Showing posts with label Indonesia. Show all posts

A Javelin’s Throw Away from My Hostel, Old Batavia (Kota Tua Jakarta) | Indonesia

Marky Ramone Go March 16, 2020

Arriving from Bandung, I headed straight to Wonderloft Hostel where I reserved a bunk bed for one night before flying back home to Manila. I originally planned on catching up sleep but when I learned from the receptionist that the hostel is just a few steps away from the historic Kota Tua Jakarta, I ditched rest in favor of the chance to explore more.

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Bandung, Indonesia | Tracking Nature Prints of Volcanoes and Heritage Trails

Marky Ramone Go November 05, 2018

“I come with the rain,” I muttered to myself while I watched the last sheen of daylight give way to dark clouds, casting over the countryside and heading to Bandung. I spent the three-hour train ride from Jakarta uneventfully fighting off sleep as I opted to stare at the passing lush scenery as much as I can.

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Bali | Indonesia: Witnessing Primate Goofing at Ubud Monkey Forest

Marky Ramone Go May 07, 2018

If gazes could talk, you’d instantly hear the surrounding eyes mouthing off intentions of mayhem. A bedlam not equating to violence, rather through mischievous actions of the more than 700 long-tailed macaques who calls this place as home.

A primate habitat known as the Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana or otherwise referred to as the Ubud Monkey Forest, is another popular tourist destination in Bali. Home to more than 700 long-tailed Macaques, it is tucked deep in the forest covering approximately 10 hectares with a labyrinth composed of zigzagging water streams, hilly slopes, sheltering towering trees – of around 115 different species, and three sacred Hindu Temples.

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When an Accommodating Phony Tourism Officer Turned Hotheaded at Istiqlal Mosque

Unknown August 26, 2014

After my temple run concluded in Yogyakarta, I went back to Jakarta for a couple of days before my Cebu Pacific flight back to Manila. At the hostel I met two other Filipinas who became my accidental tourist buddies. Since we're all going home the same night, we decided to spend our last day just roaming the city aboard a tuktuk, stopping for some sights and shopping along the way. After walking out of the National Monument park (Merdeka Square), we were approached by a thin middle age man wearing blue slacks and tucked in polo, introducing himself as an employee of the local tourism office.

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Accidental Tourist Buddies in Jakarta

Unknown May 30, 2014

Remember the two ladies who made a cameo on my flight-to-Jakarta narrative? well they stayed in the capital of Indonesia while I took a train to Yogyakarta. I thought the story ended there but to my wonderful surprise I bumped into them again a few days later. After spending 4 days at Yogyakarta I went back to Jakarta for the tail-end of my trip and ended up staying at the same hostel as these two lovelies. They answers to the name of Tania Gonzales and Carmel So. I was downstairs of the hostel at the lounge working on my laptop when I saw them come down, I almost fell out of my seat and just froze. I heard about them talking about eating in a Korean Restaurant before they walked out the door.

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Murmurs of Awe at Borobudur | Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Marky Ramone Go May 09, 2014

Anytime you find your way to the world's largest Buddhist temple in the world, you feel like toasting your kismet for bringing you there. Just the mere fact of stepping foot on a structure built with stunning craftmanship and creativity dating back to the 9th century, is already a significant moment for myself. Borobudur is the primary reason why I journeyed to the city of Yogyakarta—which at the time was my longest train ride—from Jakarta. It was one of those place forever etched in my mind as something I must see.

Levy Amosin at Borobudur Yogyakarta Indonesia

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The Mosque Beneath the Ground of Taman Sari, Yogyakarta

Marky Ramone Go April 05, 2014

Tucked underground of Taman Sari Water Castle is a mosque accessible only in the past by a maze of underwater passageways. I first heard of it's existence from my friend Gaye Emami. a few days before I left Manila for Jakarta. The moment she described it, I was instantly fascinated. I must never leave Yogyakarta without seeing this mosque, I dared myself. The place wasn't easy to find as there are no signs saying "Underground Mosque this way --->". Following a hunch, I followed a group of young Indonesian students who seems to be on a field trip, as they trudge through the back alleyways of Taman Sari. I saw them debating which direction to take, so I reckon they were also trying to find the mosque. I tried asking a local but unfortunately, she couldn't understand English, so I chased the group of students as they entered a small arched hallway. Inside, we had to duck our heads so as not to hit the ceiling and after a short length of striding and bending forward, we met a dead-end wall.

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A 9th Century Throwback to Prambanan in Yogyakarta | Indonesia

Marky Ramone Go February 22, 2014

After achieving a zen state of mind at the 9th century Buddhist temple complex of Borobudur, we proceeded to another throwback landmark from that century–this time, the Hindu temple called the Candi Prambanan. My interest level in seeing more temples that day fluctuated below the .50 mark since I've already had my house-of-worship fix. However, upon stepping out of our van, the sight of the sharp tips of Prambanan's stupas, ushered in a new wave of curiosity as to what fascinating discoveries awaits me inside.

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Much About Edu Hostel in Yogyakarta

Marky Ramone Go January 26, 2014

When in doubt ask around and inquired I did, not just to anybody but to travel experts in this cool travel community I'm a part of. Paul and Joshua, two fellow travel bloggers who have recently spent a week at Yogyakarta were quick to recommend this hostel when I made the inquiry about a place to stay while at Yogyakarta at our Facebook group. It is the community I'm talking about which is composed of travel addicts who currently capers rehab by constantly wandering on the road. Edu Hostel was the top choice and after making a quick study of a handful of other options I booked this hotel online a week prior to my departure for Jakarta.

Dorm room. Photo credit: http://www.eduhostels.com/photo

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8:10 to Yogya

Marky Ramone Go January 01, 2014

As early as 6:00 am I was already at the Gambir train station excited for my first 'long train ride'. Even though I'm a train veteran with thousands of railway miles under my butt courtesy of our own LRT and MRT lines, the trip to Yogyakarta from Jakarta will be my first time to trainspot for more than 7 hours. I already pre-booked a ticket for myself via Tiket.com for 300,000 Rupiah one-way (1,500 Php) a few weeks before I departed for Jakarta, so when the ticket counters opened a quarter after six, I hurriedly entered the station and found a seat where I just sat and waited for the 8:10 train to Yogyakarta.

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Nomadic Video 7: Yogyakarta

Marky Ramone Go November 28, 2013

I can't wait to start writing about my trip to Yogyakarta, but little time and too much procrastination in between disallow me. However, I was able to put together in hurried state, a music video of the random footage I took in between walking around this interesting city and visiting the temple complex of both Borobudur and Prambanan. As a preview of my future blog posts about this trip of mine, here is it with the Byrd's "Turn Turn Turn" as the soundtrack.

Best viewed in 1080 High Definition.

Cameo Appearances: Tania and Carmel

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Before Yogyakarta: The Arrival at Jakarta

Unknown November 06, 2013

I always worry about passing immigration since this experience in Hong Kong a couple of years ago, that it was my biggest worry for this trip to Indonesia. Since I've tried being a freelancer for a few months now, I don't have any company ID to show anymore. So as I arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 it was all I'm thinking about it. As I line up to pay for the expensive travel tax, I got distracted by this Spanish looking mestiza girl in front of me. I quickly assumed she's either going to Bali or Phuket. That's why when I saw her again with her friend lining up at the check-in counter going to Jakarta I was a bit surprised.