family of musicians. In the reception room were various traditional gong instruments. Many of the instruments were kulintangs, a gong instrument which resembles a glockenspiel, and gamelans, which look like a set on inverted metal pots. The other main instruments were drums of various sizes. I had expected we might be treated to an exhibition of these instruments, but after a demonstration by our guide, it turned out that we were going to be part of the orchestra. Some family members came in to join us and we ended up playing three traditional tunes. It was a lot of fun! After our efforts, we were able to sit down and enjoy some local snacks.
It was now time for lunch. The guided tours of the village are organised by the local community, to attract tourists and generate some much-needed revenue. Our guide was part of a team who are employed part-time and live locally. As was the cart driver. Lunch was served in the community pavilion and prepared by another member of the community. There was so much food, and it was very tasty especially the traditional salad, and by the time we were finished, we were stuffed. It was time to say goodbye to our lovely guide and start the journey back to Yogyakarta.
Getting to and around Yogyakarta
Flying
Multiple airlines including Lion Air and AirAsia offer direct flights from Jakarta to Yogyakarta.
There’s only one airline that offers direct flights from Bandung to Yogyakarta, and that’s Lion Air. The flight takes a little over an hour.
A few airlines offer direct flights from the island of Bali to Yogyakarta, including AirAsia and Lion Air. The flight takes about an hour and a half.
Trains
If you aren’t in a rush, then a good alternative would be to travel by train. Personally, we prefer trains over flights. The scenery is better and it’s much cheaper. The train ride from Jakarta to Yogyakarta takes about 8 hours so you can do an overnight train if you wish. The journey from Bandung is around the same amount of time.
Bus
A third option is to go by bus which takes a little longer than traveling by train, about 9 hours from Jakarta.
Giwangan, Yogya’s main terminal for intercity buses, is about six kilometres south of the city centre. Frequent departures connect cities all over Java and to Bali and Sumatra (via ferry). Buses are classed as executive, VIP, patas, business or economy. All except economy class offer air-con. Executive and most VIP buses have toilets, include a meal and pillow and blanket. Executive, VIP and Patas are comfortable with reclining seats with a two by two configuration. Business class are no frills with two-by-three seat configuration. Economy class has no air-con and little comfort, particularly for longer trips. Some bus drivers drive recklessly—don’t be afraid to get off a bus with a crazy driver.
Getting around Yogyakarta
Metered taxis are an inexpensive way to travel, however there can sometimes be traffic congestion. Note that Jalan Malioboro in the city is one-way only, so you may have to travel a roundabout route. Minimum fee is 20,000 rupiah. Some taxis refuse to use the meter, so just wait for one who will.
GoJek motorbike taxis are fast and less expensive than taxis. You will need to download the GoJek app and register to use it.
Becak (pedicabs) are abundant. While scenic, these are not the vehicles to take if you are in a hurry, especially since drivers often detour unannounced to their friend’s batik workshops en route. It’s best to arrange a price first (a short trip in the Yogya town centre should be no more than 10,000 to 20,000 rupiah, even at tourist prices) and if you have several destinations in mind, you can rent a becak for several hours for a flat rate.
Andong (horse-drawn carts) are another local transport option, but beware of overloading the poor overworked nags.
Clean, air-con TransJogja buses follow set colour-coded and numbered routes that pass by several major tourist areas, including Jalan Malioboro, Prambanan temple, Giwangan bus terminal and the airport. Fares are a flat 3,600 rupiah per trip and the attendants can help you catch the right bus. Pick up a free route map from the Government Tourist Information Centre on Jalan Malioboro.
Borobudur: Public buses (Cemera Tunggal and Ragil Kuning) from Jombor terminal in the north of the city leave regularly to Borobudur between 06:00 and 16:00, and cost 30,000 rupiah (1.5 hours). TransJogja buses will link you to Jombor terminal via routes 2A (sky blue) and 2B (green) (3,600 rupiah), you may have to connect to these routes via another TransJogja route. The last bus back from Borobudur leaves at 16:00. Borobudur terminal is a 10-minute walk from the temple complex, or becaks and taxis will be willing and waiting to transport you. Alternatively you can catch a Cemera Tunggal bus from Giwangan terminal in the south of the city (2 hours), although these leave less regularly and only operate 08:00 to 15:00. TransJogja links to Giwangan terminal via routes 3A (yellow), 3B (red), 4A (purple) and 4B (orange).
The best time to visit Yogyakarta
Known for its location in the tropical region of Indonesia, Yogyakarta showcases a climate that adheres to the Köppen climate classification, Af or Tropical rainforest. Constant warm temperatures along with high humidity and copious rainfall are the hallmarks of this type of climate, and Yogyakarta stands as a perfect representation.
Throughout the year, temperatures in Yogyakarta fluctuate subtly, ranging from a low of 21°C (69.8°F) to a high of approximately 29°C (84.2°F). No significant deviations are visible, made evident by the consistently high relative humidity ranging from 80% to 84%. Rainfall, on the other hand, exhibits a more pronounced fluctuation with an impressive volume ranging from 29mm (1.14″) in August to 236mm (9.29″) in March.
The best time to visit Yogyakarta
Given Yogyakarta’s consistent climate, choosing the best time to visit largely depends on personal preferences concerning humidity and rainfall. However, given the climatological data, the months from June to August present a period of relatively lower humidity (around 81 percent), lesser rainfall (ranging from 29mm (1.14″) to 83mm (3.27″)), and increase in sunshine hours (from 8.5 to 8.9). Travelers looking for a balance of tropical warmth, manageable rainfall, and pleasant sunshine would find this window most suitable.
The worst time to visit Yogyakarta
On the other hand, rainy periods in Yogyakarta could pose a hurdle to visitors who prefer exploring the outdoors in dry weather. The months of January, February, March, and November are characterized by substantial rainfall, exceeding 200mm (7.87″) and high-humidity levels, which can make exploration and outdoor activities less enjoyable.
Other places to visit while in Yogyakarta
1. Borobudur Temple
In 1814, the Dutch engineer HC Cornelius discovered in the Java jungle, in Indonesia, the ruins of a gigantic mandala, the impressive Borobudur temple, built between 780 and 830 AD by the Sailendra Buddhist dynasty.
2. Prambanan Temple
Built in the 10th century, this is the largest temple compound dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia. Rising above the centre of the last of these concentric squares are three temples decorated with reliefs illustrating the epic of the Ramayana.
3. The Kraton (The Palace of Yogyakarta)
The Kraton (also spelled keraton or karaton) or the Palace of Yogyakarta, is a grand complex that was meticulously planned to reflect the Javanese cosmos. This complex of pavilions was constructed based on ancient beliefs, about the connection between God, humans and the natural realms.
Where to stay in Yogyakarta
1. Mid Range: Nextdoor Homestay
We spent three nights here during our time in Yogyakarta and loved it.
Located close to the centre of the city down a very quiet alley this is more of a backpacker’s hangout but at the same time was not grungy. Indeed, there were many design aspects that we loved, and it felt like an oasis of peace and tranquillity. That was until the call to prayer started at the adjacent mosque! Our room was comfortable and there were plenty of places to escape for some solitude in and around the homestay.
The staff at Next Door could not have been more welcoming.Â
2. Luxury – The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta
Located in the heart of Yogyakarta, The Phenix Hotel Yogyakarta – MGallery Collection is luxury accommodations in a colonial landmark from 1918. The 5-star hotel offers a spa, a fine-dining restaurant and spacious rooms with free WiFi. The outdoor pool is large and open all-year.
Boasting classic interiors with Javanese and European elements in intricate details, the rooms at this property feature modern amenities such as flat-screen TV and air conditioning. Each room is fitted with a mini-bar and safety deposit box for your convenience. Hot shower facilities are available in the private bathroom.
3. Budget – Wonderloft Hostel Jogja
Featuring a garden, Wonderloft Hostel Jogja offers rooms in Yogyakarta, 1.9 miles from Fort Vredeburg and 2 miles from Museum Sonobudoyo. The property is located 2.1 miles from Sultan’s Palace, 2.7 miles from Malioboro Mall and 2.8 miles from Yogyakarta Presidential Palace. Prambanan Temple is 12 miles from the hostel and Borobudur Temple is 27 miles away.
Featuring a shared bathroom with a bidet, rooms at the hostel also provide guests with free WiFi, while selected rooms include a garden view.
More to Explore
