Malang (pop: 710,000, altitude 476m/1,500′) is a large rural, Dutch colonial town in East Java and if we left the hotel at 7:30 a.m., Ian anticipated arrival in Malang, close to 6:00 p.m. with a stay in a pleasant guesthouse just outside the center of Malang. A very long drive and day. The sellers were spread outside Wisma Gajah waiting, and hoping, for a few last minute sales. They were never disappointed. Someone always bought something.

There would be pee stops. We usually stopped in the huge Indonesia State run/owned Pertamina with clean, non-flushable toilets. Step up, do your business, fill the adjacent bucket with water to flush down. THREE TOILET TIPS: Number One -Roll up your pants before stepping in. The clean water tap may not turn off, floor will be covered in water, and when you pull down pants, they get wet. Number Two – The wet floors are extremely slippery. Be careful. Number Three – Always carry toilet paper, tissues and a small hand sanitizer. The Pertamina toilets were usually free with an occasional charge of 1,000 Rupiahs (10 cents).

last minute shopping outside Yogyakarta hotel in Java 

Mount Merapi Volcano, Java, Indonesia
In the bus, luggage loaded and on the road at 7:30 a.m., right on schedule. A gorgeous day with views of Mount Merapi smoking in the distance for many miles, brilliantly green rice fields…View image, aluminum tops for mosques on sale…View image, a striped cow that announced the entrance to one town… View image, and the centers of all towns usually had a patriotic statue in the center. Java has very fertile land from all volcanic activity and beside the rice terraces, we passed rubber and teak plantations, and fields of sugar cane and vegetables.

typical Indonesian statues in the center of towns, Java
Still driving from Central Java to East Java, a short stop at the very yummy Monica Bakery, Sukowati, for a little nourishment and to stretch legs. A huge array of bakery goods…View image…View image…with my choices, mini-sponge cakes and banana chips…View image. Back on the road with another unique sighting. Live chickens in crates on the back of motorbikes. Quite hysterical.

crates of live chickens heading to market in Java
A good, but late, lunch stop somewhere with yummy vegetables in peanut sauce (what else), and sweet and sour chicken. A huge lunch definitely took care of eating dinner tonight. Between that, all the cakes and banana chips, we were filled to the brim. A nice clean up when we get to Malang and it will be beddy-by.

It was dark when the bus pulled up to the absolutely adorable Enny’s Guest House…View image. There are 30 rooms with bath…View image, each decorated differently with walls lined in bamboo, canopied, mosquito netted beds…View image, free WI FI and gardens outside the rooms. Loved Enny’s Guest House but the group only had tomorrow morning for a fast exploration of the charming mountain resort of Malang..

the lounging area outside a Enny’s Guest House room, Malang, Java 

Java map