blue skies & everything nice: Jogjakarta 4D3N itinerary

Back in Aug 2013, I was in Jogjakarta for 4D3N with my mom & sister. Our itinerary as follows:

31st Aug (Prambanan)
Arrived Jogjakarta via Air Asia at 1120am (duration of flight 2 hr 35 min). Quite a long queue to pass through the custom (too few counters), at least 30 min wait.There's a counter at the airport for taxi. Fr Jogjakarta airport to Hotel 1001 Malam (Jln Malioboro) - IDR60,000.

Hotel price of 1001 Malam was about RM56.58 per pax incl bfast (we took a double bed + 1 extra mattress). The hotel is in a good location (plenty of transport around and walking distance to Jln Malioboro)

Hotel 1001 Malam compound

Hotel 1001 Malam room

The small road leading to Hotel 1001 Malam

After we checked in, we grabbed some lunch (gudeg).

Gudeg ... not to my liking

Strolled around Jln Malioboro to get a sim card (was in a rush to get to into the cab so did not see any shop in the airport). I Bought a XL sim card for IDR10,000 and topped up about IDR25,000. Purchased one of the HotRod 3G+ plan (IDR10,000 200MB for 7 days)
http://www.xl.co.id/en/internet/package/hotrod

Bought the sim card at a kiosk near the hotel but they don't have a sim cutter so went to a shopping mall at Jln Malioboro to have the sim card cut for my iphone 4s.

We decided to book our visit to Prambanan through the hotel - Prambanan entrance fee (IDR170K per pax) + outdoor Ramayana ballet (IDR100K per pax) + transport (IDR175K per pax which is overpriced, the driver told us the hotel only paid him IDR100K per pax)
The driver picked us up fr the hotel at 330pm, it took slightly over 30 min to get to Prambanan. The driver waited outside while we visited the temple.

Prambanan temple

It's v pleasant to visit in the evening, less ppl, not too hot and can see the sunset), we met him again around 6pm (it starts to get dark abt 6pm there). We asked him to recommend a place for dinner, so he brought us to a restaurant with Prambanan as backdrop (buffet @ IDR70K per pax excluding drink). The restaurant is just next to the Ramayana ballet venue. The food and ambience is good.

Buffet dinner

The driver waited for us while we watched the outdoor Ramayana ballet (Prambanan as backdrop again). I felt that the performance was too long, and I got quite bored.

Ramayana ballet

Just a note; during wet season, the Ramayana ballet is held indoors. Do check online for the dates whether indoor/outdoor performance

1st Sept (Merapi, Dieng Plateau)

Breakfast in hotel

Saw a lady selling noodles in the street outside our hotel, so we bought a bowl to try!

The day's agenda was to check out Mount Merapi & Dieng Plateau. Found a highly recommended driver from the internet; good in English, unfortunately he was not available so he recommended another driver who is not so good in English but since we can communicate in Bahasa Melayu, so not a prob. He's quiet but very polite and careful.

The drivers are not tour guides... they merely drive you to the places of attraction and wait for you in the car while you visit the place of attraction, but of course, some are talkative n would happily tell you stories, share tips, etc.

If you get a driver + car + fuel (meaning you directly contact the driver), you still have to pay for parking / entrance ticket / misc. However, if you book day trips from the hotel, these parking fees etc might already be included. Do ask before you book.

Anyway, we arranged with him transport for 1001 mlm --> Merapi --> Dieng Plateau --> Manohara hotel for IDR600K (we even added IDR50K as tip bcoz he was so patient in the long drive).

We departed very early, I think 730am? We made a detour to Merapi on our way to Dieng. The driver brought us to a viewing point, however it was not a clear day. After 30 min we left. My advise is don't make detour to Merapi if u r goin to Dieng coz it's a really long drive to Dieng (5 hrs one way)!!!

No photo of Mt Merapi due to cloudy sky, so this signboard will have to do...

By the time we reached Dieng it was lunch time already. However, lots to see along the drive; many gorgeous slopes terraced for plantation... The temperature is cooler in Dieng... Their specialty is potato and a fruit called carica. We had lunch at a random stall (indomee), tried their fried potato, v good! Anyway, at Dieng we visited a temple, the crater (the crater is pretty cool, in my opinion) and the lake "telaga warna". There are more local tourists at Dieng compared to foreigners (think Cameron Highlands). I feel it's a truly special place.

Terraced farm @ Dieng

Potato is a specialty in Dieng

Delicious lunch @ Dieng

Arjuna Temple

Magical Teletubbies appeared @ Arjuna Temple

Crater

Telaga Warna

Due to time constraint, we had to leave, but I read that there's still lots to see at Dieng (they r also famous for the 'double sunrise' (google it!)).

We headed back to our 2nd hotel of the trip, which was Manohara. Arrived before sunset.
Hotel price of Manohara Hotel was about RM112.28 per pax incl buffet style bfast & entrance fee to Borobodur (we took a double room + 1 extra bed). Highly recommended hotel if you want an early start to Borobodur as it's only 5 min walk away!

Manohara Hotel Room

We had dinner at the hotel's restaurant, opted for set @ IDR200K per pax (we thought it's IDR200K per set -_-). There are cheaper a la carte options on their menu. Food's pretty good!

Dinner @ Manohara Hotel

2nd Sept (Borobodur, Kraton, Taman Sari, Jln Malioboro)

Went to the Borobodur temple at 6am, almost had the whole temple to ourselves! Truly an amazing place. Abt 8am plus, we headed back to the hotel & had our bfast. We decided to call our driver on the 1st day to Prambanan. He quoted us IDR400K for the following: Manohara --> Kraton --> Taman Sari --> bird market --> market @ Jln Malioboro --> Rumah mertua hotel.

Borobodur temple

Breakfast back at hotel after visiting Borobodur temple.. The keropok is so good!

Candi Mendut

Kraton

Water castle (Taman Sari)

Bird market

Market @ Jln Malioboro

Hotel price of Rumah Mertua was about RM58.20 per pax incl welcome drink & bfast (we took a family room (2 double beds)). The hotel is not in a good location, but it's quiet and has a beautiful swimming pool.

Rumah Mertua

3rd Sept (Parangtriris beach)

Since our flight was 515pm, we decided to check out Parangtritis beach (1 hour away fr Jogjakarta). We called Febri, who arranged Makmun to drive us again. Price was IDR300K for Rumah Mertua --> Parangtritis beach --> airport. Parangtritis beach is v different fr M'sia beaches, big waves, strong wind, n in my opinion worth a visit. Can ride ATV & pony along the beach as well. Nearby is Depok beach, famous for sand dunes. We had fresh seafood lunch at Depok beach before leaving (less than RM20 per pax).