I have been trying to load this page for a while and now its very late. So, I'm just going to write some notes so that I remember what I did today. Plus, I'm not sure I'll have internet for the next couple of days.
Woke up again at 4am, but luckily fell back asleep until 8. Spent an hour+ planning my hotel stuff in Surabaya for Tuesday night. Ate breakfast and talked to a German girl who's been living here for almost a year. She gave me some suggestions for today. Booked a Prambanan sunset tour (which is really just a driver). Finally got out of the hotel at 11am and needed to exchange some USD since my debit card wasn't working in the machines (I just now found out that it had actually been turned off for potential fraud). On the way, a few becak drivers asked me if I wanted a ride and I turned them down, but one sounded friendly and I told him I might come back. Once I had my cash, I went back to find him. Giyonon has bee a becak driver for 40 years. He spoke excellent English and was extremely friendly. We set off to the Kraton (area where the sultan lives). Had Giynon wait for me and went into the Kraton with a female guide. She was knowledgeable and told me about the sultans, etc. Came out and Giynon was waiting for me. He took me to the south end of the main street Malioboro and I spent 15 minutes in the Beingharjo market before going back to my hotel.
By the time I got back it was 1:30pm and I only had until 1:50 to get some food and be ready for Prambanan. Stopped into Via Via for a fruit drink and had the second pack of Oreos I'd purchased on the plane. Car was running slightly late so my timing was fine. Polish couple on their honeymoon were taking the same car. We didn't get a guide at Prambanan so we had 3 hours to walk around on our own and see the sunset. The Prambanan plain was the center of powerful 10th century Mataram Kingdom. The principal temple is the greatest Hindu monument on Java and over 45 meters tall. Had too much time to kill at Prambanan before watching the sunset.
Was back at the hotel by 6:40pm, and jumped in the shower so that I could use the hotels one hair dryer. S&W were picking me up at 7:30, but when I got to the lobby I didn't see them. Only Suzanne had come and she was on a motor bike. We were only going back to their hotel which was a couple minutes drive so I wasn't too scared, even though it was my first time. There weren't too many vehicles on the road and it was a fun ride. Chicken dinner at a restaurant near their hotel with a cat that wouldn't leave us alone. Said goodbye to my Dutch friends and thanked them for hanging out.
Off to Bromo tomorrow. 11 hour drive. Yuck.
A few things I forgot to write about:
1. Fruit from the side of the road that Gidi got for us. Interesting taste.
2. Suzanne taking a bit taste of dip and dying from the heat of the sauce.
3. Alwyn taking me the back way into the Newton Hawker which caused me to cough for almost all of dinner.
That's all I can think of for now. Next blog when I'm back online (latest Tuesday).
Woke up again at 4am, but luckily fell back asleep until 8. Spent an hour+ planning my hotel stuff in Surabaya for Tuesday night. Ate breakfast and talked to a German girl who's been living here for almost a year. She gave me some suggestions for today. Booked a Prambanan sunset tour (which is really just a driver). Finally got out of the hotel at 11am and needed to exchange some USD since my debit card wasn't working in the machines (I just now found out that it had actually been turned off for potential fraud). On the way, a few becak drivers asked me if I wanted a ride and I turned them down, but one sounded friendly and I told him I might come back. Once I had my cash, I went back to find him. Giyonon has bee a becak driver for 40 years. He spoke excellent English and was extremely friendly. We set off to the Kraton (area where the sultan lives). Had Giynon wait for me and went into the Kraton with a female guide. She was knowledgeable and told me about the sultans, etc. Came out and Giynon was waiting for me. He took me to the south end of the main street Malioboro and I spent 15 minutes in the Beingharjo market before going back to my hotel.
By the time I got back it was 1:30pm and I only had until 1:50 to get some food and be ready for Prambanan. Stopped into Via Via for a fruit drink and had the second pack of Oreos I'd purchased on the plane. Car was running slightly late so my timing was fine. Polish couple on their honeymoon were taking the same car. We didn't get a guide at Prambanan so we had 3 hours to walk around on our own and see the sunset. The Prambanan plain was the center of powerful 10th century Mataram Kingdom. The principal temple is the greatest Hindu monument on Java and over 45 meters tall. Had too much time to kill at Prambanan before watching the sunset.
Was back at the hotel by 6:40pm, and jumped in the shower so that I could use the hotels one hair dryer. S&W were picking me up at 7:30, but when I got to the lobby I didn't see them. Only Suzanne had come and she was on a motor bike. We were only going back to their hotel which was a couple minutes drive so I wasn't too scared, even though it was my first time. There weren't too many vehicles on the road and it was a fun ride. Chicken dinner at a restaurant near their hotel with a cat that wouldn't leave us alone. Said goodbye to my Dutch friends and thanked them for hanging out.
Off to Bromo tomorrow. 11 hour drive. Yuck.
A few things I forgot to write about:
1. Fruit from the side of the road that Gidi got for us. Interesting taste.
2. Suzanne taking a bit taste of dip and dying from the heat of the sauce.
3. Alwyn taking me the back way into the Newton Hawker which caused me to cough for almost all of dinner.
That's all I can think of for now. Next blog when I'm back online (latest Tuesday).
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