We're back with another adventure! How are you liking our first entry to the Solo Traveler's Journal series, the Curious Cambodia? I hope you enjoyed it.
Today we will be visiting an archipelago with one of the most diverse people and cultures in Asia, inspiring Indonesia. I chose Indonesia because, first, it is near where I live (Thailand), and there are low-cost flights flying from Bangkok to Indonesia daily. Secondly, Indonesia has one of the most diverse landscapes in Asia, from active volcanoes to beaches in Bali. This is the kind of country I like to visit, a country truly rich in history and culture.
For this trip, I decided to test my limits and squeeze as many activities in as I can in a 3-day trip.
Where to Stay in Yogyakarta and Mt. Bromo?
Summary
- Took a flight from Bangkok (6:15 am) to Bali (11:30 am).
- Traveled around Bali for 6 hours, Saw the Tegallalang rice terrace, tried their Luwak coffee (the most expensive coffee in the world) and other places if have time.
- Boarded a flight from Bali (7:20 pm) to Surabaya (7:10 pm).
- Drove to Mt Bromo (3 - 4 hrs) and arrived around 11:35 pm. Took a nap at a hotel and woke up at 3:30 am for a sunrise trip at theMushollaPenanjakanspot near Mt Bromo (40 minutes trip on a jeep).
- Explore Mt Bromo until 12:00 pm and left for the train station in Surabaya.
- Took a train to Yogyakarta (4 hours) and sleep at a hotel that night
- Woke up again at 3:00 am for a sunrise trip at Borobudur.
- Stayed there until 10 am and left for another temple,Prambanan temple.
- Stayed there for a few hours and left for the airport to board a flight from Yogyakarta to Malaysia and Malaysia to Bangkok.
Note: I do not recommend anyone to follow this itinerary. It was brutal. I was unproductive for a week after I came back because I slept only 8-10 hours on that 3-day trip. The purpose here was to test myself to see if I could do it, so try to spread your itinerary out to maybe 4-5 days instead.
Quick Tips
- Bali has a traffic problem so spare some time for the traffic especially if you are traveling during the rush hours (8 - 10 AM and 4 - 6 PM).
- Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport was under expansion when I was there and it is scheduled for completion by 2013 so prepare yourself for delays if you are traveling before the end of 2013.
- Indonesian currency is the Rupiah and the rate is approximately around 10.000 rupiahs for US$ 1. The majority of stores I've been accepts the only rupiah so you better prepare your spending in rupiah.
- 3G SIM card I used was by simPATI.I bought it at one of the booth available outside of the Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali. It cost me a few dollars to get a 3G and a few minutes of phone calls.
- When you are booking a hotel (especially at Mt Bromo) through an agency or websites like Agoda, call the hotel and confirm the booking first before you arrive. When there are problems the hotel usually contact the agency (Agoda) instead of contacting you directly and sometimes the agency forgot to tell you about it.
- The weather at Mt Bromo is very cold during the night and morning but it dropped rapidly during the afternoon so prepare accordingly.
- The hotel I stayed at Mt Bromo (Cemera Indah) didn't have a functional hot water so you should check it before you check into the room.
- All the hotel at Mt Bromo are overpriced so prepare to pay at a premium and expect the quality to be subpar. I paid around 725000 rupiahs (US$70) for a room with a dysfunctional hot water.
- There are ways for you to book a train ticket online in Indonesia. Seat61 has written a comprehensive guide here.
- I'm not sure if it is a norm here but I had to pay for my driver's meals as well.
- If you need a car with a driver to Mt Bromo and back, try emailing theThe Pink House Car Rental. My driver (Brahm)was very good. Contact them and ask for Brahm. Feel free to mention me (Pete from Thailand) and you might get a discount. :)
- Traveling around Asia on a plane can be extremely cheap if you book a flight with low cost airlines such asAirAsia.
Indonesia Tours & Activities
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
- Ubud Tour - Best of Ubud - All Inclusive (8 to 10 hours)
- ️Nusa Penida by Private Boat - Snorkeling 4 spots, Swim with Mantas + Land Tour (8 to 10 hours)
- ATV Quad Bike Bali with Waterfall Gorilla Cave and Lunch (3 hours)
What to Pack for Indonesia?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Indonesia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Indonesia in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
- Ubud Tour - Best of Ubud - All Inclusive (8 to 10 hours)
- ️Nusa Penida by Private Boat - Snorkeling 4 spots, Swim with Mantas + Land Tour (8 to 10 hours)
- ATV Quad Bike Bali with Waterfall Gorilla Cave and Lunch (3 hours)
Day 1: Bali 6-hours Trip
The Airasia flights are extremely cheap from Bangkok to Indonesia. It cost me only around ~US$300. They fly twice a day from Bangkok to Bali.
As I was walking in Bali's Airport, I was welcomed by this unique Balinese architecture. You gotta love the uniqueness of the culture here.
First stop is to try out the infamous Luwak Kopi (Luwak coffee). They had me walk through a garden where they grew their own coffees and teas. This is an old lady brewing the coffee.
After walking through the garden with a guide explaining all the steps required to produce the Luwak Kopi, I was seated at this beautiful tent where people can enjoy their coffees while looking at the breathtaking view of rice fields stretched over the plain.
Here it is, the most expensive coffee in the world. One cup of coffee costs me around US$5. All the small cups of flavored teas and coffees are complimentary though, so it was worth it.
The traffic was way worse than I originally thought. It took me an hour and a half to reach this place, the Tegallalang rice terrace. I wish I had more time so I could walk down the terrace.
Here are a few more shots.
The village atop the terrace. With a narrow road like this, and people parking their cars on the side, no wonder why the traffic in Bali was so bad.
I saw this guy walking around with baskets full of rice, so..
..Why not borrow his baskets, right? :) As usual, he expected a tip.
Unfortunately, that was all the time I had in Bali. I headed back to the airport and boarded a plane to Surabaya.
Day 2: Surabaya - Mt Bromo
The flight from Bali to Surabaya was delayed because the airport was undergoing expansion, so it was a mess at the airport. I eventually arrived at Surabaya's airport around 8:00 pm and met my driver.
Tip: If you are looking for a car with a driver rental service in Surabaya, I recommend The Pink House Car Rental. It cost me around 1 million rupiahs (US$97) for 2 days of service. The driver (Brahm) is one of the best drivers I've met. He speaks almost perfect English and he took me to many cheap restaurants to try out local foods. He also went out of his way to help me in many ways. My 3G sim card by Simpati ran out of credits and he took me to the service center in Surabaya and translated everything for me.
During the drive, I noticed vast differences in the architecture, clothing, culture, and religion of people in Surabaya (mostly Islam) compared to Bali (mostly Hindu). It was like landing in a different country. After a 3-4 hour drive up a mountain from Surabaya to Mt Bromo, I arrived at 11:30 pm. I went to the hostel I originally booked with Agoda called Cafe Lava Hostel, but apparently the hostel was fully booked. They said they had already told Agoda about it and they did not have any spare rooms left. I had to call Agoda and ask them why they screwed up my booking, and they said they had already booked another hotel for me but forgot to tell me about it. I was so tired that I had no energy left to even shout at their mistakes, but eventually, I went to the other hotel they booked for me called Cemera Indah. After minutes of confusion by the people at the reception, I finally got a room to stay for the night.
Tip: The weather was freezing at Mt. Bromo, so prepare accordingly. The hotel I stayed in didn't have functional hot water, so you should check it before you check into the room.
Tip 2: All the hotels here are overpriced. Prepare to pay a premium and expect the quality to be subpar. I paid around 725,000 rupiah (US$70) for a room with dysfunctional hot water.
I woke up at 3:30 AM and took a jeep (80,000 rupiahs or US$8 provided by the hotel) with other fellow travelers to the sunrise spot overlooking Mt Bromo, Mt Batok, and Mt Semeru. Unfortunately, the driver was late, and we weren't able to climb to the top-most spot in time for the sunrise, so we stayed at the lower spot called the Penanjakan 1.
Fog sweeping through the plain.
A few more photos of Mt Bromo at the sunrise spot. It were beyond amazing.
After a few hours at the sunrise spot, I took a Jeep to see Mt. Bromo up close. Myself and other travelers had a great conversation about how the driver screwed up our plan to see the sunrise. It was nice to have a group of people to talk to while traveling. :)
You could choose whether you want to walk up (a 15-minute walk) or ride on a horse. We decided to walk so we can take photos along the way.
Welcome to the Barren. I wasn't even sure if I was on Earth or on the moon at this point.
Mt Batok up close.
A few more steps to go...
And here it is, the crater of Mt. Bromo.
Since I will most likely be here only once, I decided to walk up to the topmost part of the crater where there was no fence. It was worth it. There were fewer people, and it gives a better view of the surroundings.
Here I am at the top.
Volcanic ash.
After an hour at the top, it was time to walk down. Boy, it was crowded.
As I walked down, I noticed a small Hindu temple and snapped a few pictures. Unfortunately, I couldn't go in because there were people praying inside.
Back at the hotel, here is the view of the hotel, and I gotta say, thank God they switched the hotel for me. This is the best view you can get from a hotel around Mt Bromo.
After saying goodbye to my companions, it was time to leave this beautiful place.
Trying all sorts of local foods on the way back to Surabaya.
I arrived at the train station around 5:00 PM and left Surabaya for Yogyakarta. It took me 4 hours and several naps until I arrived at the Yogyakarta train station and was picked up by the hotel.
Day 3: Borobudur - Yogyakarta
I stayed at the Rumah Palagan Guest House. This is the best hotel I stayed at in Indonesia by far. It was very cheap (US$29), yet of high quality.
I decided to hire a car with a driver (450.000 Rupiah or US$45 per day) provided by the hotel to drive me around the city, starting with the sunrise at the Borobudur compound.
The Borobudur is not really a temple but a collection of stupas. It only takes around 15 minutes from the hotel to this place. The compound is usually closed until 6:00 AM, so if you want to see the sunrise, you will have to go through the only hotel located on the same ground as the compound called Manohara Hotel. The price is a little expensive (~US$35), but it gives you a chance to see the compound at sunrise in peace without the crowds.
More photos around the top part of the compound.
Tip: Local people here really love taking photos with foreigners. I had several kids asking for a photo of me and their friends while walking around the compound. I had no idea why, but it was a fun and unique experience.
Stone carvings and statues are located at the bottom of the compound.
At the foot of the compound.
Day 3: Prambanan - Yogyakarta
After a few hours at Borobudur, I asked the driver to take me to another well-known Hindu temple, the Prambanan. Prambanan is the biggest Hindu temple compound in Indonesia and a UNESCO site. The entrance fee for foreigners is US$18 (162,000 Rp) or US$9 /Rp81.000 for a registered student.
As I approached the temple, I was met with a stunning view of this unique architecture.
Each temple was dedicated to each god.
Another look back at the compound, it was quite stunning. There are other temples in the Prambanan area as well, and I wish I had the time to explore them all. Too bad, I had to depart at 5 PM to Malaysia and back to Bangkok.
I walked around the area for 2 hours, letting myself absorb this place slowly. This is the benefit of traveling alone. You can just sit, relax, and let your mind wander for hours at places like this.
After enjoying my time at the Prambanan temples, I left for the airport and returned home.
Flying back home.
Conclusion
And this concludes my trip around inspiring Indonesia, the second entry of the Solo Traveler's Journal. I hope you enjoyed this entry. There are plenty of adventurous activities you can do here in Indonesia, and no matter what kind of adventurer you are, you will enjoy your time in Indonesia.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Indonesia
I hope this travel guide will help you plan your Indonesia trip. I have visited Indonesia more times than I can count, and I have written a ton of articles about the country.
If you are looking for more articles about Indonesia, here is a selection of articles that might help you plan your trip to Indonesia even better:
- Looking for a complete itinerary and travel guide for Indonesia? One Month Itinerary for Indonesia.
- Are you planning to travel to Indonesia as part of a big Southeast Asia trip? Check out our 3-month backpacking itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Jakarta is a massive city, unlike any other, and there is quite a lot to do here if you know where to look. Here are the 8 Best Things To Do in Jakarta.
- Yogyakarta is a great cultural and historical place to visit in Indonesia, and there are plenty of things to see and do there. Here are the 9 Best Things To Do in Yogyakarta.
- Did you know that there is an island in Indonesia that is free of tourists? One of them is Karimunjawa, a true hidden gem island of Java. Here's a complete guide on how to travel to Karimunjawa island.
- Looking for an article that summarizes a trip through the Java island? Check out my photo essay of Java, Indonesia.
- Lombok is now gaining popularity, but one of the best things you can do on the island is to trek Mount Rinjani, a volcano on a lake in another volcano on an island. Here’s a complete guide on how to trek Mount Rinjani.
- Gili Trawangan is one of the most popular Gili islands in Lombok, and even though it's crowded, you can often find solitude if you know where to look. Plus, it's cheap. Here's an article about exploring Gili Trawangan.
- I bet visiting the Komodo Island is among the top of your bucket list. If so, you are going to need this: Here's a complete backpacking guide to the Komodo Islands.
- Flores is another great island that deserves way more credit than it receives. There are the Komodo islands, Kelimutu tri-colored lakes, and so much more. Here is a 10-day travel guide for Flores and Komodo Island.
- Talking about Kelimutu, here's a complete travel guide on how to get to Kelimutu lakes in Flores.
- For a complete itinerary to Sumatra, check out: One Month Backpacking Sumatra Itinerary.
- Being the largest volcanic lake in the world, you can't visit Sumatra without visiting Lake Toba. Here are the 10 Awesome Things to do in Lake Toba, Sumatra.
- Want to travel to Lake Toba from Medan, but not sure how? Here's a guide for you: How To Get From Medan To Lake Toba.
- Berastagi is home to some of the most accessible volcanoes in Sumatra. It's definitely worth a stop if hiking a volcano is on your bucket list. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Berastagi.
- Want to see orangutans in the wild in Indonesia? The best place is Bukit Lawang and here's A Complete Guide to Orangutan Trekking in Bukit Lawang.
- For West Sumatra, your journey will likely begin in Padang, the capital city of the province, with a ton of things to do. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Padang.
- Get off the beaten path in Sumatra and visit Bukittinggi, the old capital of the Pagaruyung Kingdom, and explore the highlands with this guide: 12 Best Things to Do in Bukittinggi.
- Want to visit Bukittinggi? Here are all the best ways you can travel there: How to Get to Bukittinggi: A Complete Guide
- One of the best islands to visit in Sumatra is Mentawai. It's not just a place for surfers. You can enjoy the beach, snorkeling, and even spend days living with the Mentaway tribe. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Mentawai.
- If you want to visit and live with the Mentawai Tribe in the jungle for a few days, this guide is for you: Visiting the Mentawai Tribe: A Complete Guide.
- Not sure how to get to the Mentawai Islands? Here is all the information you need from ferry schedules, costs, and more: How to Get to Mentawai: A Complete Guide
- Are you planning your Indonesia trip as part of a big Southeast Asia trip? If so, be sure to check out my photographic journey through the subcontinent. Here are 64 photos that will inspire you to visit Southeast Asia.
- Wondering where you want to go next? How about Timor Leste? Visit Timor Leste Travel Guide page for more travel guides about Timor Leste.
- To see all articles about Indonesia, visit the Indonesia Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for Southeast Asia? You can find more on my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
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3 Comments
very nice
Awesome journal.
nice.