Java Island is a unique face of Indonesia. Java island on the world map. Where is located, coordinates, length, shape. Tours Features of the hotel base

The main Indonesian island is 120 million inhabitants, 120 active volcanoes and at least one wonder of the world. Java changed rulers and religions like gloves. History looks at the tourist here from all sides: in the form of the grandiose ruins of the Hindu Prambanan temple, the smiling stone buddhas of the grand Borobudur stupa, the royal palace in Yogyakarta, ancient mosques and Dutch armories.

The island of Java has dense tropical vegetation, crystal clear ocean waters, temples of unprecedented beauty, a somewhat difficult climate and ... various cataclysms are not uncommon. Java has long been known for its earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. If we take into account the size of the island of Java and divide its territory into about one hundred and twenty parts (the approximate number of volcanoes on the island), then we can confidently say that the main island of Indonesia - Java is completely strewn with volcanoes. In addition, many of the volcanoes on the island of Java (there are more than thirty of them) exude acrid smoke and smog, often stretching for several hundred kilometers. The tops of volcanoes, which are close to purple in color, throw out tons of gray-black ash and poisonous gas fumes. All this boiling "hell" sometimes descends on the villages, washing them away and taking them away from the face of the earth. And hot dust burns the lungs even at a distance of tens of kilometers from the place of the eruption.

The most active currently active volcano in Indonesia is Merapi, on the island of Java. It is not for nothing that thousands of local residents of the island of Java in 2006 managed to collect their belongings and livestock in time and wait out the moment of volcanic activity away from the volcano.

In Java, incredible luxury coexists with horrendous poverty, pastoral rural landscapes - with ultra-modern megacities, corners of the pristine jungle - with rice fields. Holidays on the island of Java can combine walks in noisy cities and hiking in the jungle.

And, despite the fact that the “wrath of the Gods” sometimes falls on the island of Java, Java is still called paradise. All the volcanic ash that covers the earth, the monsoon showers that then irrigate it, the sun that feeds the earth with its warmth - all this contributes to the growth of lush, richest vegetation on the island. Not so long ago, tigers, rhinos, wild buffaloes, crocodiles, pythons, screeching monkeys, jumping coconut squirrels and flying foxes were found in the bright thickets of tropical forests. But now there is no such abundance. Although something on the island of Java can still be seen.

The island of Java is simply a real priceless treasure for nature lovers, for people who are fond of culture, religion, and linguistics. After all, the volcanoes of the island of Java are far from all that this region is rich in. On the territory of the island there are reserves with the rarest animals and tropical forests, untouched by man. Also, the Javanese language is of great interest. It is an ancient branch of the Austronesian group of languages. His vocabulary has absorbed many words borrowed from the languages ​​of different countries and peoples - Dutch, Indian, Arabic, Portuguese, Malay and English.

The temples of the island of Java are truly beautiful. But they are of other religions - Hindu, Buddhist. And the Javanese, unfortunately, have not practiced them for a long time. Today, the temples of Java are simply museums and memorials. The locals rarely visit them. Today they look down on them, considering their religion more, so to speak, advanced. So, without tourists, they look completely lonely and forgotten. The only one who sometimes walks around the island of Java nearby is the local goats in search of delicious grass and bushes.

Java Island is the administrative, cultural, historical and political center of the country, it is here that the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, the famous Krakatau and Mont Bromo volcanoes, the Ujung Kulon National Reserve with Javanese rhinos, and the oldest cultural center of the country - the city of Yogyakarta, famous for its universities, are located, art galleries, craft workshops, and, undoubtedly, the grandiose temple complexes of Prambanan and Borobudur.

The city of Surabaya is also located here - an industrialized city, the second largest in Indonesia, located in the eastern part of the island of Java. There is a large seaport here, the country's metalworking and machine-building enterprises, as well as oil refineries and chemical plants are concentrated.

How to get there

Major international airlines fly to Jakarta, the capital of the island of Java. The most convenient flights from Moscow are Singapore Airlines via Singapore, or Transaero + Garuda. The flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta or Surabaya is 1 hour 10 minutes.

Population

Java is the most populated island in the world with about 125 million people, which is 60% of Indonesia's population.

Location

Java Island is the economic and geographical heart of the archipelago, the most populated island in Indonesia, but a third of its territory is still occupied by impenetrable jungle.

Java is separated from Sumatra by the Sunda Bay. In Java, there are at least 16 peaks whose height reaches 3000m. Active volcanoes (and there are about 17 of them) have united in Java into the most active volcanic chain in the world. Most often, Semerenu erupts - the main giant among all the volcanoes of Java.

The territory of Java is divided into three provinces: western, eastern and central. West Java attracts tourists with the ancient capital of the Sundanese Cirebon, a chic beach in Pandaran, the famous volcano Krakatau, the virgin jungle of the national park and the Bogor Botanical Garden, which contains the most diverse and bizarre forms of equatorial flora.

In Central Java, you can see the material traces of various cultures and peoples: temples and ancient buildings, the ancient capitals of the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim kingdoms, the modern centers of Yogyakarta and Solo. But even here, in the central regions of the Dieng plateau, areas of virgin nature have been preserved.

Climate

Tropical climate with fairly even temperatures throughout the year: 28-32°C. Climatic conditions vary from island to island, but in general, two seasons can be distinguished: rainy - from November to February and dry - from March to October. Humidity is quite high, averaging 75 to 95%.

City `s history

Since ancient times, the island has been a "melting pot" in which various peoples, cultures and religions were mixed. In the Middle Ages, the island was divided into dozens of kingdoms and sultanates. Descriptions of the wars between them make up the bulk of the contents of Indonesian history textbooks. Between wars, the Javanese built grandiose temples and palaces, created unique forms of theater and music, and developed literature.

Attractions

Jakarta(until 1949 - Batavia) - the capital and largest city of Indonesia, located on the northwestern coast of Java. It is a city of an original mixture of numerous buildings of the XVII-XVIII centuries, canals and many "national" quarters, each of which has its own unique look. One of the centers of old Batavia is the stone-paved Taman Fatahila square in the Kota region, surrounded by old buildings overlooking the canal. Nearby are: the Jakarta Historical Museum in the building of the former city hall (1627), the ancient cannon "Sea Yago", the museum of dolls and ritual accessories "Wayang", the drawbridge of the Chicken Market Bridge (XVII century), the Bahari Museum with an observation tower, the ancient port of Sunda Kelapa and the Chinese district of Glodak with the oldest temple in the city - Jine-Yuan (XVII century). The second recognized center of the capital is Medan Merdeka Square (Freedom Square) with a 132-meter National Monument (Monas), the National Museum of Indonesia with unique historical and ethnological collections, the Museum of National History and the Museum of the Institute of Indonesian Culture and many other historical monuments. Also at your leisure you can visit the Taman Mini park (“Indonesia in miniature”), which presents traditional dwellings (life-size with preservation of all interior details) characteristic of all 27 provinces of Indonesia; Taman Impian Jaya Ancol Park (Anchol Dream Park) - an amusement park with many attractions: water slides, cars, roller coasters and much more; Taman Safari - a safari park in the suburbs of Jakarta will allow you to see in close proximity the Sumatran tiger, llamas, bulls, giraffes, bears and other animals from America, Europe and Asia.

It is considered the third largest Buddhist-Hindu temple complex in the world, behind Angkor in Cambodia and Burmese Shwedagon. It is believed that if you can touch the little finger of the Buddha, located in the mortar, reaching out through one of the carved holes, then you will be lucky.

The temple complex, located on a plain dotted with the ruins of ancient structures and known to the locals as the "Valley of the Kings". Prambanan is considered the most exquisite of Indonesian historical monuments. The largest temple building, located in the center, is dedicated to the god Shiva.

Kraton- Sultan's palace complex, which the Javanese call the "navel" of the world. The palace was for them the center not only of the sultanate, but of the entire universe. It contains the private chambers of the Sultan and his family members, a repository of royal regalia, a majestic throne room, contemplation chambers, performance pavilions, and a mosque.

From Jakarta, it is best to escape to the neighboring (55 km) calm Bogor, famous throughout the island for its impressive botanical garden. An hour by train from the metropolis - and you are in the former summer residence of the Dutch and British rulers. It’s cool and quiet here, rooms in hotels and guest houses are much cheaper, and if you’re lucky, even with a gorgeous view of the mountain valley. The locals call Bogor “the city of rain”, and indeed, it is guaranteed to rain in the afternoon, so it is better to take walks in the garden on a cool morning. In the Botanical Garden, trees that look like bell-bottoms grow, there is an orchid garden, a Mexican garden and other natural “installations”. Deer roam in the neighboring royal park. Idyll.

Java (Indonesian "Jawa") is the fifth largest island in Indonesia, home to more than half of the country's population. Much of Indonesian history is inextricably linked to this island, where powerful Hindu-Buddhist empires, Islamic sultanates and the colonial center of the Dutch East India Company were founded. Java played a decisive role in the Indonesian struggle for independence in the 1940s. Today the island occupies a dominant position in the political, economic and cultural life of the country. The capital of the state Jakarta (the largest city in Indonesia) is also located on this island.

Yogyakarta is a popular tourist city in Indonesia that has preserved pure Javanese and rich folk traditions.

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia, the cultural, political, financial and industrial center of the country. The capital of Indonesia, of course, cannot be considered a popular tourist destination, but there are good museums here, the small Old Town has retained its architecture and atmosphere with an interesting look at the long history of the city.

Java Island: photo

Java Island: where is it located

Covering approximately 150,000 km2, Java is the 13th largest island in the world and the 5th largest in Indonesia. The length from east to west is 1064 km, the maximum width is up to 210 km. The island is surrounded by the Java Sea in the north, the Sunda Strait in the west, the Indian Ocean in the south, and the Bali Strait in the east. Sumatra lies to the west, Bali to the east. Borneo to the north and Christmas Island to the south.

How to Get to Java Island

You can fly to the island by plane, there are quite a few large airports that accept both local and international flights - in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Solo and Yogyakarta. Boards of local Garuda, Merpati and Lion Air, as well as AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, JAL, etc., regularly land here. From Moscow, it is most convenient to arrive by regular train through Dubai.

general information

The island, with a length of just over 2,000 km, has received such a role due to its favorable location in the center of the archipelago, as well as favorable conditions for growing rice, which for Southeast Asia means the victory of life over death. Almost the entire history of Indonesia is the history of the struggle for Java and its fertile lands, first between local kingdoms, then with European colonizers. You can read more about these twists and turns in the general historical section.

The ethnic composition of the island is quite homogeneous. Muslim Javanese, who consider themselves an intellectual elite, are evenly distributed throughout. The Madureans adhere to an even stricter Islam and are concentrated mainly in the northeast of the island. Only in the eastern part, on the uplands of Bromo-Semeru, did the Hindu enclave of the Tenggers, descendants of the Majapahit empire, remain. Arabs, Indians, and other trading people settled in port cities, but their influence is insignificant. Much more powerful is the small Chinese diaspora, whose representatives can be seen in the largest jewelry stores in the country.

“Java is overpopulated, Java is overindustrialized and overrun by tourists, there is nothing to do there,” one often hears from the lips of the “experienced”. Indeed, the population density here is one of the highest in the world, the industry is booming, and foreign guests are by no means a wonder. But those incredible natural landscapes, unique ancient temples and original culture that Java is so rich in make it perhaps the most fertile place for an interesting trip in the country. Much more interesting than boring and touristy Bali. The well-developed transport infrastructure speaks in favor of Java, with the help of which you can easily get to its most remote corners. As befits a capital, everything begins and ends in Jakarta.

How to get there

By air

Five international airports connect Java with the outside world, but only one "Soekarno-Hatta International Airport" ("Sukarno - Atta") in Jakarta is designed to receive large airliners from other continents. It serves the vast majority of international flights, being used as a transit point for continuing travel around the country. Airports in Jogja, Bandung and Surakarta (Solo) are connected only with the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, by flights of the Air Asia airline. Surabaya is another major transport hub, where flights from Malaysia and Thailand arrive.

Flights to other major Indonesian islands are usually operated by local airlines (more than a dozen) from Jakarta and Surabaya airports. Major national carriers Garuda Indonesia and Merpati price tickets at around $100 if bought a few days in advance. Other airlines ("Mandala Air", "Air Asia", "Lion Air", "Citylink", "Batavia", "Awair", "Sriwijaya" and others) they ask for 2 times cheaper, but when buying a few hours before departure, the price rises to the same $ 80-100. There are a lot of flights, and usually there are no problems with departure. Inside the island, flight schedules are also quite tight, competition is high, and prices are low. local terminal (Domestic Terminal) Jakarta Airport operates flights to Surabaya, Jogju, Surakarta and Semarang (Semarang).

From Russia to Java you can get regular flights Moscow - Jakarta of several airlines:

• Qatar Airways with a transfer in Doha and landing in Kuala Lumpur (2 flights per day);
• "Singapur Airlines" with a transfer in Singapore (2 flights per day);
• Emirates with transfer in Dubai (1 flight per day);
• Thai Airways with a transfer in Bangkok (1 flight per day).

In any case, the flight will take at least 18 - 20 hours and will cost from 30,000 rubles.

By sea. National shipping company "Pelni" (www.pelni.co.id) operates passenger ferry services of large capacity between Java and some major islands such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Bali. Ports are in Jakarta, Ciberone (Ciberon), Surabaya and Semarang. Travel like this is a pleasure. The ferries are extremely slow and crowded with people - usually those who are unable to pay for the airfare. On average, a trip to another island costs about $ 20, with increasing distance, the price increases proportionally.

By rail

This way of traveling around Java is very popular. The northern railway line connected Jakarta, Chiberon, Semarang and Surabaya. The southern one passes through Jakarta, Bandung, Jogju, Surakarta and ends in Surabaya. A line with local trains links Surabaya and the towns of East Java. From Jakarta, a separate short branch goes west to the coast.

Train cars are divided into 3 classes. The first one is exekutif (similar to our coupe, with air conditioning), the second - bisnis (seated, no air conditioning) and the third - ekonomi, the worst analogue of our electric trains. Time flies the fastest in the latter, in the fight against stuffiness, merchants and cockroaches. The cost, respectively, differs from the class of travel. Trains run only short distances to the suburbs. The movement from Surabaya to the towns of East Java and from Jakarta to the west coast is also carried out by the third class. It is convenient to find out about the schedule and fare on the website www.seat61.com.

On the ground

You will never forget a trip in an ordinary intercity bus and tell your grandchildren. Cigarette smoke hangs like a rocker, the distances between the seats are usually designed for dystrophics and slender Asians, every 10-15 minutes another musician and entire orchestras enter the salon, arranging an express concert. Thank them for the accompaniment should be 1,000 Rp. You can estimate the fare at the rate of 100 km - 25,000 Rp, but the situation with the cost of gasoline is changing rapidly. Sometimes a tourist who wants to travel from point A to point B is transferred along a chain from one bus to another, and the entire journey is paid for even at the first landing. You should not be afraid that subsequent conductors will make you pay a second time - there is a mystical otherworldly connection between them, and they are aware of the payment and destination of foreign guests.

It should be noted that the bus usually breaks down on the way, so you cannot match its schedule with the departure of the plane or the departure of the train, you must have at least a few hours of a temporary handicap.

Java is part of the Greater Sunda Islands and is located near Sumatra. Scientists to this day cannot understand why it received such a name. There are several theories. According to one of them, the word "Java" is of Protonesian origin and is translated as "house". Some scholars believe that the name comes from Sanskrit and means either "barley" or "lying on the other side."

basic information

Experts attribute Java to both mainland and volcanic islands. This is due to the fact that at its base lies a long mountain range that stretches through the central part of the island.

The highest point is the volcano Semeru, which has retained its activity to this day. In general, more than 120 volcanoes can be counted over the entire area of ​​​​the ridge. The central part of the island has a mountainous landscape, but as soon as you go down to the coast, you will find yourself in a swamp.

There are a lot of rivers, lakes, among which Jangari, Jatilukhur, Sungai deserve special attention.

The first man on the island appeared, presumably, in the second millennium BC. e. Scientists suggest that he most likely came from the island of Sumatra. Around the 3rd century AD, cities arose on the island and the first state formations were formed. One of the very first was Sakalanagara, which gave rise to Tarum, Sundu and Mataram. The latter has a rich past and a long history of dominance. Over time, it fell into decay and broke up into several small state entities.

At the end of the 13th century, an expedition was assembled to Java led by the Mongol Khan Kublai, famous for his conquest of China. The empire he created on the island extended its influence to almost all the Sunda Islands. After a couple of centuries, it greatly weakened and broke up into a number of Muslim states.

In the 17th century, European invaders began to penetrate Java. On the coast, they created a huge number of colonies and trading posts. The Dutch were very active in the conquest. Step by step, they subjugated all the islands of the Sunda archipelago, founding the trading city of Batavia, which is known to contemporaries as Jakarta - the capital. Immediately after the end of the Second World War, Indonesia becomes independent and annexes Java.

Time has passed and today the island of Java is the largest cultural, historical and political center of Indonesia with a well-developed infrastructure.

Population of Java

According to recent estimates, the number of the island has long exceeded the number of 140 million people. Thus, Java is recognized as the most densely populated island in the world. The national composition is diverse, but the majority of the inhabitants are Javanese Indonesians. In addition, in the composition you can meet Sundanese, Madurians and people from, who came at different times. The official language throughout the island is Malay. You can often hear Chinese and Javanese dialects.

The main occupation of the local population is agriculture. Villagers grow rice and other cereals. The cities have a developed industry: textile, electronic, mining and processing.

The largest city on the island is Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. It is home to over 9 million people. Next in size and number of inhabitants are Semarang, Serang, Bandung and others.

Weather on the island of Java

The climate of the island is determined by its location relative to the equator. It is always warm and very humid here. There are no sharp temperature drops, even despite the pronounced seasonality. The air temperature averages 24 degrees.

Showers and hurricanes are always short-lived here.

Flora and fauna

Flora is not particularly exotic and unique. Creepers, bamboo, huge ficuses grow in tropical forests. Just above sea level, the variety of vegetation becomes richer. You can find oaks, chestnuts and some types of conifers.

The fauna of the island is much more interesting and diverse. More than 150 species of animals live in Java. Many of which are endemic.

The cuisine of the island is considered the most non-exotic. The main components of the dishes are rice, vegetables, beef. Local fruits, which are very numerous in Java, enjoy great love. If you really want to try real traditional food, you should go to small cafes where the local population eats. They are always tasty and very cheap, unlike restaurants where guides are constantly leading. However, even here you can find exotic.

In the village of Tuban, earth pies are popular. They are made from silty soil from rice fields. According to local residents, this dish is considered nutritious and very healthy. With regards to the taste of pies, the population of the village tries not to talk.

Javanese drink cane juice, ginger tea, local beer "tuak" and palm vodka.

In Indonesia, the islands of Bali are the most famous and beloved by tourists, but Java also has a lot of interesting things. The beaches on the island are covered with white, coarse sand, and the sea is always clean. In addition, there are many attractions in local cities that can surprise any tourist. Let's get acquainted with the most popular places on the island of Java.

Bromo-Tenger-Semeru National Park

Bromo National Park is located near the city of Surabaya. This is one of the most amazing attractions in Indonesia, which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. The park covers an area of ​​over 800 sq. meters. On its territory there is a huge number of dense forests, waterfalls and several active volcanoes. Thanks to them, most of the national park is covered with black, volcanic sand, creating a special alien effect. The park got its name from the local tribe - Tenggers and two mountains.

The park is unique due to five volcanoes, which, according to legend, lead to the underworld. You can climb to the top on foot or by jeep. This place is wildly popular with tourists and is rightfully considered the highlight of the island.

Temple complex Borobudur

The temple complex is located 40 kilometers from Jakarta. This place is not only considered the highlight of the city, but also known throughout the world. It was erected around the 8th-9th century. For a long time, the temple complex was hidden from human eyes in the shadow of dense jungle, covered with tons of volcanic dust. The ancient structure is still a mystery to scientists. No one can give an exact answer when and by whom Borobudur was built. Also, no one can understand why it was left after the eruption of one of the five volcanoes.

When viewed from the side, the entire temple complex resembles a huge 34-meter bell. In its structure, it is a pyramid, the base of which is several large concrete slabs. Carved stupas in the form of bells are installed on them. Inside each stupa are Buddha statues.

Prambanan temple complex

This is an amazing landmark dating back to the 9th century. The temple complex is located a few kilometers from Jakarta. Prambanan is considered the largest in Indonesia. Inside the temple is a huge statue of Shiva. Often Prambanan is called the temple of Shiva Lara Jongrang. Small structures were built on the sides of the main temple, representing the sacred animals of Indonesia. Also on the territory of Prambanan are numerous tombs and rooms for sacrifices. Recently, the temple complex was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This ancient building has been destroyed more than once. Numerous earthquakes were to blame, as well as the volcanic activity of Merapi. For more than a hundred years, restoration work has been underway to restore Prambanan.

Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi is the most active volcano in Indonesia. He constantly smokes. Small eruptions occur every two years, but large eruptions occur every 15 years. The last time strong volcanic activity was observed in 2006. Thanks to this, Merapi is one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world.

Such fame does not prevent the local population from living at the very foot, and tourists from climbing to the very top. The beauties that opened from a great height surprise and amaze.

Old city

The Old City is located in Jakarta and covers an area of ​​about 1.5 square meters. kilometers. This place is a cultural center that has collected the largest number of ancient monuments. The first settlement on this territory was established in the 14th century. Then the port was built. Over time, more and more new objects appeared in the city. A great contribution to the development of the Old City was made by the Dutch, who built amazingly beautiful temples. This place is currently listed as a World Heritage Site.

Many different cultures are gathered in the Old City. That is why this place has a special atmosphere that attracts thousands of tourists.

Taman Sari Water Palace

The palace was founded in the 18th century by the ruler of Jakarta. The complex included rooms for leisure, the main palace, a lake, a swimming pool. The construction was built for several years with money allocated from the state treasury. Taman Sari at that time was a real work of art. The palace had its own individual sewerage system. The castle was separated from the outside world by a huge dug channel. Water supply was made from the lake. Some rooms had underfloor heating.

In addition, a large network of underground passages was dug under the palace, which connected some of the rooms with each other. There have always been legends about the magnificent garden of the palace complex. That is why the castle is called Taman Sari, which translates as "blooming garden." Today, ruins remain of the once majestic building. Some part of the territory is inhabited by local residents. In recent years, the restoration of the palace complex has been underway. The swimming pool and several rooms have been restored and are open to the public.

Bogor Botanical Garden

This is one of the most famous places on the island. The garden is located near Jakarta in the province of West Java. In another way, it is called "Kebun Raya". The entire territory of the botanical garden has a huge area of ​​87 hectares. In addition, 4 branches of Kebun Rai are scattered around the island of Java. The collection of the garden contains more than 15 thousand of the most diverse plants, comprising 6,000 species. In this place, you can still see plants planted at the founding of Kebun Rai. In addition to endemic plants, there are many specimens brought from other countries, as well as rare species.

The Bogorsky Garden is also called the center for the study of nature. And not in vain, as scientists from all over the world constantly come here. The gates of Kebun Rai are constantly open to numerous visitors. Here you can not only take a break from the bustle of the city, but also learn a lot of new things by visiting the zoological and botanical museum. One of the main exhibits of the Bogorsky garden is a collection of orchids. Some species of this amazing flower are found in closed greenhouses, while others grow in open-air lawns.

Sea of ​​sands

The sea of ​​sands is a unique sight and is located in a large caldera with a diameter of 10 kilometers. Majestic volcanoes have been spewing tons of lava rock for many millennia, which eventually turned into a large one. Once here, you plunge into a special atmosphere.

The landscape that opens up to the eye is very reminiscent of the surface of the moon. A special effect is added by a foggy haze over the crater, which constantly hangs over the volcano.

Thousand Islands

Off the northern coast of Java, you can see a huge number of small islands. From a great height, it seems that there are more than a thousand of them. However, calculations showed that there are about 115 continental formations in this area. Their number may vary depending on the tides. So Jakarta is the only place on the territory of which there are more than a hundred islands.

March 29, 2016 7:34 pm Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta - Indonesia May 2014

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What do we know about the island of Java, what is Java for us? Tea "Princess Java", the once popular motorcycle "Java"? For people who know enough about Indonesia, this may seem like an inappropriate joke, but for those who are just getting to know the country, you can start from these associations. The Javanese really cannot live without tea, it is brewed very strong, and then diluted with water, the raw materials for such tea are, of course, local - there are several regions with tea plantations on the island. And the princess is also not invented by the creators of the trademark - in Java at different times there were dozens of palaces with their kings, princes and princesses. And the motorcycle ... this is the bearded joke.

And so, the island of Java for a tourist-traveler is a chance to touch the Indonesian reality as it is. These are transport difficulties and beautiful untouched beaches, these are good-natured, open, sometimes meeting foreigners for the first time,

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but also difficulties in understanding with them, since very few people in Java know English or other than local languages ​​(Indonesian Javanese).

Java is a land that keeps the memory of ancient civilizations, a land where people still live, keeping the traditions of Javanese palaces and their unique arts, this is a land of wild nature (jungles, rocky beaches, active volcanoes, waterfalls, turbulent rivers). This is a place where everyone who is looking for new experiences should definitely go.

General description.

Java is primarily a geographical name, one of the islands of the Greater Sunda Islands. Its territory is 132,000 km², with a population of 140 million, it is the most populous island in the world. True, in Java sometimes it seems that the row of houses along the road does not end. In addition to the island of Java, it is also a historical region, the land of the Javanese, covers the provinces of Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta. The island is not known to be inhabited by Javanese, Sundanese and Madurtsi (from the largest ethnic groups) also live on it. In this brief overview of Java, I will focus on the central and eastern parts of the island, where the largest number of places worth visiting (speaking of "Java" I will mean this particular part of the island).

Public transport(transpoprtasi umum)

Avia(plane-pesawat, airport-bandara)

There are 4 international airports in Java, and several more serving only domestic flights. Semarang, Yogyakarat, Surabaya equally suitable for getting to Java from behind the Indonesian border. There is also an airport Surakarta, but it serves much fewer international flights than those mentioned above. In any case, most tourists fly to Yogyakarta to be close to the famous temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. Surabaya is convenient if you want to immediately go to the volcanoes Bromo and Ijen. Semarang and Surakarta can be used as alternative airports.

Sugeng rawuh - welcome in Javanese.

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There are two more large international airports in West Java. Jakarta and Bandung. Jakarta has no equal in Indonesia and is the world's busiest airport. From here you can very easily pick up a flight to anywhere in Indonesia. As for the airports of domestic importance in Java, among them, in addition to those listed, it is also important Malang.

Zheleznodorozhny(train-kereta api, railway station-stasiun kereta api)

Java is the only island in Indonesia where trains are convenient and cover most of the island. Trains are much faster than buses. If, say, a bus travels from Yogyakarta to Probolinggo 10-13 hours, then the train is 8. For this reason, train tickets run out quickly and should be bought in advance. Speaking about possible directions, I advise you to first of all remember the trains and check the possibility of getting to your destination by train. There are economy, business and executive class cars on different routes. Economy class is like a comfortable electric train with soft seats. All the way you will sit on a soft bench with two or one other passenger. It is much more comfortable to travel in business and executive class carriages. There you will sit in separate large chairs. All carriages on long-distance trains are air-conditioned - it won’t be hot, rather, prepare a sweater so as not to freeze. In such trains they sell tea and a standard set for lunch, which is quite fashionable to consider as an option not to remain hungry on an 8-10 hour journey.

Buses. (bus-bis, bus station-terminal bis)

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Buses in Java are a special story. They go fast, but with one caveat - how fast the congestion of the route allows ... and the roads in Java are not wide ... But if you don’t have the opportunity to use the plane or train, then you should not be afraid of buses, you just need to choose them wisely. Tariffs for bus tickets are the first thing you should pay attention to - there are cheap ones, and there are very cheap ones. If we are talking about distances from 100 km (or flights that follow the route for 100 km or more), then all buses must be air-conditioned and it is forbidden to smoke in them (yes, all windows and both doors are open in small old buses, you can smoke there - this is Java, real Java). For long distances, you can travel in economy class or business class. Speaking about prices, I will give an example, 100 km from Surakarta to Semarang in economy class cost about $2, business class $4-5. It is best to leave from bus stations, but all buses, even the largest and business class, stop on the road along the route. Local people usually know the places where buses stop in the direction you need. It is enough just to name the city of your destination.

Public buses of varying degrees of comfort run in many cities. In large cities like Jogjakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, they are more comfortable and go more often, but in small ones you should hardly rely on them. Even in large cities, they run until 8 pm at most and cover a small part of the city.

Ferries, ships(ferry-kapal ferry, boat-perahu)

The only ferry Which arrives in Java from other islands, runs along the route Bali (Gili Manuk port)-Java (Ketapang port). This is a very popular way among travelers to get to Java or Bali, respectively. For a ridiculous $ 0.6 you will get on a ferry that will moor to the neighboring island in an hour and a half. You can transport a car on the ferry (in general, bus-bus routes from Java to Bali or to other Lesser Sunda Islands also use this crossing).

When traveling around Java and small neighboring islands, you can use ferries or speed boats. For example, if you want to visit a not very popular, but heavenly place with amazing Karimunjawa beaches, then the cheapest way is to take a ferry in the city of Jepara and for $ 5 get on a ferry that will take you to the Karimunjawa archipelago in 5 hours. Ferries also run between Java and Madura Island connecting several ports. These ferries are more likely to serve the local population, but sometimes especially curious tourists get there, far from tourist places.

Moto and cycle rickshaws, motorcycle taxis(trishaw-becak, motorcycle taxi-ojek)

In Java, the traditional form of transport, the rickshaw, is still preserved. In large and small cities, people still actively use the services of such transport. Of course it's fun and interesting to ride a rickshaw. The fare ranges from 10 to 100 thousand, depending on the distance. You are unlikely to pay more than 100 thousand because drivers often simply refuse to drive if the destination is too far away (pedaling with a load of 2 people is not an easy thing), but be careful because drivers like to inflate prices for tourists: do not pay more than 25 thousand for the distance you would walk in an hour.

In Indonesia, another exotic form of transport for us, motorcycle taxis, is very popular. At any bus and railway station, you will definitely be attacked with sentences “ojek, becak”. We have already dealt with bechaks above, but what about ojacks. This transport should not cost more than becak, but it is faster. If you speak Indonesian, you can download the Gojek smartphone app - it's similar to Uber, only instead of motorcycles. For the most part, this mode of transport is very convenient, as motorcycles are more maneuverable and less traffic jams than cars; it's also cheaper than regular taxi.

Transport rental.(car-mobil, motorcycle-scooter-motor)

In some cities in Java, you can rent a scooter or a car. It will not be difficult to do this in Yogyakarta. In other cities and areas, renting a car is easier than a moped, but most likely you will be offered to rent a car by paying driver's fees and gas costs. The cost of renting a moped for a day in Jogjakarta is about $5, a car from $30 per day.

Money and prices.(money - uang, price - harga, how much - berapa harganya)

In the photo, about $ 4,000 or 60.000.000 rupees

As in all of Indonesia, the Indonesian rupiah is used in Java, its approximate exchange rate is $ 1-13,000, but all visitors are happy that by changing $ 100 you become a millionaire. With regard to withdrawing money from bank cards and exchanging foreign currency, it is worth making a few remarks. If you want to change dollars, then you should have 50 and 100 bills with you, you will receive the highest rate for them, 20,10, 5 bills are accepted at a lower rate. It is also important which series of your banknotes - banknotes printed earlier than 1996 do not change anywhere and in any way. ATMs of various Indonesian banks can be found even in the most remote areas. From my own experience and from the stories of others, I know that the least problems occur when withdrawing from CIMB NIAGA ATMs. All ATMs in Indonesia have a limit on cash withdrawals per transaction - sometimes 12,500,000 sometimes 1,500,000 rupees, CIMB has 1,500,000.

How to communicate with people / the Internet to help

Most Javanese do not speak English, but almost all speak Indonesian (the national language of Indonesia)

and a few phrases in Indonesian will be very useful, say, in the market or while looking for transport.
Prices in the market and in souvenir shops for foreigners are, of course, overpriced. Sometimes slightly overestimated, sometimes thrice. In order to get a price close to the original price, it is worth taking time and of course it is better to do this with at least some number of Indonesian words. Of course, the ability to communicate with gestures is a universal skill, but very often Javanese do not know how to count in English, what kind of fruits are called or what else you need .... it's best to download a couple of useful applications on your phone, at the same time I strongly advise you to buy a local sim map and 3G internet will always be at hand.

Of the mobile providers that provide 3G mobile Internet, I advise simPati / Telcomcell, buying a SIM card at a price of about $ 10, with a 2GB Internet reserve for a month, you will use the network with the best coverage among all possible operators.

It seems to me very important to point out one feature of the Javanese, which distinguishes them from the inhabitants of the post-Soviet expanse. Javanese people are very soft by nature (like all generalizations, this does not claim to be universal), they are not used to being on knives, even bargaining in the bazaar or resolving a conflict situation. If it seems to you that their service is not of high quality or they are trying to deceive you, you should not attack them, the only thing you will achieve is a break in contact, they will close like snails and you are unlikely to achieve anything. Equanimity helps to resolve the issue in its favor, rather than a request rather than a demand, rather a smile than a grin - even demanding a refund for poor service, it is better to smile and put pressure on the self-esteem of this person than to blame him and threaten reprisals.