May 2006 - This 9 days overland trip from Central Java to Bali was one I shall remember for ages. Just about 3 weeks before Java’s killer quake, we touched down in Solo (Surakarta) and headed to Yogyakarta in the midst of Mt Merapi’s rage and rumbling. Fondly known as Jogja, the royal town is the popular base for visits to World Heritage Sites of Borobudur and Prambanan, and of course to watch the lava of Merapi.

After Jogja, we headed nearly 9 hours east to Probolinggo in a van shared with a few friendly westerners. ... (more)