Yogyakarta

I took a few days off from work to visit Yogyakarta which is sometimes referred to as the Kyoto or Melbourne of Indonesia, as it is a center of classical Javanese fine art and culture. (Jakarta is alternatively referred to as the Osaka of Indonesia

I stayed at the Phoneix hotel in Yogyakarta city and used it as a base for day trips out to the various sights. It’s a very nice hotel and I recommend it if you want a historic yet comfortable accommodation experience.

Borobodur

Borobudur is a ninth-century Buddhist monument and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monument is both a shrine and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. With a Buddhist mother, it was a great opportunity for me to take her to somewhere she has wanted to see. It’s a stricking monument in the middle of the jungle that was discovered in 1814 by Stamford Raffles and is definitely worth seeing.

Try and avoid school holidays and weekends and it gets packed with group tours, all of whom are very friendly and entertaining mind you. If you want to feel like a celebrity go when they are there. You will have dozens of requests to take photos of you with kids and women tours).

Prambanan

Prambanan is the ninth century Hindu temple  located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta city. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, currently is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia, and is one of the largest Hindu temples in south-east Asia.

Antiques & furniture shopping

Culinary delights