Halfway between Yogyakarta and Jakarta we made a stop at the little surfing town of Batu Faces. Of course, to get there we had to make several bus changes, as usual, to finish the two mounted on a motorcycle grabbed as we could to the driver, and balancing so as not to throw backpacks. When we stopped at the end of the bamboo bridge that we have to cross to get to the town we had to put on a white face ... if it is almost a miracle to get here on normal roads How are we going to cross this bridge the three mounted on the motorcycle ? Answer: cushioned!
And with some scare that another, that we were already swimming in the green waters of the river that passes below. By the way, this river becomes a little further up the "Green Canyon", the most popular tourist attraction in the area.
The town of Batu Caras itself has nothing, basically it is a road parallel to the coast with some lodgings and restaurants, mostly closed, and a handful of fishermen's houses. We were waiting for him with a little more life and in reality only people were seen in the little street at one end of the town, where some inveterate surfers did what they could in tiny waves. Special mention is Agus, the son of the owner of the Guesthouse, a care party who told us his experiences of drunkenness for Malaga some time ago.
Batu Caras is a perfect destination if you want to disconnect for a while, but as we do not have much to disconnect (for visa issues), and given the difficulties of finding a beach bar that would give us dinner at night, we decided to escape from there Two days after arriving.
Jakarta He received us in a strange way, and the sensations a few days later would not be different. It was chaotic to travel the several kilometers that separate the bus station to the accommodation area, and really complicated. The local people wanted to help us, but there was no way to get to understand each other. In the end, after several changes of urban buses (although the corridors of the subway with so much singer-songwriter and so much guitar seemed) we could stumble through the crowded suburbs of traffic, and rest in the Guesthouse. Probably one of the hardest days of toooodo the trip.
From the bus window we already got an idea of what Jakarta is, a huge metropolis with brutal social differences, skyscraper areas, hotels and shopping centers mixed with ghettos of extremely poor people. According to the guide, there are more than 100 shopping centers throughout the metropolitan area!
Just seeing the map impress the distances and after the bad experience of the first day with urban transport we decided to venture much further, so the sensations may be somewhat skewed.
Although I keep the treatment that the employees gave us of what would be one of the best hotels in the city, in which we went, we do not know how, and from which we left through some beautiful glass doors that three people were opening us with A smile in the mouth. By the way, the wedding of a Spanish couple was being held right here ... maybe we could have taken the opportunity to try the ham after such a long time ...
Transport. How to get to Batu Caras from Yogyakarta?
From Yogyakarta by minivan we pay 120,000 IRP to Pangandaran, from here a local bus for 7,000 IRP, for 45 minutes leading to Cijulang. Here, the best way is to take a motorcycle with a driver to go the shortest way, the bamboo bridge. We took it to 12,000 IRP both.
Transport. How to get to Jakarta from Batu Caras?
Until Jakarta we hired an agency in Batu Caras, which included the pick up to Pangandaran and the local bus to Jakarta. Each of us paid 130,000 IRP. It leaves at 5 in the morning and we arrive around 5 in the afternoon, at a station quite far from the center. From there, we change several times of bus until we can reach the Jalan Jaksa area. Perhaps it is better option to take a taxi and negotiate the price. It takes a lot for traffic.
Transport. How to get to Jakarta airport?
If you stay in the Jalan Jaksa area it is simple, just take a tricycle to the Gambir station (10,000 IRP and 10 minutes) and there buses leave every 30 minutes to the airport, for 20,000 IRP and it takes one hour. You will have to say the terminal, although if you fail (like us) there are free shuttles between the terminals. According to the Lonely taxi ride should cost around 140,000 IRP.
Accommodation. Where to sleep in Batu Caras?
We stayed in the cheapest GH in the area, next to the Bayview Resort, for 70,000 IRP.
Accommodation. Where to sleep in Jakarta?
In Jakarta, at Hostel 35 for 150,000 IRP per night. Both with private bathroom. There are cheaper options in Jakarta.
