Comments on: Yogyakarta - The Cultural Heart of Indonesia

By: simon

simon — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 06:48:36 +0000

Hi, i am travelling to Bali Indonesia, later this month. I have been buying and importing goods from there to Europe for some years now, but have never been to Yogyakarta, and have been told it is an excellent place to source different goods? Could anyone confirm this and perhaps give me some more information?
Many thanks

By: Canucki Chris

Canucki Chris — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:08:08 +0000

Nice write up Barrie, thanks.

I have 2 cousins, an aunt and their respective families in Jogja .

I remember my grandmother had a tobacco store on Jalan Malioboro and I used to play on that street often when I was around four years old.

After a 34 year abscence I finally returned for the first time in 2002, and unfortunately my time was “hijacked” by well meaning relatives when I visited, so I never got to fully enjoy the street scene. They couldn’t understand why I would even want to ride a becak.

I agree Jogja has a lot of “color” but, unitl I read your piece, I really didn’t feel safe walking around at night. I was warned of pick pockets etc. and I always managed to walk around with minimal cash and ID.

I will have to re-visit, this time an unannounced surprise visit, so I can scope the place out un-interrupted sans “Indonesian Family Hospitality”

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:17:53 +0000

Barrie,

Thanks for the article, you know the place better than most of the locals.

For anyone who has never been to Yogyakarta the view, when flying in from Bali is incredible! Yogya has a ring of volcanoes and calderas and its an amazing tthing to fly over, no wonder it became a cultrual center, the location demands attention.

By: Barrie

Barrie — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 17:08:33 +0000

Hi Cathleen C,

Yeah, I alomst cried at the sight of those poor animals and birds. When I started taking fotos, I was all of a sudden followed around!. They must have thought I was an animal rights activist!.

By: Cathleen C.

Cathleen C. — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 09:11:21 +0000

Thank you so much for the great information. You are right about the bird market, does take an open mind. So many pitiful animals, I wanted to take them all home, but where else would I ever be just inches away from a flying fox?

By: Intan O'Neill

Intan O'Neill — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 07:42:45 +0000

Hi Barry,
Thanks for the article about Yogyakarta.
I kinda like Yogyakarta more than Bali in some ways.
The people in Yogyakarta is nicer and the vendors are not as bad as Bali.
It is something about Yogyakarta that always make me want to go there whenever I am in Indonesia.

By: Barrie

Barrie — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 22:47:15 +0000

Hi Chan,

That’s why I have always gone there at sunrise or sunset!. Best times because it is quieter and much better for fotos.

By: Chan

Chan — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 21:06:00 +0000

Prambanan is wonderful. But……Indonesians pay about 7000Rp….foreigners and or Chinese will pay $10US. Inside you will be hassled by guides who will follow you about and step in front of you when you are trying to take photos. In addition, everywhere you go are beggars hawking bottles of soda/tea/juice and “musicians” beating on $5 guitars.