The Pinay Solo Backpacker

I spent 5 hours waiting in Gambir station for my first overnight train to Yogyakarta.  Earlier that day I met Tama, an Indonesian who assisted me in buying my first overnight train. He made me feel Indonesia is tourist-friendly.  The ticket cost me around Rp 330,000 (Php 1,700/39USD)  for the executive train, not the cheapest but the safest train and it’s an 8-10 hour  ride.

“Is it safe to take the train?”, I asked my new found friend.  “What do you mean?”
Is the train safe in terms of accident or is it safe for a female solo traveler like you?”, he answered.  I said, “Is it safe for me?  I heard an overnight  train horror story in Thailand.  A female tourist was once raped by a local  inside the train. ” “Don’t worry, there will be an attendant, you will have a blanket and pillow so you can sleep, and a food and drinks (more like a snack), so it is safe. “,  Tama assured me.

I can see the peak of  National Monument of Indonesia (MONAS) lighted at night from the train station.   Several trains have passed by but what surprised me is the ordinary train loaded with locals sitting on its top, it never occurred to me they also do that in Indonesia, I thought I can only see such in India.  I was holding my ticket most of the time, making sure the train I will board will match the one on the ticket.  I was ecstatic but at the same time scared.  I silently wish my seatmate  is a female.

The overnight train arrived on time, Tama is right, there’s an attendant who handed us blanket. It’s definitely not the luxurious type of train but more like an executive bus that we have in the Philippines, not like a sleeper train Thailand.   A man in his 50′s sat beside me, he looked like a typical unfriendly  stranger  so I was uneasy and can’t sleep.  But then, since I will be sitting beside him for 10 hours, might as well be friendly.  I smiled and handed him Mentos, he declined and smiled back.  Just like me, he had brought some snacks and chips on his bag, and I guess that tells me that my 1st impression was wrong.  Shame on me!  It’s been over 24 hours since I last slept,  I was restless so I decided to sleep

The light blinded me while the train’s engine stopped at Tug station(Yogyakarta train station).  I quickly eyed for a fellow tourists and saw two guy foreigners who looks like a couple.  I was determined to follow them thinking for sure they know where Gang I and Gang II is, the backpacker’s street in Yogyakarta.  But the moment I got off the train, the sunrise struck me.  I haven’t seen the sunrise for the longest time so I thought of taking a souvenir shot. I saw the tourism officer talking to the two tourists I saw earlier  about  hotels in town.  I  lined up but all I can hear is  posh hotels so I  asked an employee of the train station but they directed me to the tourist booth.   I took out the map that I bought at Gambir station but it’s useless, can’t locate the backpacker’s street that I’m looking for.   I walked out of  Tugu station and headed decided to take a cab.  “I’m off to Gang II in Jalan Sosrowijayan, how much?”,  I asked the taxi driver who quoted me a fix price of  6USD.  Not bad, besides I can’t seem to see any free shuttle anywhere.

Gang me & Gang II is pretty close to the Tugu train station, the ride only took around 15 minutes.  Several by standers approached me when I got off the cab, but  I walked straight to Gang II trying to look for a cheap hostel.  I noticed that the hostels with beautiful Indonesian interiors and artworks have signs saying “Full”.  A local approached me and started following me, I  was ignoring him all the time until I got to the end of the road, he warned me that it’s a prostitution area and said that almost all the hostels are full.  I walked back, and he pointed towards one hostel fronting their  small tour office.  I walked in and the guy is still following me.  Hmmm… I can smell adventure in Indonesia!

*Special thanks to Valerie of  WeekendHaven!

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*********************************************************************************************** About the Blogger : Gael is a Filipina solo adventurer, a dream chaser and a student of life.  Her (mis) adventures are documented in this blog. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter. For advertisement, partnerships and sponsorship, click here. or email me at thepinaysolobackpacker(at)yahoo(dot)com. **********************************************************************************************

SEAIR/TIGERAIRWAYS  is the official airline of  The Pinay Solo   Backpacker.

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