Jakarta to Yogyakarta

We take a “free” walking tour in this huge metrolitan city which gets us out and about despite the heat and humidity.

Our wonderful guide, Fajz, starts us out  in Old Town (Kota Tua) with its Dutch colonial city core of the 1700s.

Jakarta is the fastest sinking city in the world: in the last 25 years it has subsided more than 16 feet; 40% of the city is now below sea level.

Our guide informs us that a second capital is being designed/constructed in Borneo: the city of Nusantara. It began work in 2022 and is expected to be “finished” in 2045 (100th anniversary of Indonesia).

A few other highlights from our walk:

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From Jakarta we take a very pleasant five hour train trip to Yogyakarta.

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Yogyakarta

Arriving in Jogja as it is affectionately referred to by locals  – we settle into a recommended neighbourhood of Prawirotaman.

Karaton Ngayogyakarta (the Kings Palace).

Parts are off limits as royals still reside here. The current king is advocating to change tradition in having one of his two daughters inherit the position.

Borobudor

Borobudur (8th C) is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, situated here in Java in what is now a primarily muslim country.

Borobudur has 10 levels representing Mahayana school of philosophy that must be passed to reach Buddhist perfection.

Borobudor has 2672 relief panels (largest Buddhist collection in the world): 1460 narrative and the rest decorative.

Prambadan Temple

On the same day trip out of Yogyakarta, Prambadan Temple is striking. The largest Hindu temple in Indonesia, it is really a compound of temples and like Anker Wat with more and more small temples being regularly discovered on the outskirts.

The large panel blocks tell the story of Prince Rama and his wife Siva

Monk Monastery

A wonderfully quiet reprieve from Temples.

Malioboro District

We are told that we cannot leave town without a visit to this street/area. We head to Hamzah Batik.

If you are looking for a knowledgeable guide in Yogyakarta contact Serantini (she goes by Tini) at whats app: +62 856-4338-9211.

Many companies take very large slices out of what you as a tourist pay. Better to put it directly into tour guide’s pocket.