Java is the heart of Indonesia: here's what to expect from this part of the world, among volcanic landscapes, spectacular views and temple complexes.
Useful tips for visiting the island of Java, Indonesia, to discover breathtaking landscapes and ancient monuments of inestimable value.
The island of Java is one of the most important of the 17.507 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago. Those who, like me, have decided or will decide to treat themselves to a trip to Indonesia, should absolutely visit it!
There will be waiting for you: the most acid volcano in the world, very important Buddhist and Hindu monuments and its courteous and helpful people.
Tips to enjoy the island of Java to the fullest
I left for Indonesia in May, I had a lot of hesitation about the weather, which in Southeast Asia is not very favorable in spring due to the monsoons.
I took (very early) a flight from Rome, with a stopover in Istanbul, bound for Jakarta: the main city of Java and the Indonesian capital.
I paid for the ticket about 470 euros return, a great price if you consider that at other times of the year it costs even more than 1000 euros, all thanks to skyscanner!
Landed in Jakarta, after several hours of flight, the initial sensation was not the best: an infernal heat combined with an annoying, terrible humidity.
Jakarta: one of the largest metropolises in the world
Jakarta airport is gigantic but it is quite well connected to the city center and in a quarter of an hour / twenty minutes, you will be catapulted into one of the largest metropolises in the world.
Jakarta is chaotic, inhabited by more than ten million inhabitants, with terrible traffic ... but it offers many opportunities if you want to have fun.
The design of some skyscrapers is not bad at all! I only stopped for one night and immediately left by train (it is certainly the fastest means of land transport in Indonesia) to Yogyakarta where I stayed for three days.
The cultural capital of Java
Yogyakarta is considered the cultural capital of Java, has a much smaller and liveable center (for good reason!) than Jakarta; the old part is made up of houses very close to each other and very nice alleys, there are an infinite number of places to sleep: I chose one single room in a fairly basic guesthouse from 6 euros per night with breakfast included.
My budget was not that big and my trip was going to last a month, being careful and careful was a must!
Fate a tour in the street of street food: it is very popular and is a great place to get to know the Indonesian people, fascinated and intrigued by Westerners. On the street they will all greet you, they will want to take pictures with you and all this will be very good for your self-esteem!
In addition to being the cultural capital of Java, Yogyakarta is a fairly lively center, full of stalls and kiosks that have excellent street food, I absolutely recommend you taste the Nasi Goreng: a fried rice accompanied by vegetables, meat or fish, because it is very good; the noodles soup and the inevitable chicken skewers (a skewer costs no more than 15 cents).
To move around the city and nearby areas, rent a moped: it is the smartest choice to make to avoid traffic and suffer less from the heat, then it costs just under 7 euros a day!
Java: monuments not to be missed
Just outside Yogyakarta there are two monumental complexes that you absolutely cannot miss (they can be easily reached by scooter). The first is the largest Buddhist temple in the world: Boroboudur.
It looks like virtual reality: the location of a Tomb Raider-style video game.
Admission costs 20 euros or a little more, it's not very cheap by Indonesian standards, but it's a must; it has a pyramidal structure, it contains more than 500 statues representing the Buddha - in different expressions and positions - and thousands of bas-reliefs depicting stories about Buddhism.
The second most important monument in Java is undoubtedly Prambanan (forty kilometers from Yogyakarta), by scooter it will take you about twenty minutes to reach it; is a temple dedicated to Hindu worship.
It has a mighty structure that develops upwards and is composed of a series of small temples dedicated to the Hindu deities, the largest one is dedicated to Shiva and is more than 40 meters high.
Even in this case, admission is a bit expensive… but we are talking about monuments that are among the most beautiful and important in the world, as well as recognized as World Heritage by Unesco. You will use your saver soul for something else!
The acid volcano of Java
From Yogyakarta I took a minibus in direction Monte Bromo, I had read something about my guide and I was intrigued by the fact that a few kilometers away there was the largest acid volcano in the world: Kawah Ijen.
You can buy a complete package with hotel accommodation, a visit to Bromo and a guided night excursion to the acid volcano.
Yogyakarta is full of tour operators (some even very improvised, make sure they are official guides) who organize bus trips, find you accommodation for the night and accompany you on various excursions at more than affordable prices.
The area near Mount Bromo is 2000 meters high and it feels great in climatic terms.
I stayed in a really nice hotel / resort (Hotel Bromo Permai): the lobby and dining area were completely built in bamboo! A good sleep in a comfortable bed and the next day, in shape for the hike to Mount Bromo. I tell you right away that you can do it in full autonomy, you will not need guides or anything like that, it is not tiring and takes less than half an hour.
Once on top, you will find yourself above this crater from which white smoke comes out, many people throw flowers towards the mouth of the volcano (it seems to be an ancient practice that brings good luck), towards the afternoon the landscape around Bromo disappears completely to make place in the fog, really dense ... you can not see anything a few meters away. I found all this fantastic, it didn't even feel like being on planet earth anymore.
The acid lake of Java
The next day, at 2.00 am, departure towards Kawah Ijen: the largest acid lake in the world. The trek lasted a couple of hours, quite tiring and, as if that were not enough, that night the rain was intense; we reached the top just before dawn broke.
There are no words to describe the sensations of that moment, in front of me the valley ... and the ocean in the extreme distance. Suddenly, behind us, the fog was giving way to a color between light blue and beautiful green, it was the acid lake that slowly manifested itself to our eyes, leaving us ecstatic.
Java is a magical island that has left me with many good memories and spurred me on to face many obstacles that I never imagined (I suffer from vertigo); those who plan a trip to Indonesia are almost inclined to see only Bali, but Indonesia is much more and the island of Java is proof of this.
