Yogyakarta, Indonesia (05/01/2015 - 05/03/2015)

Yogyakarta is the cultural capital of Java, renowned for its ancient temples, batik, performances, and fine cuisine. It's often referred to as Indonesia's Angkor Wat, and for good reason.

It's also within spitting distance of Mt. Merapi, an active volcano, which last erupted in 2010, displacing over 300,000 in surrounding villages and killing over 150 people.

We had the fortune to visit this ancient capital and surrounding areas over a long weekend, stopping at the typical tourist sites - Borobudur, an 8th century Buddhist temple that was abandoned and 'rediscovered' by Sir Thomas Raffles (the very same Raffles that founded Singapore); Prambanan, a similarly ancient Hindu temple; and the Merapi volcano, briefly changing vehicles to a World War II-era American Jeep to scale it.

The city itself is just filled to the brim with arts shops - be it batik, furniture, custom tailors, or various wooden or stone carvings, and hard to leave without stuffing one's suitcase.

Thoroughly enjoyed it here and will surely return again.