Peter William Anderson

Solo is where Friedis grandparents and father lived about 50 years ago, so we spent a great week here exploring the past. We managed to get a booking for the final 3 days in the hotel that Friedis father lived in (Hotel Dana), and although much has changed we still managed to see alot of things Friedi had heard about. (Photos above)
We also took a couple of day trips outside of Solo to see the surrounding villages and temples. Both trips were fascinating, learning all about how the local goods are made, and how to ride a broomstick!
(Photos below).

3 days in Malang were great, even though we seemed to be the entertainment for the town! On one of the days we got up at 1.30am to go and see the sun rise at Mount Bromo and to look into the smoking volcano. On the way back we visited several temples but were “attacked” by a group of school children who found our names highly amusing!
After Malang we took an 7 hour train ride to Solo where we are now.

We arrived in Bali late Monday night and stayed in a great little place set amongst the rice fields 20 minutes outside of Ubud. The first 3 days we just spent wandering around taking in all the new sites, the many temples, statues, monkeys roaming wild, rice fields and the great food. For our final 2 days in Bali we stayed right in the centre of town. We took a (down hill) bike tour of the local hills, passing through and learning about the villages and the way people live, more temples and giving “high fives” to all the school children we passed. Bali must hold the world record for the happiest children on the planet!
So after 5 great days in Bali it was time to leave for Java to learn more about where Friedis grandparents and father lived for 4 years. The 14 hour bus ride proved to be quite an experience. When we arrived at the bus station to leave Bali we were literally herded around by a group of 5 guys
.
Where you going Mister?
To Malang
Yes, we go there. Very good bus Mister, very cheap price.
(We had read in the guide book to aim for the executive class buses) Is it an executive?
Yes, yes. Very nice!
What time does it leave? (It was 7.40am) Soon?
Yes yes. Very soon. 8am.
(And finally…) Is it direct?
Yes yes. Of course Mister. Direct to Malang.

Normally we would take our time and ignore the pressure sellers, but this time we could only see one bus that might be going to Malang, and they told us it was leaving soon! We bought the tickets. It was only once were sitting on the bus (which had somehow managed to squeeze 5 seats into a row in place of the standard 4) that we saw another much better looking bus pull up right next to us. We finally left at 10.45 with our maniac driver (far worse than anything South America could throw up!), with his driving philosophy being that if he tooted his (fairly quiet) horn then he could drive on what ever side of the road he felt like (didn’t matter if it was a blind summit or we were taking a sharp bend!). Anyway… even with the dodgy ferry crossing we somehow made it to Java, having to change buses to an even more dodgy one, (so much for direct) and eventually making it to Malang at around 10pm.