hey everyone,hope you all had a fab christmas and new year!!

After a top time in Singapore for xmas, we caught a boxing day flight to Yogyakarta. Andy prewarned me that java had a lot of people but i never imagined it to be this bad. As soon as we got into town it was manic,busy and hetic. All the locals come up to trying to sell you everything from their guesthouse to a ride on their bike, taking us down tiny alley ways to show us their dirty guesthouses.they were smelly and the toilet was just a hole in the floor with the shower just above it,gross!! We finally found a decent one and was happy to chill around the pool before our trip to Borobudur and Prambanan temples the next day. Although we were up at 4.30 to be at Borobudur for dawn it was great, a real mystical feel and some outstanding views of the nearby volcanos. Prambanan wasnt quite as breathtaking and it was really crowded but still nice. We did however feel famous because 6 different indonesians ask if they could have their photos with us, so got a good laugh out of it in the end. Our next visit in java was Mount Bromo,one problem, it was active but we still found a tour agency visiting it which was great because its the only reason we came to indonesia. After a killer 13hour jouney we made it to our hotel for the 3am start to bromo th next morning. The 1km hike to the viewpoint was erie, thick with mist and dead trees from the ash cloud from bromo. The ground was thick with it and could feel it in the air. It looked like it had been snowing grey but when we reached the top the views ware spectacular.

Our next visit was Mount Ijen, before today we had never even heard of this and only booked it at the last minute which im so glad we did. "IT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD"!! The tour agency forgot to mention the steep 3km hike to the top, it was bloody hard work. Andy was moaning within the first 5minutes of the 1 and a half journey and at one point i thought he was going to pass out over the edge. I dont know how the sulfur miners walk 4times a day carrying 70-80kilos on their shoulders,its crazy. Once we got to the top the walk was forgotten about. It looked like something of the moon, The lake was ice blue with yellow sulfur streeks and the plant life around was dead. It was misty and very hard to breath with the burning sensation on the back of your throat from the sulfur. One of the most serreal moment, very powerfull experience best so far!!apart from the painfull walk down or should i say run down with blisters, and the 3.30 start again followed by the 8 and a half journey to bali for new year.

Bali isnt all it cracks up to be, the beach was full of rublish and the town is a dive so much for paradise!!