A Morning of Practical Tasks
On January 15th, I woke up in my hotel in Yogyakarta, the cultural heart of Indonesia. The day started with something importantārenewing my visa. Before anything else, I rode my bicycle to the immigration office. To my relief, the hotel allowed me to keep the bike inside, something that always makes me happy as a traveler.
At immigration, however, things didnāt go as planned. A system error prevented the extension from being processed. I was told to return another day. Thankfully, I had given myself a week of leeway, but still, the uncertainty lingered. Until the visa is renewed, there is always a little weight in the back of the mind. For now, though, I decided to make the most of the day and explore Yogyakartaās surroundings.
Discovering Sambisari Temple
My first stop was Sambisari Temple, a place with a fascinating story. Once buried under volcanic ash from nearby Mount Merapi, it was accidentally discovered by a farmer and later restored in 1988. Considering how recently it was unearthed, it felt like stepping into something both ancient and new.
Foreign visitors pay 20,000 rupiahājust under 200 yenāfor entry. The layout is simple, a small main temple that can be circled in just a couple of minutes. The entrance to the inner chamber had a mysterious atmosphere, dimly lit and holding a quiet presence.
There were hardly any visitors, so I could walk slowly and notice small detailsāmarks on the stone, patterns in the carvingsāthat made me wonder about the lives of those who built it centuries ago.
A Pause at Plaosan Temple
From there, I cycled to Plaosan Temple. On the way, I stopped for a refreshing coconut drink, the perfect break in the tropical heat. Plaosan is a Hindu temple, distinguished by its twin main shrines, making it one of the larger temple sites in the area.
Nearby stands the famous Prambanan Temple, but I chose Plaosan instead. It was more affordable at 50,000 rupiah (about 477 yen), less crowded, and allowed for a calmer experience.
Inside, the temple grounds were vast and peaceful. As I walked, a man pulling weeds approached me with a smile. He offered to take a āspecial photo.ā Without explaining much, he guided me to walk across the grounds. Only afterward did I realizeāhe had taken a smooth panorama shot with my phone. I half-expected him to ask for money, as often happens, but instead he simply said:
āI hope you have a pleasant stay.ā
That small act of kindness stayed with me. I felt grateful not just for the photo but for the warmth of the gesture.
Encounters with Students
Before leaving, I crossed paths with a group of students on a school excursion. They were eager to practice English, and to my surprise, a few even spoke some Japanese. Their enthusiasm reminded me of how popular Japan is here. Back when I was their age, I couldnāt have introduced myself in another language. Itās inspiring to see how global their outlook already is.
We ended our meeting with a cheerful group photo. What made the visit memorable wasnāt only the temples but also these spontaneous connections that filled the day with joy.
As I cycled on, children waved from buses, smiling with bright energy. Their small gestures added to the sense that Yogyakarta is a place where friendliness is part of daily life.
Daily Life in Yogyakarta
On the ride back, I noticed several spots selling plants. Being a tropical country, Indonesia has an incredible variety, and I thought it might be fun someday to stay longer and explore that side of local culture.
At one point, I spotted a sign with the word āRAMEN.ā Excited, I stoppedāonly to discover that no ramen was sold there at all. The owner laughed and admitted he simply bought the sign because it looked nice. A small, harmless trick, but it made me smile.
I stayed for lunch anyway, not wanting to search further, and afterward set out for the dayās most important errandābuying a new hard drive.
The Hunt for a Hard Drive
Between filming and storing travel videos, even my 5TB drive was already full. So I rode to a nearby shopping mall. Getting in with a bicycle is always trickyāthere seems to be no system for it, but usually, if I ask, the staff kindly let me bring it inside.
The mall itself was huge and luxurious, with bright lights and even a game center buzzing with energy. After some searching, I found the hard drive I needed. With this, I could keep recording my journey without worrying about storage space.
As I prepared to leave, I met a local cyclist who generously guided me around Yogyakarta. We ended up at the city center, a place popular with both locals and tourists for photos and gatherings.
Once again, I heard the familiar words Iāve so often been told in Indonesia:
āIf you need anything, just let me know.ā
Itās a phrase Iāll never forget, spoken countless times during my stay here. The generosity and open hearts of the people make this journey smoother than I could ever have imagined.
