Singapore thieves market

Let's leave the glamourous things in Singapore for just a sec. Go to Bugis and walk to Sungei Road, not so far from Sim Lim Tower. Around Pitt street, you should meet the most famous and the oldest market: Thieves Market.

Just forget about orchard! At this place, you can see a different face from Singapore. The people in Singapore who try to sell all used stuffs like clothes, cell phones, electronic stuffs and their spare part, shoes, bags, religion statues, old money etc...

When you came in the evening around 4 pm then you will se a lot of things here. The sellers came with luggages, full with their used stuffs they try to sell. Chinesee, Malay, even India sellers are there.

Although this thieves market is similiar with Indonesia's, they still atract me. Tourists are rarely come here. So i think this place is the best one for you to learn how the local is.

The important things you should know are:
1. Always ask them if you want to take their pic or their stuffs. Some people don't like to be photo.
2. The nearest mrt station is Bugis.
3. Always come in the evening around 3 pm - 5 pm

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Saigon street food

Saigon is a paradise of street food. Your adventure to Saigon isn't complete until you try the street foods here. Throughout the morning until night there are always some  street food sellers in the footway. During my visit to Saigon I always buy some street food. I love to buy street food there. It's tasty and cheap. The price is about 20000-40000 VND. equivalent to US$1-2. Below is some street foods I've bought there.

Banh Cam

Banh Cam is the one with sesame seeds

I found this  near Ben Thanh bus station. In my country, we called it Onde-onde. But, imho, Banh Cam is crispier although it sill chewy. It was made from glutinous rice powder. Ban Cam at Ben Thanh is plain. No filling. But according to various sources can also be varied with different filling such as chocolate or nuts or mung beans

Bot chien

Bot Chien...

Well this is one of my favorite street food. Made from eggs mixed with fried  tapioca,  and then mixed together  with fish sauce and chili sauce. The taste is good and for moslem people, this street food is 100% halal! I found this food in the afternoon on a sidewalk not far from Notre Dame Cathedral area. With a short plastic chairs, I enjoy this snack accompanied by the smell of mire. Hmmm .... delicious!!!!!

 Muc Chien Nuoc Mam and Nang Muc Nuong  Muo Ot

Two snacks I have met in a sidewalk cart in the night between Ben Thanh Market and Pham Ngu Lao. That is Muc Chien Nuoc Mam and Muc Nung Nang. 

Muc Chien Nuoc Mam,  is fried calamari . It was savory spicy. But, at that time I was more interested in trying Muc Nang Nuong. What is it??? Hihi ... it's squid, marinated and then baked / roasted then sliced ​​(with a rolling pin.).  After that you could  eat them with chili sauce. Nice??? I say them: very delicious!!!

 Banh Trang Nuong

Commonly referred as the Rice Paper Tachos because these snack has similar form with tachos. The ingridients usually are: mixture of pork, dried shrimp, shelled corn, onions, peppers, and a variety of other ingredients. They cooked and mixed with chili sauce and wrapped in a kind of spring roll skin (commonly called rice paper) and formed a semi-circle and  baked it. So it makes Banh Trang Nuong crispy. What about the taste?? Sour spicy and slightly sweet. Since I don't eat pork,  I ordered a special tachos without using pork.

Sugar Cane Ice

Made from Sugar Cane that has been pressed and mix with lemon and ice. Combined with hot Saigon's weather. Perfect!

Milo Ice

When I decided to buy  ice milo on the way to Ben Tanh from War Remnants Museum, I   imagine that it would be an ordinary milo ice like in my country.   But I was wrong. Milo Ice in Saigon was really ice literally. Here is the recipee. Milo powder  mixed with a little water to make it liquid (perhaps less appropriately called liquid. Imagine just chocolate jam.).  After that, the seller put some ice cubes and .... voila!!!! Milo ice is ready to be enjoyed.

Actually there are many other street food that littered the roadside. There waffles (no ice cream of course) that can be purchased at the outside of central post office,   fried bananas, chicken satay with sesame seeds , durian sticky rice porridge, and many more. And the price is cheap. It's about US$ 1-2. 

So don't  forget to buy some street food while you were in Saigon...okay?

PS: For moslem  traveler, always ask if it contains pork or not ....

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Triwindu, the antique market

Surakarta or we usually call it as Solo has an antique market. From lamp to batik, cups, statues, used kebaya (javanesse woman traditional clothes), antique door handle, etc. You can find everything here. Located near Mangkunegaran, this place is next to the main road of Solo.

For antique stuff and vintage lovers, this place is paradise. Unfortunately, many things (especially lamp and craft) are new. A new stuff that has been made with old design. So...some stuff are not the 'real antique'.

But still worth to buy! 

Just walk down the alleys and you'll be surprised with so many amazing stuffs here. This place is really a must-visit place while you visiting Solo.  Enjoy your treasure hunt!

Batik

Loro Blonyo Statues

cups

old typewriter

Antique lamps

TRAVELER TIPS
1. The access to this place is very easy. If you want to use public transpirt, then use becak (pedicab) or you can use Batik Trans.
2. If you use Prameks Train from Yogya, you can stop at Purwosari Station then pick Solo Batik Trans
3. Pay with cash. Eventhough there are some stores that provide EDC machine, but majority the stores don't have EDC machine.
4. The price is not fix price.
5. This market is open from 9 am to 5 pm.

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Backpacking to Yogya

As a top destination #2 in Indonesia, Yogyakarta has so many places to see and to do. From mountain to beaches. From cultures to culinary. That's why many travelers love to visit Yogya as their travel destination.

Yogya is a cheap destination, comparing to other destination in Indonesia. So, for budget traveler or backpacker, Yogyakarta is one of the perfect place to travel..

WHERE TO STAY

Sosrowijayan, absolutely! It's backpacker's area. Next to Malioboro - the most famous place in Yogyakarta - and main destinations such as: Vredeburg, Sultan Palace, etc.

But if you need more quiet place combine with low budget hotels, then you can stay at Prawirotaman.

WHAT TO SEE
1. Temples/candi

The two famous, Borobudur and Prambanan...everybody already knew! But there are so many temples/candi that you can see in Yogya and surrounding. Candi Ijo, Ratu Boko, Candi Plaosan, Candi Gebang, Candisari, Candi barong, Candi Sambisari, Candi Kalasan, Candi Mendut....they have their own beauty.

2. Beaches

Parangtritis and Depok in Bantul region is the two famous beach. But if you are looking for white sandy beach, go to the Gunung Kidul region! There are so many beaches there...some beaches are categorized as 'virgin beach'. Drini, Siung, Ngobaran, Ngrenehan, Pok Tunggal, Wediombo are the beaches you could visit. Or you can go to Kulon Progo region to visit Trisik beach, Congot Beach, or Glagah Beach.

3. HERITAGE

Vredeburg, Sultan Palace, Ulen Sentalu Museum, and Pakualaman are the option. Kotagede in south of jogja is the urban heritage destination that surely will make you amazed. If you interest in tombs, you could visit the royal tomb at Imogiri.

WHAT TO Do

1. Shopping

From batik till craft. You can have them in cheap price at Beringharjo Market. Or you can visit Mirota Batik. Actually, in Kulon Progo, there is Kampung Batik at Lendah.

2. HERITAGE TRAIL

There is heritage trail program in Kotagede

3. LAVA TOUR

Exploring Mt. Merapi after its erruption.

4. CULINARY

Enjoy the local food. Gudeg, kipo (you can find at Kotagede), or you can try 'angkringan' next to Tugu train station. One of the local restaurant you should visit is BU AGENG restaurant at Tirtodipuran. The owner is the famous artist in Indonesia: Butet Kartaredjasa.

If you love chocolate, you can stop at Monggo Chocolate shop at Kotagede or Tirtodipuran.

GETTING AROUND

You could use becak (pedicab), trans jogja (public bus), or you can rent motorcycle (recommend) or rent a car!

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7 reasons you must stay at Sosrowijayan

Sosrowijaya alley

Sosrowijayan, a.ka the backpacker's kampong in Yogyakarta is truly heaven. When you are looking for a place that can make you mingle with locals but easier your life as a backpacker, you should stay at Sosrowijayan while you are visiting Jogja.

Here are 7 reasons why you should stay at Sosrowijayan.
1. There are a lot of cheap losging here. The average cost is 100.000 rupiah/night/room. It's about 10 bucks!
2. Many cafes here. Europian food, chinesse food, even Indian food.
3. You can see the local's daily life.
4. Need books for your partner during your traveling time?? You can find the bookshops here.
5. Sosrowijayan is in Malioboro area. So it nears with the royal palace, Mirota batik, and Beringharjo Market.
6. Easy to catch the public transport. From becak to bus. And next to the train station too!
7. You cand find tours operator and motorcycle/car rentals here.

Sosrowijayan FAQs
1. Sosrowijayan is really close to the red district 'Sarkem'. It just seperated by the alley.
2. Sometimes, the pedicab drivers at Sosrowijayan force you to visit and shop in the certain art shop or fake 'Dagadu' shop.

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Prawirotaman or Sosrowijayan??

Yogya has two tourist villages. One is in Sosrowijayan area and the other is in Prawirotaman area. They all have their uniquness. And you'll get great experiences in both area. If you are a traveler, then in which area you would prefer to stay during your traveling time in Yogya?

1. If you visit Yogya with your family..please skip Sosrowijayan. Prawirotaman is the suitable place for you. Basically, Prawirotaman's market is family tourists and midle-up tourists. Prawirotaman is more comfortable than Sosrowijayan off course. Not too crowded. But you need some effort when you want to go to Malioboro area.
2. Budget traveler? Sosrowijayan is the best choice. If you don't mind with a room without air con and tv, then you can have US$ 10/room /night.

So, what's the real difference between Sosrowijayan and Prawirotaman?
Let me say, if you prefer to stay at Sosrowijayan then you are ready to stay in a middle of local people. You stay in a real 'kampung'. You can see the local everyday life here. Sosrowijayan also near to everything. Malioboro, railway station, the royal palace.

At Prawirotaman, located at south part of Yogya, people do not stay in a real 'kampung'. Prawirotaman is a street that full with hotels and art gallery and travel agents and bars but with only a bit of local house. So, I think Prawirotaman is best for family, or people who don't want stay in a crowded atmosphere. Here, in a front of hotels, you can still find batik sellers. And a lot of pedicabs too!

So, Prawirotaman or Sosrowijayan, it depends on your needs. But although these two tourist villages have different characteristic, I think they will give you great experiences, comparing if you stay at a five-star hotels.

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Pick Your Right Hostel

Picking the right hostel could be your worst nightmare. With so many informations about it, sometimes you just don't know which one you have to choose. I formerly have written about how to choose the right hostel in general . Now, here are some tips from me that may help you to pick the right hostel for your next trip.

1. Pick the hostel that can meet with your basic needs. You have to know all the information details of your hostel. Remember!!! The cheaper hostels sometimes are unclean, have the bug bed, etc
2. It will be better if you choose the hostel that is close to any public transport: Bus station, MRT/subway station, etc. Or, you may choose the hostel that is not so close to any public transport but it will be easily reached by foot.
3. Hostel in red district?? It's okay as long as the safety is guaranteed.
4. Pick the one with the internet/wifi. Besides wifi, I always choose hostel with pc's in their common area
5. The breakfast. Many hostels usually provide cereal, milk, toast, and coffee for the breakfast. I rather choose the hostel that provide breakfast with many options rather than hostel that provide only one kind of menu for breakfast
6. Locker is the most top priority while choosing the hostel

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