I arrived Yogyakarta in the late afternoon and headed out to grab diner. I tried a traditional dish (Bestik) a hamburger with vegetables, fries in a sweet-sour sauce.

In the evening, the owner of my hostel stopped by and, to everyone's surprise, pulled a live Python out of her handbag. Just as we were marveling at that, she noticed live images of lava flows coming down from Mount Merapi. Excited by the news we quickly organized transport to go see it up close. After a challenging hike up 5,000 steps, we finally reached the viewpoint. Initially, a massive cloud blocked the volcano, but after about 20 minutes, the view cleared, and I could see it! The adrenaline carried me back down the mountain.

The next morning, I grabbed a scooter taxi and made my way to Kota Gede, a suburb known for its silver shops and workshops. While the main street was a bit disappointing, wandering through the narrow alleys, discovering beautiful places, including an incredible hotel filled with statues and wood carvings. I visited a market, made a stop at Taman Sari, the water palace. Also tried to visit the catacombs but found them mostly closed, so I’ve checked out the local bird market instead.

In the evening, I joined a local walking tour where we explored a nearby palace, tried a special tea, visited a prison, and tasted a local snack. Along the way, I spotted some great street art, which always makes me happy. Afterwards I to a bar with live music, meeting some staff from a hostel I’d stayed at in Pangandaran and other tourist I had traveled with before. We had an amazing time, surrounded by Indonesian music and local vibes. What’s not to love about that?

Of course a visit Borobudur can’t be skipped while visiting Yogyakarta. Trying to follow a tip about a lunch spot with a view of the temple, created another adventure, where Google Maps, led to on an adventurous but unsuccessful detour through winding roads.

Starting the guided tour of Borobudur, I walked up to the penultimate level, the guide shared insights into the history of this ancient Buddhist monument. The temple, built between 750 and 825, had been buried under volcanic ash and jungle growth for centuries before being rediscovered and later restored. The intricate carvings depict Buddha's life, and the views from the higher levels were incredible. Driving back to Yogyakarta, I made a brief stop to explore another beautiful (non-touristic)temple.

On my last day in Yogyakarta, I decided to look for a free traditional dance performance I’ve heard about. Unfortunately I had trouble finding the location and only arrived after it had ended. Disappointed but determined to explore, I took a scooter taxi to Prambanan. I arrived in the midday heat, but the sight of this stunning 9th-century Hindu temple complex made it worthwhile. Wandering among the ancient towers, trying to avoided tourist interviews. I spent a couple of hours exploring Prambanan and then ventured to Candi Sewu, a smaller, quieter complex that I found even more impressive.

Back at the hostel that evening, I relaxed with fellow travelers, sharing stories and excitement for what lay ahead. Just after midnight, I boarded my night train to Malang, ready for the next adventure!