Hello!!!

Hope everything is good !!! After some mammoth bus journeys I finally arrived in Yogyakarta!! I have had one 9 hour and one 11 hour bus in the last two days - so im bleeding knackered!

I am happy to report, after hearing many horror stories that the Javanese are unhonest and will steal all your money - that they are just as lovely and polite and friendly as the Balinese. The Indonesians are such characters, and insist on asking a million and one questions. Their favourites are :"where are you from?" and "where are you going now?' it seems like they want to pinpoint you on a map constantly. lol. Som tourists I have met think its a little intrusive, and they are not sure if they are nosy or trying to illicit information about you in order to con you. I believe that most people are genuinely interested in learning more about you and love practising their English. One of them asked me if I was married, and when I said No - she stared in wonderment and asked "why not?". lol. Here it is unheard of for a woman to be unmarried at 25 and to be independantly travelling so far from home. :!

One of the major draws of Yogyakarta is the large ancient temple Borodur. It was constructed in the 9th century, it is believed!!! and it was definitely impressive!!! It is a huge construction based on 4 layers, and all square in layout. It is then filled with 378 stupas (which look like bird cages).. within each bird cage is a sitting buddha. Some can be seen through the gaps in the bird cages.. and I noticed that a few were missing their heads. lol. It is so ancient, that who knows where they went? lol.

I managed to make a good group of friends in Yogyakarta (which is the beauty of a great hostel). We all sat around in the communal area every day and chatted and planned for the days ahead. Me, and the two English girls I met in Gunung Bromo joined 2 french guys for the day and explored on the bus system the surrounding area of Yogya. I stood for an hour on the bus becuase 7 really really really old men got on (who came complete with robes and religious hats - in my ignorance, I have no idea what religion they were - but they looked very important). lol. They were really interested in me, and kept asking for me to take pictures of them with me. One then claimed he would be my Indonesian boyfriend - haha.. I would have been more interested, except I could only see 2 teeth in his mouth! hahaa!! Dental care is really important to me, I'm sure you know this already!!! lol. lol.

I was sad to say goodbye to my new friends, but excited to be exploring a new country!! Malaysia - first stop Kuala Lumpur the capital!!! I will be staying in China Town for 4 days - which will be just in time for Chinese New Year!!! So that should be fun!!

Love to you all. xxxxx