Thailand & Indonesia, Mar '15

This trip was billed as a few weeks of tropical relaxation before heading off on a longer adventure. However, it had a metamorphosis in the middle into couple weeks of adventure itself and at times things were anything but tropical!

Big thanks to our Indonesian family members for arranging basically all of that adventure through Java. What an amazing time!

The Thai part of this was pretty much as can be expected. Although I have to say - was not that impressed by Thailand from a tourist point of view. We visited Kamala, Karon, Phuket City & Thalang. Nice enough I guess, but not half as nice as Indonesia wink

Moving on then... after meeting family in Jakarta the fun (or is that madness?!) really started. Lots of catching up meant lots & lots of eating, and you'd be forgiven for thinking this was just a food safari at points!

Drive through Java to Bandung, fly to Surabaya, overland bus to Mt Bromo, Malang & Batu. Train Surabaya to Yogyakarta which was just stunning with it's selection of temples.

A few of us parted ways at this point and some headed to Bali for a well earned (yeah - right! wink) 10 days or so to unwind.

Phew!

Saturday 28 February 2015

Can't think why we chose this restaurant. At least while Pratiwi is engrossed in menu there's some entertainment! wink

Sunday 1 March 2015

Little stroll before pre-dinner drinks, Kamala beach. It's pretty small as I managed to jog end to end this morning!

Sunday 1 March 2015

Obligatory, 'sunset on the beach', holiday snap. Sorry... I'll put some palm leaf silhouettes in the next one wink

Sunday 1 March 2015

To be honest we've had better Thai food. But it's not like that's why we chose this spot. 'The Corner', Kamala Beach.

Monday 2 March 2015

Wondering around few blocks back from Karon Beach. Pratiwi loves street food & on this occasion I have to agree! Yum!

Monday 2 March 2015

And for desert... Pratiwi could barely stand the wait for her banana pancake! Guy was super speedy too! Yum again! tongue

Tuesday 3 March 2015

The Big Buddha. Perched top of a hill you can see this from miles around. Misty below though so no view to speak of.

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Wat Chalong. Feels shiny & new. Not at all what we expected from a temple. Very colourful though, hope that shows.

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Karon beach at midday. Umbrellas far as the eye can see but still many lobsters around. Ouch! Not for us until later.

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Sunset pre-dinner walk along Karon beach. Sorry about the tourist pics, but I did say there'd be palm trees coming wink

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Karon beach just after sunrise. Almost makes the jogging bearably wink #MissMyBike cry

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Dinner & shopping in Phuket Town. But mostly dinner. Finished off with durian & beer (yes, beer) from a local grocer.

Friday 6 March 2015

Waiting, waiting,waiting... It's not all glamorous you know!

Saturday 7 March 2015

Confusing amalgamation of food squares & malls in Jakarta. Not sure where we ended up for dinner but it was nice!

Sunday 8 March 2015

Breakfast in Jakarta. To the uninitiated looks a lot like every other meal. Rice. Curry. Spicy stuff. It's all good.

Sunday 8 March 2015

Afternoon tea at Ngopi Doeloe, Bandung. Ironically (as we've just left Thailand) I'm drinking Thai tea. Caramel yum!

Sunday 8 March 2015

Paskal Food Market, Bandung. Actually didn't eat much as still full from earlier! Never mind, great photo ops here smile

Monday 9 March 2015

Road to Tangkuban Perahu, around 2000m altitude so nice & cool. Beautiful views to greenery below contrasts crater.

Monday 9 March 2015

Lembang Floating Market. Should include the word, 'food' in it's name because really, just another excuse to eat! tongue

Monday 9 March 2015

Bandung traffic. Perhaps reflective of Indonesia as a whole. Doesn't quite do things justice but you get the idea.

Monday 9 March 2015

Dinner at The Valley, Bandung. Quite a special place. The locals joked that it's only really for couples on dates wink

Tuesday 10 March 2015

The Victoria Luxurious Guesthouse, Bandung. Beautiful lobby. Really well presented. We loved it smile

Tuesday 10 March 2015

Bandung airport. No jet bridges here. When 2 planes board at same time, just remember to get on the correct one! wink

Tuesday 10 March 2015

Fantastic lunch in Ikan Bakar Cianjur. All for the princely sum of $4.50/person. Love Indonesia... while I'm well! grin

Wednesday 11 March 2015

2am wakeup for 4WD journey up a mountain to see sunrise. But all we saw was mist. Oh well, had a good time waiting smile

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Escaping to below the mist. Down in the crater that surrounds Mt Bromo, obligatory 'sitting on the bonnet' 4WD shot.

Wednesday 11 March 2015

A small glimmer of sun on an otherwise rainy day & here's the result. So there is some consolation to this weather!

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Bit of a melee down at the base of the volcano. Rain & mist persisting too. Top spot for fans of Toyota FJ40s though!

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Despite the inclement weather took short (~30 mins) walk up to rim of Mt Bromo... where it was equally grey & wet!

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Savannah section of the Mt Bromo crater. Apparently it's beautiful & green here even when not raining constantly wink

Wednesday 11 March 2015

6 guests, driver & guide squeezed into an FJ40. Sitting in back an old Landcruiser always feels like an adventure wink

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Final area of Mt Bromo crater: volcanic sands said to whisper, when they are not soaked! + more FJ40s for their fans.

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Such a grey day deserves a set of B&W shots. Amazing experience though & easily worth early start & wet conditions.

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Back at hotel not long after 9am. Could have had a lie in & seen this. Would have missed out on all the fun though grin

Wednesday 11 March 2015

After spending all morning shooting in rain improvised lens drying kit: 1kg of rice & an airtight bag. Seems to work.

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Bakso dinner, Indonesian take on meat balls. I steered clear of chilli. Wise move as everyone else was ill next day!

Thursday 12 March 2015

At Coban Rondo. That spray was refreshing smile

Thursday 12 March 2015

More than just a waterfall - short but nice forest walk to get there. Too short really though, I'd gladly see more.

Thursday 12 March 2015

Monkeys at Coban Rondo. Thankfully well behaved. Some tourist spots they will literally take the shirt off your back!

Thursday 12 March 2015

Few random hillsides we passed. Amazing how locals get terraces on these. Was same (or even more crazy) around Bromo.

Thursday 12 March 2015

Random flower pictures from the side of the road while we had a little break. Photo ops. everywhere!

Thursday 12 March 2015

Priorities in an Indo taxi: Seatbelts? Dashboard? Carpets? Working speedo? Rear door? Or 4500W video karaoke system?

Thursday 12 March 2015

They grow a lot of fruit around Malang, so we visited an Orchard. As you do. There were apples here & everything! wink

Thursday 12 March 2015

Indonesian pavé! Rough as driving up & down. Easy for this guy with a huge bag of something on his scooter though.

Thursday 12 March 2015

Stopped by Singhasari Temple (or is it Singosari?) as we passed. Not in bad shape for something around 700 years old.

Thursday 12 March 2015

Padang food in Surabaya. Yum! This place was pricey but sparkling clean & had the best beef Rendang. Lots o fun smile tongue

Friday 13 March 2015

Decided to take a train from Surabaya to Yogyakarta. Stations either end were surprisingly 'normal'. Here's Surabaya.

Friday 13 March 2015

Scenes from a moving train, Surabaya to Yogyakarta. Mostly rural, with a little urban. Love the ever changing view.

Friday 13 March 2015

On Surabaya to Jogjakarta train. Was going to use time to sort photos but took load more as countryside passed, before falling asleep. Oops!

Friday 13 March 2015

Arrived in Jogjakarta. No nonsense approach to leaving the station. Then crammed into a small taxi. Still having fun!

Friday 13 March 2015

Lunch at Bu Tini. Not really for the squeamish, but I'm getting used to this kind of thing by now! wink #ChickenBrains

Friday 13 March 2015

What happens when someone doesn't trim the roots of a potted palm. Notice the one behind has broken it's pot anyway.

Friday 13 March 2015

Malioboro St: famous shopping area packed with horse carts & becaks (bike taxis - often with napping drivers).

Saturday 14 March 2015

Tourists climb the stairs on Borobudur temple before dawn. Numbers are limited for sunrise but certainly worth doing!

Saturday 14 March 2015

Stupa silhouettes atop Borobudur before dawn. Not sunlight casting shadows but floodlights just before they turn off.

Saturday 14 March 2015

Tried some light painting among the domes but ironically it's this shot of Jo doing the same I found most pleasing.

Saturday 14 March 2015

Dawn at the world's largest Buddhist temple. What a setting. Even clouds can't spoil this simply stunning experience.

Saturday 14 March 2015

Putting on a brave face after 2:30am start! Easily worth the sleep deprivation, even if you can't tell from this! wink

Saturday 14 March 2015

Photos really can't do Borobudur justice, but one has to try: more shots from between the stupas at the top. Magical!

Saturday 14 March 2015

Someone told us that if you can touch one of the enclosed Buddhas & make a wish it will be granted. Here's hoping! grin

Saturday 14 March 2015

The lower, square levels here are covered in intricate carvings. Don't skip past them on the way down. Amazing stuff!

Saturday 14 March 2015

Last look back through the trees. Amazing to think it's around 1200 years old & was buried for literally centuries!

Saturday 14 March 2015

Mendut temple looks quite small on the outside. But... go in & look up at that roof! Nice tree in the grounds too.

Saturday 14 March 2015

Very quick stop by tiny little Pawon Temple. Linked to Borobudur & Mendut one has to look, but really... it's tiny.

Saturday 14 March 2015

All temple'd out! Everyone fell asleep after a very early start. Need to recover for the afternoon's temple tours! wink

Saturday 14 March 2015

Lunch at Djun, Jogjakarta. Hot, hot, hot! I've taken to drinking sweet tea to cool down! Very nice for $2.65/person!

Saturday 14 March 2015

Prambanan temple. It's Hindu but just as old as Borobudur (where we started the day). I've run out of superlatives.

Saturday 14 March 2015

Sewu temple, right next to Prambanan. Really interesting to wonder ruins that are making a great puzzle for someone!

Saturday 14 March 2015

Sunset at Prambanan. Well... it was close to sunset & post processing got us (almost?) the rest of the way there wink

Saturday 14 March 2015

Dinner at The House of Raminten. Very popular. Large queues. Horse stalls right next to kitchen! Completely crazy!

Saturday 14 March 2015

Pratiwi trying to figure out what's going on with the millions of Rupiah in our group's kitty. Confusing! wink

Sunday 15 March 2015

3.5kg of laundry washed & pressed for $2.50 & that was double price because we wanted it express (next day). Bargain!

Sunday 15 March 2015

Hmmmm... I'm not sure there is enough ginger in this ginger tea. What do you think? wink

Sunday 15 March 2015

Stepped out for a spot of dinner in Jogjakarta. Pork sate & other goodies on the streets around Malioboro. Yum! tongue

Sunday 15 March 2015

Local transport in Jogjakarta: the becak. Comes in both motorised & pedal powered forms for locals & tourists alike.

Sunday 15 March 2015

Fanatical Manchester United fan spotted in Jogjakarta. Clearly loving riding around on his mobile shrine. Crazy! wink

Monday 16 March 2015

Pratiwi enjoying her street breakfast. As I have said before, looks remarkably similar to lunch or dinner!

Monday 16 March 2015

How to secure your becak with a single padlock. Clever stuff.

Monday 16 March 2015

Scenes from a small market in Jogjakarta. And some that we passed while wondering along in the heat beforehand. Phew!

Monday 16 March 2015

Jogjakarta bird market. Some pets, some food, some fighters. Many other animals too. All seems a bit cruel though sad

Monday 16 March 2015

Fried duck lunch, with some interesting fruit from our trip to the market. Then more fried banana for desert. Yum! tongue

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Oooh... free upgrade to 'premium' seats on our AirAsia flight. Can you tell? wink Amazingly there is a tiny difference!

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Wow! DPS reno is great! Last time we were here was so hot & uncomfortable someone passed out waiting for immigration!

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Pre-dinner drinks at Menega Cafe. Waiting for the sunset 'show' to begin...

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Another unbelievable sunset on Jimbaran Beach. Say no more...

Tuesday 17 March 2015

After sunset... time for the food. Yum! tongue And the obligatory 'seafood cooking over smoking coconut husks' shot wink

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Back by the beach, this time Benoa. You know what that means? More jogging at dawn, with breaks for pictures smile

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Whilst in Ubud we must have an obligatory lunch stop at Ibu Oka. Hmmmm... babi guling! smile tongue

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Typical Ubud sights: guardian statues & flowers. So typical I didn't even get out of the car to take first pic wink

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Dinner at Murni's Warung. Sorry, it's been a long day. Well, for some, who were up running at sunrise if you recall!

Thursday 19 March 2015

Enjoying the morning view from our balcony. This is Onje Villa, Ubud. Quiet & relaxing & really rather good value smile

Thursday 19 March 2015

After a hard day relaxing & being pampered it's nice to... erm... relax some more wink Dinner at Bebek Bengil. Yum! tongue

Thursday 19 March 2015

There comes a time one simply can't eat more fried banana. Luckily, cafes, tea & cake are here for such moments wink tongue

Friday 20 March 2015

Woke up too early so went for a short walk outside the villa. We're surrounded by rice paddies soooo...

Friday 20 March 2015

Lunch stop at 'Depot Betty' as we head North. Really great food & nicely priced as is away from tourist spots smile tongue

Friday 20 March 2015

On the road to Bedugul... view from what was almost a mountain pass we crested. Would have been nice on a bike! smile

Friday 20 March 2015

Either Pratiwi has shrunk or accommodation today is slightly oversized! wink And wait 'til you see the view! Love it!

Friday 20 March 2015

We saw some really big 'ogoh ogoh' driving around today. These in Bedugul equally impressive! Pre-Nyepi day parade!

Saturday 21 March 2015

Nyepi day in Bali. Silent at dawn. We cannot leave hotel today so booked one with large grounds. So beautiful here.

Saturday 21 March 2015

Could get used to this Nyepi thing wink We're at Puri Candikuning Resort & practically have whole place to ourselves!

Sunday 22 March 2015

Back down by the lake this morning. I dragged Pratiwi along this time. But then again, sun is up so not that early wink

Sunday 22 March 2015

Just back from breakie looked out the window to see amazing light on the lake. Wow! It's so beautiful here. So lucky!

Sunday 22 March 2015

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. Beautiful spot by the water. If only it were sunny! Love the repetition of those mosaic steps.

Sunday 22 March 2015

Went to Bedugul Botanical Garden & it rained lots! Probably too many pictures here featuring an umbrella wink Nice tho.

Sunday 22 March 2015

Arrived at Tegalalang to see rice terraces. Sadly clouds had other ideas, so nothing for it but to eat more pork! wink

Sunday 22 March 2015

Clouds lifted a bit after a little snack. Still a bit dull, but wow! Tegalalang terraces in the mist. Added interest!

Monday 23 March 2015

Plenty of rice paddies around Ubud, & many with ducks in them on an eve. So funny to watch & so cute & sooo yummy! tongue

Monday 23 March 2015

Random sights from our evening walk in Ubud. Didn't even see that dragonfly there, I just liked the light. Honest! wink

Monday 23 March 2015

Time for dessert: pisang goreng cooked on the street. Yum! Look at the size of that wok, think this is popular stuff!

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Up early to visit Ubud market before tourist trash comes out. Priorities for Pratiwi though: breakie like a local!

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Early on at the 'outside' bit of Ubud market. Lots of flowers & the little religious offerings one sees everywhere.

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Look at all that fresh fish & meat. Easy to see why one has to be up early to see it! Lovely colours. So interesting.

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Looking at Pratiwi was a bit hot arriving at Maya Ubud! Thankful for an upgrade w/private plunge pool. Ah... cooling!

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Fooling around with selfies. Please forgive us, but this is the very spot where we were married. Happy memories smile

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Cocktails & dinner at Maya Ubud. Yum! Maybe we're biased, but truly worth it's five star rating. Excellent all round!

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Ah, the resort breakfast buffet. Course one of, erm, maybe I shouldn't say! wink Although I was in the gym earlier! tongue

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Found this fella during our post breakie walk. No macro lens so had to make do sad Luckily tho, he was pretty slow! smile

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Down by the river at Maya Ubud. So beautiful here - we love it smile

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Well... that's the afternoon sorted then! wink How's this for an infinite edge pool? Straight into a rainforest canopy!

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Bali Bakery 'v' Holland Bakery. Which is the best Cheesy John in Bali? We vote... drum roll... Holland Bakery! grin tongue

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Last eve in Bali? What else but Jimberan Beach sunset? Tried a new spot but prefer Menega Cafe. Back there next time!

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Jimbaran Beach once the sun has set... & what happens when your tripod (aka wife) moves mid shot wink Goodnight Bali!

Thursday 26 March 2015

Images from this morning's jog along Jimbaran Beach. Very much a place of work with lots of fishermen grafting hard.

Thursday 26 March 2015

Today's breakie was quiet restrained, despite that 8km run on the beach beforehand. What is the world coming to! wink

Thursday 26 March 2015

We have an evening flight so must to hang around the beach & hotel all day. Tough, but if it has to be done... wink