Jogjakarta - itinerary and highlights

A few friends and I went to Jogja (also spelled as YogYakarta) last week. Took AirAsia flight - reached Jogja around 9 am. Fortunately, the hotel - Sri Wedari - provided airport tranfer and allowed us to check-in early

Hotel was good - service was great, food was good, price reasonable (around RM 120 per room/night) but the location was not strategic. it's located at Jalan Solo, which is about 20min drive to town centre (Malioboro/Kraton ect). Taking a taxi to town would cost about Rp 25K to 3

1st day - explored Jogja town. Jogja town itself is surprisngly clean and green. After checking in and resting for short while, we headed to town and visited kraton, Sultan Palace - was bit dissapointed as there wasn't much to see and place looked run down. There are lots of "tour guides" hanging around the entrances offering "free" services but one ix expected to tip them at the end of tour. Plus they will offer other tour packages to Borobudur etc from agents

Then went for lunch at a restaurant (near kraton), apparently owned by the sultan's brother. Plate of fried rice would cost aorund Rp 25,000 while an avacado juice aorund Rp 18,000. Need to pay 17% govt tax. I'd think all should try the avacado juice - it's really delicious

We wanted to head to Tamansari but was told that there's nothing much to see (pool is dried up) as the place has been partially destroyed in the last earthquake in 2006. We headed to Molioboro Road to the Tourist Info Centre on a horse-cart - it's amazing to see that the horses are so well-trained, they are not scared by vehicles (esp motorcyclists) zooming so close by.
Short ride costed us about Rp 15,000.

Person manning the Tourist Info Centre said we can go to the Bird Market (lots of the locals seem to like to rear birds). As for local food, we were told that we should try bakpia (indonesian pastries with durian/bean fillings similar to our tau sah piah) and gudeg with rice (jack fruit boiled with coconut milk, sugar etc). As we made our way to the bakpia shop, it began to pour.
We were kinda stuck at the shop for 1.5 hours before deciding to take the beca to Malioboro Road to book our car/van/tour packages for the next 2 days.

Initially the plan was to cover Solo/Sukuh/Prambanan the next day followed by Borobudur/Dieng Plateau the following day. But one tour operator told us there's not much to see in Solo (it's like kraton, plus places of interests have been partially destroyed in arthquake). Plus one may feel it's not worth the long trip to Sukuh just to see a small temple at hilltop. Also, it's better to cover Dieng on full-day trip (given that it typically rains in the afternoon)

After booking our 7-seater car to Dieng (Rp 450,000) and Borobudur/Prambanan (Rp 400,000), we went for dinner at a local cofeeshop. Dinner (white rice with fried fish or chicken plus vege) was cheap at Rp 15,000 . Then it's off to shopping along Molioboro till shops closed (around 9pm)

2nd day (Dieng) - MPV picked us up at around 7 am. It's a long journey up hill and we finally reached one of the places of interest (kawah or volcanic crater) after 3.5 hours drive. The last half hour ride was pleasant due to the cool air and scenic view (farm terraces). We've never seen a volcanic crater in our lives - it's an eye-opener. The crater we saw is at least 25m long in diamater. And one can smell the stinging suplur fumes from afar.

Then another 10-min short drive before we stopped to visit one of the Candis (temples). And last stop was one of the air warna telaga (coloured lake) - view was maginificent. the lake that we saw was crystal green in color. Apparelty there are 3 coloured lakes in Dieng but we managed to only cover one. There are many kawahs as well. Apparently, foreginers need to pay Rp 40,000 each as the package entrance fees to visit the kawahs/candis/telagas. Our driver did not tell us about the package and we ended up buying individual entrance tickets which cost more.
Also, our driver only brought us to 1 kawah, 1 candi and 1 telaga - perhaps due to shortage of time. One whould visit at least 2 of each!

By the time we reached Jogja town, it was almost 5 pm. Driver dropped us at Molioboro - we headed for dinner (no lunch) and then shopped till 9 pm

3rd day (Borobudur/Prambanan) -- Van picked us up at 5 am for Borobudur/temple tour. We reached Borobudur at around 6 am and the ticket counter just opened. it's better to visit Borobudur on a weekday as it is less crowded. The place is apparently packed with local tourists during weekends. Foreigners have to pay more for the ticket (USD 15 or Rp equivalent), which also entitles one to tea/coffee/bottle of mineral water.

Majestic view, spiritually enriching esp for us Buddhist. It's advisable to hire a tour guide (fixed price Rp 60,000) to learn more about the place. Also asvisable NOT to visit temple during the weekend (as it'll be filled with lots of local tourists)

After Borobudur, we were taken to smaller temples before finally reaching Prambanan. Entrancve cost USD 13 Prambanan is a Hindu heritage site, similar to Angkor Wat. But the reliefs are carved deeper, hence looks more interesting and left deeper impression

Shopping: Good buys include batik sarong (can get good quality ones for RP 40,000-50,000), batik housecoats (for less than Rp 15,000 or RM 5), cushion pillow covers ( 1 pair for Rp 20,000), costumer jewellery (necklaces cost about Rp 10,000). Trick is to bargain down, can go down to as low as 1/3rd of shopkeepers' opening price.

Unlike most other places, the shopkeepers and street vendors are nice and polite. They wouldn't scold you in return if you bargain too low.

Honestly, JogJakartans in general are friendly and polite.

In Search of a Billionaire with high ethical values and integrity

I have just finished reading a book on HongKong/SEA's billionaires and how they made and lost/kept (mostly kept) their fortune... It is titled "Asian Godfathers" by Joe Studwell

Interesting read...but I also find it sickening to the core to learn that Asian tycoons are mostly (if not all) amoral, who largely made/kept their wealth at the expense of the public. Their blatant disregard for fair-play and ethical behaviour is disturbing and makes one want to jump up and shake their inner conscience (if they still have on)

And there is not fairness in this world given that most continue to flourish, despite their conduct

Is it not possible for an entrepreneur (especially in Asia) to become super rich if he/she doesn't cheat/lie but conduct his/her business with highest moral values?

Perhaps. I remember reading a book called Winners Never Cheat years ago...the author Mr Huntsman is a self-made billionaire who built his business empire the old-fashioned way i.e. with integrity.

If only there are more entrepreneurs like him....

Remembering Hock

When i first heard from a friend about Hock's death, I was shocked beyond words. And when I found out how he died, it was extremely disturbing and sad. Dont understand why another person would want to harm Hock, whom to me, came across as an extremely nice, gentle person

I dont know Hock well, having met him only a few times but heard so much about him from my ex-bosses, colleagues and friends for many many years. From their stories and having met Hock briefly several times, i would say that he definitely left a very deep impression on me.

I was also fortunate to have attended a talk by him two years ago - hearing about all the pranks that he used to play on others, I was really surprised when he spoke seriously about his subject matter (Malaysian economy and the equity market). I had earlier presumed that his speech would be puntuated with jokes etc. He was a real professional who took his craft seriously.

And his summarised CV really "wowed" me. Yes, I have heard about how super intelligent he was but didn't know he has so many paper qualifications as well.

But more importantly, I would always remember him as a kind, humble and down-to-earth person who enriched the lives of his friends.

Hock, may you rest in peace

Happy 2010

Haven't updated my blog for almost half a year
Was busy with work, exam, holidays and now, preparing for Chinese New Year

Happy 2010 everyone - may everyone have a blessed year ahead