Yogyakarta - A Journey Through Temples, Caves and Cultural Treasures

29 October 2024: Arrival in Yogyakarta

At 7:00, our taxi arrived to take us to Bandung station, where we caught the train to beautiful Yogyakarta (or so everyone says)! The trains here are fantastic – they clean the restrooms continuously and collect trash every hour. During our 6-hour journey, they passed by four times with coffee and food. The seats were super comfortable, and the views were stunning!

Once we arrived in Yogyakarta, we checked into the Jambuluwuk Malioboro Hotel, a nice hotel with good rooms. We wanted to do some laundry at the hotel, but it would have cost us 31.50 euros – a bit steep. So, not wanting to be “crazy Henkie,” we took our laundry to the nearest laundromat, where it was ready in 3 hours for just 1.5 euros. Now we’re talking! 😉

In the evening, we dined at the Mexican restaurant in the hotel, enjoying a delicious meal while a local band gave us a private performance!

Off to bed early, as tomorrow we’re heading to the temples!

30 October 2024: Majestic Temples of Borobudur and Prambanan

At 6:05 (so early! 😭), we got up to make it on time to the famous Borobudur and Prambanan temples. We had a quick breakfast and then headed out with our English-speaking guide. Along the way, we stopped at a cute coffee spot for a cup of “cat-poop-cino” – decent, but nothing too special.

Locals collect the cat’s coffee droppings daily. Since the animals eat only coffee cherries and fruits, the droppings are odourless.

After it's cleaned, the coffee is dried in the sun for about a week

Next step is removing the husks by hand

Then the coffee beans are roasted at high heat for about 1 hour and then they look like this. 

Borobudur and Prambanan are truly majestic temples that showcase Indonesia’s rich cultural history. At Borobudur, we climbed the impressive terraces with numerous stupas; the top layer alone holds 72, each containing a Buddha statue inside, symbolizing the path to enlightenment.

Upanat sandals - woven sandals made from a combination of pandan leaves, coconut shells, and an eva sponge sheet. The use of upanat sandals aims to protect the temple rocks

This time of year is less crowded with tourists, so we had plenty of space for taking photos.

Lunch break between the temples visit

Between temple visits, we just missed a massive rainstorm as we were in the car on the way to the next temple.

Prambanan, Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple, was equally awe-inspiring. Sadly, it’s estimated to take another 200 years to fully restore it, but its beauty is undeniable even now.

Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a refreshing swim and ended the day with a lovely dinner. Heading to bed early to be ready for more adventures tomorrow!

31 October 2024 : My Birthday Surprises 

The day began with a sweet surprise: the hotel gave me a birthday cake, but the card read “Happy Birthday Wife”! Not quite accurate since I'm not Mark's wife yet, which made it extra amusing. Then, I received my first gift of the day from Mark: a voucher for a painting for my office in our new home!

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, part two of the surprise was a relaxing one-hour massage Mark had arranged for me.

We then spent a few blissful hours by the hotel pool, unwinding in the sun. At one point, a school class of high school students walked by, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many girls looking back at Mark; some even had to be nudged forward by their classmates! 😂

Later, we headed into the city to explore Yogyakarta – such a beautiful city! In the evening, we had pizza at a Mediterranean restaurant, and now it’s off to bed early, as we have a big day planned for tomorrow!

1 November 2024: Cave Adventures in Yogyakarta

Once again, we got up at 6:00 for a new adventure! We started the day with a visit to Jomblang Cave, an exciting (and slightly scary) experience where we were lowered 60 meters down and then hoisted back up in a harness. The view down there was totally worth it! It was stunning to look up from the cave and watch the light break through the darkness.

The entire operation for descent and ascent is done manually by locals.

Terrifying but absolutely worth it!

Lunch was included in the ticket price.

After lunch, we continued to Pindul Cave, a completely different but equally amazing cave. We started with a short boat ride and then switched to an inner tube to float further in, enjoying the chance to swim and relax in the water.

Angel wings stalactites

Back at the hotel, we rested for a bit before heading out to end the evening at restaurant Kalluna, a beautifully decorated spot with a fantastic ambiance.

2 November 2024: Art and Culture in Yogyakarta

We started the day with brunch at the same restaurant as last night, enjoying delicious waffles with chicken and caramelized fruit. A tip from Mark, though: skip the house specialty coffees—they’re loaded with sweetness!

Afterward, we took a Batik class. The instructor didn’t speak English, so the explanations were brief, but it was fascinating to see this traditional craft in action.

Step 1 - Drawing the batik design

Step 2 - Using a tool called canting we applied a hot melted wax which acts as a resist on the fabric and then we dyed it. 

Step 3 - After waiting 2h for the dye to dry, we applied another layer of a transparent liquid

Later, we cooled off with a swim, then headed out for dinner at Nanamia Pizzeria, where we enjoyed some great pizza.

In the evening, we attended a Ramayana Ballet performance, a unique experience with live fire and fireworks!

Back at the hotel, we finished our Batik pieces, which turned out beautifully!

Step 4 - After 3h since the last layer was applied, we boiled the fabric in order to remove the wax.

3 November 2024: Royal Adventures in Yogyakarta

We started the day with another delicious Indonesian breakfast. Then, we visited the Water Palace, a beautiful site now transformed into charming Indonesian courtyards—really lovely to see!

Next, we headed to Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, the royal palace. It was fascinating to visit, especially knowing it’s still used by the royal family! A funny moment occurred when Mark had to take off his slippers, while most others kept their shoes on. Later, someone asked where his shoes were and told him he could just wear them. Well, alright then!

Afterward, we returned to the hotel, enjoyed another relaxing swim, and treated ourselves to room service—always fun to do!

Later, we had some laundry done, went shopping in the city center, and ended the day with a delightful dinner at Madam Tan, enjoying authentic Indonesian cuisine.

M&M