Vacations in Java, Indonesia

Java, Indonesia

Java The richest, most lush and most densely populated of Indonesia’s countless islands, Java has an extraordinary diverse landscape, from towering volcanoes to dense forest, manicured rice paddies and teeming cities. Java is the site of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, as well as the Central Javanese cultural capital city of Yogyakarta.

Doubtless there are still more for us to discover. But for now, here are what I think  5 Favorite Vacations in Java, Indonesia.

1. Borobudur and Prambanan Temple

The remains of what once two great kingdoms of different religions (Buddhism and Hinduism) in Java, these two temples are definitely worth a visit. They make great short day trips from Yogyakarta.

I remember learning about these two temples when growing up in Indonesia. One of the stories is the legend of Loro Jonggrang, and here it is in its abbreviated (and probably slightly inaccurate) version:

“A kingdom was besieged by a neighboring kingdom, but the prince of the attacking kingdom fell in love with the daughter of the enemy king, Loro Jonggrang, and proposed a marriage. She would only agree on the marriage if he built 1000 temples in one night. The love struck prince agreed.

Helped by earthly spirits that he conjured up, he started to build one temple after another. At temple no 999, the princess was getting worried. She instructed her maids to mimic dawn by lighting fires around the compound, pounding rice, and waking the roosters up. Thinking that the dawn was upon them, the underground spirits went back to earth leaving the 1000th temple unfinished. Angry at her betrayal, the prince cursed Loro Jonggrang into a statue.”

The Loro Jonggrang statue basically became the 1000th temple that became part of Prambanan temple complex.

2. Ujung Genteng

Beautiful, deserted sandy white beach, watching sea turtles bury their eggs, traditional fish market, and throw in a waterfall or two. What’s not to love? How about the grueling 8 hour drive from Jakarta to get there? But it’s so, so, so worth it.

3. Bromo

Beautiful majestic Bromo. The sandy desert like environment surrounding the crater is out of this world. So is the area surrounding the village itself.

Ride a horse to get to the crater and look down into the belly of a still active volcano (apparently it just recently erupted). And rent a jeep to catch a sunrise above Bromo to get that classic Bromo picture. This is a place that we’d like to come back to because 3 days that we spent there just simply weren’t enough.

4. Yogyakarta

My favorite city in Java! Explore the narrow alleys that weave in and out of Malioboro, the main street of the city. See how batiks are made and watch silversmiths and puppet makers at work. Or rent a becak to explore the kraton (Sultan’s palace) and soak in the culture of this still somewhat traditional city.

5. The Dieng Plateau

Beautiful scenery of lush greenery and rice paddies is what this area is all about. Dare I say that they’re even more fetching than the rice terraces in Bali? Located high up on the mountain and about 2 hours north of Jogjakarta, the cool weather of the area provides a nice respite from the tropical heat of Java.

The road there is narrow and windy but the view is beautiful. Add to that the ancient ruins that are scattered around the area, the volcanic craters and hot springs, and the rosy cheeked ‘Dieng’ children with their dread-locked hair really make this area our family’s favorite destination.

Sometimes exploration of your own backyard reveals a lot more than what first meets the eyes. That’s definitely the case here with Java.