Indonesia-Singapore-Malaysia: 3 Countries in 1 Day!

Shervin and I woke up almost three hours before our 7:00 AM Bali-Java bus ride. We packed our bags, checked out of Bali Duta Wisata, and walked to the main road for a cab. A driver agreed with our 60,000 Rp offer. Since we got a cab straight away, we were at the Denpasar bus station earlier than expected.

Expensive Indomie for brekkie at the bus station.

Legian and Kuta Beach, South Bali

On our second day in Bali, Tamie (our Couchsurfing host) took us to Legian Beach. It is slightly quieter than Kuta Beach, but waves in this area are as constant. It's a mere hundred-meter walk from Tamie's place.

A surf instructor about to give lessons along Legian Beach.

Probolinggo-Denpasar

From Yoschi Guesthouse in Cemoro Lawang, a van took us to our travel agent in Probolinggo. Then we transferred to a big bus and headed to Denpasar (Bali's capital). The transportation was still part of our Gunung Bromo tour package.

Lunch at a stopover, check out the gigantic jar of krupuk!

Gunung Bromo

We arrived at Yoschi Guesthouse in Cemoro Lawang around 7:00 PM. The guy at the reception told us we have to wake up the next day at 3:00 AM for breakfast. And at exactly 4AM, a jeep will fetch us and drive up to the viewpoint of Tengger Caldera. So we ate Sandi's mom's packed food that we brought from Yogyakarta for dinner and went straight to bed.

Sea of fog. Halfway up Gunung Bromo. Panting.

Yogyakarta-Cemoro Lawang

The clothes we washed the night before were not completely dry when we packed them in our bags. It would already be stinky by the time we get to Probolinggo, the trip is ten hours long. We couldn't give them more time under the sun because we needed to be at the travel agent's stall by 8:50 AM.

Nope, Sandi's (our Couchsurfing host) mum's not upset. She's just worried we'll be late.

Prambanan Temples

Shervin and I made a stop at Jalan Malioboro and Jalan Sosrowijayan before heading to Prambanan. We asked the travel agents around the area if they sell bus or train tickets for Surabaya, en route to Probolinggo, our next destination the day after. Unfortunately, they could only be bought from the bus or train station.

Prambanan Temple complex, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Yogyakarta Walking Tour

It was a Friday (observed as a holiday in Islam), and the Main Court of the kraton (Sri Sultan's Palace) was closed so Shervin and I didn't bother entering the compound. We headed to Taman Sari instead.

Taman Sari or Water Castle (open 8AM-2PM), is located west of the kraton. Built by a Portuguese architect, it was a recreation garden or a retreat house for the sultan and his family.

Entrance to the Water Castle's restored bathing pools.

Borobudur: A Chaperoned Monthsary

As planned, we got there for our monthsary (pardon my mushiness). Our Couchsurfing host Sandi, who didn't have work then because of a public holiday, drove and accompanied us to the magnificent-but-darn-crowded Borobudur.

Boroudur's stupas. Thank goodness I managed to take a photo of a deserted spot.