Jogja

I made the executive decision, as the solo member of my traveling entourage, to fly directly to Yogyakarta (pronounced Jogjakarta and affectionately known as Jogja which quite frankly makes me smile every time I say it) skipping Jakarta and the 8 hour train journey through rice fields to get here.

At the airport I successfully leeched onto another couple traveling in the same direction as me. It's been quite interesting explaining to everybody we meet that we're from Canada, Sweden and Malta individually.

Rooftops of Jogja.

Jogja is the seat to the only sultan in Indonesia... or so I've read. It's primary tourist attraction is said sultan seat aka The Kraton. We have tried four times to get into this building. Each and every time our mission has been thwarted. Either by overly friendly locals diverting us to batik gallery scams (they come with free tea so as long as you don't buy anything it's a good time), or overly friendly locals telling us it's not open yet/it's actually closed/ it's open special tonight only etc etc etc. We actually never made a fifth and final attempt deciding it was probably a sign and for the best that we not actually visit The Kraton.