Java and Yogyakarta
I was flying into Java with basically no expectations. I was also a spur of the moment to have another no show flight and rather booked a different flight to Yogyakarta.
I have never been impressed with indonesian cities and coming from Europe I doubt that it would be any impressive. But Yogya was different. First of all the people seemed to be way more open minded and geniuenly are either interested in you or don't bother you with the are-you-an-alien-looks. On my first day I did both temples Prambanan and Borobudur which have been on the to-do-list for a long time and right at the top. It was really impressive and somehow spiritual, if both wouldn't have been a sell-out to tourists. After a 9 hour day with a wake-up call at 3 am I was done and tired. Only fell asleep and was looking forward to hop on a Bus and go to Pacitan.
Olaf, a German guy I met in the Banyaks, has his second home in Pacitan and a lot of friends there. His Girlfriend Manuela was by now also there and they invited me to come along. The main surfspot is called Pancer, like a German tank. Mainly because this rolling beast slow and smooth works in all sizes and condition. I basically surfed it with most of the people from our homestay every day. And noone else. There are some reefs around, but heavy shallow, unpredictable and very much relying in tide. Some only work for an hour.
But the thing I loved the most and dearly miss are the local I got intruduced by Olaf. Especially Momon, Dewi and their two kids. Olaf's oldest and best friends in Indonesia. He is a graphic designer and the head of the local surfclub and she an English teacher. So even the kids already learn English which is unusual as far as I can tell. They have been so nice, well read, open hearted and some of the most kind persons I ever met. We hang out every night and ate either tofu sate or other vegi food. Which I loved after eating so much meat in Sumatra.
After all I left with a smiling and crying eye and will definately come back to meet them again. My final days I spend in Yogya, because my sore ellbow starts acting up due to too much surfing and I also wanted to see more of the modern and vibrant university town.
I have never been impressed with indonesian cities and coming from Europe I doubt that it would be any impressive. But Yogya was different. First of all the people seemed to be way more open minded and geniuenly are either interested in you or don't bother you with the are-you-an-alien-looks. On my first day I did both temples Prambanan and Borobudur which have been on the to-do-list for a long time and right at the top. It was really impressive and somehow spiritual, if both wouldn't have been a sell-out to tourists. After a 9 hour day with a wake-up call at 3 am I was done and tired. Only fell asleep and was looking forward to hop on a Bus and go to Pacitan.
Olaf, a German guy I met in the Banyaks, has his second home in Pacitan and a lot of friends there. His Girlfriend Manuela was by now also there and they invited me to come along. The main surfspot is called Pancer, like a German tank. Mainly because this rolling beast slow and smooth works in all sizes and condition. I basically surfed it with most of the people from our homestay every day. And noone else. There are some reefs around, but heavy shallow, unpredictable and very much relying in tide. Some only work for an hour.
But the thing I loved the most and dearly miss are the local I got intruduced by Olaf. Especially Momon, Dewi and their two kids. Olaf's oldest and best friends in Indonesia. He is a graphic designer and the head of the local surfclub and she an English teacher. So even the kids already learn English which is unusual as far as I can tell. They have been so nice, well read, open hearted and some of the most kind persons I ever met. We hang out every night and ate either tofu sate or other vegi food. Which I loved after eating so much meat in Sumatra.
After all I left with a smiling and crying eye and will definately come back to meet them again. My final days I spend in Yogya, because my sore ellbow starts acting up due to too much surfing and I also wanted to see more of the modern and vibrant university town.
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