Yogya & Borobodur
Moderator: daffodil
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Been many years since I've been there so I suppose Yogyakarta might have changed - but Borobodur can't have. It was magnificant.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Thanks. Just wondering as given the amt of time I have been in SEA its easy to be a bit jaded on the temple thing.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Totally worth it. I haven't been to Borobudur in more than 20 years but I can still remember it vividly. And I've seen A LOT of temples.
Last edited by nev on 24th Feb, '11, 09:45, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Cool. all booked. Not bad for a cheapy 80bucks deal.
Next on the list - Nepal - am thinking about going for Diwali - anyone been?
Next on the list - Nepal - am thinking about going for Diwali - anyone been?
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Kathmandu is a bit of a toilet, but trekking is great. Every man and his dog seems to go to Everest Base Camp, but it is worth the walk
We are the TPF
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Many years since I've been there too but I'd love to go back even if just for Bhaktapur. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaktapur. Sounds like you've got yourself a great bargain flight to Java. Please give us an update on your thoughts when you return!
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Borob: any recomendations for hotels? Price is not an issue. Like smaller boutique places...
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Can(t) can(t) - I was a skint backpacker when I was there.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Rumah Sleman was highly recommended by a friend, but it's not near the city centre.
Another one that my friend mentioned was The Phoenix Hotel, on the main Malioboro road.
I haven't stayed in any of these but my friend is very fussy and he loved these places.
Another one that my friend mentioned was The Phoenix Hotel, on the main Malioboro road.
I haven't stayed in any of these but my friend is very fussy and he loved these places.
Last edited by nev on 23rd Feb, '11, 18:49, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
I would say stay in the city centre - that's why you are there. I stayed around the corner from Durbar Square and still have vivid memories (and it was 92 I was there) of going out for an early morning walk on my own around the almost empty city centre. The mist was rising and the Square looked like something out of the medieval ages.
I just had a quick look on Trip Advisor and it looks like the chain hotels still haven't arrived there (hurrah). Some of the guest houses sound nice and I recognise their names although can't remember which one I used.
I just had a quick look on Trip Advisor and it looks like the chain hotels still haven't arrived there (hurrah). Some of the guest houses sound nice and I recognise their names although can't remember which one I used.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Ummm... the chain hotels are definitely there; Sheraton, Novotel, Accor, Melia, Ibis to name a few.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
BeesKnees is talking about Kathmandu I think. Though there seem to be big chains there too now
We are the TPF
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Nope BoD, I do mean Bhaktapur (although the architecture in Kathmandu is great too). I couldn't see any chains mentioned on tripadvisor re Bhaktapur so assumed that was the case.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Ah sorry, the thread title says Yogya
Last edited by nev on 24th Feb, '11, 10:19, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Aaa okay I see I've got my Borobs and my Bhaktaps muddled up! JJ was asking about a hotel in Borobodur and I was dreaming of Nepal and Bhaktapur. Sorry for the confusion - I do this all the time.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
With the way threads get wayyy off tangent in this forum, you're not the only one confused BK
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Yep, Its all my fault. When I read through this morning, I also got confused ... ahh well... its age... senior moments abound.
Borob: I have seen this one www.saraswatiborobudur.com ... anyone stayed there? They also recommend the Monohara but I think the Saraswati looks better...
Nepal: Baktapur looks great. I am only planning on taking a week there for a quick visit over Diwali... As I am planning a big trip to either Kenya/Ethiopia or Chile later this year, my holidays are very tight at the mo (even with some unpaid leave). Is that enough - I can always go back later if I really like Nepal?
Borob: I have seen this one www.saraswatiborobudur.com ... anyone stayed there? They also recommend the Monohara but I think the Saraswati looks better...
Nepal: Baktapur looks great. I am only planning on taking a week there for a quick visit over Diwali... As I am planning a big trip to either Kenya/Ethiopia or Chile later this year, my holidays are very tight at the mo (even with some unpaid leave). Is that enough - I can always go back later if I really like Nepal?
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
The Saraswati place looks nice but it's in Magelang, not Yogya. It's about an hour away from Yogya and it's a tiny town, there's nothing to do and nobody speaks English. Yogya itself is a lot more charming, and if you stay in Yogya you can visit the palace. It's one of the very few in Indonesia that still has a real royal family living in it, and the only province still headed by a monarch.
EDIT to add that the airport is in Yogya. I see that the return flight is at 7.25AM on Air Asia, if that's what you're flying If you stay in Magelang you'll have to wake up an hour earlier.
EDIT to add that the airport is in Yogya. I see that the return flight is at 7.25AM on Air Asia, if that's what you're flying If you stay in Magelang you'll have to wake up an hour earlier.
Last edited by nev on 24th Feb, '11, 13:00, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
Thanks Nev - thats useful. For some reason I got the impression that Yogya was just the airport destination and the place to go was the temple at Borobudur. Hence the Saraswati hotel ... Obv I need to read up on all this before I go but I have alot of time....
Thinking to go directly to Borobudur first for a couple of days and then spend only the last day in Yogya itself (hankering to get out of cities and off the beaten track at the moment!)... but if you think Yogya is worth more of a stay then...
Thinking to go directly to Borobudur first for a couple of days and then spend only the last day in Yogya itself (hankering to get out of cities and off the beaten track at the moment!)... but if you think Yogya is worth more of a stay then...
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
I remember the palace. Tourists have a nice little air-conditioned entrance building and pay several USD to get in. Locals use a rusty gate and pay a few cents.
I dont remember being that enamoured with Yogya, but Borobudur alone is worth the trip and then there is Prambangan ( yes another temple), which is almost as impressive
I dont remember being that enamoured with Yogya, but Borobudur alone is worth the trip and then there is Prambangan ( yes another temple), which is almost as impressive
We are the TPF
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
I usually get ideas from Wikitravel, here's the one about Yogya: http://wikitravel.org/en/Yogyakarta. If you like local souvenirs, Yogya is the place to shop. A lot of the stuff you get in Bali came from Yogya.
That said, if you're looking to stay in the hotel and just visit Borobudur/Prambanan temples perhaps Saraswati would be great.
That said, if you're looking to stay in the hotel and just visit Borobudur/Prambanan temples perhaps Saraswati would be great.
Re: Yogya & Borobodur
JJ - where did you end up staying?
I am trying to plan our honeymoon - we are most likely going to run in and out just to see the temple and then go to Bali so I'm thinking Manohara might be sensible ...
I am trying to plan our honeymoon - we are most likely going to run in and out just to see the temple and then go to Bali so I'm thinking Manohara might be sensible ...
Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels.