Yah, I've been slack with this baby I know.. but life is like that here in Indonesia.. laid back.. no priorities.. lots of rest and relaxation.. I can honestly say my level of desire to do much right now is minimal.. perhaps because I know in one month I am back to reality and back to Australia and begrudgingly back to work! February the 5th feels like a while ago but my first impressions and tastes of Jogja are still strong.. though what I know and feel of this place now is comforting, I do miss that thrill of arriving to a new destination and navigating through new streets, finding new places to eat, trying new cuisine, meeting new people.. However since we have relocated in Jogja for the last 3 weeks, we have found many new places to eat and hang out. In Feb you would still have to twist my arm to get me to eat out of the street vendor's little kitchen on wheels.. now, I am not so fussy and wow the food is delicious! How I will miss yellow rice with peanuts, fried egg, cabbage and sambal for breakfast. I crave the stuff.. It is an over generous serving and only 5000rupiah.. just over 50 cents. And just as good if not better than some food you'd find here in restaurants. The ease of getting your breakfast 'dibungkus' (take away) wrapped in a bamboo leaf and paper I will miss. It is beautifully presented every time you open your parcel once you get home. The call to prayer is somewhat of a staple of every day life here. I enjoy it more now that we don't live next to a mosque and enjoy the sounds resonating through the air, especially in the evenings. I will miss the magnificent views of Mt Merapi.. The guilty indulgence of getting a western meal a few times a week.. The freedom of the scooter.. the crazy chaotic roads... the friendliness of the people.. karaoke.. even at times I think i'll miss sticking out of the crowd, though many times I have only wanted the opposite! I will miss the amazingly abundant amount of street art on every corner. Jogjakarta is a very characteristic, friendly and yes chaotic place to be but once you get your head around this place it is incredibly charming and easy going.
We had an adventure to West Java to a beach called Batu Karas, a reknown surfing beach. Though we cannot surf we spent a very fun couple of days relaxing by the water, body boarding and enjoying the rural countryside of Java. We visited the Green Canyon, a river that is enveloped by lush ferns & trees, the river is incredibly green. Unfortunately for us, the weather was too cool for us to swim (we have acclimatised!- the Indonesians who always complain about the cold were in the water and we refused!)We got on the back of a motorbike (ojek) to get to the nearest bus station and rode over a bamboo bridge overhanging the river- a blue sky, 630am morning sunlight, the green river and a mist rising over the water made for a breathtaking sight!The beauty is priceless and well worth the 16 hour round way trip.
I'm not sure what is on the cards for this week. I'm yet to make my way to Borobodor.. Should do it. Then we are off via Jakarta to KL to reach Phuket! A week of Thailand, 2 weeks of Vietnam..
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| A favourite view of mine of part of Jogjakarta |
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| Heading west |
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| Batu Karas, West Java |
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