Yogyakarta

1st October

Took the early train to Yogyakarta booked online. The train system is very organised and for an economy seat it seemed really luxurious compared to British rail!

Like most places on earth, there seems to be more poverty in and around cities. Some of the housing near the train tracks were very poor looking

As the journey went on the view became much more beautiful, with crop fields and lots of rice fields

and you could see the quality of the housing improve. I think quality of life will always be better in the countryside!

You could see people working in the fields and it was evident that they did the work by hand. The people had scythes and other hand tools and mechanical ploughs

At a station stop there were people trying to sell their wares

The train travelled through more & more rice fields, some of which were terraced depending on the terrain

and passing some very lush areas and small villages

Arriving at Yogyakarta station the heat hit me as I got off the air-conditioned train. 

I knew it was roughly only a 20 minute walk to my hotel so I avoided the onslaught of taxi, grab and tuc-tuc drivers. 

My hotel rooms seem to be getting nicer each time (fingers crossed) and this hotel had a relaxed feel with balconies to sit and chill out on and an eating/kitchen area with free tea and coffee

I had a wonder outside and found a little stall selling Siomay - these are Indonesian steamed dumplings - usually made with fish inside (the Indonesian version of Dim Sum). I had tried some in a cafe in Bandung, and they weren't very nice, but these were lovely and tasty & fresh, served with a peanut sauce. I had some tofu with it too & chatted to the lady. She gave me tips on where to visit in Yogyakarta.

The city seemed to have a different vibe to Jakarta and Bandung.