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Welcome to my travellog. Here you can read about my journeys day by day. 
Jul 15, 2008 06:00 PM Cool Dieng Plateau and sunset at Borobudur
Today I was also travelling with ARI Tour and Travel agency. There were four of us visiting Dieng Plateau, which thanks to its location well above see level, is pleasantly cool even during the dry season, when it's scorching hot in the lowlands. Apart from breathtaking vistas the plateau features a lot of craters full of sulphur fumes and boiling mud as well as a turquoise lake and several sites with Hindu temples. Although it's located three hours ride from Yogya it's worth a visit, and on the way there is the Budhist temple of Borobudur, inscribed on the Unesco list. It's really huge and impressive, but again you have to pay hefty US$ 11 (or 7 if you're a student). Sunset is also nice there, although not as beautiful as at Prambanan.
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Jul 14, 2008 06:00 PM Prambanan temple and Ramayana ballet
A few days ago I met an Italian couple and they recommended to me a travel agency in Yogya. I decided to go with them for several trips. It's more expensive this way but I'll save a lot of time and the price is still affordable for me.
Today I went for a trip to Prambanan, a complex of Hindu temples near Yogya. It's really impressive and worth a visit although tickets are quite expensive - US$ 10 for adults and US$ 6 for students, so don't forget to bring your student's card.
After seeing excellent sunset on the premises of the temple complex I went to see the traditional Ramayana ballet (tickets from 50 000 to 200 000 rupiah), which is also a must-see if in the region. The show lasted over two hours and was performed by several dozens of dancers clad in traditional clothes. Very picturesque.
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Jul 13, 2008 06:00 PM 9 hours on a train
Yesterday I bought a ticket to Yogyakarta (from Jakarta) for Argo Dwippangga exekutif train. It's the highest category of Indonesian trains and they are also called luxury trains, but there's nothing luxurious there actually. The journey should have taken 7 hours but it was 9 as the train was delayed. I decided to travel during daytime to see the beautiful landscapes of Jawa and it was worth. The train goes through lush green rice fields and for some part of the route through picturesque mountains.
In Yogya I'm staying in the popular area of Sosrowijayan, where budget hotels are located. It's very close from the train station so you can just walk to your hotel.
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Jul 12, 2008 06:00 PM The canyon and funny macaques
In the morning I went to Taman Panorama to see the view over Sianok Canyon. It's a nice vantage point to see this splendid canyon, but this is also the place where i saw macaques in their natural environment for the first time. They were really funny and I will post some pictures of them when I'm back.
In the afternoon I took a direct bus from Bukittinggi to Padang airport. You can organize it through many travel agencies (I can recommend the one located near Jam Gadang - very friendly girls working there). It's only 35 000 rupiah and the minibus will pick you up from your hotel.
I got to Jakarta before 8 p.m. and as usually in Indonesia the flight was delayed but only slightly. From the airport I shared a taxi with a Belgian couple. It costs 130 000 rupiah per car to the centre of Jakarta.
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Jul 11, 2008 06:00 PM Maninjau and Bukittinggi
In the morning I walked a bit in the village of Maninjau to take some pictures of the rice paddies, villagers working on their fields and fishermen taking care of their fish farms.
Before noon I took a public bus to Bukittingi (1,5 hrs, 10 000 rupiah). In Indonesia smoking in buses is a standard, but for me as a nonsmoker is difficult to stand.
In Bukittinggi I'm staying at Hotel Kartnini. A clean, spacious double with Western style toilet and hot shower costs 125 000 rupiah. I've been spending less money here than I planned so I decided I can afford slightly better accommodation :)
In the afternoon I had a walk around the town to see it's market (Saturday is a market day - along with Wednesday) and some other landmarks - such as Jam Gadang - a clock tower situated in the very centre.
I've also already booked a direct bus from Bukittingi to Padang airport. There's no point in going to Padang as the airport is located 20 kms from it in the direction of Bukittingi. The fare was 35 000 rupiah. The bus picks people from their hotels.
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Jul 10, 2008 06:00 PM All day on the road (and in the air)
Today I planned to get to Padang and stay there for one night but then the plan was changed.
I took a shared taxi from Berastagi to Medan airport (it was as much as 80 000 rupiah) because friday is a busy day - the buses are crowded and there are many traffic jams. And it was a good choice beacuse on the road linking Berastagi with Medan a truck broke down making one (out of two) lane unpassable. There were a big jam but I didn't miss my flight.
On the plane I met an Indonesian guy who then turned out to be a sales manager travelling to Maninjau. And he offered me to bring me to this nice village on the shore of the lake with the same name. He and his friend also helped me find a hotel (it was already dark when we arrived), but it wasn't cheap - 170 000 rupiah for a double room. This way I managed to visit also maninjau, because if I stayed in Padang I wouldn't have this opportunity.
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Jul 09, 2008 06:00 PM Climbing Sibayak volcano
I still keep having problems with sleeping (probably because of antimalarials I'm taking). But hope things will get better soon.
Today I decided to climb the Sibayak volcano - that's why I came to Berastagi at all. Good weather in the morning encouraged me even more see this active volcano whose last eruption dates back to 1985.
First I wanted to trek on my own, but when I learnt that the guide is only 80 000 rupiah (US$9) I decided to hire one. And it was a good choice. He was showing the route as well as explaining me a lot of thing about plants and animals living in the jungle. Among others I saw cinnamon tree, coffee plantantions and other interesting plants. He also gave me explanation what these plants are used for.
The crater of the volcano itself is a nice thing to see but I think it's much more beutiful in the rainy season when there's a lake in it.
On the way back we met a big Indonesian family. It's not the first time here when I'm asked to pose to pictures with total strangers. But it's nice. Tomorrow I go to Medan from where I catch a flight to Padang. Hope everything goes ok, because I can't find my reservation in the online database of Mandala airlines.
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Jul 08, 2008 06:00 PM One ferry and three bemos
Today I was travelling for six hours from Tuk Tuk to Berastagi. I had to travel on three buses, changing in P.Siantar and Kabanjahe, but in neither of the places I had to wait. Transport is very cheap in Indonesia - for these three buses I paid 27000 rupiah (US$ 3) - 5 hours ride. There's nothing interesting in Berastagi itself so I'm waiting for tomorrow to trek a bit in the mountains. I'm staying in Sibayak Losmen paying 50 000. Hot shower costs extra 5000.
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Jul 07, 2008 06:00 PM Relaxing on Samosir island
It was a lazy day. Until afternoon I was sunbathing and then caught a ferry to Parapat and back to Tuk Tuk to see the island from the water. When going back I met two Slovenian couples heading to Samosir island. We just talked a bit exchanging travel experiences. It wasn't a busy day. Tomorrow I'm leaving for Berastagi.
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Jul 06, 2008 06:00 PM Biking in the rain
In the morning I rented a bike (25 000 rupiah per day) and decided to ride a bite on the Samosir island. All in all I was biking for around 4 hours and was three times caught by rain. Soaking wet I returned to Samosir Cottages, having previously visited Ambarita village and other areas on the shore of Lake Toba.
I also had a great dinner at Poppy's - they serve great fish from their fish farm, but it takes long time before you get what you ordered.
Everything is cheap here in Indonesia, and especially in Tuk Tuk. A pineapple is just 5000 rupiah and a bunch of dozen of bananas is from 3000 to 5000 rupiah. Dinner in a restaurant from 20 000 to 30 000 rupiah. Accommodation - 30 000 rupiah for a room with cold water and from 50 000+ for a room with hot shower. You can also find other costs in my recent travellog entries.
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