Lost in latitude

Java Island

Five weeks were not enough! This island has so much to offer – I thought I had plenty of time, but now I’m already plotting my return. After months at sea, I decided it was time to swap waves for mountains and focus on land-based adventures (and give my sea legs a break).

Jakarta was a blast, with cracking views from our apartment and endless things to explore. But that was just the warm-up. Yogyakarta, Solo, Tawamangu, Malang, Banyuwangi, Semarang, Dieng Plateau and Bandung followed. Yes, I know – try saying that lot three times fast.

I took more midnight tours than I care to admit, but every one of them was worth it. I climbed volcanoes, waterfalls, and mountains like some caffeine-fuelled mountain goat. I saw blue fire (not a hallucination, I swear) and ate far too many pastries – shoutout to Banyuwangi for fuelling my sugar addiction more than any other city.

I fled a questionable hostel, took up to five buses back-to-back to reach some wildly remote places, and got stuck in a tiny mountain kiosk for five hours thanks to a downpour. But honestly? It turned into one of the best experiences – just me, hanging out with the locals high up in the mountains, sipping hot tea and sharing laughs while waiting out the rain. Pure magic.

If you haven’t figured it out by now – I looooove this country. I wouldn’t mind living here for a while, so if you’ve got a remote job going, you know where to find me!