Archive for June, 2015
Yogyakarta to Mt. Bromo (Part Three) Posted by sasha on Jun 29, 2015
Our epic journey from Yogyakarta to Mt. Bromo comes to an and as we finally hike up to the top of the volcano to stare down into its steaming crater. Up in the middle of the night, we made the tough hike to the sunrise viewpoint, only to have the clouds spoil our morning. At…
Staring into a Volcanic Crater at Mt. Bromo Posted by sasha on Jun 24, 2015
After a ridiculous trip from Yogyakarta, which involved an overnight train, three angkots (local buses), and one terrifying motorbike ride flying across the Sea of Sand, we finally arrived at Gunung Bromo (Mt. Bromo). The name of this active volcano is derived from the Javanese word for Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. For visiting the…
The Fasting Month of Ramadhan in Indonesia Posted by asimonoff on Jun 22, 2015
Ramadhan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar (Hijri Calendar), is the fasting month (Bulan Puasa), and it is of great importance in Indonesia, which is a predominantly Muslim country. The days Ramadhan is celebrated vary every year, as the calendar is based on cycles of the lunar phases. Even though each month on the Islamic calendar could be either 29 or 30…
Yogyakarta to Mt. Bromo (Part Two) Posted by sasha on Jun 17, 2015
In part two of our epic journey from Yogyakarta to Mt. Bromo, we cross the stunning savannah and fly across the sea of sand on motorbikes. Hang on to your hat, because it’s a wild ride!
Yogyakarta to Mt. Bromo (Part One) Posted by sasha on Jun 15, 2015
Getting from Yogyakarta to Mt. Bromo on your own is possible, but it’s quite the adventure. Check it out in this short video series, starting with a long trip to the highest village in Java!
Arisan: A uniquely Indonesian financial-scheme Posted by asimonoff on Jun 10, 2015
What will Indonesians do to strengthen the bond between them? They will form an “Arisan”. An arisan is a social club with a limited membership (who are mostly women), and it is uniquely Indonesian. Those who join the club have at least similar backgrounds or interests, such as relatives, office colleagues, ex-coworkers, classmates, former schoolmates, and hang-out…
Yogyakarta to Mt. Bromo Independent Travel Posted by sasha on Jun 8, 2015
For travelers to Java, two of the most popular places to visit are Mt. Bromo and Kawah Ijen. While it’s possible to join a tour from Yogyakarta, this is costly and somewhat of a whirlwind. We’ve heard that you spend all day in a van, sleep for a few hours, hike up Bromo for sunrise…