Yogyakarta Day 3: Goa Pindul & Oyo River Water Tubing & Ratu Boko

On day 3, we tried water tubing.

We were transported by our guide to this area, then we made a payment of IDR600k for 4 pax.

We were then transferred by a small lorry to the river.

Safety jacket.

And start our journey where the river flows us into Goa Pindul.

It's pretty safe. There is guide who bring each groups and will explain on the history of the area.

And yes.. a lot of tourists also!

After Goa Pindul, we get back to the small lorry and transported to Oyo River, where we were flowed by the water along Oyo River.

I doubt the cleanliness of the water though.

And wear suitable sandals if you plan to participate in this activity. My sandal was flowed away.

Both activities took half day and there is toilet provided for you to clean up after the activity.

After have our lunch, we went to Ratu Boko.

We were quite reluctant to come as the entrance ticket cost USD13 each.

People were commenting that the sunset view from here was awesome. However, on the day of our trip, the sun was hidden by the clouds! And this is all the view we got for USD13.

Entrance fees included a meal, where you can choose fried rice, fried noodles or fried banana.

And this marks the end of our annual March trip :)

Yogyakarta Day 2: Prambanan Temple - Malioboro

In the evening, we went to Prambanan Temple.

The entrance fees was included in the ticket we bought at Borobudur.

Be mesmerized by the architectural! 

A lot of tourists!!

It's impossible to get a picture without someone in it. 

We took the shuttle which brought us for to round this temple.

This is the restoration area.

After that, we checked in to our hotel at Malioboro Street.

Sakanti Hotel was reasonably price, located near to Malioboro Street and room was spacious.

However toilet cleanliness needs improvement.

Malioboro Street at night.

This is hawker stalls for roadside local foods.

We stop by one stall and tried out the local nasi kucing - which cost less than RM1.

However, it only consists of a small portion of white rice and tempe.

That is why it is call nasi kucing - the foods portion is equal to the foods given to cats.

We also tried their kopi arang (charcoal coffee), where charcoal was burnt and thrown into the coffee.

There is no smell from the charcoal, thus only tasted coffee.

How safe was this drink? I'm not sure will there be any effect/ carcinogenic substances from the burnt charcoal. However, can give it a try. Once in a lifetime.

Yogyakarta Day 2: Je Jamuran

During the planning of this trip, I'd came across blogs introducing this restaurant and bookmarked it.

Coincidentally, our tour guide also introduce us to this place and he drove us here.

Je-Jamuran - means mushrooms. Where most of the foods here are made from mushrooms.

Although it was crowded, the service speed was fast. We were seated within minutes after we arrived.

We ordered mushroom satay for a try.

And for the rest of the dishes, we just picked the Set Meal - IDR198k.

It was so worthy as it consists of a lot of dishes.

Pecal sayur. Too spicy for me though.

Forgotten what curry was this.

Vegie soup.

Grilled chicken. The sambal was nice.

Fried tauge.

Tempe & tofu.

The set meal - excludes the satay.

It was a great meal for this trip. The dishes taste good and the portion was too much for 4 of us.

Worth to give it a try.

Yogyakarta Day 2: Borobudur Temple

We walk about 10 minutes from our hotel to Borobudur.

Too bad, it starts to rain heavily after we purchased the entrance ticket.

But it does not deterred us from continuing our tour. Because we paid IDR41600 for the entrance fees (which includes entrance fees to Prambanan too). Foreigners actually paid 9 times more than the locals!

There is people renting umbrella for IDR20k. We took the offer though.

It's really amazing how the ancient people able to carved this from stones.

Peace.

Actually not peace. Haha.. there is so many local students here for tour. And they keep bug you to take pictures with them claiming it is for their school project.

You have to move around to look for places without the crowd for a good picture.

Bye Borobudur - one of the seven wonders of the world.

Yogyakarta Day 1: Dinner @ Cempaka Villa

After Mt. Merapi jeep ride, we were transported to check in to our hotel - Cempaka Villa at Central Java.

The trip back to our hotel took more than 2 hours due to the unusual traffic condition.

We called it a day and decided to settle our dinner at the hotel.

Curry chicken with a bowl of white rice - IDR45k

Tong Seng chicken with a bowl of white rice - IDR45k

Fried rice - IDR40k

Fried noodle - IDR35k

Well, I would say it was quite overpriced as the foods does not taste as good as I expected (except the fried noodle). And the kitchen took so long to prepare our foods.

If possible, get your dinner settled before check in to hotel.

Yogyakarta Day 1: Mt. Merapi Jeep Ride

After our lunch, we were transported to a place (I've no idea where it was), where there is plenty of shops offering jeep ride services. Among all the shops, our driver had chosen this as he said that the package offered by this shop is inclusive of insurance.

JWM - Jeep Wisata Merapi

There are 3 packages offered - Short, Medium & Long, where Medium and Long trip covers more places. We took the Medium Package which cost IDR450k per jeep. A jeep can ride up to 4 pax.

So we start our bumpy ride. It was a rainy day. No luck.

We were stop at a house which was left after the volcano erupted.

That's Mt. Merapi - the active volcano which erupted once in every 4 years.

Alien Rock.

We were given Teh Botol after the tour end.
It was a good experience, however I would not repeat it.
The ride was really bumpy and uncomfortable. Furthermore, the rains dampen my mood.
For first timer, you may give it a try :)

Yogyakarta Day 1: Pawone Simbhok

We were picked up from the airport and heading to our first activity - Mt. Merapi Jeep Ride.

On mid-way, we were stop at this small local restaurant for our lunch.

Drinks preparation area.

Inside of the restaurant.

Looks clean and new.

Foods menu for your reference.

Drinks menu for your reference.

Price was reasonable.

We were introduced to Wedang Rempah - IDR8k.

This is their local herbs drinks which consists of ginger, galangal, lemongrasss, clove and brown sugar. Spicy but taste good.

We also had their recommended dish - Bakmi Goreng - IDR12k.

Not bad.

And nasi goreng - IDR12k.

This is so-so only.

A good start of the trip :)

4D 3N Yogyakarta

RM1000 4D3N Yogyakarta!

Borobudur which was located in Central Java, 40km from Yogyakarta is one of the Seven Wonders of The World. After some quick search, Yogyakarta is not an expensive city. So we planned a trip here. 4 days 3 nights is sufficient for us. But if you would like to experience more, you can opt for 5 days 4 nights. Total expenses includes flight ticket, foods, entrance fees etc. came up to RM1k per person.

Day 1: Arrival - Mt. Merapi Jeep Ride - Cempaka Villa, Central Java

Day 2: Borobudur - Prambanan Temple

Day 3: Water tubing - Boko sunset

Day 4: Bye bye~

I can't say I really enjoyed the trip. It was raining day in day out. Places are too crowded with peoples. It's tiring walking here and there. And in the end, I realize that I'm getting old. And I would really prefer to visit peaceful, serene, quiet and relax place. After all, holidays is for you to re-energized isn't? Foods for thoughts.