Yogyakarta

Reunited in Padang, it was time to say goodbye to Sumatra - what an exciting and diverse island! We flew to Yogyakarta in the center of the island of Java. Known as Jogja by its residents, it was once the capital of Indonesia and is also a sultanate with a considerable degree of autonomy. We arrived at a massively oversized and completely empty airport with a huge expanse - for whatever thriving future it was built for.

Then we switched roles; Freddy was fit again, while Marike was laid low with rashes from the jungle and a flu-like infection.

So it was up to Freddy to wander around alone, drink plenty of coffee, observe Indonesian tourists on Maliboro Street (even though they tended to travel in groups privately, they loved to wear similar outfits or colors - quite nice to see), and visit the city’s attractions, including the Kraton (Sultan's Palace), Taman Siri Water Castle, and museums full of dioramas. To be honest, nothing really blew him away. He skipped the attractions in the surrounding area (Prambanan and Borobodur temples, and a few volcanoes). Perhaps a place that is more interesting for people who are more closely linked to Indonesian history.

When Marike was feeling better, we continued by train to Malang.