theo1006's VirtualTourist Home Page

We, Theo (1942) and Helen (1952), have chosen to live our retirement years in Java. Theo, a Dutch national, worked here in his former life for 16 years. Helen, born in Suriname, lived in France and the Netherlands, before she teamed up with Theo.

We love travelling off the beaten path, discovering places that most tourists pass by. In Java and Bali we do this with our own ISUZU minibus. Our latest trip was in East-Java, around Wilis mountain. Still working on the tips for Madiun, Nganjuk, Ponorogo and Tulungagung, the towns which lie near this mountain. In December 2006/January 2007 we went to Suriname, where we spent 2 months discovering the interior and other places.

Our own minibus brings us everywhere in Java and Bali. It has ample space for 2 to 4 people with luggage and is just right for the road conditions.

Java is an overpopulated island. The population has about doubled since Theo first set foot here almost 40 years ago. The effects of this are visible everywhere.
On public holidays popular destinations are crowded with domestic tourists. Unless of course you like to mix with these crowds, you better plan your journey to avoid these days, or seek out a remote destination on them. Here are the red days for 2008:
(1) Thursday through Sunday 10-13 January. Thursday is the muslim new year's day 1429, making a long weekend of 4 days.
(2) Thursday through Sunday 7-10 February. Another long weekend starting with Chinese new year 2559 (Imlek) on Thursday.
(3) Friday through Sunday 7-9 March. A three-day weekend because the Hindu holiday Nyepi Saka 1930 falls on Friday.
(4) Thursday through Sunday 20-23 March. The muslims commemorate Maulid Nabi Muhammad SAW on Thursday, the next day is Good Friday.
(5) Thursday through Sunday 1-4 May. A long weekend following Ascension Day.
(6) Saturday through Tuesday 17-20 May, because Tuesday is Hari Raya Waisak 2552, another Hindu holiday.
(7) Wednesday 30 July, a single muslim holiday: Isra' Mi'raj.
(8) Saturday through Monday 16-18 August. Sunday is Independence Day, but because it is a Sunday the government has reserved the Monday for the festivities. You may of course want to attend these.
(9) Saturday 27 September through Sunday 5 October. This is the week that all Javanese travel, as it is customary for families to gather at their parents' home for Idul Fitri 1 Syawal 1428 H (the end of fast month), which falls on Wednesday or Thursday.
(10) Saturday through Monday 6-8 December. A three day weekend because of Idul Adha 1429 H on Monday.
(11) Thursday 25 December through Thursday 1 January 2009. Not only because of Christmas and western New Year's day, also the muslim new year 1430 H begins on Monday 29 December. Officially 30 and 31 December are not holidays, but many will take them off anyway.