Manohara Hotel Yogyakarta

... bought our tickets, then made our way in the direction of the main temple; first walking down a long tree-lined walkway, then finally climbing some steps up to the ground level of the temple. It was boiling hot and very humid by now. I wandered off on my own. The temple is a massive Buddhist structure, built in the ninth century and comprising six square platforms which are topped by three circular platforms; every level is decorated with relief panels ...

... so they could eat some street food, I watched them enjoy (well Carlos partly enjoyed his meal!!) their meals. We then went to the area I have been staying, the main backpacker stomping ground, and had some drinks outside the supermarket where everyone was hanging, it was pretty funny, and Carlos had to fend of some suspected prostitutes for me, as they wanted us to go clubbing with them (and probably get a service off them after!!), which was hilarious. When ...

... Buddha statues; some in their original glory, some headless, and some completely missing. The views, stupas, and layout are all very impressive. However, once you reach these final platforms, you will notice that they are flooded with hundreds of other tourists. Some/most are just sitting around on the stupas and steps, which makes taking photographs of one stupa, let alone several at once, a very very hard task; this frustrated me at times.

We got the usual ...

... we did and I asked their friend to take one on my camera too. I wonder how many of their relatives and friends have seen that picture now. I figured I had to share it with all mine too! (Side note: Maybe Graham's shirt had something to do with the whole thing, who knows.) Another must-see around Yogyakarta was Mt. Merapi - the most active volcano in the world! It goes up and down among the top fifteen, but it ...

... Kryton which is where the royalty used to live but to be honest - it was rubbish. Everywhere you walk in Yogyakarta you get hasstle from people trying to see their batik - and I really dont like batik. I started off being politely interested but it soon changed an by the end I was just saying - I DONT LIKE BATIK!!! This did the trick! I then went out to Prambanan by public bus to not pay the stupid amount they wanted for the tour. The bus was quick and nice and ...

... slip away from the main tourist area ignoring all the touts and find the real heart of the city. The kraton is still very active, and apart from the sultan still living there over 25,000 live within ...

... of day, but then dehydration would not have been a problem. On the way back to Yogyakarta we stopped at a silver workshop which was a thinly disguised attempt to flog us a load of trinkets, so be assured I bought nothing. Sitting on the steps here, Arnot recounted the sad saga of his duties as a tour guide in Kuta on the morning after the Bali bombing, checking round the hotels for tour group members and having to report back to head office that 2 were missing, never to be found.

... Hyatt . It was the nicest hotel that I have ever seen. I have included the website for the Hyatt . It was the most amazing thing that I have stayed in. http://yogyakarta.regency.hyatt .com/hyatt /hotels/index.jsp The first day we spent touring the promondo, which is the Hindu temple. This is the smaller of the two temples in the area. However, it is still ...