Indonesia: Planning, Preparation, Budget and Itinerary


Indonesia: Planning, Preparation, Budget and Itinerary

At the close of 2013, I had four definite trips for 2014: South Korea (winter edition), Batanes, Romblon and China. My major target for 2014 is Egypt. However, I realized I wasn't too brave to conquer Egypt given the unstable political situation there. Plus, I'm a female solo traveler. I can be brave but I have limits. So there's no Egypt 2014. :(

To compensate for this, I booked a Manila-Jakarta flight during the January Piso-fare sale of Cebupacific. I booked the return flight from Jakarta to Manila on another Piso-fare sale which was also in January.

Jakarta is not my main destination: It is Borobudur in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. I was led to Borobudur by the Discovery documentary Ancient Aliens - I borrowed a copy from my wushu classmate and I was intrigued by these theories about Aliens. I cannot explore the Pyramids of Egypt yet, so it is gonna be Borobudur. I added Mount Bromo to my itinerary although I knew that four days in Indonesia with these two destinations would produce a "toxic" itinerary.




Here's a summary of all the flights.


Day/Time
Route & Airline
IDR
PHP
Date Booked
Flight Date
Day 0 - 20:55H
MNL to CGK via 5J no baggage

1,317.80
January 2014
August 2014
Day 1 - 05:20H
CGK to JOG with baggage via QZ
575,200.00
2,210.60
April 2014
August 2014
Day 4 - 20:50H
SUB to CGK with baggage via QZ
565,300.00
2,172.56
April 2014
August 2014
Day X - 00:25H
CGK to MNL via 5J - with 15kg baggage

1,954.14
January 2014
August 2014



Connecting Flights In Jakarta:
 Jakarta airport has three airport terminals. If you are catching a connecting flight, allow at least 2.5-3 hours in between flights. This allowance considers the delays in flight, baggage retrieval and waiting +riding the free shuttle across the terminals. If you need to get a visa for Indonesia, add some time to that. My seatmate from UK told me it took him two hours to secure a visa in Jakarta airport. (+points for PH passport-holders coz we don’t need one). 

There's a free shuttle bus (color yellow) that goes around all the terminals. The thing is, it comes every 20 or so minutes. I didn't know that I had to change terminals and just learned about this when I had all the flight booked. There's a 2-hour difference between my flight arrival from Surabaya and my departure from Jakarta. My flight arrived in Jakarta late, I had checked-in baggage, I boarded the wrong shuttle bus. Thankfully, I was in the check-in counter 50 minutes before the departure time. Stress!!!

Terminal Fees are not unique in the Philippines. Indonesia has them as well. Terminal fees are collected when you check-in. I paid IDR 150,000 or Php 600 when I flew back from CGK to MNL. Huwaw. Don’t waste all your IDRs in the airport before checking in.

Arrival at Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta Airport. There's the Visa-On-Arrival booth and ATMs.


Getting Indonesia Rupiah (IDR):
I got Indonesian Rupiah via ATM withdrawal using my ATM card (I previously activated my international withdrawal function via 89-100). I got my IDRs for approximately Php 0.004 = 1 IDR via BPI ATM withdrawal. Do inform your bank if you intend to use your credit card. It is good to withdraw “just enough” IDRs. It is not good to have excess IDRs when you go back to the Philippines. Not all the money changers in the Philippines accept IDR. Tivoli Money Changer accepts IDR for 1 IDR = Php 0.003. A bad deal considering that I bought my IDR at a higher price but I’d rather have Php than IDR when I’m in home.

Travel Buddy:
Indonesia was supposed to be a solo trip but for some reason, I was quite praning backpacking alone so I invited bestie Beth to join me. She joined me during my Yogyakarta leg.

Trying the sailormoon pose



Itinerary and Budget:

DATE
ACTIVITY
 IDR
 PHP


            0.00400

Pre-trip purchase
MNL to CGK via 5J no baggage

       1,317.80
Pre-trip purchase
CGK to JOG with baggage via QZ
         575,200.00
       2,210.60
Pre-trip purchase
SUB to CGK with baggage via QZ
         565,300.00
       2,172.56
Pre-trip purchase
CGK to MNL via 5J - with 15kg baggage

       1,954.14
Pre-trip purchase
Yogyakarta to Malang via Malioboro Express
       222,500.00
          856.33
DAY 0
Fly from Manila to Jakarta 


20:55
Depart Manila NAIA 3 via Cebupacific
Terminal Fee
       550.00

Travel Tax

    1,620.00

Wendy's dinner

       156.00

Gatorade in plane

        50.00
23:45
Arrive Jakarta Airport


DAY 1
Rest. Explore Prambanan in the afternoon 


5:20
Depark CGK via Airasia - airport fee
       40,000.00

6:25
Arrive JOG



Transjogja to Malioboro Station
        3,000.00


Breakfast - Mi Goreng and Strawberry Shake
       25,000.00


Prambanan Tour and Ticket
     260,000.00


Toilet in Prambanan
        1,000.00


Shirt souvenir in Prambanan
     100,000.00


Dinner in Malioboro Mall
       45,000.00


Jco Donuts
       13,000.00

DAY 2
Sunrise at Borubodur 



Borubodur Sunrise with ticket
     320,000.00


Viewing point entrance fee
       30,000.00


Ice cream
       10,000.00


Lunch
       45,000.00


Batik Dress
       60,000.00


Shirt souvenirs for parents
       25,000.00


Toiletries + noodles
       20,000.00


Pejak from Cabin Hotel to Tugu Station
       20,000.00

20:35
Depart Yogyakarta via Malioboro Express


DAY 3
Malang-Ngadas-Cemoro Lawang 


3:50
Arrive in Malang Station



Angkot (minivan) from Malang station to Ajosari
        5,000.00


Angkot (minivan) from Ajosari to Tumpang
        6,000.00


Ojek (motorcycle) from Tumpang to Ngadas
     100,000.00


Ojek (motorcycle) from Ngadas to Cemoro Lawang
     100,000.00


Room at Cemoro Lawang (Y.O.G.)
     200,000.00


Lunch
       21,000.00


Ojek rental for Afternoon tour in Savannah
       75,000.00


Afternoon snack
       16,000.00


Dinner
       20,000.00


Tour payment for Bromo by jeep
     150,000.00

DAY 4
 Mount Bromo Tour. Fly from Subaraya to Jakarta



Tourist permit
     200,000.00


Jacket rental
       25,000.00


Breakfast
       27,000.00


Van - Cemoro Lawang to Probolinggo
       55,000.00


Probolingo to Surabaya - Express bus - SCAM PRICE
       50,000.00


Mini-bus from Surabaya terminal to airport
       20,000.00


Souvenirs
     164,000.00


Souvenirs
       95,000.00


Carl's Jr. At airport
       91,000.00


Surabaya Terminal fee
       75,000.00


Avocado coffee + roti
       55,000.00


Jakarta terminal fee
     150,000.00


Water
       15,000.00


Noodles in plane
       20,000.00

20:50
Depart Subaray Airport


22:10
Arrive in Jakarta Airport


DAY X  
 Arrive in Manila.


0:25
Depart CGK


5:25
Arrive in MNL


 TOTAL IDR/PHP

    2,752,000.00
    10,887.43
PHP

         11,008.00
    10,887.43
TOTAL IN PHP


    21,895.43




The Bromo Leg
I first learned about Mount Bromo from PinayTravel Junkie. The active volcano looked really appealing but Indonesia was not really in my radar back then. So even though a 4-day Yogyakarta and Mount Bromo itinerary was doable but tight, I pushed it.

The usual route from Yogyakarta is to get a package tour from your hostel or any travel agency and endure a 15-16 hour minivan ride with other tourists. The cheaper option would be to course through Probolinggo, a bus terminal filled with touts. I read lots of horror stories about that and I have one as well (now that’s for a separate blog post). I decided to ditch the usual route and read about the Malang-Ngadas-Cemoro Lawang route from fellow bloggers Kurtzy and Walkflypinoy). A good acquaintance who also did this route helped me out with the details.

Shadow shot in a motorcycle



I booked the Yogyakarta-Malang train a month before my departure. I urge you to book the ticket earlier. I got my ticket for IDR 222,500 (more expensive than the IDR 172,000 that others got) and the 22:00 train was already sold out. I had to book the 20:35 train. Booooo. I could’ve spent more time with my bestie in Yogyakarta.

I did the Cemoro Lawang- Probolinggo- Surabaya route going to Surabaya airport. I survived, although I was also gullible enough that I wasn’t exempted from the Probolinggo scam. More on that in another entry.

Packing
I used my backpack. I ditched the laptop because I knew I was riding an ojek from Malang to Ngadas. I didn’t want to endure the back pain that I did like in Romblon. The usual sunscreen and shades are a must. I packed one jacket and I just rented another jacket when I reached Cemoro Lawang. I also had my thermal wear from (Heattech from Uniqlo) because I knew that I will be doing some hiking early in the morning. 

Exploring the Savannah with a backpack and shoulder bag

Conclusion
I had a blast during my short trip in Indonesia!

Comments

  1. Nice entry! I've been following your blog ever since (especially your europe entries). I'm wondering how would I be able to get in touch with you. I have looooots of questions particularly with your eurotrip, as I am planning to go there this 2015. Hope to hear from you! Thankss!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mark! I have a running backlog I my EU II adventure. A feat to complete. Hahahaha! You can email me here: adventureaccounting@gmail.com. I don't check emails here everyday but I make it a point to at least check once a week. :)

      Delete
  2. Hi do you want a travel companion for egypt?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi, I'm heading to Jakarta in December and have the same flight as yours. May I ask where you stayed while waiting for your 5am flight to Yogyakarta? I'm planning to just take the train, which is ironically more expensive, so I'll need to wait a little longer. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! I just stayed at the airport. I changed terminals, I stayed at the terminal where I flew from Jakarta to Yogyakarta. It had this mall which was open all the time. Not sure where the train station is though.

      Delete

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