My ship has (not) sailed

We've had a bit of a bitty time the last few days since we left Yogyakarta - the nicest place in my opinion that we've been so far. We went to Solo with half a plan to go to Melang or possibly to Semarang to head to Kilimanjawa, an island in the Jave Sea.

Solo wasn't really happening for me. We were persuaded by Crazy Lady to stay in her homestay, only £5.00 each per night including breakfast. Wifi but no hot water - urgh! Very interesting Batik museum in Solo which we pass a tropical rainstorm in. A very long hot walk to the train station tells us that trains to Melang set off in the early hours and take 12 hours or more to get there - doesn't sound like fun in anyone's books. Semarang however is only 2.5 hours by train and it's only 50p each - yep you guessed it, we're Semarang bound.

There is a bone of contention here as the sole point of going to Semarang is to get to the island, which is sited in the Java Sea where they are currently trying to retrieve flight QZ8501. News reports talk of 3-5 metre high waves. Hotels on the island are telling people to stay away as they might get stuck. Whilst it is a tropical island boasting white sand and blue seas (yeah right) it is the rainy season. Everyone tells us in Semarang Jepara is the place to get boats to Kilimanjawa, so off we go, the scabbiest, rustiest bus you've ever seen and we're overcharged by a whole 50p each much to Adrian's chagrin. 

Time after time we are told the boats are not running or you may get stuck on the island but, hey ho, adrian persists in asking in the hopes of finding someone who says "yes, we're going to the island". There are a few offers from local boat owners but you'd have to be plain stupid or downright suicidal to get on some of these boats!!

In Jepara we find the theme park that time forgot with a surprisingly good little aquarium, and it's only 65p each to go round. We bumped into a Dutch couple this afternoon who were relieved to see us, having not seen any other westerners for a week. Madness. Madness aside, this is a lovely town. Wide, leafy boulevards, clean, well kept and the Colonel is in  town. This town is well know. For its furniture manufacturing with buyers visiting from all over the world, so it has a slightly more contemporary feel to it, so much so, we decide to stay 3 nights.