Opospa's Journey

It was few months back since I went to stay in Northeast region of Thailand. Although it was few months back, the great memories are still in my head. It was a memorable and wonderful trip as I got the chance to stay with my girlfriend's family and also celebrate Songkran in Iisan.

It was few days before songkran where we arrived in Sai Tai Mai from Hatyai (I will update our journey from Malaysia to Hatyai after this) in the afternoon. We straight took a cab from the airport to Mochit Bus Terminal which serves bus to iisan. It costs around 200-300 baht because of traffic jam. Soon after we entered the city, the traffic was very slow. Bangkokians were also heading to Mochit to get back to their respective homes in iisan. We were worried about the ticket as we didnt ask our friend who are staying in Bangkok to buy for us. Mochit was not so crowded when the time we arrived but the traffic was terrible. It is consider 'normal' during that time. We went to second floor of the bus terminal to get our ticket to Mahasarakham. A small town situated 5-6 hours from Bangkok. I bought VIP Por.1 24 seated bus which they claimed to be the fastest (without stopping because normally buses to iisan will stop at Nakorn Ratchasima or Korat for lunch or dinner) for 450 baht. We had around 2 hours to spend before our bus departs. So we went to have some lunch at the food court and went straight away to the bus bay to wait for our bus. There were quite a number of buses leaving for iisan and also to the North. There were also people in red with Thai flag which is the supporters of the former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. I knew that we were going into their 'nest' so we didnt wear yellow although I am a 'Pantamid'.

Bought some magazines to read while waiting and finally the bus company attendant called for passengers bus to Mahasarakham. We didnt buy any drinking water as the company provided food, snacks and water onboard. The space was big enough and it was comfortable. Soon after the bus departed, the attendant brought towels, drinking water and our food. They started to play some Morlam and Luk Tung as the bus is heading into iisan region. Right at the moment, I felt the iisan spirit. It was a long journey without stopping and soon, the attendant came to ask which station are we heading to. So we informed him Bor Kor Sor Sarakham and he wrote in in his note. As soon as we passed Korat, I can see paddy fields. I tried my very best to sleep and my girlfriend was already asleep. Sitting for about 5 hours, I was having a backache. The bus stopped at Ban Phai a small town in Khon Kaen province because one of the passengers told the attendant that he is getting down there. And the bus continued the journey for about 1 hour and we arrived in Mahasarakham (Thais call it Sarakham). My girlfriend's mom waited at Bor Kor Sor together with her stepfather in the pick up truck. It was already around 8pm the time we arrived. We went straight home to have our dinner. On the way home, Sarakham looks like a sleepy town. Not many shops open until late night. It is a really peaceful town afterall.

DAY 1

First time i step my foot on Jogjakarta or better known as Jogja's land, I felt the welcome from the people there. The airport, Adi Sucipto Airport is small enough. Hualampong Train Station in Bangkok is much bigger actually. Well, there was a long queue to go get the passport stamp. Hayashi went over to the Visa on Arrival section because he is holding a Japanese passport. I queue at the normal line because SEA-an can enter Indonesia without Visa.
After cleared the immigration, we saw a Taxi ticket booth near the exit. It was quite cheap. From Airport to Grand Mercure in the city is around 70,000 Rp. And we booked the transport for Borobudur and Prambanan for 500,000 Rp. Cheaper than what we thought.

So we went to the hotel and Jogja is not a huge city but it is ful with motorcycles and students. Our driver, Mr Adi Prayitno told that there are around 60 Universities here in Jogja. Were warmly welcomed to the hotel. Staffs are friendly and helpful. Better than at the hotel that I work in.LOL!! Grand Mercure is a hotel with European design. The hotel is huge and our room is located around 5-10minutes walk from the lobby.

The room is like a 5 star hotel although the hotel is only a 4 star. Cant even find a single mistake to make a complain. LOL!! After resting by watching at NHK news, we went for a walk along Malioboro Road. It was like 500meters-1KM from the hotel. There were many trishaw riders approached us to have a ride. We politely declined. Nothing much at Malioboro because most of the people went back home to break the fast during Ramadhan month. So not many cars or motoycycles on the road.

There are more Batik shops than restaurant. We couldn't find a restaurants. Road side stalls are all along the road but we are worry about the cleanliness of the food. So decided to eat at the hotel.

DAY 2

Woke up around 6:45am. Driver will be at the hotel around 8am to pick us up. So while waiting for the driver, we went for breakfast. Again, the staffs are friendly and helpful enough. The food are fine. 8am sharp, Mr Adi was already at the lobby waiting for us. After checking out, Mr Adi drove us to Borobudur. He told us it was going to be am hour journey. After all, we reached there less than an hour.

Still quite early. It was before 9am. Not many tourists. Tickets for locals and foreigners are different. I try to speak Indonesian to the ticket seller while Hayashi was standing far behind. Well, I got the local rate. Quite big different. 9000 Rp + 1000 Rp =USD1++ for bringing camera. And for foreigners, it is around 93,000 Rp. Around USD11+-.
Borobudur is a wonderful temple. Took quite a number a photos and the scenery from the toppest level is really amazing. I dont really feel like going down but we need to move to Prambanan. The way out is confusing. It shows Exit and lead us to a very long road where the street sellers will come over to sell their goods. After quite a number of 'NO', they still didnt let us go. Well, we just walked and took them as invisible. .

Before going out from Borobudur, The exit is just beside the entrance. We can use the way where we walked in to walk to the exit to avoid the street sellers. Our driver then drove us to Prambanan. On the way to Prambanan, he stopped us at Candi Mendut. Another Buddhist temple. It is smaller. But inside the Candi, there is a huge Buddha sitting. We went in for free. I am not sure if there's an entrance fee. The time we went in, there are quite number of tourists from Tour Groups. So the entrance was quite packed and people are not lining up.
We moved back to Jogjakarta because Prambanan is at the other side. Jogja is famous with Ayam Gorent Suharti. Our dirver stopped us for lunch there. I asked him to join but he cant because he is fasting. So we ordered White rice with Soto Chicken Soup and The Ayam Goreng. It is really delicious. Some kind of secret recipe. And the bill is only 64,000 Rp.

We arrived Prambanan around 1:30pm. The weather wasw great. Cloudy but didnt rain. Mr Adi told us that Jogja didnt receive rain for the last 4 months. Again, tickets for both locals and foreigners are different. So I went over and bought the ticket. At first I got the local price. At the entrance, a guard asked us to show our Indonesian ID. So, get back our money and went to another ticket counter to buy our foreign price ticket. I used my expired student ID and I paid for USD6 and Hayashi is an old man. So he paid for USD10. Ticket for locals is only 8000 Rp.

Prambanan is beautiful but one of the main buildings is under construction dur to 2006 earthquake. We can just walked around and enter few Candis. Prambanan and Borobudur has their own beautifulness. Prambanan represents Hindu and Borobudur Buddhist. After Prambanan, we went straight to the airport. We thought we can buy ciggies after getting out passport stamped. Well, after we went into the departure hall, what we saw were bunch of people waiting for the flight and there's no shops or restaurant but a small toilet.

After all, the trip was good and amazing. Jogja doesnt need longer than 3 days. We skipped the Sultan Palace and Ratu Boko because our purpose is only Borobudur and Prambanan. Jogja is a peaceful and friendly city. Searching for restaurants and bars might be a little bit hard. But road side stalls are plenty along the main road.