Off on an adventure to Java (and a bit of Bali)

Hey there, community! Back this weekend, below is my travel journal from my adventure in Indonesia. Enjoy the read!!!

Day 1 - August 10, 2025 New life downloading for three weeks! And for that, Flo and I launched a public tender... A public tender? What’s that got to do with a travel journal???... Well, when you think about it, few destinations tick all the boxes for an August adventure: Meaning, finding a place that’s exotic in the middle of August, not too expensive, not too packed with tourists, warm but not *too* warm, with postcard-perfect landscapes, dreamy beaches, tasty cuisine with a hint of exoticism, friendly and welcoming locals, where you’re free to sleep under the stars among the mosquitos, take transport surrounded by chickens, and even eat from a pig trough if you feel like it—well, turns out it’s not that easy to find! I’d even say, given how thick the list of requirements is, there’s a big risk the tender could be declared unsuccessful for failing to meet just one criterion. Let’s just say the candidates better submit a rock-solid proposal!

After reviewing all the responses and presentations from the candidates, the obvious choice for us is... Indonesia! Except that trying to explore a country as vast as Indonesia and its 17,504 islands in less than five years is a bit like reading the summary of a Proust novel without taking the time to savor each of its 950 pages! Don’t worry, I won’t name them all here. Besides, do they even all have names? No! Only 7,870 have been named—their parents clearly ran out of ideas for the rest. Anyway, our society, which worships the "work more to earn more" mantra, unfortunately limits our adventure time. So we’ll only get to see a small part of Indonesia, and we’ll have to make a tough choice to head for the best of the best in this archipelago of over seventeen thousand islands. Each one has its own selling points: Sumatra, Sulawesi, Java, the Celebes, Bali, Borneo, Papua, Timor, the Moluccas... So many names that smell of adventure... Another tender, another list of requirements, another review of proposals... Drumroll... Splash splash... And the lucky winner is... Ta-da... Java, Bali’s big sister, where I’ve already been eight years ago... Java the programming language. The Java of Broadway. We’re gonna *do* the Java. Java the coffee. And yes, Java is also an island!

This island, four times smaller than France, is home to 136 million people, making it the most populated island in the world! Fun fact: Indonesia, with its 260 million inhabitants, is just shy of the podium for the world’s most populated countries, after the winning trio of India, China, and the United States. And it’s on this island of Java that you’ll find Jakarta, the (soon-to-be-former) capital and main airport of the country, where we’ll soon land after our nineteen-hour flight! Yep, nineteen hours! I mean, Indonesia in general—and Java in particular—is a *tad* farther than going on vacation to Grandma Yoyo’s! Not sure where it is? Easy. Grab a map. Plant your finger on the big island at the bottom right—aka Australia for those who struggle with geography—move it up two centimeters, and bam, welcome to Indonesia!



Nice transition, right? Because "Welcome to Indonesia" is exactly what the friendly flight attendant just said to me as we got off the plane! That’s it, our chakras are open, we’ve arrived at our (air)port. Time for rest, pool, cocktails, and a beach with our toes spread out... Wait, if you bought that, you clearly don’t know us yet! Since we still have energy to burn and need to adjust to the flight and time difference, we tackle the long administrative formalities to enter Indonesia, just to earn the right to hop in a 45-minute Grab taxi to the train station. The train station? What train station?... What do you usually do at a train station? Take a train, of course! Off we go for a three-hour train ride to Bandung, where we’ll officially start our adventure tomorrow after our first Indonesian night...

Unfortunately, we were a bit slow off the mark, which meant we missed the 6:25 PM train by two minutes. Oh well, we’ll have to wait until 11 PM. We take the opportunity to stretch our legs in Jakarta, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy the delicious smells wafting from the *warungs*—those little typical street restaurants. A quick stop at the National Monument, a detour to a night market to devour our first *kwetiaw goreng* and *teh manis* for 60,000 rupiahs (that’s 3 € for two), and just like that, our penalty is lifted, and we’re allowed to hit the road again. Off to Bandung, where we arrive at 2 AM for... a *very* short night...

Biboun51’s travel journals are always a treat! I’m happily along for the ride...

Day 2 – August 11, 2025

The French language gives me about 600,000 words to express what the blues are, but especially what I feel at the start of each of our adventures. And yet, I always struggle a bit to find the ones that exactly capture that strange mix of excitement and apprehension inside me. Disorientation, encounters, adventure, awe, but also unexpected hiccups, hassles, even weather surprises... Except that to get the full "jambon fromage" of the "perfect" trip, you need a dash of all these ingredients. And that’s where roots-style travel really shines! Because it’s by provoking fate that you gather the best stories... And for that, what better way than crossing a huge part of Java Island on the back of the quintessential Southeast Asian exploration vehicle? Yep, you guessed it—it’s by scooter that I’ll be discovering Java, with my sweetheart clinging to my waist! Especially since my senses are bound to be way more stimulated than on my previous scooter expeditions, given Java’s infamous traffic density!

I suggest we dive right into the deep end without a floatie or armbands with this first real-life test: Riding our steed to try and escape the clutches of the country’s third-largest city at rush hour—while remembering to drive on the left. First verdict: We’re like a little flower trying to survive on a highway! The metaphor isn’t random, because after thirty minutes of keeping an eye on each of the 3,792 other scooters around us while methodically following our GPS, we ended up on a Java highway *banned for two-wheelers*! Game over, same player plays again. Going back the wrong way on a Java highway using the emergency lane to get back on track? Check!



Anyway, all that to say we’re still alive after getting out of Bandung. Now we can head skyward to tackle the giants that shape Java’s landscape. And who might those be? Volcanoes, of course! Have you ever seen one? Yes? Two in one place? Same?... Okay, how about ten? Tougher, right? Well, know that Java alone has forty-five *still active* ones! Indonesia sits smack on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so its natural disaster portfolio includes earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and other volcanic delights. It’s one of these eruptive events we’re going to discover this morning in the form of Kawah Putih.

*Kawah* in Indonesian means "crater." And *Putih* means "white." So you’d expect to find a crater made of white rock, but it’s actually a crater filled with a milky-white sulfur lake that’s absolutely stunning. Add shades of gray, yellow, and brown to the painter’s palette, and you get a breathtaking scene—except that around the lake, green decided to take a hike. On this barren ground, there’s no room for chlorophyll!









What I can tell you is that there are some truly magical landscapes on this Earth—places that take your breath away, that make you feel like you’re on another planet or in a Narnia tale, and that leave you feeling richer for having seen them. Kawah Putih is one of those. Especially since we’re lucky enough to see it under the sun, which, around here, is rare enough to mention. Our other stroke of luck? The lazy tourists only bother with the official viewpoint, leaving the rest of the site all to Flo and me!!! We’re loving it!

Day 2 (continued)

We’re also loving our first hike of the trip, which takes us back down from Sunan Ibu Point through the jungle to the slopes of the volcano, covered in tea plantations with a stunning green hue. We run into tea pickers who are just as surprised to see us here as we are by the raw beauty of the landscapes. Loving it, I told you!!!











After hopping back on our trusty steed, we head down from the mountain to the very pretty little town of Ciwidey, Indonesia’s strawberry capital! We grab a small punnet, some chicken satay at a warung, and it’s already time to head back—though we’re slightly delayed by a tropical downpour that forces us to make a pit stop.

What better way to pass the time than by continuing my world tour of barbershops? A haircut for one euro, an hour on the road in traffic as congested as a tuberculosis patient’s airways, our first street nasi and mie goreng, our first pisang banana with chocolate and cheese, and we’re already wrapping up our introduction to Bandung. It’s time for another night on the move—specifically, a train ride that’ll take us toward new adventures to infinity... and beyond!

Biboun51’s travel journals are always a treat! I’m happily jumping on board...

After your Balinese getaway, do you think I can tempt you to head over to Java next time?

Amid the incredible diversity of styles among travel journal writers on VF, here’s to our delight Biboun, recognizable among a thousand.

In the incredible diversity of styles among travel journal writers on VF, here’s Biboun for our pleasure, recognizable among thousands.

Oh, that’s really kind (well, I think so 😛 => Here he is again with his crappy style!)

Biboun51’s travel journals are always a treat! I’m happily jumping on board...

After your Balinese getaway, will I manage to tempt you to head over to Java next time?

When you paint the town red in Java on a Saturday, It swings just like in Bali...

In the incredible diversity of travel journal writers on VF, here’s Biboun for our pleasure—recognizable among thousands.

Will Biboun as a couple be as adventurous as Biboun with siblings?... (?) Looks like it’s off to a great start!

In the incredible diversity of styles among travel journal writers on VF, here’s Biboun for our pleasure—recognizable among a thousand.

Will Biboun as a couple be as adventurous as Biboun with siblings... (?) Looks like it’s off to a great start!

My fellow wanderer is just as wild as my brother and me. Less resilient, for sure, but just as roots. Besides, I’ve got a bunch of travel journals to publish (with my brother or my partner). And my next trip will be in 3 months with my brother, this time...

Hey Franck, Cool, as usual, I’m gonna love following your travel journal 😊 ... on a scooter, only you would dare to do that 🛵‍♂️ Plus, Java—a destination we really loved, but that was already back in 2016 😅 That white crater looks amazing 🤯

Hey Isabelle! Weren’t you already following me on Facebook? 😎

Hey Isabelle! Weren’t you already following me on Facebook? 😎

Had a quick look, but didn’t get time to read... I was off exploring! 😊

Hey Isabelle! Weren’t you already following me on Facebook? 😎

Just skimmed it, didn’t have time to read... I was out and about 😊

Didn’t see anything on your profile. Where were you? By the way, I’ll need to pick your brain because I caved and got tickets for Namibia next April...

Otherwise, on FB, you’ll find more photos of Java vs. here where we’re limited...

Hey Isabelle! Weren’t you already following me on Facebook? 😎

Skimmed it quickly but didn’t have time to read... I was off wandering around 😊

Didn’t see anything on your account. Where were you?

In Alaska... for wildlife photography 😊

By the way, I’ll have to pick your brain because I caved and bought tickets for Namibia next April...

Great choice! We went back there in August 2024—did almost the same route, just skipped the north, but it was quieter 😉

Otherwise, on FB, you’ll find more photos of Java compared to VF where we’re limited...

Yeah, the 300-photo limit per travel journal... I worked around that for my Kenya journal—couldn’t possibly choose just 300, so I combined several photos into one 😄.

Hey Franck

I’m coming along too—if only to live vicariously through adventures I’ll never experience myself (like scooting around Java, for example ).

Hi Muriel! I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, but the experience was amazing! Welcome aboard!

Day 3 – August 12, 2025

Indonesia is famous for its fierce volcanoes spewing glowing lava and erosive ash. But Indonesia also hides thousands of tropical beaches that make you want to dip your neck in no matter how skimpy your swimsuit is. And since ours won’t be staying at the bottom of our backpacks for long, our next stop *has* to be sea, sex, and sun—or it won’t be worth it.

An archipelago of mostly deserted and rarely visited islands, dotted with coconut trees, offering pristine white-sand beaches lazily bathed by a turquoise sea at the perfect temperature… If you’ve never fantasized about this postcard-perfect scenery, speak up now! No one? That’s what I thought! But know this comes at a price: one night we can now call uncomfortable on a train to Semarang, followed by two hours on a shuttle to the port of Jepara, and then nearly three hours on a boat. All that just to reach the stunning Karimunjawa, which doesn’t give up its virginity to just any guy passing by!

The Karimunjawa archipelago consists of 27 islands lost in the middle of the Indian Ocean, about 50 miles north of Java. With only eight thousand lucky souls living there, it’s a little paradise out of time, strangely unknown and far from the hustle of its big Javanese sister. That’s what the label boasts in the Java shop’s self-service aisle! Tempting, right? So tempting that we didn’t have much trouble convincing our old bones to make the effort to get there.

After a breakfast of *go blang* and *dadar gulung* at a little port-side eatery in Jepara, we cross over on waves that are pretty tame. The ferry only serves the main island, simply called Karimunjawa, like the archipelago. We disembark in the island’s only town, called Karimunjama. And we meet the first locals, commonly known as *Karimunjawas*. To sum up, we’re in Karimunjawa on the island of Karimunjawa in the Karimunjawa archipelago with the Karimunjawas. There you go—easy! If anyone asks you about this destination, you only need to remember one word...

What I can say once we finally disembarked is that this island has a knack for immediately rubbing me the right way, despite my old, rough fur! Karimunjawa is the good life, for young and old alike! Everything here is beautiful, everything is easy. Life seems simpler. People live simply! Want a cheap scooter? A guy rents you his for the equivalent of ten bucks for three days right at the ferry exit, no questions asked… Want to rent a little beachfront shack with your feet in the water? Out of decency—and so you don’t regret your week in a mobile home in the south of France—I won’t tell you the price of the top-notch one we rented at Ambar Pantai Bungalows. But let’s just say that a night here for two, with breakfast and dinner included, costs the same as a single sun lounger for a day on the French Riviera! No comment...



And what about activities? Well, activities here are like soccer—just as simple! In soccer, you pass the ball to Mbappé, and he takes care of the rest. With me, activities in Karimunjawa are the same for Flo! Just follow the guide! You hop on your scooter, hair in the wind, riding until your eyes can’t take any more beauty, just watching out not to crash into a chicken. You stop whenever you feel like it! That’s exactly what we do until we reach the haven of zen called Pantai Nyamplungan, which I’d already marked with a little "heart" sticker before coming. And we recommend you do the same! Satisfied heart or your money back! Imagine a long, wobbly wooden pier. Imagine little fishing boats bobbing in the cove. Imagine a bunch of tall coconut trees as the only guardians of the place… Imagine you’re completely alone on this pier, the moment only disturbed by the puttering engine of a small fishing boat passing in the distance. Imagine that at the end of this pier, you find three steps leading you into the water… Imagine crystal-clear water at around 32°C… Imagine… Okay, stop imagining—I’ll show you the photos...

Day 3 (continued)

Okay, I knew it—I should stop posting photos because now everyone’s off looking for a flight ticket to Pantai Nyamplungan. Hello? Anyone still here for the rest? Speaking of which, the next part is a little hike along more wooden walkways, this time through the mangrove forest of Menara Pandang Hutan. Uh... once again, I had the place all to ourselves—well, us, the mangrove birds, and a snake we ran into unexpectedly.







To wrap up this first island day, the guy suggests a little romantic stroll on Leandra Sunset Beach, where—exceptionally—we’re not the only ones. Not that I messed up the planning, but the spot is known for being where the island’s boats get repaired. It’s an authentic place among the Karimunjawa locals, all smiles (when they still have teeth), but despite its name, we don’t get to enjoy a beautiful sunset. The mister decided to call it a night a bit early, hiding behind some clouds that, like us, came here for the occasion. So, this first day in Karimunjawa ends with grilled fish on our plates, looking nostalgically at its former home. Alright, I’ll let you digest all that—we’ve got an actual mattress waiting for us, unusually enough...

So great to follow along! It's so well written and filled with beautiful photos. Thanks for making me dream.

Well, thanks for the compliment, it’s really nice to hear! See you soon for the next part!!!

Day 4 – August 13, 2025

It’s officially official—I’ve found the perfect spot to stay for a few days on dream beaches, recharge, connect with my inner self, and play Robinson Crusoe with my Friday. Except "a few days" flies by way too fast. That’s why we want to soak up every last bit of daylight: waking up with the roosters at 5:30 AM for the sunrise! Whether I’m in my native Ardennes or paradise, I still love that vibe, that early morning light. Okay, fine, I’ll admit it’s not *quite* the same light in the Ardennes on a rainy November day... but still magical moments...



With the sun god’s blessing for the day, it’s time to really put the archipelago’s reputation to the test. Yesterday felt like being seated at the world’s best feast but only allowed a tiny taste. Today? All-you-can-enjoy buffet of white sand, coconut trees, coral, all washed down with 32°C turquoise water, plus bonus authentic villages and locals. Let’s see if its nickname "Java’s Maldives" is a bit overhyped! Let’s make sure those guides ranking this place above Flores, the Gilis, or even Raja Ampat on the beauty scale weren’t totally off base... Let’s check if its UNESCO biosphere reserve and marine park status is legit or just clever marketing. Just for you—and exclusively—Franck and Flo are investigating today, scooter-bound, infiltrating the scene and risking paradise addiction.

First hit: Pentai Batu Putih, a hidden beach just a stone’s throw from our bungalows. At this hour, when most tourists are still nursing their hangovers, it’s totally normal to have this gorgeous little beach all to ourselves. So please disregard this detail in the final report. Next stop: Pentai Barracuda for its long pier and coconut-tree coastal barrier. Again, we’ve got the place to ourselves—promise, I didn’t rent it out just to impress Flo! Then we tackle Pentai Alano, which has a solid rep on the island. Well-deserved, but honestly, the beaches just keep coming, and the story’s the same: we’ve practically got the whole place to ourselves. Okay, I’m repeating myself, but it’s still early, and we’re in the island’s north, where most tourists stay in the south.

Day 4 (continued)

This is where it all happens—we're heading to the southern beaches that put this island on the map. What a thrill to take those bumpy little island roads, hair in the wind, winding through dense vegetation and tiny villages where locals greet us with big, genuine smiles... No tourist shops, no fake behavior, and no Bob Ricard in flip-flops in sight. We're right in the heart of a slice of simple, authentic life just the way we love it! Here, adults going about their daily business; there, kids playing outside together! Yes, it still exists, and David Vincent saw them!!! Oh, watch out—a monkey crossing the road... and he’s smiling too! Okay, with all this "la vie en rose" talk, we almost forgot our top-secret mission. Franck and Flo, report! So, what’s the verdict on the southern beaches?... A feast for the senses! Sure, we ran into a few fellow travelers, but wow, what beauty! The trio of Pantai Tanjung Gelam, Sunset Beach, and Pantai Batu Topeng... holy cow! White sand and coconut trees, rustic setups, photogenic rocks, and lush vegetation. We’d happily build our treehouse here and never leave! Must be Stockholm syndrome—we came to investigate and ended up falling in love!













Okay, seriously—where’s the catch? Where’s the Indonesian Marcel Beliveau hiding? Because Flo’s this close to quitting her job and moving here! Oh, I get it now... Those beach shacks selling bland meals at Western prices, right?... Not even that! Three dishes and a mango juice for 7 €—who can beat that? And with a smile, no less!

Okay, the cup runneth over—stop the presses! Flo’s already house-hunting on the island, and neither the scooter ride along the wild east coast nor the romantic sunset from Bukit Love is going to talk her out of it! Beeeeeeeep... The number you have dialed is no longer in service...

This all looks amazing! 😎 How are the underwater sights (fish, corals, etc.)?

Haha, you’ll have to wait for the next day for that! 😉

Can't wait for the next part! 😛

Amazing! It feels like the Seychelles 😊

The archipelago’s nickname is "Java’s Maldives." And you’ll see over the next day that it’s not an exaggeration! 😊

With this gloomy return to reality, a trip to paradise was unexpected. It’s priceless under your keyboard. Here, I stuck some stickers in your travel journal. ♥♥♥ 😉

😉😉😉 Thanks Jean-Luc for the nice message that made me laugh! It's great to see familiar "faces" again, even if it's much quieter than before... See you soon for the next part! !

Hello,

What a joy to hear from you again. I’ll be following your journey with great interest, a smile on my face! I noticed that during your long break from VoyageForum, you’d packed in quite a few trips—I hope you’ve kept the memories and that you’ll share your adventures with us soon. Did you end up skipping Uzbekistan? How are your lovely daughters doing? They must be all grown up by now.

larri

Hi Jean-Claude! Thanks for your message! Yes, the travel journals are ready since I published them on my FB account, including Uzbekistan, which did happen last April (and it was amazing). You’ve got a good memory for my girls! They’re 16 and 19 now. And they still travel with me from time to time. Egypt last February, for example. And the American West next February with the little one (who’s 5’11"). 😄

To be continued...

Thanks for your reply. Can we old-school social-media-averse folks hope to see your travel journals from the years without "Voyage Forum" available on this site? Even with fewer photos!

Thanks for your reply. Can we old folks allergic to social media hope to see your travel journals from the years without "Voyage Forum" available on this site? Even with fewer photos!

Promise! Even though the challenge of publishing lies in the restrictive photo selection on VF!

Hello

It's great to see familiar "faces" again, even if it's much quieter than before...

So here I am! :) After quietly reading through a string of humor, good vibes, and words illustrated with images that inspire travel and daydreaming. I especially love the positive tone of your storytelling.

Welcome! Hope you enjoy the rest too... Thanks for your comment! Franck

Day 5 – August 14, 2025

4:30 AM. Huh, weird, my alarm’s going off. Convinced it’s my phone’s alarm that yanked me out of Morpheus’ arms, I tell it to stop—no luck. Even weirder, I don’t remember setting the muezzin’s call as my new ringtone! Oh right, my two brain cells just connected the dots. We’re in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country! So, paradise island or not, the muezzin starts singing from his minaret at ungodly hours. While we’re on the topic of religion in Indonesia, here are three fun facts for you. First, Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world! Second, since the official language of Islam is Arabic, the call to prayer and imams’ sermons are in Arabic—even though no one speaks or understands it, not even the muezzins or the imams themselves! And third, Indonesians are often very curious about their interlocutors’ religion. However, don’t tell them you’re an atheist. They already struggle to grasp the idea of not believing in anything, and on top of that, it’s outright illegal by law! Yes, you read that right—all religions are allowed, and Indonesians are very tolerant about it, but it’s forbidden not to have one. So if you don’t have one, make one up, like the "satay ayam peanut sauce" religion Flo just converted to, or the OM one! Oh yeah, OM’s a good one!

Anyway, back to our Eid sheep—or rather, our mission from yesterday, which we only partially completed. "The assignment was to evaluate the archipelago as a whole, not just the main island. Agents 008 and 009, you failed your mission and have until tonight to fix it!"

Okay, our strategy for today is this: Access a representative sample of two small deserted islands among the most beautiful in the archipelago. And to make our report thorough and professional, do a snorkeling session at two of the most renowned spots nearby. To get there, either swim for sixteen hours or pay 10 bucks per person to set foot on a taxi boat reserved for the day, with grilled fish on one of the beaches for lunch included. After some hesitation and a quick chat with the treasurer, we decided to go for the financial effort demanded by the local junta!









"So, now that you’re nearing your goal, is the return on investment worth it?" To be quick and precise, we don’t travel to see—we travel to live. To live moments that will stay in our memories, unlike a fleeting image of a place, no matter how beautiful. No need for fancy words or grand phrases; they won’t be enough to describe what this moment—when we land on the untouched island of Cemora Besar—does to us. Whiter-than-white sand, shallow lagoon, water at 35°C, horizon as far as the eye can see, and us! Just us! That’s the scene set in the middle of the ocean! Now I get why it’s called the "Maldives of Java." Wooooow...

Day 5 (continued)

I’ll keep it short about our afternoon arrival on Cemora Kecil, the other island on the itinerary. Same untouched beauty, same pool, same symptoms, same wahoooouuu! Just that feeling of being part of this raw nature. The urge to strip off and dive into that giant pool! Oops, already done...











And what about the underwater scenery amid all this gushing of pompous superlatives? Jacques Mayol, aka Flo for his first experience in this area, tells me to tell you that the seabeds of Karimunjawa were worth the trip for their stunning, well-preserved coral gardens. However, a slight letdown on the quantitative side in terms of fish and other critters on display. No turtle, few fish, just two Nemos to feast your eyes on. So, Karimunjawa gets a big yes for its above-water Maldives vibe. But a small no compared to Raja Ampat’s underwater world! What’s your take based on the photos from our mission?

To wrap up the day and Karimunjawa, it all happens at Alun-Alun! Alun-Alun is the main square in town where everyone gathers, whether you're a local or from the other side of the planet, to celebrate the day in paradise gifted by whatever gods there may be. Grilled fish barbecue for everyone!!!... except for Flo, of course, since his new religion now forbids him from eating anything other than satay ayam with peanut sauce!

Wow! These islands are amazing! 😍

Actually, this little paradise is a mix of: - Maldives

- Seychelles

- Thailand

PS: Don’t worry, Franck, photos other than those from the travel journal’s author aren’t counted in the 300 😉

I don’t know the Maldives, but the water colors can indeed remind you of the Seychelles 😎 Still, a few more photos would help get a better idea... Underwater:

magnificent, well-preserved coral gardens; lots of fish and other little critters

but not just that 😉:

The urge to strip down and jump into that giant pool! Oops, already did...

I don’t know the Maldives, but the colors of the water can indeed remind you of the Seychelles 😎 Still, a few more photos would help get a better idea... Underwater:

Gorgeous, well-preserved coral gardens; plenty of fish and other little critters

But that’s not all 😉:

The urge to strip down and jump into that giant pool! Oops, already done...

For sure! If only out of respect for the readers

Wow! These islands are amazing! 😍

Actually, this little paradise is a mix of - Maldives

- Seychelles

- Thailand

PS: Don’t worry, Franck, photos other than those from the author of the travel journal aren’t counted in the 300 😉

Yeah, that’s a great summary! !

I don’t know the Maldives, but the colors of the water can indeed remind you of the Seychelles 😎 Still, a few more photos would help get a clearer idea... Underwater:

magnificent, well-preserved coral gardens; impressive quantity of fish and other little critters

but not just that 😉:

The urge to strip off and dive into that giant pool! Oops, already done...

Darn quotas! I really meant to post those photos! 😉

Hi Franck 🙂

I missed your travel journal. So excited! Plus, I’ve never been to Java (yet).

For underwater critters in Indonesia, you should check out Komodo.

Your photos also remind me of the Philippines.

Looking forward to the next installment

Hi Pascale! I’ll add your Komodo travel journal to my "To Read" list. Welcome to this journal—let me know if it makes you want to visit Java! See you for the next part! Franck

Well, the answer is actually already yes! 🙂 My travel journal about Komodo got stuck when the forum shut down… But I did one recently about Hawaii if you're interested

Day 6 – August 15, 2025

After traveling one last time—really, truly the last time—from north to south across Karimunjawa Island via our beautiful (if somewhat shell-shocked) road, we board our ferry and leave this little slice of paradise in the rearview mirror, drowning our melancholy in the Indian Ocean. Our bodies may have only intertwined for three days, but you managed to make us feel a bit like home. We promise, beautiful Karimunjawa, this is just a see-you-later...

Now, let’s talk boats! Apart from hearing, seeing... and smelling half the passengers vomiting during the three hours of rough seas, everything went smoothly... for us! "Uh, ma’am, you forgot your little surprise bag under your seat!" Just one step off the boat and into our shuttle, and we’re off again—this time for a six-hour drive to central Java and specifically the city of Yogyakarta. Djodja for those in the know! Three hours by boat, six hours by road... If you still have all ten fingers, you’ve counted that I don’t have much more chatter for you today. But hey, digging a little deeper, I’m sure I can find something to keep you entertained until tomorrow.

First, you should know that Yogyakarta is the artistic heart of the country, which is why you’ll find tons of street art in its different neighborhoods. As soon as we drop our bags at our guesthouse, we take advantage of the last bits of daylight from this transitional day to go discover some. After walking a few kilometers, we cover the rest in a becak. What’s that, you ask? A becak is a kind of cycle rickshaw specific to the island of Java.













This one takes us on a quick tour of the city before dropping us off at Djodja’s number one attraction: the alun-alun, a huge open square packed every evening with Indonesians. Its street food stalls, musicians, portrait artists, and especially its odong-odong—kinda like pedal carts pimped out by the local tuning club. Yeah, you might think it’s super kitsch, but here, both kids and adults love them... And since I’m rather tall and Flo’s petite, why not us? We nibble a bit from every stall, chat with some folks, and share plenty of smiles with others... It’s all very laid-back, and the evening is unmistakably Indonesian. Simply excellent!

We arrived in Java at Yogyakarta—I don’t remember going to see the street art 😅 But the sunrise in the mist at Borobudur was a magical moment... I’m really looking forward to the rest! 😊

It's happening tomorrow! Just a heads-up, the organization around Borobudur has really changed...

Day 7 – August 16, 2025

Back in March 1994, during a philosophy exam, I tackled the question "What is audacity?" Confident in my abilities, I simply answered that it was renting a scooter in Yogyakarta, riding it to Borobudur to visit its world-famous temple, then continuing on the long, winding road up to the Dieng Plateau with the intention of spending the night there. I got a 4 out of 20 with the comment, "My sweet dreamer, that’s not audacity—it’s purely impossible!" So today’s the day. The day I prove to my old teacher that it’s totally doable and that I deserved the only above-average grade I ever got in philosophy during my senior year! "Mr. Labeyrie from Lycée Monges in Charleville-Mézières, if you’re not dead and somehow stumble upon this philosophical travel journal by some lucky chance, know that I fully intend to show you today that you were wrong! And, if that’s the case, please reconsider my grade!"

You’ve probably figured it out by now—the real kickoff to our Javanese scooter road trip is happening right now. From our base camp in Yogyakarta, we’re setting out to explore widely, with our first goal for tonight being the town of Dieng after four hours on a road that’s notoriously tough on paper. "You want to go all the way to Dieng by scooter? Are you serious?" I get the feeling the rental guy is in cahoots with my philosophy teacher...

But this day isn’t just about riding for the sake of it—there are plenty of points of interest checked off along the way. The first stop is just on the outskirts of Yogyakarta, where we pay a quick visit to a very old lady who’s been the queen of Yogyakarta’s street food scene for nearly 70 years! She sets up on the sidewalk at Lupis Mbah Satinem from six to nine every single day, offering her take on local breakfast dishes. After tasting her food, I totally get why everyone raves about Grandma Nova’s cooking!



An hour later in traffic, our next stop is Setumbu Hill, famous for its clear views of the jungle and the Borobudur temple. If you’re ever thinking of doing a scooter road trip in the area, I’d recommend skipping this stop—it’ll save you time and the unjustified 50,000 rupiahs per person they charge at the entrance!



That said, just a short distance away, a stop at the Chicken Church is a must just for how unique the place is. Despite what the name suggests, it’s not really a church. Nor is it a chicken, for that matter. From what we gathered on-site, it’s actually supposed to be a dove, a symbol of peace. Either way, the building is original, the place is peaceful, and it’s open to all faiths.



After Flo said a little prayer to her new god, the esteemed "chicken satay with peanut sauce," we finally got to the number one reason for our trip in the area. I’d even say Borobudur is the reason I’ve been dying to visit Yogyakarta for years. Okay, but what *is* Borobudur? Borobudur is the photo from April 4th on the spiral-bound calendar that’s been on my desk for over 20 years. Just the name Borobudur has always fascinated me. Borobudur is nothing less than the largest Buddhist temple in the *entire* world! Built in the ninth century, this giant mandala with nine levels symbolizes the different stages to reach nirvana. Unfortunately, it was buried under lava from a major eruption of the nasty Mount Merapi in the eleventh century, then smothered by vegetation, so the temple pretty much disappeared from the radar until the nineteenth century, when it was rediscovered and cleared by two hundred villagers who got it back on its feet... though not for long. The sheer weight of the thing was slowly sinking it into the soft ground, dooming it to certain collapse. So, which superhero do we call in a situation like this? Unescoman, of course! In the early 1980s, UNESCO dismantled and numbered all two million stone blocks one by one to rebuild it exactly as it was on new concrete foundations. If you’re a huge Lego fan, apply to UNESCO—they’re hiring!















So, was all that effort—and money—worth it? Undeniably, yes! The temple is both massive and imposing, yet finely sculpted, exuding a rare spiritual elegance. I even found some similarities to what I felt a few years ago when I visited the temples of Angkor in Cambodia.