I booked my train tix 2 doors down from my hostel because when I was at Gambir station I had gotten on the wrong long line and I just couldn’t be bothered to go to the next building and stand in that long line. So Lena and I parted ways. She was heading to the mall for a Capoeira class and I needed to shower and pack. Upon exiting the station, the taxi drivers descend upon you (because its Asia and that’s what they do) and I end up taking a motorbike for 30,000 ($3). In my mind taking a motorbike was the smart thing to do because it was rush hour and Indonesian traffic is just notoriously ridiculous. However, it is freakishly scary when your driver is weaving in and out and between cars, tuk tuks and other motor bikes. I’m surprised I didn’t get scratched or burned considering how close we got to the other vehicles. Yes it was frightening. No I prolly wouldn’t do it again. So got back to my hostel, went and bought my ticket for the next day. It cost 380,000 ($23) for the executive class. The cheaper trains left either at 6am or 12pm. So I didn’t really have much of a choice. I didn’t want to wake up that early and I didn’t want to get to Yogya too late. The train ride is 8hrs long.

That morning I had to exchange my ticket for an actual ticket and of course none of it is in English. But everyone was super nice and directed me to the right platform and car number. I ended up sitting next to this super nice lady who kept wanting to talk to me in Indonesian. We gave up trying to communicate with words and instead communicated with food. I had some seaweed chips (sounds gross but is really good) and she had different types of crackers and a chocolate bar. She didn’t want any of my chips and she kept handing me different crackers. I tried to politely refuse but she sorta just laid it on my lap so I had no other choice. We basically devoured our chips, crackers and chocolate bar.

It was 9am when the train left the station and they were playing Step It Up All In. I watched it in and out of my nap. The sound was on low and there was Indonesian subs so I couldn’t be bothered to pay any attention. It looked lame anyways. After that movie ended, they played a plethora of what I’m guessing to be popular Indonesian music and some random western songs that ranged from One Direction to Linkin Park to Coldplay.

They sold food and drinks on the train but I didn’t order any because I was full from breakfast and from the snacks my neighbor gave me. Plus I used the toilet once and I don’t want to have to use it again. Let’s just say I’d rather hold it in. haha

At noon we stopped at the 1st out of 4 stations. We were stopped for a while because they were fixing something with the mechanics or something along those lines. 30mins later we were back on the tracks and watching the countryside pass by. That and they started playing Step Up All In again…

Once I got off the train I immediately tried looking for a taxi to take me to my hostel. Since I couldn't find any, I decided to ask the first security guard I saw. Turns out he was just getting off work and offered to drive me. I know what you're thinking... Haven't you seen Taken? Yes, I have. And if the situation had been different, I would've refused the offer but I felt fairly safe. So he dropped me off at my hostel and that was that. Not a bad way to start off at a new city. I like Yogyakarta much better than Jakarta already!