22nd July 09 - Borobudur

I woke up early in the morning hoping to visit other temples before I leave Borobudur to Jogjakarta. I rent a motorcycle with driver and went to the Mendut temple and the nearby monastery. I love the monastery as it represents a myriad style of Buddhist art. From Ghandara, Thai, Japanese to Burmese style, it exudes the harmony of how each Buddhist tradition can blnd in together. It’s also a peaceful and serene surroundings. I met the kind and lovely abbot of the temple whom patiently explains how the monastery can accommodate Buddhist groups for retreat or meditation.

After the visit, I meet up with N&N to take the bus back to Jogjakarta. We check in to the hotel and Natasha recommends seeing a cultural dance performance on the story of Ramayana. Interestingly, I enjoy it!! I thought that’s a great idea as I don’t usually patron the theatre. But before attending the show, we split up to enquire and compare several travel agencies to Mount Bromo. In the end, we discover a great deal to take a mini bus to Mt B with accommodation plus a sunrise package inclusive of a trip heading directly to Bali for only 285,000RP (S$43)!

19th July 09 - Bandung

What can I write? The shopping must go on…

20th of Jul 09 - Bandung > Jogjakarta

My dream of staying in the tea estate comes to an end as the local transport from the city to the south is inexplicable. The only way is to get into a tour package. I’ve manage to meet a few backpackers to see if I can lessen the load of my wallet. The best way is to rent a car with chauffeur and split the cost among us. There are total of 5 people including me. 2 guys decided to dropout and left Niel and Natasha. So instead of heading south to the tea estate, I decided to follow them to the Mount Trehanu Prahu before I leave Bandung to Jogjakarta.

The air is cooling and the view from the top is divine! Standing on top of volcano is simply emancipating! We even stay for hot cup of instant noodles before trekking down the mountain.

Overall, the first experience with volcano is incredible!

We rested a while before hopping on the train leaving to Jogjakarta. The night train is torturing, Thank goodness; I met a lady whom stays in the same guesthouse as me in Bandung. We chatted for a while before we dozed off to sleep…

18th July 09 - Bandung

The next morning, I borrowed the telephone book from the hotel and do more hunting. Finally, I got a place, Moritz Home Stay. In the end, to pay back what I think I deserve, I left my poo in the toilet without flushing or should I say, the toilet bowl is unflushable?

It’s more than half the price cheaper and it comes with a garden. It’s very Dutch inspired cottage room. I stay in the rooftop that comes with a beautiful garden. I love it! It also comes with complimentary breakfast but it’s not buffet. Who needs buffet anyway when you’ve a rooftop garden!

I’ve never been branded conscious but shopping in Bandung is truly heaven you could get authentic branded goods at a fraction of price. You see the factories in Bandung manufactured Levi’s, Nike, Addidas, Agnes and many other international brands. Initially, I came with a budget of S$500 but what are the odds of travelling to Indonesia again? Thus I decided to get my good friends, Calvin, Agnes, Tommy and many other pals back home, I mean “backpack” home, knowing it might be heavy but then Fashion is never comfortable, right?

In the middle of my shopping spree, I came across a Buddhist Temple, Vihara Vimala Dharma. Not frequently, will you see a Buddhist temple. Even when you do, it’s less elaborated or fancy than the mosque. I’ve to say the cathedral in Indonesia is outstanding than the temple. Nonetheless, it’s still a basic and cozy little temple that provides Buddha’s teaching. I met this boy whom shows me around the temple. The temple itself even have youth group to get together. The famous abbot whom brings Buddhism back to Indonesia is highly venerated in the temple too. I even came across of book written by my favorite monk, Phra Buddadasa is translated into Berhasa Melayu!

What a day! I could easily celebrate my achievement for the branded goods I’ve bought!

17th July 09 Fri – Jakarta > Bandung

Early in the morning, a repulsive smell of someone not wearing sock with their shoes for centuries awaken me. The so call Hong Kong feet makes me want to escape far far away as soon as possible. I freshen up and ask him for my camera. That’s where my head is about to drop. He had taken some evidences the previous night but he has no thumb drive or anything to transfer into. I really can’t stand the stench anymore so I copied the photos into my thumb drive so he can pass it to his superior. This really makes me question his job.

I bid him farewell and took a minivan from Jakarta to Bandung. The minivan company is Bajaya and you won’t believe when the ticketing counter is located. It’s tucked inside the MacDonald!

On my way to Bandung, Widi sms me if I am okay? Apparently, two of the 5stars hotels, Marriot and Hyatt hotels have been bombed. I’m not surprised but neither am I worried. I just have to make sure I call back home to report that I’m safe. Funny that my mum will say I know you’re alright cause I know you can’t afford staying in the 5 stars hotel, so much so for your high regards, mum!

Bandung is in chaotic madness till to the long weekends. It’s some Muslim holy day. I’ve walked at least 2 hours with my heavy backpack before I hop on a cab to go for hotel hunting. The taxi driver is very nice. He shows me a few hotels but it’s all fully booked so desperately I pay more for a room knowingly it’s beyond my budget S$40 a night and the condition of the hotel is not even 3 stars. Can you believe it? It’s unclean and the toilet doesn’t flush. The only thing that actually worth the value is the complimentary buffet breakfast and the cable TV somehow doesn’t captivate me.