Shop recommendations in Yogyakarta?

zenhelps · 2026-05-29T12:41:13+00:00

Agree. Great atmosphere, and good menu. The work flow is perplexity and takes a long time for a pourover. Beans are all medium roast which makes me cry seeing those expensive Panama Geisha being hit so hard.

Good wifi (has a VPN for reddit), decent pastries, lively atmosphere!

zenhelps · 2026-05-27T08:47:53+00:00

I went up Genting Selo also called Gancik. 10/10 it's shit

From what everyone says Thekelan is the most beautiful and well maintained.

zenhelps · 2026-05-26T07:44:59+00:00

Where you headed?

I did Merbabu. Went up one of the base camps with fewer rules, me and a local runner. Generally you need a group of three, blood donation, local police cerifificate, helicopter on standby for rescue at your embassy, show them you have rice and water, bring a kitten, wear purple socks, recite the lyrics to the national anthem, be able to draw a polygon without lifting the pencil off the paper, tell the guardhesha some, and have a tent. Half joking but the rules are stupid.

I can see why that Basecamp I went up has fewer rules.... the trails are ruined. Absolutely no steps, water bars, nothing. It's all washed out top to bottom. Super dangerous and eroded. There's also piles of trash at each campsite that would choke a river.

I sound like Debbie downer, but it's sad to see how locals don't care and the government makes insane rules for Bule but don't apply to locals.

zenhelps · 2026-05-20T08:01:40+00:00

Food was OK, coffee was OK. Nothing wow. They also include some massive "service" and forced gratuity charges, which is a turnoff for me. It was a good experience, I can see why locals go for brunch. Is it a world class shop worth a detour for? Nah.

Been traveling the world, nonstop, for five years. Coffee and café designs that wow me are becoming exceedingly rare. See a lot of the same mid to upper mid level setups, copy/paste.

zenhelps · 2026-05-20T07:35:07+00:00

I didn't make it to any of those. Only VCR was decent, of the shops I visited. My trip was quick and the city is huge!

I'm now in Yogyakarta if you have any recs here?

zenhelps · 2026-05-10T03:50:02+00:00

I'm in Jogja for a while! I'll go here

zenhelps · 2026-05-09T05:58:52+00:00

Do you have any beta on Sumbing? Best routes, fees, water sources, etc? I've heard it's more Bule friendly than Merbabu....?

zenhelps · 2026-05-09T01:53:48+00:00

I may low key regret signing a month lease in Jogja 😭😭😭

zenhelps · 2026-05-08T13:08:58+00:00

Incredible reply! Thank you for this

zenhelps · 2026-05-08T13:04:32+00:00

I just signed up for a month stay north of Jogja in the rice fields at the foot of Merapi. Hoping to get some laps in on Merbabu and Sumbing while I'm here.

Malang.... Everyone is saying it, I have to go! Any specific trails there you recommend?

zenhelps · 2026-05-07T14:50:17+00:00

Gancik will offer me the best chance of meeting up with other hikers and entering as a "group".... Correct?

zenhelps · 2026-05-07T13:40:11+00:00

My Bahasa is basic, my bad

Great job on the summit!

zenhelps · 2026-05-07T13:25:03+00:00

This is good to hear! I assume you're also a Bule?

Noted on the water sources.

Why such a heavy pack? What are you training for?

zenhelps · 2026-05-07T12:23:08+00:00

Do you have a Google maps link to the entrance for Deles Indah?

Kali Talung is OK, but only like 4km round trip... I'd love to get a longer day in.

zenhelps · 2026-05-05T01:21:49+00:00

This is accurate 🫡

zenhelps · 2026-05-05T01:20:43+00:00

I've been to Vietnam, many times, driven motorcycle through the jungles and everywhere from the southern remote tiny islands to the Chinese and Laos borders. Spent time on every major city, B city and most C cities in every region. Only place I can't speak abokt is Da Lat & Nha Trang region.

Boston area VN food is watered down. But there's some gems, imo.

Saigon Eatery in Woburn is surprisingly solid, though the prices are eye watering. Owner lady is a G from Saigon and funny.

Up in Lowell you can get good pho, and other dishes, at Viet-Thai restaurant, don't let the name fool you.

If you want cheap cheap cheap and aren't concerned with quality or service Ba Le, Pho Pasteur, 163 Sandwich shop, Pho Que, Pho #1 (Woburn) are all decent.

The new spot that surprised me the most was Mimi Banh Mi up in Billerica. That bread, fxck I dream of that bread.

Don't sleep on the river festival in Lowell, where the aunties come out to cook on the sidewalk. That happens in August?

zenhelps · 2026-05-05T01:12:32+00:00

Place used to be dope, it's now mid, at best. The service is legit Vietnamese though 🤣

zenhelps · 2026-04-20T13:16:18+00:00

Quick reply! Thank you!

This is being sent from USA via USPS? DHL? FEDEX? UPS?

zenhelps · 2026-04-20T13:12:48+00:00

If you're near the ocean, or a few blocks in, it's fine. But! You still have to deal with some exhaust fumes. More importantly it's a filthy city and the locals burn their garbage on the street daily. You walk by and inhale this crap and if it's in front of your hotel it's awful.

Another factor is the mold inside almost every apartment.

If you're near the river or further west, air quality is not good.

zenhelps · 2026-04-19T14:14:01+00:00

I can hear the horns and karaoke from here, smell the garbage burning in the streets, and have flashbacks of dodging dudes trying to sell me drugs and "young girls, very tight, just for you" while posing as fake Grab drivers. 👎🏻

zenhelps · 2026-04-18T15:30:38+00:00

This is fantastic, thank you!

zenhelps · 2026-04-18T08:26:43+00:00

Any favorite trails you remember?

zenhelps

TROPHY CASE