Finding my Jogja

Dear travelers, First of all, I love this site! Finally, a site that isn't all about rushing from one place to another, taking the best pictures for your socials, and then moving on again. I had the privilege of spending two months in Yogyakarta, or Jogja, visiting my girlfriend. I came from Netherlands. She arranged for us to stay at a friend’s beautiful villa, which was a huge surprise! It had a pool, kitchen staff, great food, and even a car with a driver if we wanted. Biggest surprise in my life, it was amazing! Of course, she took me to all the famous places: the Kraton Palace, Taman Sari, Malioboro Street, Borobudur, Prambanan, the beach, and many more. But to be honest, what I enjoyed the most was going to the less touristy places with her. Small local shops, little workshops, countryside roads, and places where you could just experience everyday life. It just feels... different. Peaceful. This was my first time in Asia and Indonesia, so in the beginning, the traffic and driving felt like one big mess to me! I'm pretty sure that when I first drove around with my girlfriend sitting on the back of the motorbike, she must have been terrified, haha. But it didn't take me too long to adjust. By the end of my two months there, I had gotten so comfortable on the roads that I was driving around like a local! And honestly, some of my best memories are simply driving around with her on the motorbike, especially through the countryside. Sometimes we weren't going anywhere special. We were just driving around, enjoying the beautiful views and each other's company. I think that is what I will remember most about Jogja. A huge thank you to my girlfriend for all the amazing experiences. I will never forget them, and I will always hold those memories dear. Best regards from a wandering traveler!