Jogja

Ok, so actually this capital of Javanese culture is officially known as Yogyakarta, as well as the three other names Jogjakarta, Jogja, and Yogya, but I like Jogja the best out of these, not only because it's shorter and easier to say, but it gives the city a healthy impression (you know, a city of joggers or people on the move... even though it's actually a city full of pedicabs). I flew here from Bali (for less than $40 I might add... flying in Indonesia on domestic airlines is CHEAP... actually that's the case for most of SE Asia now!) and stayed with my EWC friend Susan and her Papuan cousins who are living and studying in Jogja (it's not only the cultural but also the educational center of Java). My EWC Beryl who I hung out with briefly in Bali with had arrived in Jogja the day before and was also staying with Susan. We spent the first two days in town going to the two major sites outside the city, Borobudur and Prambanan, but had rather poor timing as both days it started pissing down rain on the way out to the sites. The next day Beryl left and I had some time to explore the innards of the city. I spent most of my time on foot in the Malioboro shopping district, which all of my Indonesian friends were quick to point out is THE happening place in Jogja. And yes, it was pretty happening. And so yes, I did get the majority of my pictures there. And yes, I did see a lot of feet there (go check out the 'Jogja Feet' album). Later that day I met up with another EWC friend I-ing, who took me along with her friend out to the countryside where she used to work for several years to a shrimp farm for a zesty seafood dinner which was delicious. This was followed by a magnificent sunset. All in all, Jogja was well worth the visit, and I do hope I'll have a chance to go back in the near future and explore it even more thoroughly (and see my friends there again!).