According to wholevehicles, Java is one of the most famous islands of the Indonesian archipelago. There, among hundreds of volcanoes and spectacular landscapes of the Dieng Plateau, a wide variety of examples of equatorial flora and fauna are presented, many temples, shrines, mosques and palaces have been preserved, and original folk crafts flourish – batik, silver and gold work, gunsmithing.
Despite the fact that Java is the fifth largest island in Indonesia, more than 65% of the country’s population lives on it, about 130 million people. Java is the most populous island in the world.
How to get to Java
You can fly to the island by plane, there are quite a few large airports that accept both local and international flights – in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Solo and Yogyakarta. Boards of local Garuda, Merpati and Lion Air, as well as AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, JAL, etc., regularly land here. From Moscow, it is most convenient to arrive by regular train through Dubai.
Even Java can be reached by water. Ferries arrive to Jakarta from North Sumatra and West Kalimantan, to Surabaya from South Sulawesi and Madura, to Banten from South Sumatra, and to East Java from Bali.
Transportation
Now the infrastructure in Java is considered the best in Indonesia, and there should be no problems with transport. However, do not forget about the density of the population and you need to be prepared for huge crowds during peak hours.
Buses are the most convenient and cheapest mode of transport in Java, which is equally well suited for small trips around the city, and for moving from one end of the island to the other. The fare is from 2000 to 5000 IDR. Train tickets are somewhat more expensive, but the railways here are the best in the country.
Toll roads on the island are almost as good as European ones, and they cost quite a bit, so if you have a license, it will be quite convenient to rent a car. However, there are few signs on the roads, and local motorists have an extremely suicidal driving style. If you are not completely confident in your abilities, you can pay a little extra and get a personal driver in addition to the car.
Kitchen
In general, Java cuisine is quite adapted to European tastes and is considered the most non-exotic in all of Indonesia. The main ingredients of local dishes are vegetables, legumes, chicken, beef and rice, which is part of most recipes. In addition, a variety of fresh fruits are consumed in huge quantities on the island. The most delicious and most traditional food can be found (as is usually the case) in small cafes that have fairly low prices and most of the visitors are locals.
However, even here there are extremely unusual recipes. For example, in the village of Tuban, located in East Java, pies are made from the earth. They use muddy soil from rice fields and are considered extremely beneficial to health. True, local residents usually refrain from commenting on their taste.
The most popular drinks are juice made from sugar cane, ginger tea, tuak beer made from palm flowers, and local palm vodka called arak.
Entertainment and attractions of Java
Jakarta, the capital and largest city of Indonesia, is located on the northwest coast of Java. This city is an original mixture of numerous buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries, canals and many national quarters, each of which has its own unique look. One of the centers of the old city is Taman Fatahil Square in the Kota district, surrounded by old buildings overlooking the canal. Nearby are the Jakarta History Museum, the ancient Si-Yago cannon, the Wayang Puppet and Ritual Museum, the Chicken Market Bridge, the ancient port of Sunda Kelapa and the Chinese district of Glodak with the oldest temple in the city of Jine Yuan. The second recognized center of the capital is Medan-Merdeka Square (Freedom Square) with a 132-meter National Monument, the National Museum of Indonesia with unique historical and ethnological collections.
Children (and not only) will be interested in the famous Ragunan Zoo in the south of the city, the colossal Taman-Mini Park (Mini-Indonesia), the Water Palace, the cultural and entertainment complex Taman-Ismail- Marzuki”, as well as the largest and most popular Jakarta recreation park “Jaya-Ankol”.
In the city of Bogor, located near the capital, which has long been considered one of the best mountain climatic resorts in the country, the summer presidential palace of Sokarno with the Zoological Museum, the former residence of the Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies and the world-famous botanical garden “Kebun-Ray” are of interest.
In the south of the island, 42 km northwest of Yogyakarta, there is a unique monument of medieval Indonesian art – the Borobudur Stupa.
In the west of the island, the mountain resort of Bandung is interesting, with many museums, the Dago waterfall, the picturesque surroundings of the Tangkuban Praya volcano and Lake Situpatenngang. In the vicinity of the city, the prestigious beaches of Anyer and Karang Bolong, hot volcanic springs in Chiater, tea plantations in Punchak, mountain safari park, as well as Kulon National Park and Maribaya hot springs surrounded by volcanic landscapes attract attention. They are considered the best place for trekking in the country.
Yogyakarta attracts attention with the huge palace complex “Sultan Kraton” with the “water castle” Taman-Sari, the Jakarta Craft Center and the Agastya Art Institute, the Sono-Badoyo and Benteng-Vredeburg museums.
In the south of the island, 42 km northwest of Yogyakarta, there is a unique monument of medieval Indonesian art – Borobudur Stupa (“monastery on the mountain” or “temple of a thousand Buddhas”). The five-kilometer “Procession Road” encircles the majestic structure in a spiral, symbolizing perfection and the path of cognition of the spiritual principle in man. It is the largest monument of Buddhism in the southern hemisphere.
The island is home to another architectural masterpiece – the ancient Prambanan temple, located between the cities of Yogyakarta and Solo, the largest Hindu temple complex in Java.
Surabaya is the second largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta. In the immediate vicinity of its industrial areas are the best attractions of local nature: the Baluran and Meru-Metiri reserves, as well as the active Bromo volcano, located at an altitude of 2400 m above sea level.
- How to visit volcanoes in Indonesia
Weather in Java
Java has a tropical climate and there are almost no noticeable temperature changes throughout the year. There are only two distinct seasons on the island – from November to February it rains here, and the rest of the time it is dry. Humidity throughout the island is quite high – usually 75-95%, and the temperature stays at +26… +29 ° C all year round.
You can visit Java absolutely at any time – absolutely nothing happens to the climate here that could interfere with a pleasant stay. See also the current weather forecast in the capital of Java, the city of Jakarta, for 10 days.
