Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Welcome to Indonesia - a land of fire, a journey of flavours, being one of nature – so many metaphors to describe the country.

Arrive in the dynamic & vibrant city Jakarta, one of the world’s greatest megalopolises with its chaotic charm & juxtapositions found on every street.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport,  subsequent to Immigration & Customs you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in and provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

Check-in at the hotel.

With thousands of islands, hundreds of languages & a mind-boggling mix of cities, beaches, volcanoes & rainforests, Indonesia can be mystifying.

Home to many of Indonesia’s most prominent cultures, Java is the nation’s centre of civilisation. The biggest island in the country is home to Indonesia’s busiest cities, its most famous sights. Lying between Sumatra & Bali, Java is a complex volcano-dotted island of great antiquity: this, after all, is where ancient Java Man stood upright & walked abroad. As such the island, home today to 140 million people & the most populated island on earth, is defined primarily by people.

Human ingenuity has left the island sprinkled with ancient treasures, such as the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. It has also shaped a culture that resonates in modern life, as expressed through the artistic traditions of Yogyakarta & Solo, and contributes to the modern dynamism of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. Java's megacities may be crowded and gridlocked but they have a restless energy that is magnetic.

People have shaped the natural landscape too, giving it an urban texture that runs in slithers through the pea-green paddy fields. Add in nature's splendours - smoking volcanoes, rainforest & polished white beaches - & Java becomes irresistible.

And Java’s largest city is modern, sprawling Jakarta, the nation’s capital, home to the expansive National Museum, an old town (Kota Tua) with Dutch colonial buildings, as well as upscale hotels & shopping malls.

Constant Transformation |Diversity |Temptation & Allure |City of Contrasts

An organism unto itself, Jakarta (formerly Batavia) is a town in the midst of a very public metamorphosis and, despite the maddening traffic, life here is lived at high speed, driven by an industriousness & optimism that is palpable. Its citizens - even the poorest among them - remain good-natured & positive and compared to many world capitals, crime levels are low.

It is no oil painting, yet beneath the new high-rises, relentless concrete, gridlocked streets, smattering of slums & a persistent blanket of smog, Jakarta has plenty of pleasant surprises, including a world-class food & coffee scene. The old town, Kota Tua, is home to Dutch colonial buildings, steamy, potent streets of Glodok (Jakarta’s Chinatown) & the old port of Sunda Kelapa, where traditional wooden schooners dock are Kota’s vestiges of a colonial past, a prequel to Jakarta's development.

Across the city it is possible to rub shoulders with Indonesia’s future leaders & thinkers in sleek restaurants & roof-top bars. Hedonists can go clubbing & drinking 'till dawn.

In Jakarta, you can find all of Indonesia. It is not just that people pour in from all corners looking for a better life (as they’ve done for centuries), it is that they bring along their wonderful melange of cultures, beliefs and desires from the nation’s 17,000 islands. A historic mix of cultures - Javanese, Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian & European - has influenced its architecture, language & cuisine. Walk down an alley with food stalls & you will find a huge diversity of flavours, while the glitzy malls & hotels offer fine dining from around the archipelago & the world. Meanwhile, goods come in from all over & are sold at shops & on street corners around the clock.

Later in the afternoon, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 02.00 pm & proceed for a 3 hour orientation sightseeing tour to get a glimpse of the historical part of the capital.

Explore Old Batavia with some Dutch-left buildings with art-deco architectural style, pass an ancient draw-bridge “Engelse Burg” (Jembatan Kota Intan) &  Fatahillah Square, where you can enjoy a coffee at the award winning Cafe Batavia.  

Come back to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we shall be happy to offer suggestions about optional programs & arrange). 

Moring, meet the Tour-guide at 08.00 am in the Lobby & embark on a full day 8 hour sightseeing tour visiting the main highlights of the city.

First stop will be National Museum (known as Museum Gajah or the Elephant Building after the elephant statue in its forecourt) is an archeological, historical, ethnological & geographical museum with its collection of more than 60,000 prehistoric, anthropological & archaeological artifacts from all over Indonesia & Asia.    

The enormous collection begins around an open courtyard of the 1862 building, which is stacked with magnificent millennia-old statuary including a colossal 4.5m stone image of a Bhairawa king from Rambahan in Sumatra, who is shown trampling on human skulls. The ethnology section is superb, with Dayak puppets & wooden statues from Nias sporting beards (a sign of wisdom) plus some fascinating textiles.

Over in a spacious modern wing, there are four floors with sections devoted to the origin of humankind in Indonesia, including a model of the Flores ‘hobbit’. There is also a superb display of gold treasures from Candi Brahu in Central Java: glittering necklaces, armbands & a bowl depicting scenes from the Ramayana. At the back of the courtyard, look for the architectural collection with models of some of the extraordinary structures from across the archipelago. Nearby, the textile collection (koleksi tekstil) has beautiful fabrics including koffo from Sulawesi, an intricate woven cloth with rich gold threads.

Then pass the 132m high Monas (National Monument) constructed from Italian marble, topped with a sculpted flame, gilded with 50kg of gold leaf, rising into the shroud of smog & towering over Merdeka Square. Opened by Suharto to public in 1975, symbolizing the fight for the nation, it is both Jakarta’s principal landmark & the most famous architectural extravagance of the former president.

It is here that Jakartans come to take a breather from the traffic. The figurative centre of Jakarta & ingloriously dubbed ‘Sukarno’s final erection’ Merdeka Square (merdeka means independence) is actually a trapezoid measuring almost 1 sq km. In the 19^th century, the Dutch called it Koningsplein (Kings Square) & it became a focal point for the city after they moved the government here from old Batavia (Kota). Merdeka Square was long home to many different government buildings. Beginning with Soekarno (& continuing with Suharto) efforts were made to turn it into a real park. After many fits & starts, almost all the buildings were cleared by the mid-1990s.

Unfortunately, the government took a dim view of Merdeka's use for protest rallies during the upheavals of 1998 & 2002, and so built the massive iron fence around the square that you see today (you may still see a small protest or two outside the square when you visit). Access (& egress) is often hampered by this barrier. Still, when you are inside strolling under the trees, watching kids play pick-up football, discovering the deer enclosure & delighting in a simple meal, you will fully appreciate this grand expanse.

Visit the Grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest Mosque in Southeast Asia, both in structure & capacity, as it can accommodate congregations of up to 120,000 people (during Ramadan more than 200,000 worshippers come here).

Istiqlal means ‘Independence’ and the building designed by Catholic architect Frederich Silaban, is a reminder of Indonesia’s struggle for national Independence. Its 17 years construction was personally supervised by Indonesia’s first President Soekarno & inaugurated by him in 1978. The striking, modernist Mesjid is adorned by patterned geometric grates on the windows, with five levels representing the five pillars of Islam. Its dome is 45m across & its minaret tops 90m.

In his brief 18 hours visit to Indonesia in November 2010, US President Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama made a special visit to the Istiqlal mosque. Inside, the President heard from the leader of the mosque, that during Christmas mass, the mosque’s parking lot is used by the adjacent Cathedral’s congregation across the road. And vice-versa during Idd prayers. Obama publicly praised the Istiqlal Mosque as a symbol of religious tolerance which characterizes Indonesia & Indonesians, inspiring the world.

The tour ends & you are transferred back to the hotel (or you can continue exploring & return to the hotel on your own).

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we shall be happy to offer suggestions about optional programs & arrange). 

Early morning, you will be met by the Journeys Rep & transferred to Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport, for the short flight to Yogyakarta,

Arrive in the dynamic & vibrant city Yogyakarta., the cultural centre of the island (& maybe even the whole of Indonesia).

If Jakarta is the brain of Java, then Yogyakarta is its heart & soul. Yogyakarta, or Jogja, as it is often lovingly called, is a cherished guardian of the Javanese culture, keeping profound traditions alive & well throughout the centuries. That resulted in a truly distinctive town, a stronghold for tradition & culture that continue to fascinate visitors & locals, with all its charms.

In Java’s center of art & culture, the Yogyakarta Sultanate Palace complex remains one of the unmissable highlights where tourists can observe & interact with the ancient culture. You will find batik workshops, life-changing street food, the famous Ramayana Ballet & so much more here. Take a quick bike ride through the city & suddenly you are surrounded by rice paddies with brooding volcanoes in the distance. You can also explore the villages of batik-makers & visit the majestic Prambanan Temple

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Yogyakarta Adisutjipto International Airport, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & & transfer you to the hotel in Amanjiwo, help you settle in and provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

But enroute, you will do short tour of Solo.

Solo (also known as Surakarta) is a city & historic royal capital of the island of Java. Arguably the heartland of Javanese identity & tradition, Solo has a distinct character determined by the city’s long & distinguished past. As a seat of the great Mataram Empire, it competes with its great rival, Yogyakarta, as the hub of Javanese culture In contrast with its more contemporary & cosmopolitan neighbour, however, conservative Solo is less interested in courting foreign tourists, resulting in a refreshingly authentic urban experience.

With backstreet kampung (neighbourhoods) & an elegant 18^th century Keraton Kasunanan (walled city palace complex), traditional markets & gleaming malls, Solo has plenty of attractions. The Keraton was the royal family’s residence & today, is a Museum of Heirlooms, with its fascinating display of gold-plated dance ornaments, jewellery & wooden mask, while Mangkunegaran Palace has an elaborately painted pavilion blending European elegance with Javanese architectural style

It is also an excellent place to experience traditional performing arts, as it attracts students & scholars to its renowned music & dance academies. Solo (Surakarta) is also a major historic center for dyed batik fabric, which is displayed at the magnificent Danar Hadi Museum. Solo is arguably the best place to buy batik clothing. Batik cloth here is elevated to an art form.

Spend an hour or 2 & continue driving though the idyllic rural landscape towards your hotel situated on the northern outskirts of Yogyakarta.

Reach the “peaceful soul” resort of Aman Jiwo, close to the world famous Buddhist’s sanctuary, the Borobudur & Check-in.   

Silhoutted at sunrise, surrounded by ancient monuments & volcanic mountains, royal capitals & rural markets, Amanjiwo Resort lies in the uncommonly beautiful countryside of Central Java - Indonesia’s cultural heart & provides an insight into the enduring traditions of this untouched, rural heartland that looks out over 9^th century Borobudur - the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage listed Buddhist sanctuary that was discovered & reclaimed from the jungles in 19^th century.

In the evening, get ready for an ethereal experience highlighting the culture at Yogyakarta – an amazing Ramayana Ballet Purawisata.  

Meet the Journeys driver at 06.00 pm & proceed to Keraton Kasunanan to watch the amazing 3 hour Ramayana Ballet performed by highly-qualified dancers.

A solid show of traditional dance & cultures, the Ramayana ballet features an alluring & breath-taking ancient story of King Rama, his wife Sita & her abductor King Ravana of Sri Lanka & monkey Hanuman, messenger of Rama.

The Performance has been staged non-stop every single night for the last 43 years, probably the world’s longest running show.

The Ramayana Ballet is a Javanese theatrical depiction of the legendary Hindu epic, The Ramayana. Can you imagine hundreds of performers bringing these moments to life right before your eyes?

On some summer nights, the Ballet is actually performed outside in front of those two hundred or so intricate Prambanan Temples The open-air theater on the temple grounds allows for the stage to have an amazing backdrop.

As spectators, you can marvel at the amazing Javanese culture & all the while being mesmerized by the Prambanan temples’ beauty. The full story is only performed at the full moon, while the episodes are performed on other days. Make sure to bring a camera. Those are once in a lifetime moments in the making.

The wonderful dancing, the beautiful music, the elaborate costumes all add to the grandness of this performance piece. It seems as if each performer has dedicated years to mastering this art & new generations are being inducted into the craft at an early age because of their love of the art. The Ramayana Ballet gives legendary performance for you to remember.

When the Show ends, you will walk to Mandira Baruga Restaurant Park that has a broad & nuanced traditionally known as the Gazebo Garden Restaurant which presents Javanese cuisine.

Come back to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration or optional activity (we shall be happy to offer suggestions about optional programs & arrange). 

Get up at dawn, meet the Tour-guide & proceed to Borobudur temple to catch a mythical moment at sunrise. As the sun scales the surrounding volcanoes & the mist clears, a spiritual peace descends on the Borobudur. 

Enjoy a picnic breakfast & continue exploring the area on a full day tour.

Enjoy a delightful scenic short drive through villages & paddy fields as you travel from or to (depending on when you leave the resort) Borobudur temple, one of the greatest ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world. Hear the great stories about the philosophy & history of the temple.

Borobudur is one of the most beautiful temples in the archipelago and the world’s biggest sanctuary isn’t only known & loved for its historical & spiritual significance. Together with Angkor Wat in Cambodia & Bagan in Myanmar, Borobudur ranks as one of the great cultural icons of Southeast Asia. This colossal Buddhist monument has survived volcanic eruptions, terrorist attack and the 2006 earthquake. The last caused considerable damage, but thankfully this most enigmatic of temples has remained undiminished in scale & beauty.

Looming above a patchwork of bottle-green paddy fields & slivers of tropical forest, Borobudur is at the centre of an attractive assembly of traditional rice-growing kampong (villages), ringed by volcanic peaks. It is majestic with iconic stupas, elaborate stone reliefs & awe-inspiring natural landscapes. Borobudur’s six platforms are decorated with 2,672 relief panels & 504 lifesize buddha statues and it would take years to unpack the ancient secrets written into the 9^th century reliefs & statues. Also as a rather mysterious architectural feat, the temple was built with a delicate pattern system instead of cement or adhesive, putting all two million blocks together firmly.

You will certainly be impressed by the views from the top. Of course, for those who want to delve deeper, a knowledgeable Tour-guide, can shed light on some of the sacred stories within its artworks. For those who find Borobudur's bucolic charms a delightful antidote to the urban experience of nearby Yogyakarta, there are plenty of reasons to extend a visit, including engaging with the local culture through cooperative tours.

Other time-weathered Hindu temples dotted across the plain on the Dieng Plateau dating from the 7^th & 8^th centuries and the nearby ancient complex of Prambanan incorporating hundreds of temples - will take your breath away at (sunset or any other time of day). Its central attraction is the elegant & dramatic Loro Jonggrang temple, with its many courtyards, enclosures, shrines & sculptures.

Java’s dramatic landscape is ideal for trekking, whether up the steep flanks of Mt Merapi or into the lush Menoreh Hills, replete with villages, clove plantations and rice fields & inspiring sunset views. Passing though some of Java’s most enchanting rice paddies, you can walk to Selogriyo, an 8^th century Hindu temple high up the slopes of Mt Sumbing,

After spending 1 hour there, drive to Candirejo - traditional Javanese village which is rich in its natural surrounding & illustrates the good points of rural tourism, portraying traditional Javanese culture & life through the centuries through traditional houses, plantation resources, art performances, farming & local cuisine. Spend time & participate in daily social activities for a total cultural immersion.

Central Java is one of Indonesia’s richest & diverse artistic regions. Called the Garden of Java by locals, the region, with its rural homestays & guesthouses, scattered temples and tradition of honey & tofu production, the area gives you a deep insight in the culture. Rural villages host frequent celebrations, with gamelan music & spirited dancing, while Hindu & Buddhist temples are replete with centuries of architectural & sculptural masterpieces.

Enjoy lunch in one of the quaint cafes amidst the paddy fields.

Later proceed to Kaliadem, a strategic & famous spot to view Merapi Volcano from a close distance. It was the place where the hot lava from the crater was flowing down & setting fire to houses, plantations and burying them under the hot sand.

Explore the foot of Merapi volcano. Depending on the available time, you may ask the Tour-guide to go up (direct payment - not included) to a Volcano Observation office to see how the officers keep a watch on any activity of Merapi volcano, using seismograph & other specialised volcano tools.

There is also a possibility to visit (not included - extra payment) the impressive Volcano Museum, located in a striking angular structure that resembles a volcano. Exhibits dedicated to Merapi include a scale model, which demonstrates eruptions from the 18th century until today & how they altered the mountain's shape. There are vintage seismographs on display, along with a motorbike excavated from molten ash. There is an earthquake simulator, a cinema screening the story of the 2010 eruption & profiles of volcanoes in Indonesia & the world.

Finally it is time to return to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 08.00 am & proceed for another full day tour to explore Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta, is only remaining active sultanate in the country. It is a major university town & a royal capital complete with a functioning palace or kraton. Like the Vatican, the palace is a city within a city. The heart of the palace remains the home of the sultan & his immediate family.

Your first stop will be at the Sultan Palace & nearby Taman Sari Water Castle, once a royal park & bathing pond. Walking over the remnants of the past centuries enables you to understand the history of this artistic city.

The Complex built in 1755 - 1756 for Hamengkubuwono I, the first Sultan of Yogyakarta, is a center of Javanese culture & contains a Museum displaying royal artifacts. Guarded by the Yogyakarta Kraton Guards, it is the seat of the reigning Sultan of Yogyakarta & his family.

It was one of the monarch's first acts after the signing of the Treaty of Giyanti, which recognized the creation of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta under the Dutch East India Company. A banyan forest, protected from flooding by its location between two rivers, was chosen as the site for the palace.

On 20 June 1812, Stamford Raffles led a 1,200-strong British force to attack the walled royal city of Yogyakarta. Although they outnumbered the British, the Javanese were unprepared for the attack. Yogyakarta fell in one day & the palace was sacked & burned. A total of £15,000 in gold, jewels & currency (valued at £500,000 by today) was looted. It was the first attack on a Javanese court & the sultanate was subjugated to colonial authority. Most of the current palace was built by Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII (who reigned from 1921 to 1939) & was rebuilt after earthquakes in 1876 & 2006.

The complex consists of a courtyard covered with sand from the south coast, a main building & a secondary building, separated by a wall. The palace door is made of thick teak. Behind (or in front of) a gate in Javanese architecture is usually an insulating wall, sometimes with a distinctive, traditional ornament. The wooden buildings of the complex have a traditional Javanese architectural style, decorated with flora, fauna, or nature motifs. Foreign influences (Portuguese, Dutch, & Chinese) are also seen.

The trapezoidal joglo roof is usually covered with red or gray shingles, tiles, or zinc. It is supported by a central pillar & secondary pillars, usually dark green or black, with yellow, light-green, red or gold highlights. Other wooden building elements match the pillars in color.

For the stone pedestal (Ompak), the black color is combined with gold ornamentation. White dominates the walls of the building & the complex. The floor, usually made of white marble or patterned tiles, is higher than the sandy courtyard. Some buildings have a higher main floor. Other buildings have a square stone (Selo Gilang) for the sultan's throne. Each building is classified by use. The main-class building (used by the sultan) has more ornamentation than the lower-class buildings, which have simple ornamentation or none at all

Over 25,000 people live within the greater Kraton compound named Taman Sari, which consist of its own market, shops, batik & silver cottage industries, schools & mosques.

Taman Sari was originally built for multiple purposes. Some of its original functions were a place to rest, to meditate, to work, to hide & to defend the Sultan’s family. In this present day, some of its buildings have now become homes for local residents & only the mosque, resting & bathing space, and underground tunnels are accessible by tourists.

With its combination of eastern & western style building, this unique escape of the royal family has its own appeal & story. The most famous place in Tamansari is the bathing & resting place of the Sultan & his Princesses named Umbul Pasiraman.

The Sultan loves to go hunting during his free time and The Umbul Pasiraman was designed to appease the Sultan of that desire.

Different from the Panggung Krapyak which was designed to hunt deer, the Umbul Pasiraman (which means a place to take a bath) was designed for the Princesses to take a bath and for the Sultan to relax & ‘hunt’ for a wife.

To catch his ‘two-legged prey’, it is said that the Sultan would throw a rose from the high tower on the south of the pool and the Princess who caught that rose will be his ‘wife’. Usually, the ones who would catch the rose would either be the Queen or his concubines. There are three different pools at Umbul Pasiraman namely Umbul Binangun, Umbul Muncar &Blumbang Kuras each a different area for the daughters of Sultan and his potential wives to bathe.

Other than the Umbul Pasiraman, visitors can also explore an underground tunnel & mosque. The tunnel was once a hideout but now is not functional as it is partially used for local residences. Unlike most mosques, the mosque on this premise is a unique circle shaped building, with Sumur Gumilang beneath which was a place for the Sultan to pray.

Lunch will be served in a renovated part of the former family palace.

Time to go back to the resort with a couple more Stops.

Pass the main thoroughfare of Yogyakarta, Jalan Malioboro which at night takes on tenor of an exotic street fair. Many old Dutch & colonial buildings are lined up in the middle of the city. You will also see Muntilan, the centre of lava-stone carvings using lava of the eruptions of the nearby Merapi volcano, one of the most active volcanos in Indonesia.  

Continue to Kota Gede, famous as the hub of Yogyakarta’s famous silver industry.

You will visit one of the busy silver workshops to watch the process.

This old town, now an upmarket suburb of Yogyakarta, was the first capital of the Mataram Kingdom, founded by Panembahan Senopati in 1582 who is buried in a tomb here.

Since the 1930s, silversmiths have crafted this precious metal into a wealth of practical (cutlery, bowls) & decorative (jewellery, ornaments) items; the main street, Jl Kemasan, continues to be lined with busy workshops. Most of the shops have similar stock, including hand-beaten bowls, boxes, fine filigree work & modern jewellery.

But Yogyakarta is synonymous with the Indonesia Batik industry.

There is a long history of batik production in Indonesia. Each region & even sometimes city, has its own distinct style of batik. On Java, two of the distinct types of Batik designs are from Yogyakarta & Solo. 

On the way back, you will stop to visit a Batik Workshop run by a local Village Co-operative as part of a community tourism initiative. Experiential & immersive tourism with a purpose. You will learn how to make Batik & take home it home which will remind of Indonesia.

Did you know that most batik in Indonesia (that is not produced in a factory) is still hand made in small local workshops?

Here, you can learn a bit about the history of local batik styles & if you have the time, may be, even join a hands on Workshop to learn, experience & enjoy. The batik course is a lot of fun & also for a good cause.

Reach the hotel by evening.

Balance of the day at leisure.

Finally, the experience comes to an end and it is time to say good-bye to the region’s warm hospitality & heritage.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, you are allowed to use the hotel facilities and leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? -  Yogyakarta Adisutjipto International Airport for your onward journey.  B

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