Bali, Indonesia

Stop Eleven, Bali - 18/06/2015 to 2/07/2015
We have been looking forward to visiting Indonesia, particularly Bali for a number of years. Boarding the plane in KL however we knew our visit was going to be quite different. For starters, we were surrounded by English speakers. When we landed we were surprised the commercialism. Although we visited beautiful temples, witnessed Hindu ceremonies and took in some spectacular views, our visit to Bali didn't quite fulfill our expectations. 
Ubud, Bali
Spoiling ourselves in Ubud, we checked into a beautiful guesthouse with old world charm and found a really nice gentleman driver Wayan who would take us to see the unique sights central and Northern Bali had to offer. In just over a week we visited a famous waterfall, some temple complexes, a chocolate and coffee factory. We drove up mountains and down valleys, we stopped at rice terraces and tasted local satay. We even had some close encounters with Dolphins and Monkeys. Our recommendation to anyone visiting Bali would be to base yourself in Ubud and enjoy the Island from there. 
Kuta / Legian, Bali
The Kuta/Legian area in Southern Bali is a hard place to like. The streets are soulless, filled with shops, bars and restaurants. You can’t walk 2 feet without being hassled by hawkers. The food was more expensive and of poorer quality, the nights were loud and in our short time there we were offered everything from Hash to Prostitutes. That says everything you need to know about Kuta really! The beach is one of the best in Bali but if you're not interested in beach life then Kuta doesn't have much else to offer.

Java, Indonesia

Java is the 13th largest island in the world and the most densely populated island on the planet crammed with 143 million residents! Java has a long and colourful history, starting with its Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms from the 8th to the 15th century (leaving a legacy of temples including Prambanan and Borobudur, more on these coming up). In the 16th century Islam swept the island and remains the dominant religion in Java to this day. 
Yogyakarta, Java
Stop Twelve, Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia  
2/07/2015 to 6/07/2015 & 9/07/2015 to 14/07/2015
Yogyakarta, or Jogja for short is a vibrant, happening place with a population the size of Ireland the city has the second highest population density on the Island.Java is very different from other countries in S.E. Asia, it has a bit of an edge about it. It’s not necessarily that the city is unsafe but it is covered in graffiti and the people are less "groomed" than other cities. Jogja is considered the centre of education and culture in Java, no surprise, we headed here first! We spent a fantastic 8 days in Jogja which was plenty of time to soak up the local scene. At first we visited the main attractions in the city including; Taman Sari, The Kraton and Sonobudoyo Museum. We even spent an evening at the ballet where we saw the Hindu story of Ramayana told with dance. We spent copious amounts of time visiting the hundreds of shops along Mailboro street buying everything from flip flops to hand made batik. Finally, we left the city in search of one of the most famous Hindu temples in S.E. Asia - Prambanan temple complex. After our time in Jogja, we would definitely recommend a visit to Java for anyone interested in travelling in Asia. 
Solo (Surakarta)
Stop Thirteen, Solo, Java, Indonesia – 6/07/2015 to 8/07/2015
Located just a couple of hours from Yogyakarta, Solo makes a great detour. Famed for being the least Westernised city in Java, we stayed a couple of nights in the city. We hired a driver for 2 days to take us deep into the surrounding countryside, in particular, to explore Java's Volcanic backbone - Mount Lawu, Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu. Our first morning we walked amongst tea pickers at Kemuning tea plantation on the slopes of Mount Lawu. Later we picked up 2 Spanish girls and headed to Jumog Waterfall for a swim. We finished the day with a stroll around Solo's Kraton, smaller but more quaint than that of Yogyakarta. The following day we scaled Ketep Pass with a brave driver who nursed the car up the steep gravel slopes for some of the most beautiful views of Mount Merapi in the country.
Borobodur
Stop Fourteen, Borobudur, Java, Indonesia – 8/07/2015 to 9/07/2015
We wanted the full-on Borobudur experience so we One of the 7 wonders of the world (compiled during the middle ages), Borobudur is a 9th century Buddhist temple listed as a UNESCO heritage site and the largest Buddhist structure in the world (not insignificant). The temple consists of 9 stacked platforms built in a pyramid style with one stacked on top of the other. Arriving at 4pm we caught the beginning of sunset. There were hardly any people around, all tour groups had left already so we had the giant pyramid structure almost totally to ourselves. The following morning we rose at 4am. Armed with flashlights we climbed the giant structure in the dark. By 5:30am we were sitting on the central stupa at the pinnacle of the temple for the best views of sunrise in Java. Amazing!