Welcome to my travel blog!
A little bit about myself: My name is Kelly, I have a B.A. in English Literature, and I love to travel.
Travel: From a very young age, I caught the travel bug – my family traveled thousands of miles across states and countries. Some of my most recent exploits have been to Germany, London, Guatemala, and China. For me, finding the stories that make people laugh and cry, that inspire us and challenge us, that frustrate us, and that make us love one another is what keeps the fire burning.
Where I am now: Indonesia! More specifically, almost smack in the middle of the Island of Java. I am serving with the Peace Corps as an English teacher for two years. The word here for teacher is “guru,” so I guess that makes me a Java Guru.
Why blog? Because you are invited along for the adventure! Whether it be the ups and downs of planning for my next trip abroad or journeying out into the great, wide world, I can’t wait to share what I learn and experience with you. I hope we can be inspired and laugh together as we wander the world. It is an honor to give you these stories about far-away people, places, and perspectives that somehow always strike so near to our own hearts.
*The content of this blog is solely intended to represent my personal opinions and experiences, and in no way presumes to represent official opinions or stances of the Peace Corps or U.S. Government*
Worth a Journey 
Hi Kelly. Congrats for being Freshly Pressed. I love traveling too, so I’ll be back to read your awesome journey 😉
Cheers,
Decci
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I hope you will continue to. It is always great to share with fellow travelers!
Yes. Sure!! BTW I just noticed that that when I click your name it will direct me to http://kellyedtech.wordpress.com/, which you have deleted. In case you want to change it to your current blog 🙂
Oh wow, thanks! I hadn’t noticed that before. I am working on fixing it…
Hi Ms. Kelly, I have been trying to leave comments to some of your blog entries because they are amazingly beautiful 🙂 I am a traveller as well and I enjoy reading your blogs! anyways, let me just say thank you for creating a great job on writing about your own personal travels 🙂
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoy it, and that I can share some of my stories with you.
I’m in consideration for Indonesia in March of next year, so thanks for posting. Your blog gives me a good perspective about the potential journey.
That is so exciting! I am more than happy to share, especially with prospective PCVs. Indonesia is an amazing country. Best of luck, and hopefully I’ll see you in Indo!
Right now, I’m just playing the waiting game, hoping to receive any kind of news soon. 😛 If nothing else, just to get close is an accomplishment, and I plan on trying again if it doesn’t quite work out. And thank you.
I remember the waiting game – it can be rough. But hang in there! It sounds like you have the right attitude. There are so many great opportunities out there to travel and give back. Of course I’m biased, but I hope Indonesia works out for you 🙂
We’ll see what happens. I’ve been reading about it, and Borobudur sounds like something that would be amazing for me. One thing I’d have to get used to is the weather- it can get humid where I’m from, but it tends to fluctuate on what seems to be a bi-weekly basis, haha.
So, they had me do a skills addendum, so hopefully that’s a good sign that they’re really considering my application. Fingers are crossed. 🙂
That’s great! Best of luck, and let me know what you find out 😀
How long did it take you from when you applied?
They have asked me to do an interview, so I’ve at least gotten to that stage. Maybe I’ll be there next year.
Good luck with your interview – let me know how it goes! Sorry, I have been travelling and didn’t get to respond to your previous question. I received an invitation 5 months after I applied, but at the time that was very quick. The application system now is completely different, however, so it’s hard to compare the old system with the new.
Mine was around the four month mark, approximately. I should know by September 1 one way or the other. Keeping my fingers crossed.
So mine is officially set for August 3. Is it okay if I ask for some crossed fingers?
Fingers and toes are crossed – good luck!
Here we go. Tomorrow is the day. Because I just moved into a new apartment, I’m more worried about them not being able to find me than the interview itself, but I think everything should be fine.
Hope all went well!
It went as well as it could go, I think. I should know by September 1, one way or another. I can keep you posted if you want.
Let me know for sure – I look forward to hearing!
Still no word yet, but hanging in there.
I’m supposed to know by tomorrow. I’m anxious.
I remember being in that waiting phase – it’s tough. Good luck tomorrow!
Unfortunately, it didn’t work out this time. But thanks for your good thoughts. We’ll see what happens next time. Getting to the interview stage is something, though.
I’m so sorry to hear that. But getting to the interview is huge and something you should be proud of! I wish you the best of luck in whatever comes next.
I plan to try again, but the timing isn’t right yet.
That’s great! Perseverance is a necessary quality in any PCV. I wish you the best – let me know how it goes 🙂
Thanks. Even if I won’t see you in Indonesia, that candle still burns bright for me. I heard that it does take a couple of tries sometimes.
And I am doing my best to learn new things – like Spanish, and doing more volunteer work – to help my chances next time.
I’ve re-applied for next year. Let’s see what happens. I’m down but not out. I’m resilient. 🙂 And having a French degree helps. 😛
They have me under consideration again, for next year.
Good to hear – good luck!
Hello Kelly,
My husband and I are traveling to Indonesia over Christmas and New Years. We are both RPCVs (Azerbaijan 07-09), so I thought it would be a good idea to get advice from a PCV living in Indonesia before our visit. We fly into Jakarta, and are considering spending 2 weeks in Java. We don’t have plans to travel to Bali, etc. I found your blog through the PC website, and noticed that you live in central Java, so I wanted to write to you directly. Do you have any advice on visiting Indonesia, in general, and Java, in particular? Where to go while there (e.g. top 10 things)? What to bring (or leave behind) for a two week trip?
Thank you,
Rachel
Rachel,
It is so good to hear from RPCVs! I live in E.Java, just over the border from Central, but haven’t gotten out West much. So to give you the best PCV advice, I reached out to my fellow volunteers.
Jakarta and Bandung came in as the top cities to see in the West. Close to Bandung you can visit volcanic crater-lake Kawah Putih. Pangandaran, located on the southern coast of W.Java, has beautiful beaches, but one volunteer mentioned that Pantai Batu Karas (still within the Pangandaran region) is a cool surfer beach that is a little less crowded than the actual Pangandaran beach.
The big draws in C. Java are Borobudur Temple and Yogyakarta (which is technically its own regency). Borobodur is located in Magelang and is reachable from Yogya. Yogya itself has a very impressive Hindu Temple, Prambanan. In the city of Yogyakarta, you can find the Imperial Palace (Kraton) and Imperial Leisure Gardens (Taman Sari), as well as the famous shopping street, Malioboro (where you can by traditional wares and souvenirs). For the more adventurous of spirit, a visit to Mount Merapi – which looms over Yogya and is Java’s most active volcano – is well worth the hike. Yogya is also home to some beautiful beaches and caves, such as Parangtritis and Intrayanti Beaches, and Gua Pindul cave (which you can tube through and, at least to me, looks like the perfect spot for a pirate cave).
If you have the time and want to get the real tropical island experience, you can make a quick trip off Java to visit Karimun Jawa. It’s paradise and is accessible by boat from Jepara, C. Java.
Moving into E. Java, you have two very impressive mountains that are popular among hikers. The first is Bromo, known for its HUGE crater and surrounding sea of ash. The second is Mount Ijen, famous for its BLUE FIRE (I haven’t made it there yet, but am dying to go). Both are accessible from Probolinggo, but you can also hire transportation from major cities like Malang and Surabaya. Cars can drive right up to Bromo, but Ijen requires more hiking (and for the best view of the blue fire, a night hike). Farthest east you will find Banyuwangi ,which has more beaches (someone once told me about a turtle rescue and release program!) and easy access to Bali – should you decide to go.
Those are our tip choices on Java, but many who shared with me also mentioned how many other wonderful and amazing islands there are in Indonesia. Java is great, but if you have any time for Sumatra, Flores, Lombok, the Gilis, or Bali, they come highly recommended.
As for what you should bring – pack lightly. It is easy to get around Java by bus/train, but not with a lot of luggage. Java is always hot, so bring light clothes but sturdy shoes (for hiking, walking, and questionable roads). The dry season is supposed to last extra-long this year, but you still might get caught in a downpour in December, so be sure to bring a rain jacket/poncho/clothes that dry quickly. Sun glasses and bug repellent will always make life more comfortable. And don’t forget that many of the places you will visit are also visited by Indonesian tourists, many of whom are devout Muslims. If you can avoid shorts and tank tops, it’s usually for the best. A note on swimming: most Indonesians swim in their clothes – for women this sometimes means full pants and long sleeves. You certainly don’t have to do this, but you might want to be aware of the other swimmers around you. Having a t-shirt and running shorts to throw on for a swim might save you from uncomfortable situations.
Lastly, transportation. I like travelling by bus because it is cheap and easy. But the trains are far more comfortable, and many volunteers believe they are worth the extra expense. You can buy tickets at small convenience stories called Indo and Alpha Mart. Usually it is a good idea to buy them a few days in advance. For the most freedom, there are many men willing to drive you around – but be read to barter over these prices as first offers can be quite expensive. Finally, flying between major cities can be fast and convenient. Traffic on Java is horrendous, so it takes a long time to travel what we would consider a short distances. If you are trying to get somewhere fast, trains and planes are your best bets.
I hope this info is helpful! You are going to have a great adventure, and be ready for lots of Indonesian high schoolers to ask you for your picture 😉 Let me know if you have any more questions.
Happy Travels,
Kelly
P.S. If you find yourself in Ngawi, where the main tourist attraction is rice-fields for days, look me up!
Hello Kelly,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful advice. I truly appreciate you taking time to reply with such great travel ideas.
We are planning to visit Jakarta (only for a day or two), Pangandaran, and Yogya. The Lonely Planet guidebook has lodging suggestions in Jakarta and Yogya, but less so for Pangandaran. Are there any PCVs there? Given that we are traveling over New Years we weren’t sure whether hotels, hostels, etc. would be open or have vacancies. If there are PCVs in Pangandaran, could you pass my name and email along?
Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you, again, for your help!
Sincerely,
Rachel
The PCVs I spoke to in the Pangandaran area confirmed that you might have some difficulty finding a room around NYE if you don’t book in advance. They said that there are a few places available on Agoda. Depending on whether you are looking for more of a guesthouse or hotel situation, there are some different options. The recommended hotel was Menara Laut, and as for guesthouses, Bamboo and Rinjani should both be nice. I can pass your email along if you would like/have more specific questions about the area. It looks quite beautiful, but I’ve never been there myself 🙂
hii miss Kelly,,are you still in Ngebel???
I was in Ngawi, but now I am in Europe. Hopefully I can write some things about my recent travels soon!