Introduction
You can ricochet from village life to MTV on this beautiful island. The most developed island in the Indonesian archipelago, Java exhibits all the characteristics of an Asian society experiencing rapid transition: great wealth and equal squalor; beautiful open country and filthy cities; tranquil rural scenes and streets choked with traffic.
The Hindu-Buddhist empires reached their zenith on Java, producing architectural wonders such as Borobudur and Prambanan. Islam, following on after this, absorbed rather than erased local cultures, leaving Java with a mish-mash of historic influences and religions.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +7
Area: 132000
Population: 128000000
Currency: Rupiah (Rp)
Area codes: Bandung 22, Jakarta 21, Yogyakarta 27
Getting there and away
Jakarta is Indonesia's busiest international airport and is the hub of the domestic air network. The departure tax on international flights is around 10.00. On domestic flights it's around 4.00 and is not included in the ticket price. Be sure to reconfirm bookings at least 72 hours before departure. Indonesia has one of the most extensive ferry and passenger ship networks in the world, with regular boats running between all the main inhabited islands. A ferry shuttles between Ketapang in eastern Java and the west-Balinese port of Gilimanuk. Boat/bus combination tickets between Yogyakarta or Surabaya and Denpasar in Bali can be purchased. There are numerous ships and ferries between Java and various ports in Sumatra. The Merak-Bakauheni ferry is probably the most popular. There are also ships between Jakarta and Singapore via the Indonesian island of Tanjung Pinang.
Getting around
There's no reason to fly around Java (although tickets are cheap and the route network is extensive) unless you want an aerial view of the island's spectacular volcanoes. There are a number of domestic airlines, including Garuda (the national carrier) Merpati, Mandala and Bouraq. A tax of 10% and a trifling domestic departure tax are added to the fare. It's essential to reconfirm your ticket since overbooking of flights is common. Buses are the main form of inter-city transportation. They range from slow, crowded, ordinary public buses to convenient, quick and comfortable luxury services. Small minibuses cover shorter routes, backroads and inner-city destinations. Like the buses, they range from pack-'em-in sweatboxes to a good network of door-to-door minibuses. Java has a pretty good rail service running from one end of the island to the other. In the east (at Ketapang), it connects with the ferry to Bali; in the west (at Merak), it connects with the ferry to Sumatra. The two main lines run between Jakarta and Surabaya - one via Yogya and Solo; the other, shorter route via Semarang. Choose your train carefully for comfort and speed. They range from cheap, squalid cattle trains to reasonably comfortable expresses. Cars can be hired in Jakarta, but rates are triple those in the West and you'll need the patience of a saint and the concentration powers of a grand chess master to drive on Java's busy main roads. There appear to be no road rules, but a form of logic does exist: drive on the left, and give way to anything bigger than you, more or less sums it up. It's best to hire a car or minibus with a driver, and private operators can arrange this for a fraction of self-drive rates. Motorbikes are readily available for hire across Java, but make sure that you're a competent rider because your skills will be tested. Bicycles can be rented in tourist centres; they're mainly for nipping around town, not for touring the island.
Weather
The temperature in Java doesn't vary much, ranging from a minimum of 23 ° C (74 ° F) to a maximum 31 ° C (88 ° F). During the wet season (October to April) the rain comes down hard but the humidity does not ease up, sustaining a high level of discomfort throughout the year.
Events
The Ramayana Ballet, Java's most spectacular dance drama, is performed at the outdoor theatre at the Prambanan temple complex near Yogya on four successive nights twice a month from May to September. (Over the same period, a one-night, full-story version is also held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). The month long Jakarta Fair in June-July includes carnival attractions and cultural events in celebration of Jakarta's founding on 22 June. Parades are held in every town and village on 17 August to celebrate Independence Day. The island of Madura, just off Java's northeastern coast, stages its famous bull races in August and September. The races culminate in the final race at Pamekasan, usually in September. One festival worth looking out for is the Buddhist Vaicak at Borobudur, which celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha; it's held once a year over the full moon in May or June. Thousands of pilgrims gather to offer prayers and join the procession from the nearby Mendut temple to Borobudur. The 4 day Borobudur Festival is held at the same time and includes dance and music performances and arts and crafts exhibits.
Related Posts: Lombok City, Bandung City, Jakarta City, Bali City
You can ricochet from village life to MTV on this beautiful island. The most developed island in the Indonesian archipelago, Java exhibits all the characteristics of an Asian society experiencing rapid transition: great wealth and equal squalor; beautiful open country and filthy cities; tranquil rural scenes and streets choked with traffic.
Time zone: GMT +7
Area: 132000
Population: 128000000
Currency: Rupiah (Rp)
Area codes: Bandung 22, Jakarta 21, Yogyakarta 27
Jakarta is Indonesia's busiest international airport and is the hub of the domestic air network. The departure tax on international flights is around 10.00. On domestic flights it's around 4.00 and is not included in the ticket price. Be sure to reconfirm bookings at least 72 hours before departure. Indonesia has one of the most extensive ferry and passenger ship networks in the world, with regular boats running between all the main inhabited islands. A ferry shuttles between Ketapang in eastern Java and the west-Balinese port of Gilimanuk. Boat/bus combination tickets between Yogyakarta or Surabaya and Denpasar in Bali can be purchased. There are numerous ships and ferries between Java and various ports in Sumatra. The Merak-Bakauheni ferry is probably the most popular. There are also ships between Jakarta and Singapore via the Indonesian island of Tanjung Pinang.
There's no reason to fly around Java (although tickets are cheap and the route network is extensive) unless you want an aerial view of the island's spectacular volcanoes. There are a number of domestic airlines, including Garuda (the national carrier) Merpati, Mandala and Bouraq. A tax of 10% and a trifling domestic departure tax are added to the fare. It's essential to reconfirm your ticket since overbooking of flights is common. Buses are the main form of inter-city transportation. They range from slow, crowded, ordinary public buses to convenient, quick and comfortable luxury services. Small minibuses cover shorter routes, backroads and inner-city destinations. Like the buses, they range from pack-'em-in sweatboxes to a good network of door-to-door minibuses. Java has a pretty good rail service running from one end of the island to the other. In the east (at Ketapang), it connects with the ferry to Bali; in the west (at Merak), it connects with the ferry to Sumatra. The two main lines run between Jakarta and Surabaya - one via Yogya and Solo; the other, shorter route via Semarang. Choose your train carefully for comfort and speed. They range from cheap, squalid cattle trains to reasonably comfortable expresses. Cars can be hired in Jakarta, but rates are triple those in the West and you'll need the patience of a saint and the concentration powers of a grand chess master to drive on Java's busy main roads. There appear to be no road rules, but a form of logic does exist: drive on the left, and give way to anything bigger than you, more or less sums it up. It's best to hire a car or minibus with a driver, and private operators can arrange this for a fraction of self-drive rates. Motorbikes are readily available for hire across Java, but make sure that you're a competent rider because your skills will be tested. Bicycles can be rented in tourist centres; they're mainly for nipping around town, not for touring the island.
The temperature in Java doesn't vary much, ranging from a minimum of 23 ° C (74 ° F) to a maximum 31 ° C (88 ° F). During the wet season (October to April) the rain comes down hard but the humidity does not ease up, sustaining a high level of discomfort throughout the year.
The Ramayana Ballet, Java's most spectacular dance drama, is performed at the outdoor theatre at the Prambanan temple complex near Yogya on four successive nights twice a month from May to September. (Over the same period, a one-night, full-story version is also held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). The month long Jakarta Fair in June-July includes carnival attractions and cultural events in celebration of Jakarta's founding on 22 June. Parades are held in every town and village on 17 August to celebrate Independence Day. The island of Madura, just off Java's northeastern coast, stages its famous bull races in August and September. The races culminate in the final race at Pamekasan, usually in September. One festival worth looking out for is the Buddhist Vaicak at Borobudur, which celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha; it's held once a year over the full moon in May or June. Thousands of pilgrims gather to offer prayers and join the procession from the nearby Mendut temple to Borobudur. The 4 day Borobudur Festival is held at the same time and includes dance and music performances and arts and crafts exhibits.
Related Posts: Lombok City, Bandung City, Jakarta City, Bali City
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