Many of my friends were asking me why I go Indo for 11 days? And why I chosen Indonesia? And now, I explain to you why. What inspired me to go to Indonesia is due to one conversation between my colleagues. Then, he told me 25 reasons why you should never travel to Indonesia.
Info
Please bear in mind, Indonesia is an amazing country with stunning view yet it’s dirty, non-hygiene, serious air polluted and the terrible traffic country ever.
Indonesia time was 1 hour earlier than Malaysia time
Flight duration from KUL > SUB is 3 hours
Bring along jacket, mask, glove and sunglass
Day 1 Cemoro Lawang
First I reached Juanda Airport, grabed a bread and then take Damri Shutter Bus to Bungarasih Station. It is very easy to find as it stop at the main entrance of the airport. You can ask customer service if you don’t wish to waste your time searching for it. This shuttle bus will depart once it is full. So don’t waste too much time mingle around the airport.
Around one and a half hour later, we reached Bungarasih bus terminal. We plan to take our lunch there but we worry we will miss the bus so we look for bus ticket first. But, Bungarasih terminal is quite big, and the bus to Probolinggo is situated at another side of the bus terminal. Do not get panic if you surrounded by the locals who selling tickets, tell them your destination and they will point the way where you suppose to get your tickets. There is "Express" and "Economic" bus, of course I chose the economic one (sound like cheaper, you can survey on the price before you decide which to take, i forget how much). The “Express” is with air condition and the “Economic” is non-air conditional. After a guy lead me to a bus, and we got our bus ticket, the driver do not allow us to take our lunch outside the bus, as there are peddlers selling rice onboard. Kinda expensive. So you can have a quick lunch first before you looking for the bus. As the same, it departs once the bus is full. So do not get down from the bus once you purchased.
Inside the bus, there is a driver and a "keeper", keep ask the keeper where is Probolinggo bus terminal. Normally they will shout for one stop to one stop. My keeper remembers our destination so it is way more easier. When arrive Probolinggo bus terminal, the keeper point to us where to take minibus up to Mt Bromo, meanwhile we stopped by an agency named "Ms ToTo". We purchased the minivan ticket to go to Mt Bromo together with the package for Mt Bromo and Kawah Ijen.
Initially I planned to do it on my own at Mt Bromo and Kawah Ijen, and phew, luckily we booked this tour.
Tour including:-
Mt Bromo Entrance Fee
4x4 Jeep tour to viewpoint & Mt Bromo
Transport to Kawah Ijen from Mt Bromo
Blue fire & Crater Ijen Tour
Transport to Banyuwangi (or your next destination) from Kawah Ijen
If you were tend to take packages, you can rent other cheaper hostel at Cemoro Lawang as the jeep will pick you up in front you hostel. Do more survey on travel agency to get cheapest package as I believe mine is not the cheapest one. I would not recommend taking Mount Bromo tour if you really like to hike and adventure. It takes 2 hours to reach the viewpoint and 45 mins to Mt Bromo from Café Lava. Café lava (the hotel I stayed) is the nearest hostel to Mount Bromo. You can ask advise from the hotel staff. Many ang mo do so. Viewpoint 1 is super crowded, you have to grab a nice place for nice view. Anyhow your photo will photobomb by others. So if you hike yourself, maybe you can go to viewpoint 2 (or ask hotel staff for recommendation) for other nice viewpoint.
You can do it with a more adventure way: setting up a tent or camp under the milk way. I believe this would be a great experience!
Summary
Air ticket
KUL>SUB (Juanda International Airport) RM 226 (without luggage)
Travel insurance for 20 days RM 75
Purchased from Grand Holiday
Surabaya > Bungurasih Station IDR 25,000 – By Damri Shuttle Bus
Bungurasih Station > Probolinggo Station IDR 20,000 – By Economic Bus
Probolinggo Station > Cemoro Lawang IDR 35,000 – By green minibus
Café Lava IDR 175,000 – per room per night (pay upon arrive)
Mt Bromo + Kawah Ijen Tour IDR 750,000
Day 2 Mt Bromo
0330 Depart to Mt. Pernanjakan (Viewpoint 1)
0700 Mt Bromo Crater
0800 Back to hostel
1100 Check out and return to the travel agency and buy a sim card from a phone stall
Get your sim card pack as early as you can
The sim pack at Indonesia included 4GB data last for 1 month. Just tell the boss you want a sim card that can access internet (normally have only one choice). No activation needed. What you have to do is unpack the sim card and insert it into your smart phone. 4GB is more than enough for you to surf Google and Map (I even used to upload photos at IG). I left over 2GB and wasted. And, cutting the card to micro sim with IDR20,000 charge.
1500 Depart to Kawah Ijen
1900 Dinner
2100 We pre-booked our hotel at Arabica Homestay. But due to time matter, the driver refuse to send us to the Arabica homestay and compensate us at Catimor homestay where designated. So if you are going to book a local tour, do not book hotel by your own as the accommodation will be included.
Summary
SIMPati sim pack IDR 65,000
Arabica Hostel RM 177.44 – per room
Day 3 Kawah Ijen > Banyuwangi
0000 Wake up > Collect breakfast from hotel
0100 Gather and depart to crater Kawah Ijen
0900 Banyuwangi
1700 Pantai Boom
Cinema
2100 Dinner
Train yourself before you go for this. To hike this you need a lot of energy and strong stamina. Of course you can give up to see the blue flame and only join for the kawah Ijen (wake up at 4am and the route is not that tiring and the package is cheaper). You must come once in a life time as it is so worth!
Bring more (or thick) long sleeve shirts and long pants because it is cold! We wear the same jacket and pants for continuous 3 days as we didn’t bring any. The smell of sulphur is very hard to wash away once it soaked into your shirt. Or reverse my itinerary (make mt bromo and kawah ijen your last destination)
Summary
Mask rental IDR 50,000
Bangyuwangi Homestay IDR 70,000 – Per room per night
Laundry IDR2,500 per cloth IDR 20,000
Transportation to Pantai Boom IDR 110,000
Movie (Cinema) IDR 25,000
Dinner at Ikan Bakar Persona IDR 150,000 – For two
Private Van to go back homestay IDR 50,000
Day 4 Omah Kayu Malang
0500 Train > Malang
1300 Malang
1600 Omah Kayu at Paralayang
The train is clean and comfortable but it is a seat. What I mean is you cannot lay for a nap (unlike KTM Malaysia), all you do is SIT. My initial plan is to stay at Omah Kayu but it was fully booked when we were there (no advance booking at internet available but you can actually pre book by phone call). The owner of Omah Kayu recommends us "The Pujun View" which located at the foothills.
Note:
Train ticket must book in advance. http://www.kereta-api.co.id/ It is not easy to reach Omah Kayu, so maybe you can skip this. Ask me more if you are interested to stay at Omah Kayu
Summary
Banyuwangi > Malang RM22.5 – 5am train
Malang railway station > Landungsari IDR 4,000 – By blue mikrolet
Landungsari > Batu IDR 4,000 – By purple mikrolet
Batu > Paralayang Peak IDR 5,000 – By green mikrolet
Peak > Omah Kayu IDR 10,000 – Anonymous’ Van
Paralayang entrance fee IDR 5,000
Omah Kayu entrance fee IDR 5,000
Dinner at Paralayang (indo mee) IDR 30,000
Pujun View Hotel IDR 200,000 – Per room per night
Day 5 Coban Rondo Waterfall
After having breakfast provided by hotel, we head to Coban Rondo Waterfall. We are too tired to walk so we simply knock somebody’s door and ask for a ride. Grab a map and explore around! It is a big park.
Then, we go down to Batu town by public bus. You won't find any bus stop station, so, just ask.
Museum angkot is a museum of transportation, from the traditional to modern, even from the animation word. Is a very big museum to explore, don’t miss this out if you visit Malang. Keep your boarding pass to get discount. Sur-charge to camera or any photo shooting gadget APPLIED.
Malang is a good place to visit. But only for chill and relax. It might be boring for you.
Summary
Transport to waterfall IDR 20,000 – per car
Entrance Fee IDR 21,000
Bus go down to Batu IDR 5,000
Lunch at Warung Bethania IDR 128,700 – For two
The Batu Villas RM 80.50 – Per room per night
Musuem Angkot IDR 80,000
Dinner at Khas Jawa IDR 65,000 – For two
Day 6 Malang > Jogja
After check out, we head down to Malang again. Then asking for the direction to [Bakso Bakar Pak Man] and you might not want to miss this! Yes, we get bored to the Indo bakso but I swear this is the most special one in town especially you love hot and spicy! The bus drop us at somewhere nearby and we reach there by Google map. It’s around 20min walking distance. I know it’s far but definitely worth it.
[Toko Oen], the most ancient building at Malang selling desert and snack. BUT I ADVISE NOT TO WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY HERE. YOU WILL GET DISAPPOINTMENT.
According to the local blog, Rawon Nguling serves the best beef in the town. Too bad, it is closed. Alternatively, we had done our dinner at [Ocean Garden] when we are on the way to Malang Railway Station.
Summary
Batu to Malang IDR 5,000 – by public transport
Malang to City IDR 4,000 – by public transport
Top up for Telco IDR 10,000
Lunch at Bakso Bakar Pak Man DR 65,000 – For two
Dessert at Toko Oen IDR 110,000 – For two
Dinner at Ocean Garden IDR 80,000 – For Two
Malang > Jogja RM 43 – By 8pm train
Day 7 Jogja – Kalibiru
As per schedule, we reached Jogja at 4am. We drop our backpack at the homestay, then we rush to see the sunrise at Kalibiru. We didn’t pay for the entrance fee because we are too early. Kalibiru open at 9am with adventure activities as well. You have to pay for each game including taking photo.
Gudej is the famous food at Jogja. [Yu Djum] is some kind like franchise so the price is slightly expensive, I guess. I personally don’t like this but anyhow you have to try since you are there.
Not to mention, Jalan Malioboro is the most happening tourist shopping spot.
Summary
Taxi from station to homestay IDR 50,000
Rental for motor IDR 70,000
Gasoline IDR8000/L IDR 16,000
Kalibiru Entrance Fee FOC
Attraction (photo) IDR 30,000
Gudeg Yu Djum IDR 51,000 – For two
Parking at Jln Malioboro IDR 2,000
Dinner IDR 38,000 – For two
Leckher café IDR 82,500 – For two
The Wayang Homestay RM 162.30 – Per room for 3 nights including breakfast
Day 8 Borobudur > Lava Merapi Tour
0400 Although the entrance fee for normal Borobudur is cheaper compared to sunrise, I still choose for Sunrise because it worth paying!
1400 Mt Merapi Lava Tour.
Summary
Borobudur temple – Sunrise ticket IDR 380,000
Transport from homestay IDR 110,000 (book from Wayang Homestay)
Lava Merapi Tour IDR 400,000 – per jeep (max 4 pax)
Transport to Mt Merapi IDR 125,000 (book from Wayang Homestay)
Dinner (Makanan Padang) IDR 10,000 – For two
Lotus Mio IDR 49,500 – For two
Day 9 Taman Sari > Prambanan > Sambisari > Ratu Boko
Summary
Rental of Motor IDR 70,000
Gasoline IDR 21,000
Entrance Fee (Prambanan + Ratu boko) IDR 315,000 – get cheaper if you buy as in a package
Parking IDR 5,000
Parking at Plaza Ambarrukmo IDR 2,000
Lunch – Pizza Hut IDR 110,000 – For two
Dinner (Makanan Padang) IDR 17,000 – For two
Parking at Jogja City Mall IDR 3,000
Note:
I didn’t book ticket in advance for Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko as this will not be “Sold Out” or “Fully Booked”
Day 10 Nglanggeran
0700 Depart to Nglanggeran after breakfast
0830 Approx. one hour ride (27.5km). Please be careful as you have to get through curved slopes with many heavy vehicles pass by. Nglanggeran is a dead volcano. It is dangerous to hike without guidance. End up, we couldn't reach the peak because we are at the wrong direction.
1100 Cokelat Monggo at Kotagede. A must-buy from Indonesia. You can also see some old man selling silver tin along the road side.You can just get it at the town, basically selling the same variant at the same price.
1200 Have our lunch at Padang Makanan then check out
1400 We give up our original plan to go to Parangtritis Beach and rest at hotel instead
1700 Search for Batik at Jln Malioboro > Jln Ngasem
2000 Dinner at Ikan Bakar Gambiran
2100 Chillex at Banana Café. You can find café house, Ang mo, and of course liquor along Jln Parangtritis and Jln Prawirotaman. Banana café is just so so as I think it is more to a pub but not for coffee.
Summary
Rental of Motor IDR 70,000
Gasoline IDR 8,000
Nglanggeran Entrance Fee IDR 5,000
Cokelat Monggo IDR 600,000 – depend on how many you buy
Harper Mangkubumi Hotel RM 135.5 – per room per night
Dinner IDR 100,000
Banana Café IDR 40,000 – two drinks
Day 11 Jogja > KUL
Walk around Jln Malioboro to Pasar Beringharjo hunting for breakfast.
After return motor to The Wayang Homestay, check out and have lunch at [Roaster and Bear], just downstairs of the hotel. Nice food and nice environment!
The bus stop just right in front of the hotel. We have been told that the bus will come every 15 mins but we waited for more than an hour. Jogja city’s public transport consider convenience, you can go everywhere by taking public transport. Always bear in mind, you must allow time, and the bus will FULL and do not take passenger. Stand in front of the "gate" and grab. No matter how far you go, cost 3,600 Rupiah. We only take public transport on the last day travelling to airport. International air flight is shifted to Gate B which you have to take another shutter bus but no worry there is always guidance (just ask the airport staff if you are not sure), it just take less than 5 mins.
Summary
Air Ticket
Adisucipto International Airport > KUL RM173.1 – Including 40kg luggage
Breakfast aside the street IDR 20,000
Lunch at Roaster & Bear IDR 130,000 – for two
Public transport to airport IDR 3,600
CFC (fast food) IDR 150,000 – for two
In short, we spend approx. RM4400 for 2 person for 11days including buying souvenirs!
That’s all for my Indo trip and I apologies for my broken English.
Comments