Travel Tips

Teeming Java is sometimes dismissed by visitors. I thoroughly enjoyed my 6 weeks in the heartland of Indonesia.

There is lots to see and do, from physical to cultural pursuits, and even some beaches. Java has more volcanoes than anywhere else in the world, and has some of South East Asia's finest temples...

This picture is of the water castle in Yogyakarta.

Dating from around 800AD, Borobudur is one of the great Buddhist relics along with Bagan in Myanmar and Cambodia's Angkor Wat. It can be easily reached from Yogyakarta.

Borobudur is claimed to be the '8th Wonder of the World' by the local guides. It is certainly superbly located, amidst rolling, lush, volcanic countryside. Watching the sun rise over it is a treasured memory...

Not far from Borobudur, but closer to Solo than Yogyakarta, is another great temple complex. Built at around the same time as Borobudur, Prambanan is a Hindu construction.

A rival to Yogyakarta as the cultural capital of Central Java is sleepy Solo. Against all expectations, during my visit in March 1998, I ended up staying for 3 weeks in this laid back city.

Solo is a good place to witness traditional Javanese life, as it has none of the hawkers and touts of more touristed Yogjakarta. I also did an excellent bicycle
tour around 6 or 7 local industries in the city and surrounding countryside with an excellent local guide. See this photo in a batik factory, for instance...

Other highlights included watching the gamelan performers rehearse in the Kraton (Sultan's palace), and the general ambience of the place.