Indonesia (Post Covid-19 Overseas Visit No 4 - My 16 days in Surabaya, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Malang, Batu & Probolinggo, Java) May 13-28 2023

 

Map of South East Asia

Map of Indonesia 

Map of Java, Indonesia

"  It's never wrong to take a pause (break). Learn to pause, not quit " 

Lots of happenings in May 2023 around the world ! In my own backyard, May 2023 was my 73rd birthday month. In the region, there is spicy Thai politics & general election, super hot weather in my home country, Malaysia & neighbours like Singapore, Thailand & Laos, volcanic eruption in Mt Sinabong, Sumatra island, Indonesia & at the time of my writing (June 12 2023), the Mayon volcano in the Albay province of Philippines has erupted .... so what, KM - just take a pause or break & watch YouTube at home or daydreaming & listening to Cliff Richard's favourite song Summer Holiday, day & night .... ! 

But my DNA in travelling gave me an inner force to travel not to the far East nor far West this time but to the Java island of Indonesia (across the Malacca Straits) tracing the story of Admiral Cheng Ho's 7 historic sea voyages from China to Indian Ocean & South East Asia including into Indonesian waters (going back to 618 years ago ie 1405 > 1433) & to re-visit Yogyakarta after a lapse of 14 years (my last visit was in Feb 2009) !  In the 2009 visit, I took the opportunity to visit nearby places like the town of Solo, the historic sites of Borobudur temple and Prambanan temple, the scenic Dieng plateau. Can't wait to shout Malioboro, here I am showing up to see this popular street in Yogya one more time (like setting foot once again in Orchard road of Singapore; Petaling & Alor street of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Yaowarat road of Bangkok, Thailand; Pub street of Siem Reap, Cambodia, Beer street of Hanoi, Vietnam & Makati street of Manila, Philippines ! Oh, I simply love visiting these famous streets in South East Asia !)

A great outcome for this Java island trip after visiting 6 cities / towns ie Surabaya, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Malang, Batu & Probolinggo & seeing the memorials of Admiral Cheng Ho in Surabaya & Semarang, Java .... not to forget my recent visit (Jan 2023) to the historic Malacca city in Peninsula Malaysia which has a piece of history about Admiral Cheng Ho's sea voyages to the Straits of Malacca in the early 14th century ! 

A big thank you to my travel buddy, Thompson Tham who did most of the online bookings for our flights (Kuala Lumpur > Surabaya & return), hotels, train & MPV van rides prior to the trip & while in Java. I am looking forward for my 5th overseas visit (post Covid-19, having done Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam & Indonesia) with my wife & travel buddies in the 2nd half of 2023 - countries in my radar of travels are Laos, Taiwan, India or another overland train trip to southern Thailand !

Here are some of the pictures I had taken in Surabaya & Semarang, Java in memory of Admiral Cheng Ho, a towering figure in the maritime history during the 14th century ! 

1) Masjid Muhammad Cheng Hoo, Surabaya, Java, Indonesia

2) Sam Poo Kong Temple, Semarang, Java, Indonesia

3) Tay Kak Sie Temple, Semarang, Java, Indonesia  

4) Gallery Admiral Cheng Ho, Melaka City, Malaysia 

My travel buddy: Thompson Tham - one for the album leaving behind a fond memory of my 16 days visit to Java island in May 2023 ! 

Paralayang, Batu, Java

Dino Mall, Malang, Java

Alun Alun Tugu Malang, Java

Lawang Sewu Building
Semarang, Java

Coban Rondo Pujon Waterfall
Malang, Java

Taman Sari (Water Castle)
Yogyakarta, Java

Travel Itinerary: Kuala Lumpur > Surabaya > Semarang > Yogyakarta > Malang > Batu > Malang > Probolinggo > Surabaya > Kuala Lumpur (approx 1,130km round trip)

Google Account Timeline - a personal map of  my visited places, routes & trips taken place in May 2023 - interesting data revealed for my May 2023 activity: country visited ie Indonesia, visited 10 cities (6 new), 69 places (57 new), 35km of walking (14hr) & 1,166km using land transport, just simply amazing looking at these data especially for an elderly traveller like me chalking up 35km of walking (like a Jonnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky) & roaming six Java island cities over a 16 days trip in Indonesia ! 

Currency Exchange: Rm1 = IDR 3,248, US$1 = Rm4.50 & US$1 = IDR14,250

Total cost incurred (16 days): Rm1,928 (US$428)

• Air Asia ticket: Rm506 (KLIA2 > Surabaya & return)
• Skybus: Rm10
• Damri airport bus: 35,000Rp (Rm11)
• Hotels (15 nights): Rm578 (US$128)
• Trains (4 rides): Rm218 
• MPV van (1 ride): Rm32
• Entrance fee: 260,000Rp (Rm80) `
• Car hire (2 pax): 300,000Rp (Rm92) per pax 
• Grab (14 rides): Rm51
• Gojek (2 rides): 25,000Rp (Rm8)
• Town bus: 40,000Rp (Rm12)
• Food: Rm330

Travel Highlights: 

1) Surabaya, Java

Monument Tugu Pahlawan
Surabaya, Java

Monument Submarine, Surabaya, Java

Jalan Tunjungan, Surabaya, Java

Masjid Muhamad Cheng Hoo
 Surabaya, Java

2) Semarang, Java

Lawang Sewu Building, Semarang, Java

Sam Poo Kong Temple, Semarang, Java

Kampoeng Pelangi, Semarang, Java

Chinatown, Semarang, Java

3) Yogyakarta, Java

Museum Keraton Yogyakarta, Java

Taman Sari (Water Castle)
Yogyakarta, Java

Vredeburg Museum, Yogyakarta, Java

Malioboro, Yogyakarta, Java 

4) Malang, Java

Alun Alun Tugu Malang, Java

Kampung Biru, Malang

Kampung Tridi, Malang, Java

Kampung Warna Warni Jodipan
Malang, Java

Coban Rando Pujon
Malang, Java

Malang Skyland, Malang Regency, Java

Pasar Apung (Floating Market)
Malang, Java

Flora Wisata Santerra de Laponte
Malang, Java

5) Batu, Java

Batu Love Garden, Batu, Java

Batu Flower Garden, Batu, Java

Wisata Paralayang, Batu, Java

Taman Langit, Guaung Banyak
Batu, Jawa

Alun Alun Kota Wisata Batu, East Java

Dino Mall, Jawa Timur Park 3
Batu, Java

6) Probolinggo, Java

Gereja Merah, Probolinggo, Java

Tri Dharma Sumbernaga Temple
Probolinggo, Java

Destinasi Wisata Kum Kum
Probolinggo, Java

City Square, Kota Probolinggo, Java