It just keeps happening - yet again it's because I don't have a printout of my electronic ticket. It's with calm bemusement and true English sarcasm that flies over heads that I explain why I haven't printed out my electronic ticket. A passport, a booking reference and a credit card just aren't good enough it seems. Then they tell me they can't find my booking! It's a good job the flight was late.
Yogja is the cultural capital of Java, with several sights to see. I'm back among the tourists so it must be true. The town lacks the size and sleaze of its big brother and is a far more pleasant sprawl of low-rise buildings. I've come for Borobudur - a Buddhist temple, Prambanan - a Hindu temple and Affandi - an Indonesian nutter of am artist. Include several museums and a Sultans palace and you have a very, very, touristy town. I've already bought 2 paintings, a tour, some transport, some homemade booze, and I've been offered local women and Grandma's back teeth.
I took a cyclo last night to go to the cinema (i miss western culture and Jason Bourne). The only problem was, that i didn't know where the cinema was, or even if there was one, and my driver didn't speak a word of English. He just cycled around randomly, would slow down very now and again and point something out in Indonesian, I would smile and say something like "wow, really" or "you don't say" and then seemingly with no indication to stop, he would then continue. It was a great way to see the town! The only problem was that when we eventually stopped (he was getting tired poor soul - he looked 93), he left me miles away from my hotel. I ended up walking further than I'd just paid to be transported; we never did find the cinema. Still, i found a ten-pin bowling alley instead, and at $1 a game how can i refuse. It's a good find as I'll be spending longer in Yogja than I'd like - it's another National Day tomorrow - this time it's The Netherlands fault. The freaky-deaky Dutch.
It just keeps happening - yet again it's because I don't have a printout of my electronic ticket. It's with calm bemusement and true English sarcasm that flies over heads that I explain why I haven't printed out my electronic ticket. A passport, a booking reference and a credit card just aren't good enough it seems. Then they tell me they can't find my booking! It's a good job the flight was late.
Yogja is the cultural capital of Java, with several sights to see. I'm back among the tourists so it must be true. The town lacks the size and sleaze of its big brother and is a far more pleasant sprawl of low-rise buildings. I've come for Borobudur - a Buddhist temple, Prambanan - a Hindu temple and Affandi - an Indonesian nutter of am artist. Include several museums and a Sultans palace and you have a very, very, touristy town. I've already bought 2 paintings, a tour, some transport, some homemade booze, and I've been offered local women and Grandma's back teeth.
I took a cyclo last night to go to the cinema (i miss western culture and Jason Bourne). The only problem was, that i didn't know where the cinema was, or even if there was one, and my driver didn't speak a word of English. He just cycled around randomly, would slow down very now and again and point something out in Indonesian, I would smile and say something like "wow, really" or "you don't say" and then seemingly with no indication to stop, he would then continue. It was a great way to see the town! The only problem was that when we eventually stopped (he was getting tired poor soul - he looked 93), he left me miles away from my hotel. I ended up walking further than I'd just paid to be transported; we never did find the cinema. Still, i found a ten-pin bowling alley instead, and at $1 a game how can i refuse. It's a good find as I'll be spending longer in Yogja than I'd like - it's another National Day tomorrow - this time it's The Netherlands fault. The freaky-deaky Dutch.
It just keeps happening - yet again it's because I don't have a printout of my electronic ticket. It's with calm bemusement and true English sarcasm that flies over heads that I explain why I haven't printed out my electronic ticket. A passport, a booking reference and a credit card just aren't good enough it seems. Then they tell me they can't find my booking! It's a good job the flight was late.
Yogja is the cultural capital of Java, with several sights to see. I'm back among the tourists so it must be true. The town lacks the size and sleaze of its big brother and is a far more pleasant sprawl of low-rise buildings. I've come for Borobudur - a Buddhist temple, Prambanan - a Hindu temple and Affandi - an Indonesian nutter of am artist. Include several museums and a Sultans palace and you have a very, very, touristy town. I've already bought 2 paintings, a tour, some transport, some homemade booze, and I've been offered local women and Grandma's back teeth.
I took a cyclo last night to go to the cinema (i miss western culture and Jason Bourne). The only problem was, that i didn't know where the cinema was, or even if there was one, and my driver didn't speak a word of English. He just cycled around randomly, would slow down very now and again and point something out in Indonesian, I would smile and say something like "wow, really" or "you don't say" and then seemingly with no indication to stop, he would then continue. It was a great way to see the town! The only problem was that when we eventually stopped (he was getting tired poor soul - he looked 93), he left me miles away from my hotel. I ended up walking further than I'd just paid to be transported; we never did find the cinema. Still, i found a ten-pin bowling alley instead, and at $1 a game how can i refuse. It's a good find as I'll be spending longer in Yogja than I'd like - it's another National Day tomorrow - this time it's The Netherlands fault. The freaky-deaky Dutch.
I meet Yeong my travelling Korean friend - i left him last in Sepilok in Malaysia Borneo a few weeks ago - i tell you it's a small world. At least he confirms that Kalimantan was probably OK to miss - he got lonely and got out of there after a day!
5am starts for tours, rooms with toilets that don't flush, cold showers, ants in my pants - well in my food and bed, and saying no thank-you so often that I do it in my sleep. It's good old Asia. There's only one thing missing so far...the lady boys...
...give it time.
