And, relax. Finally in Java, specifically Yogyakarta. In a gorgeous little hotel called Rumah Mertua. It's a little bit lovely here. I think I might stay. For good...if only.
We are just behind the Hyatt Regency and their gi-normous golf courses although I think I would rather stay here. It is a bit more us. Small, subtle with lots of nice little touches and dare I say a little more tasteful.
We are about 6km north from Yogyakarta centre - effectively just hitting the suburbs hence all the greenery here and shiny, fat houses belonging to wealthy businessman and the like.
I'm very much liking Yogyakarta so far. Apart from losing one night here last night because of Merparti (Mat came up with, "it's Merparti and I'll cry if I want to" - I told him to get his coat), we didn't lose too much of today as Java is one hour behind Sulawesi and the flight only took an hour and a half anyway. I am never flying Merparti again regardless of convenient flight times. I would rather lose one day of my holiday and go on another carrier. You should have seen the state of their planes (inside and out) and as for the landing this morning... Well! Anyway, I have moved on and the complaint letter mentally written.
We took a nap this morning and afterwards ventured into Yogya centre for lunch. I previously mentioned that Manado was an assault to the senses - Yogya is a punch in the face that gives you a hug afterwards. It's very Asian city full on, yet stranglely organised in a chaotic, messy kind of way.
It is also very evident where the Indonesian government spends some of their money. We had a few Sulawesians tell us about how central government based in Java tends to forget them. And we have been told by Javans about how other islands are resentful of how Java is. Looking at the roads here and the general upkeep and infrastructure of the place, it is easy to see why. You can actually walk on some of the pavements and the roads don't have 2ft deep pot holes you have to try and drive over! There is still a lot of poverty and I get the impression that there is no sense of community here unlike Rantepao where there was a feeling that people would help each other.
We also encountered our first beggars here since arriving in Indonesia - small, old ladies and grubby children. Quite sad really. And of course the ubiquitous batik salesman who also happens to have or to know a handicrafts shop. "I show you". Where do they come from? They just suddenly appear like a bad smell. We do shake them off but I find them such hard work, they really do my head in.
We finally ate at a couple of decent warungs today for lunch. Chicken satay for Mat and lumpia (veggie spring rolls) for me. Absolutely delicious and a grand total of £1.75 for both of us including fresh mango juice drink for me. Lovely.
The rest of the afternoon was spent bimbling around town as we are saving all the old and ancient monuments and relics for the next couple of days. We visited the spice market where we got some bargain rendang powder. Walked over to the bird market but they were just shutting so we moved on to a cafe behind the 'water castle' as I wasn't feeling a hundred percent (I have a slight cold). While drinking tea we got chatting to an Austrian who had married an Indonesian girl and a young guy who was playing 'My Way' and 'Memories' on his flute while granny and his mum sat on rocking chairs out front near the porch. They were very cool.
The way back to the hotel was even more eventful. We ended up in a taxi being driven by a man who either had a terrible acid reflux problem or had just bad manners or both as every 30 seconds throughout a 15 minute journey he was burping. Full on, loud froggy burps! Oh my god, you should have heard it! AND because he got bored waiting at the lights and traffic was a little heavy, he turned the tv on and started watching it. Yep. He had a little tv in his car where most people have a stereo.
The rest of the evening was spent by me in the spa being head and shoulder massaged and foot reflexologied by a therapist called Barri (yes, with an 'i') who looked ever so slight but had hands of flexible steel. He was good!
Mat did a little more exploring and managed to find a laundry place to do all our dirty washing so far for the price of washing one pair trousers here.
And so to bed. An evening meal here of beef rendang for Mat and chilli shrimps for me has made me very content. Borobudor tomorrow and lots of Buddhist temples - looking forward to it!
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