Yogyakarta: My first solo trip
For the longest time, my travel plans were at the mercy and whims of others. For a trip to remain a pleasant experience for all, we had to align on schedules, interests, hygiene thresholds, comfort level, and hardest of all, actually get along and make decisions in foreign, sometimes stressful, situations. I had always fancied doing a trip by myself but never got up to it. Until one day on a humid August evening, I decided to take a leap of faith, did some research, and booked an air ticket for one to Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
In choosing a destination as a first time solo-traveller, I was looking out for several things. 1. Safety, 2. Helpful people, 3. Ease of getting around and 4. Fun activities. Now it was time to find out what travails you were able to face alone.
Day 1: Saturday – Yogyakarta Arrival: A Whirlwind of Motorbikes and Temples
Touchdown in Yogya! The adventure began the moment I stepped off the plane. My AirBNB host met me at the airport and whisked me away to my accommodation and even made a stop to sort me out with a local data SIM. (What a blessing she was!?).
I quickly discovered GoJek, a super app in Indonesia that you shouldn’t live without. Anything one could possibly conceive of, one could find on the app. The service which I would learn to use today: “OJek”, the local name for a motorcycle taxi. My first, 45-minute ride was a thrilling, sometimes slightly terrifying, baptism by motorbike, as we weaved through the chaotic, traffic. To the uninitiated, I like to describe traffic in ASEAN as “organic” - like how blood cells flow through our blood vessels (where red lights are not a concept).
Next up: the majestic Prambanan Temple. This sprawling Hindu complex is a true spectacle. Tickets cost USD25 (2025) for International visitors. If you can afford it, I would strongly recommend hiring a guide to fully appreciate the history of this 9th-century Hindu complex, details behind it’s construction during the Sanjaya Dynasty and the meaning behind the numerous statues and carvings, depicting scenes from Ramayana. I plucked up the courage to approach some other visitors to split the cost of a guide. I learnt that the temple's orientation, guided by Vastu Shastra, a Hindu architectural science, is aligned with the sunrise and sunset, creating stunning scenes and photo opportunities during the golden hours. I managed to capture a particularly striking shot of the temple's west side bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.
If time allows, there is a recommended Ramayana ballet performance happening on most evenings. However, being the first day on my own, I was hesitant to figure out the transport back to the city late at night. I made my way back to the city by booking a taxi on GoJek, which was cheaper than the price quoted to me by a motorcycle taxi standing outside the park entrance. If it is within your principles to do so, haggling with vendors here can go some way to saving money.
Day 2: Sunday – Batik, New Friends, and Stargazing
Sunday was all about creativity, culture, and connection. I spent the morning immersed in the art of Batik painting at Kelik Batik.
I spent half a day learning the intricate process of applying wax and dyes layer by layer. The staff were incredibly friendly and patient. I also met J, a German medical student on an eight-week solo backpacking trip through Indonesia. The owners pointed us to a nearby shop selling vegetarian rojak for lunch. The combination of peanut and sweet sauce with fresh vegetables was simply divine – possibly my new favorite Indonesian dish.
J took me to Prawirotaman and introduced me to a group of local friends, who were around the same age, all university students. There was a slight language barrier but it was fun to hang out and learn more about each others’ lives.
The evening culminated in a motorbike ride up to Bukit Bintang (Hill of Stars) for a panoramic view of the city lights. Despite the lack of decent photos, the exhilarating ride up the hairpins to the hilltop cafe lingers in my memory: cold wind, blinding lights and moments of silence during a gearchange. The kindness and warmth of the people truly made the experience unforgettable. I definitely hope to return the hospitality if they ever visit me.
Day 3: Monday – Borobudur and Merapi's Shadow
I hired a car (with driver) to explore the area around Borobudur and Mt Merapi. This would cost USD45-70. In retrospect, a motorbike, at less than half the cost, or joining a group might have been more economical for a solo traveler.
Borobudur, another UNESCO World Heritage site, is a vast Buddhist temple complex about 50km from Prambanan. Tickets can be purchased online or on the spot, costing USD24 for international visitors (2025 prices). The scale of the place is difficult to capture in photographs. The structure is built on levels: six square platforms topped by four circular ones. The intricate carvings are remarkable, with an incredible amount of detail preserved in the stone. The stupas, each containing a Buddha statue, give the impression of miniature rockets poised for launch.
The lower levels are said to represent the realm of worldly desire (Kama Dhatu), the middle levels the realm of form (Rupa Dhatu), and the upper levels the formless realm (Arupa Dhatu). The intricate beauty of the carvings would be enough to entertain any visitor, but again I would recommend hiring a guide to fully appreciate the history and symbolism of the place
Next, I wanted to visit the Ullen Sentalu museum, focused on Javanese history, but it was unfortunately closed on Mondays.
A trip to a viewpoint overlooking Mount Merapi followed. The disparity between local and tourist prices became particularly apparent here (6,000 IDR (0.50 USD) vs. 151,000 IDR (USD 12). Responding to the phrase “Ber apa orang?” (How many people?) in Bahasa may prove useful in capturing a local price, if you look sufficiently the part.
We then drove to a visitor center of sorts, the starting point for Mt Merapi “Lava Tours” From there, I rented a motorbike for a closer look at the volcano's surroundings. We stopped at a small museum hosting various burnt out artefacts detailing the devastating 2010 Merapi eruption, where pyroclastic flows wiped out a wide area of the local civilisation. Ironically, my best photo of Merapi was taken from the car park. The motorbike ride itself was an experience, struggling through rough terrain while jeeps easily passed us, kicking up dust. There were moments where I had to dismount and walk while the driver pushed the motorbike. Communication was challenging, as the driver spoke little English (and I spoke little Bahasa Indonesia). I would recommend visiting Mt Merapi in a group of 2-4 and experiencing the jeep ride, with a proper guide.
The day concluded at Candi Ijo temple where we witnessed a glowing sunset, where I took the chance to reflect on how things were going. I now felt self-assured moving through a foreign land, organising events for myself and socialising with people from different countries.
Day 4: Tuesday – Coastal Views and City Encounters
One of the folks I met two days ago picked me up early for a trip to the southern beaches, a two-hour ride away on a motorbike through the lush Java countryside. It was my first time seeing the Indian Ocean. The coastal views were striking, the rock formations were comparable in scale to those along the Great Ocean Road. Accessing the beaches involved walking through paddy fields and navigating rocky terrain. I observed the way the locals marked out their property, using stacked rocks, and also how incredibly fertile the soil was - left alone, the grasses and weeds would grow into a dense thicket over two metres tall.
At one spot, the waves were forced through a narrow gap in the rocks, creating a dramatic spray at least ten stories high. The ocean's power was both awe-inspiring and slightly unsettling.
After returning to the city for lunch, I attempted to explore Malioboro Street, which was frankly difficult to navigate on foot. I then visited the Water Palace, a recommended attraction which was unfortunately closed. After a fruitless attempt to find access points around the water palace, I took a motorised rickshaw to a bird market in the south of the city. The conditions in which the birds and other animals were kept were frankly distressing. One bird had visibly injured its beak trying to escape. I would not recommend visiting this place and even less so, actually purchasing anything here.
The day ended in Prawirotaman with gelato and dinner at Warung Heru, where I finally tried Gado-Gado. It was a delectable dish, I was amazed something healthy could taste so good. I also successfully hired an O-Jek independently for the first time that evening! (For context, this was back in 2016 when GPS was less reliable, and drivers would call you before driving over, speaking in Bahasa Indo)
The following day, I caught my flight back to Singapore. Yogyakarta did live up to its reputation as a forgiving yet fun destination. I would recommend it as a soft landing for people who would like to try travelling solo for the first time. Also, I have written out some practical tips for the first time solo traveller below.
Traveling solo, while sometimes daunting, proved to be rewarding, opening up unexpected experiences. Being alone also makes you more willing to connect with others, and makes it easier for others to approach you. It’s funny how being alone in a completely unfamiliar place can paradoxically make you feel more connected to humanity. Stripped of the familiar comforts and social circles, you become more open to chance encounters, more willing to strike up conversations with strangers. These brief interactions, whether with a motorbike driver, a fellow traveler, or a local shopkeeper, offer glimpses into different ways of life and perspectives, broadening your understanding of the world in a way that packaged tours or group travel often don’t.
There’s a certain vulnerability that comes with solo travel, a reliance on your own resourcefulness and intuition, and the kindness of others, which can be both challenging and empowering. You learn to trust your gut, to navigate unfamiliar situations, and to adapt to unexpected circumstances. You learn to have faith in humanity, which would empower me to explore many other places around the world on my own. These experiences, though sometimes uncomfortable, contribute to a sense of self-reliance and personal growth that's hard to replicate elsewhere. Ultimately, solo travel isn't just about seeing new places; it’s about discovering new aspects of yourself.
Practical Tips for your first solo adventure
Research on the safety and suitability of a destination and keep your eyes open! Having said that, most places without an explicit warning (and even some with) are relatively safe and violent crime is rare. A simple bit of awareness and trusting your gut will keep you relatively safe.
Stay connected - getting a local data connection, and VPN(if needed) allows you to navigate and learning to use local transport and service apps allows you to make the most of your time.
Seek a balance - push yourself out of your comfort zone, but also identify a safe space - a cafe or accommodation that you can retreat to if things go south. There is no shame in spending some time in a safe space to get back on your feet (physically and mentally).
Stay in a hostel and keep some flexibility in your plan to join other people or groups spontaneously. While travelling solo gives you the freedom to spend your time your way, meeting people and creating memories together is one of the greatest takeaways of being by yourself.
