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Notes from Indonesia
Routes, transport and places from our own travels. Find practical advice for your itinerary.
19 articles found
Yogyakarta in 2–3 days: itinerary, temples and map
Plan 2 or 3 days in Yogyakarta: Kraton, Taman Sari, Malioboro and separate temple trips. Includes a map, real photos, transport tips and booking checks.
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JAFF 2026 in Yogyakarta: dates and trip planning
JAFF 2026 runs in Yogyakarta on 28 November–5 December. Check the confirmed dates, what to verify before buying tickets and how to plan around screenings.
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Borobudur Marathon 2026: dates and arrival planning
Borobudur Marathon takes place on 15 November 2026 in Magelang. Check the distances, race-pack collection and booking order before planning your Java trip.
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Ubud Writers Festival 2026: dates, tickets and your stay
Ubud Writers Festival 2026, 21–25 October: International pass prices, free events, ticket collection and a Bali stay plan. Details checked on 18 October.
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East Java, Volume 1 is out: 132 pages in English, 22 chapters
East Java guide: Polish edition launched 7 September 2026, English on 19 September. 22 chapters, 7 and 15-day routes; contents and sample pages.
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Java Weather by Month: Best Time to Visit
Java weather by month: dry and rainy seasons, October conditions and a 12-month planning table. Check BMKG sources and adapt a 7- or 15-day route.
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Tumpak Sewu: getting there from Malang, ticket, descent
Tumpak Sewu: viewpoint 50,000 IDR (~3.12 USD), the descent another 50,000 IDR, open 05:00–16:00, closed in rain. Getting there from Malang and how long it takes.
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Ijen closed since 4 Sept 2026: what to do now
Kawah Ijen has been closed since 4 September 2026 after a fire reached the trail. No reopening date. Bromo is open since 20.08. What to do with the Ijen day instead.
ReadBromo After the 2026 Fires: Archive and Access Rules
Bromo's 2026 fires: an archive of August and September events, with an access update dated 15 October. Check the 1 km exclusion zone and plan your visit.
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Borobudur and Prambanan: 2026 tickets, sunrise, transport
Borobudur and Prambanan tickets, transport and planning. May 2026 prices are archival; check the official operator for current admission options and fares.
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Nusa Penida in one day? The itinerary is the trap
Nusa Penida is worth visiting, but a 1-day tour compresses it into traffic and viewpoints. Stay 1 night to see the island before the vans arrive.
ReadGetting around Java by train: routes, classes, tickets
Jakarta to Yogyakarta by train is 6 h 30 min and 490,000–570,000 IDR in Eksekutif class. KAI routes, classes, and why you book on tiket.com, not the KAI app.
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A month in Java, not a week — what it costs
A day on Java runs 330,000–650,000 IDR (~21–41 USD) for a backpacker, and a VOA covers 30 days for 500,000 IDR. How to set up a longer stay: base, scooter, SIM, visa extension.
ReadIndonesia visa on arrival: VOA, e-VOA, arrival card
Most visitors need a visa: VOA or e-VOA gives 30 days for 500,000 IDR, extendable once to 60 days. Plus the All Indonesia arrival card and Bali's 150,000 IDR tax.
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Mount Bromo Without a Tour: Tickets, Sunrise and Transport
Visit Mount Bromo without a tour: a 2-day plan with Cemoro Lawang stays, transport, sunrise viewpoints and a budget, plus tickets and the 1 km exclusion zone.
ReadIjen blue fire — cost, mask and the 2 am start
Ijen entry is 150,000 IDR — the same price on weekdays and weekends — plus a 45,000 mask and a mandatory health certificate. The blue fire dies at dawn, so you start at 2 am.
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East Bali — the corner most tourists skip
The USAT Liberty wreck 40 m off a black beach, 2 dives for 800,000 IDR, Sidemen rice terraces 2 h from the airport. Three spots in East Bali worth the detour.
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What to eat in Yogyakarta without overpaying
Gudeg at 15,000–25,000 IDR (1–1.60 USD), sate klatak 20,000–35,000, nasi goreng 10,000–20,000. Three dishes and one warung rule.
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5 mistakes on Java that cost you money
The five mistakes that cost the most on Java: a 500,000 IDR Borobudur tour without asking what the price includes, sleeping on Malioboro, trains booked too late.
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