We got the bus to Solo or Surakarta (both names are used) straight after our Bromo experience so by the time we arrived at 8pm we were very tired. We had read about a homestay which was run by a Javanese family who had a blood line to the Royal Family. We checked in and went straight to bed.

The following morning we woke and realised what a big place we were staying in, it had a pool and many rooms based around the main house where the family lived. There was a tower in the middle and even a music room. The family were lovely.

We spent the day exploring the town by getting various becaks (like the cyclos in Cambodia) to drop us at places. We visited the old kraton (palace) and went to various markets, it is a lovely city and we enjoyed our first real taste of Indonesia here. The people are very nice and many will say hello as we walk past. On our last evening at the guesthouse we were invited to listen to a performance of gamelon, traditional Indonesian music. It was fun watching the old lady "singing" and the various percussion instruments being played. The sound was mesmerizing.

The following morning we left for the train station and bought a ticket to Yogyakarta (also called Jogyakarta and Jogja!).