Indonesia (Post Covid-19 Overseas Visit No 4 - My 16 days in Surabaya, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Malang, Batu & Probolinggo May 13-28 2023) Day 9 May 21 2023 Malang, Java

Tugu Monument, Kota Malang, Java

Malang City Tour - Free Ride (1/2 hr)

Birds Market, Kota Malang, Java 

Day 9, Sunday May 21 2023 - my 1st day in Malang after a 6hr overnight train ride from Yogyakarta !

Malang is a city in East Java, prized by the Dutch for its mild highland climate, the city retains much of its colonial architecture; the Balai Kota blends Indonesian & Dutch styles & grand mansions line the main boulevard, Jalan Besar Ijen; north of the city lies the Buddhist-Hindu Singosan Temple ruins are a remnant of a medieval kingdom; to the east is Mt Bromo, a volcano with hiking trails ! 

Yogyarkarta > Malang (6hrs by train)

1) Yogyakarta Train Station - taking an early morning (00.32) train ride (Executive AA 452,250Rp=Rm140) from Yogyakarta > Malang arriving 06.38 (394km, approx 6hrs); airconditioned, cosy & comfortable reclining seats, clean toilets etc, interesting to note that Indonesian trains do not have sleeper beds so we were unable to enjoy a deep slumber while travelling in a night train ! 

2) Countryside scenery as viewed from train's windows

3) Arriving in Malang train station (06.30) - Selamat Pagi (Good Morning), Malang ! A beautiful Malang greeting our arrival, my 1st visit to this once upon a time a Dutch colonial town ! 

4) A short walk to Montana Hotel (my 1st night stay & another 2 more nights stay in Aloha Hotel) from the Malang train station - a beautiful Sunday on our first day arrival in Malang ! 

Tugu Monument, Kota Malang, Java

Lotus Pond, Kota Malang, Java

Malang City Hall, Kota Malang, Java

5) Montana Hotel, Kota Malang, Java - my 1st night stay, left luggage at the hotel reception room due to our early morning arrival & kick start of our exploratory visit in Kota Malang till mid-day for our hotel check in, need a rest badly as I hardly slept in my overnight train ride from Yogyakarta > Malang (00.32 > 06.38) ! Room tariff 230,000Rp = Rm71 (without breakfast, twin sharing)

6) Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) in Kota Malang in the morning 

7) Pasar Bunga (Flower Market), Kota Malang, Java

8) Birds & Pet Animal Market, Kota Malang, Java

9) Free Malang City Tour bus ride in Kota Malang, Java - just "act" local whenever or wherever you have the opportunities to do so ! So together with my travel buddy, we registered our names & waited for our turn & joined with the locals for a merry go round free city tour bus ride in Kota Malang (30 minutes) ! What a joyful ride giving us a glimpse of Kota Malang on this early Sunday afternoon !

10) From Malang or Probolinggo, you could sign up a Mt Bromo Sunrise tour. Local travel agencies in Malang organise daily Bromo Sunrise tours & the indicative cost quoted was 600,000Rp = Rm185 per pax (group of 4 - 6 persons), 750,000Rp = Rm231 per pax (group of 3 persons) & 850,000Rp = Rm262 per pax (group of 2 persons), the package includes 4WD + Petrol + Driver + Entrance fee + Breakfast, hotel pick up at 00.30. Shop around if you are looking for a better deal for this package tour. Happy hiking !  

11) Kota Malang by Night, Java 

12) Dinner in New Hong Kong Restaurant, Kota Malang, Java - each of us ordered a plate of Cantonese style fried yee mee (70,000Rp) + Hot Tea (12.500Rp) ++ = 93,225Rp = Rm28.70