Most people who have traveled to or researched Indonesia have probably heard of the Gili Islands. But if you start scanning the coastline of the country, you’ll notice many Gilis because Gili simply means “small island” in Indonesian. However, when tourists speak of them, they’re typically referring to the ones off the north coast of Lombok, and easy to access from…
Happy 2025 to all of you! We wish you happy days and of course, happy travels for the new year. For the first time in our lives, we’re one of the first in the world to experience the new year thanks to our geographical position from Down Under. Yes, in case you missed it, we’re in Melbourne, Australia this year…
Some say that Yogyakarta, commonly called Yogya or Jogja, is the true essence of Java…where the heart and the soul collide in its history, arts and culture. It is a destination that is on nearly every travelers’ Java itinerary for this reason, and because of its proximity to the wondrous and notable ancient ruins of Borobudur and Prambanan. So...Borobodur or…
While in Surakarta, aka, Solo, we went $2.82 over our daily budget and…at the same time, stayed in our first FIVE-star hotel. There was no travel hacking, free stays, or craftiness involved. It’s simply what it cost with our Agoda “VIP Platinum” status (which anyone can get simply by using the app regularly). Needless to say, life can be very good…
Now that we had completed our three-week tour of Central and Eastern Java, we could more accurately evaluate the cities we visited and of them, Surakarta, also known as Solo, easily ranked in as our favorite, and one we’d love to return to. Granted, this is based on first impressions because we only spent one night, but it had a…
Getting to Malang from Surakarta (Solo) Despite its swarming roads and bustling cities, the miles between them can be a simply ravishing and serene journey while traversing Java, which we did in August 2024. And perhaps there’s no better way to see it than on the rails. Our longest train journey would take us six-hours from Solo to Malang through…
East Java’s Tumpak Sewu is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Indonesia. It tumbles down in a semi-circle sheet from the perch of a precipitous cliff, creating a marvelous curtain of water. And, even better….when you research blogs on things to do in Java, supposedly Tumpak Sewu is a stunning “off the beaten path” site you can see as…
Health Assessment at Prince Court (July 2024) Time to derobe, spread ‘em and generally do things that make us uncomfortable. Ah yes, it’s medical month in Kuala Lumpur! We’ve been waiting four years for our first official health assessments since we first learned about them. And I don’t mean checking five things in your blood, standing on a scale, and…
