As part of my South East Asia trip, I stayed 24 days in Indonesia – one of the most versatile and incredible countries I have ever visited.
Jakarta 
14 November 2019
I like Jakarta. It is a beautiful big city. I arrived around noon at the airport and took a taxi to my hostel “The Packer Lodge”.
In the afternoon, I took a grab scooter to the city and explored it a bit. I went to get a SIM card at GraPARI Telkomsel, visited the Grand Indonesia West Mall and died in the extreme heat outside every airconditioned building. I also discovered a new fruit, the snake fruit from the salak palm.
In the evening, I talked to an Indian guy in my dorm when an employee of the hostel came into our room with a second guest and told me that if there was any inconvenience, like someone trying to crawl into my bed or trying to sexually assault me, I should come to reception. I think he only meant to be nice, but I was perplexed and wondering why he would say that. He told me they had two similar assaults in the last week… Great!
I first went to take a shower and then talked to the employee again – even though the two men in my room were actually quite nice I went to bed a bit scared…
15 November 2019
Today, I explored the city of Jakarta. I was asked three times for photos by girls. I really like the women and girls in South East Asia (which is very generalizing – but this was my personal feeling). Obviously I really attract attention everywhere as solo-travelling woman. Outside, it is incredibly hot while in shopping centers and cafés, it is abnormally cold. In the evening, I had dinner with one local guy from the hostel.
Tomorrow, I’m heading off to Borneo which I am really looking forward to.
Tanjung Putin National Park
16 – 20 November 2019
Bromo
20 November 2019
I arrived in Surabaya and spent a night in a capsule hostel. The airport in Surabaya was annoying because there was no Grab taxi service available. Also my accomodation is equipped with a really bad matress.
21 November 2019
The next day, I took a train to Probolinggo which was stunningly comfortable. In Probolinggo, I had actually planned to take public transport to Cemoro Lawang. But then the driver of my homestay in Bromo offered to fetch me for 150k IDR – which was much easier.
My homestay “Cahyo homestay” in Bromo is located fabulously! Directly at the crater of the volcano. Stupidly, I only have little cash with me and there is no ATM in the village. In the restaurant next to my homestay I can pay everything with Visa though – so hopefully everything will work out. (PS: a few days later – in Yogyakarta – I found out that I had an immense amount of cash reserves really well hidden in my backpack :-D). In the evening, I walked around the village and enjoyed the sun setting directly above the crater of Bromo volcano in the distance. Then the night sky was incredibly clear and beautiful!
22 November 2019
Today in the morning, I woke up at 3 a.m. to hike up the King Kong Hill. It was pitch dark and ice-cold and most of the time I was walking all on my own. I listened to music and looked up to the milky way in the sky every now and then. The ascent was really exhausting. When the first red lights rised up behind the horizon, I reached the viewing platform just in time before a thousand tourists arrived (they went up by bus). I secured a front row place directly at a tree in front of the platform and listened to music to not hear the people behind me. The sunset was beautiful and slowly illuminated the valley and volcanoes in front of me.
Afterwards, I continued my ascent and was soon completely alone with only two other German girls. All the others only came for sun rise but now the shadows became shorter and the sun got beautifully warm. I fell asleep for a short time and when I woke up I saw the Semeru volcano smoking in the distance. It was a dream.
On my hike downhill I saw the beautiful village of Bromo.
At 9 a.m. I was back at my homestay – completely black from the dust! I took a shower and got breakfast at the restaurant next door. I was really K.O.
Shortly before midday, I left for Bromo volcano. The hike through the sandy desert was shorter than I thought. I could have taken a moto-taxi to get there but had no cash – so I needed to walk.
The ascent to the volcano was facilitated by stairs. The crater was great! It smelled like sulfur and at the end of the railings I got vertigo looking down into the volcano. Down in the volcano’s depth, the water was boiling. It was incredible.
There were also a lot of local people at the crater rim who had what I think are sacrifices with them.
I had dinner with Kenneth from San Francisco when I was back at my homestay.
Yogyakarta
23 November 2019
Together with Kenneth, whom I met in Bromo, I took a taxi back to Probollingo. There I got onto the train to Yogyakarta. The hostel (Otu Hostel) in Yogyakarta is amazing and even has a pool!
24 November 2019
Today, I took a moto-cycle / rikshaw mix to ride into the town center and explored it. I went to Taman Sari, a royal garden from the 18th century and also the Pasar Beringharjo market. I also bought a head scarf and had a hell of a fun with the girls in the shop who helped me find one. I wanted to have one for my onwards travel to Medan to make sure I behave respectfully in the Islam north of the country.
In the evening, I went to the Tea Spa and got a massage.
25 November 2019
Today, I went to the Borobudur temple, a buddhist temple from the 9th century, by Grab mototaxi. It took ages to get there and I fell asleep sitting in the back of the scooter (this is when you know you truly arrived in South East Asia I guess 😀 )
In the evening, I went to the Alun-Alun Kidul place to watch the lighted cars and eat something together with some guys from the hostel. Afterwards, we played ball in the hostel pool.
26 November 2019
In the early morning, I rented a scooter together with a German and an Italian guy. We went to the Prambanan temple, a hindu temple from the 9th century.
In the afternoon, I got some ice at the Jogja and then caught my flight to Medan.
Bukit Lawang and Medan
26 November – 01 December 2019
Pulau Weh and Banda Aceh
02 December 2019
I just survived the worst night of my life inside the night bus from Medan to Banda Aceh. First, the bus was 40 minutes late. I then got into the bus and got comfortable on my large seat on the top floor. There was even a cute Hello Kitty pillow.
At any time during the ride, I noticed that I got stung and thought of mosquitos which is why I then put on my sweater, closed the hood and put a blanket and shawl above my legs. I also put on my mask. But it did not get any better.
I then switched on the light – there was no possibility that I could sleep, being permanently stung and therefor itchy. All the other passengers (only locals) did not seem to have any problems though?!
I turned around to inspect my seat, and there I saw it. THE WHOLE SEAT WAS LITERALLY CRAWLING!!! I am nearly vomiting now that I’m writing this down!! Everything was full of bed bugs, which were of course extremely happy to have my full body as their night meal. I panicked and called my mum while crying.
I decided to read the whole night but it was just pure madness. I was so desperate that one of the other passengers approached me. He informed the bus personal and I was seated downstairs. The seats there were more “luxurious” and I had a single seat. First, I thought there were no bed bugs here. But it turned out that I was wrong… It were only less. Some of them I killed with my hands and my Birkenstock. I read and even managed to sleep for a bit.
When I arrived in Banda Aceh, I was totally at an end. My eyes were so dry that I could barely see. I was itching everywhere and was so disgusted.
I left the bus and thousands of men were already waiting to talk me into their taxis. Even on my way to the bathroom I was accomodated by them, every single step being commented. Inside the bathroom, I finally had some silence and ordered a Grab taxi to get to the ferry. Jesus, I was so tired.
When I left the bathroom, I could only scream at the men waiting there, to leave me alone. I reached the ferry and headed over to Pulau Weh.
There I got a moto taxi to my accommodation. I was so relieved. I got off all my clothes and got them washed by the hotel. Then I emptied my small backpack completely, and washed and cleaned everything that was possible. I prayed that there would be no bed bugs in my large backpack (it was packed in another bag while being at the luggage store in the bottom of the bus). Even though I was hoping to not find another bed bug, I was really paranoid when something itched on my skin. I only got something to eat at the hotel and fell asleep.
The hotel- Freddies Santai Sumurtiga – is a pure dream. The people here are incredibly nice. Freddy, the owner, is an old man who is regularly asking me if everything is alright.
In the evening, the hotel’s employees prepared a large indian dinner which was incredibly yummy. During the night, there was a heavy storm above the island.
03 December 2019
Today I slept really long. During lunchtime, a travel group was visiting the hotel which is why it became really full. When I went to the beach – dressed in a dress – I was photographed by some Indonesian men. I am really annoyed by that behavior by now. If I was a celebrity, I’d probably never leave the house again. It is really unbearable. Any other time today, a white older lady fell down at the beach and was bleeding – and what was the Indonesian guy who was standing right next to her doing? He was constantly filming!! Incredible.
When the Indonesians left, I went into the water. But the sight while snorkeling was not really great 😀
In between, I got back to my room’s balcony, laid in the hammock, read and in the afternoon I headed out for a walk along the beach.
04 December 2019
Today, I rented a scooter and explored the island. I took a short hike in the jungle and then continued my ride.
I rode to the “Kilometer Zero”, Indonesians Northernmost point. There are a lot of monkeys there and you can walk around on some boardwalks and enjoy the beautiful coast.
I slowly headed back with multiple photo stops in between.
Back at the hotel, I was heading to the beach again and enjoyed the beautiful weather. In the evening, we had another great dinner.
05 December 2019
Today, I got up quite early to have the beach for myself when the sun was still low. I did not leave the hotel and only commuted between my room, the beach and the restaurant / bar 😀 The water was too turbulent to go for a swim though – I should have used it better on my first day here.
06 December 2019
Early in the morning, I went to the beach again, watched some hermit crabs fight and then slowly packed up to catch the ferry back to Banda Aceh.
My taxi driver in Banda Aceh offered me to show me around the city. Unfortunately, the tsunami museum was closed – that would have been really interesting.
The homestay is okay. I checked-in and then explored the city a bit by foot. I barely took any pictures.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll fly to Penang in Malaysia.
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