Day 5 - Borobudur Silver and Surabaya

From the beautiful Puri Asri Hotel, we headed off to Borobudur Silver.  This is a silver filigree factory where jewellery and decorative pieces are hand made from silver.  The work is very fine and delicate and we were able to see the silver crafts men and women as they created the very finely detailed jewellery. 

 

 

As you can see even Eric the echidna was very interested in the very fine work that the crafts men were undertaking.  At Borobudua Silver there was a very large gift shop as well, filled with all sorts of jewellery and decorative items.  There were so many things to look at and choose from that many people spent quite a long time in there (and consequently quite a bit of money). 

Borobudua Silver also has a great restaurant attached to the complex, which was where we were to have our lunch so after purchases it was off to the restaurant for another of those wonderful Indonesian buffet lunches.  The food was once again authentic Indonesian and was beautiful, set in the wonderful open air restaurant. 

Lunch was delicious with rice, chicken, vegetable fritters, asian greens and many more other delights.  Along with these was the delicious and refreshing lemon squashes which were very quickly becoming the drink of the tour.  So refreshing in the warm day and a delicate balance of sour and sweet.  Delicious!!!!!
Lunch was enjoyed by all, including Eric the echidna, who enjoyed a bit of a hello with Julie Butler from Tallangatta Valley Primary School. 

After we had finished lunch then it was time to head back onto the bus, for the drive from Borobudua to Yogyakarta to the airport.  At the airport we were to board a plan to Surabaya.  Now I have to tell you travelling as a group of 16 people can sometimes be a challenge, and this was one of those times.  Our domestic flight from Yogyakarta to Surabaya was with Wing Air, an Indonesian domestic airline, which also meant that the luggage limit was a domestic one!!!!!  Ok so this was a bit tricky, but thanks to Pinta and Derryn (our group leaders) they were able to get all of us and our luggage onto the plan bound for Surabaya.  Whewwww!!!!!
At the airport we also said farewell to our second tour leader Mr Bin.  He had been fantastic in leading us around Yogya and also Borobudua.  Thanks Mr Bin!!!!

On arrival at Surabaya airport we collected our luggage and headed off to the bus.  Once on the bus we made our way through the streets of Surabaya to our next hotel Surabaya Plaza Hotel.  The streets of Surabaya were definitely busier than Yogya, but not to the extent of Jakarta and our first impressions of Surabaya were of a city on the move, with many constructions projects underway and many new, architecturally striking buildings evident.  It seemed to be a city on the move!!!

Arrival at our hotel, check in, shower then group dinner in the restaurant, before we were let loose on Surabaya exploring some of the areas close to the hotel.