TravelStream™ news feed for member bokonon on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/bokonon en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:33:36 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bokonon/2/1216283520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bokonon/2/1216283520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bokonon/2/1216283520/tpod.html Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:33:36 -0500 Indonesia Trip

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Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia

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Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

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Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Have an infected burn on my leg, but happy for many reasons.
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Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Very sad today.
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Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia

In my last post I mentioned I had a burn wound on my leg. It became infected and after my trek in the north Sumatran jungle I decided cancel my planned trip to Sulawesi, and to get to a doctor asap.

So, after debating with myself over whether or not I should return immediately to Sydney, I eventually decided to head to Jogja again where I knew it would be easy to spend a few days recovering. I'm thinking of doing some travel around Java, or perhaps even a short trip to Bali once the leg is well and truly on the mend.

I went to the international hospital in Jogja, where almost no one spoke any English, and got some antibiotics for the infection. It's not too bad, and the burn would should recover a lot faster now.

Missing Sydney, and friends and family, but don't want to go back yet! There are more experiences to be had!
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Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

Another general update!

Yesterday I left Jogja, after being there nearly a month. I grew to really like the city, made some friends there, and would like to go back one day. After arriving in Jakarta from Jogja I went to Bogor, south of Jakarta, to see the famous gardens there. They were beautiful, but hugs, and would need more time than I had to explore properly.

Heading to the jungle tomorrow. It will be a challenge navigating the bus companies when I arrive in Menado, north Sumatra, but hopefully not too difficult.

I have a few days with the jungle, then off to the coral reefs of Bunaken in north Sulawesi, where I hope to do one or two guided dives, snokelling, etc.

I've picked up some wounds along the way, the most serious being a burn wound getting off the back of a motorcycle ("motor" in bahasa Indonesia). I have ointment for it, and it is healing, so I hope it is OK in time for Sulawesi.

Can I say that dropping a heavy padlock on my foot was no fun either? Can I?

Currently in the Hotel Nikko in Jakarta. The room is a bit disappointing, all things considered, but the staff are nice.

Missing Sydney, and friends and family a bit.
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Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Finally an update!

It has been hard to find a reliable and fast internet connection close to where I have been staying. When I am connected I am often doing research for my trip, which is why blog updates have been few and far between.

My travel plans have changed quite a bit, and I am now staying in Jogja (officially "Yogyakarta") longer than originally planned. I'm really enjoying the language school I am going to. The teachers are so down to earth, friendly and curious, that it makes for a really enjoyable and stimulating time. I was doing 6 hours of tuition per day for a while, and would get back to my hotel exhausted. I have homework to do most days, and this would usually get done in the morning just before heading to the school (just like when I was in high school!!)

I really like Jogja. It is hard to pinpoint what I like about the place, but it seems like a city that can (and is) lived in by regular families, who are not pushed out to the fringes where, in Australia, land would be cheap and services non-existent. I'll write more on Jogja later.

I've met some really nice people while I have been here, and been to some extraordinary places. I've been challenged personally, and am trying to absorb it all.

I'll be in jogja for nearly two more weeks, then it's on to North Sumatra and the jungle!

Love to all.
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Borobudur, Java, Indonesia

Visited Borobudur on July 18/19. An amazing place - see the link for all the facts. Stayed at the Manohara hotel which is the only hotel actually in the park that contains the temple. The Manohara costs about $40/night, including the $10 entrance fee to the temple. Nearby is the hundreds-of-dollars-per-night Saraswati, and that is where I ate!!

It is hard to describe the temple. Seen from a distance it is imposing and impressive. It sits on a hill, so is visible from some distance. As you get closer and see people climbing the main stairs you realise the scale of the place.

Sometimes you get a strong sense of the spirituality of a place, but that didn't happen for me here. I wonder if the temple is simply a means to reflect on and channel ones own personal spirituality?

There are more pics of Borobudur to come!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bokonon/1/1215957600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bokonon/1/1215957600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bokonon/1/1215957600/tpod.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:27:16 -0400 Spirits Colliding

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Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Arrive in Jogja
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Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

I've made some notes about Jakarta, but don't have them with me, so this will just be a short entry that I'll update later - if Travelpod allows.

First thing to say is Jakarta is huge. At least 12 million people, and certainly many more if "greater" Jakarta is included. What that means is traffic. It is an everyday fact of life here that, unless you live and work right in central Jakarta, you will be spending considerable amounts of time in traffic. Today I was picked up by my friend Robin, who kindly offered to show me around Jakarta. We spent a lot of time in traffic!

Our first stop was Kota, which is the/an old part of the city dating from when Indonesia was Dutch, which is where the following pic was taken. As I said, I'll write a lot more about Jakarta later when I have my notes, but that's it for now.
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