Jogja

Yogyakarta (derived from Dutch, pronounced as Jogjakarta; "Y" is pronounced as a "J") is a small, artsy town popularly known for Borobudur, an ancient Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city of Yogyakarta is simple yet sophisticated, busy and full-of-heart. The main avenue is littered with shops that sell hand-made batik shirts in all hues and patterns -- quite an eye-candy for the color-hungry. Though the streets were filled with cars, traffic flowed peacefully. Acoustic bands complete with make-shift percs play on the streets to serenade strolling lovers or families eating at sidewalk restaurants. Later into the night, their songs turn into lullabies that cradle the city to sleep.

Another treat that Yogya offers is an organized bus system complete with a schedule that’s actually followed, a rarity in Southeast Asia where public transport is usually "hop-on / hop-off". This made going to the nearby sights a breeze. The rumor is that by 2016 Yogya will have its own monorail and aerobus.

Bintang Bar is a beer shack on Sosrowijayan Street - a street popular for backpacker-friendly hostels. This bar regularly features indie bands of different genres each night -- a tell-tale sign how the arts thrive in this city -- to play music and promote their albums. On the night we went, a ska and reggae band called The Brown Sugar, very popular with the locals, gave a fantastic performance. About 30 minutes before their first set started, the house was already jam-packed. Though nights usually end by 12 midnight, people still lingered to chit-chat with the band and continue drinking by the convenience store right across the street. I congratulated them after their set and the vocalist gave me a free copy of their album to share with my friends. You can listen to their music here.

Because of its natural and understated charm, Yogyakarta has become one of my favorite cities in Southeast Asia. If you're like traditional Indonesian paintings, contemporary visual art and indie music, then Yogya is definitely worth a visit. If you're into history and culture, Prambanan and Borobudur are just around the corner from Yogya.