Please visit Yogyakarta

Referring to the letter from Mr. Deddy B. Simanjuntak entitled "Sales pitch for Yogyakarta" in The Jakarta Post on Feb. 3, 1999, I fully agree that places like Yogyakarta are safest for visitors and there is a lot to see. In Yogyakarta one can see places of historical and cultural value such as Borobudur Temple and the magnificent Prambanan, Mendut and Kalasan temples. A visit to Sultan Palace on a Sunday has the added attraction of traditional dances performed by Indonesian artists. There is also, of course, the shopping opportunities. I really feel that places like Yogyakarta are worth visiting and are totally risk free.

While in the city a few days back, I was more than surprised that a becak (pedicab) offered to take me around the city for the whole day for only Rp 4,000. Even the official city tours are very cheap, costing between US$3 to less than $10 for a full-day tour. I agree with Pak Deddy that to really learn about Yogyakarta requires more than just one visit.

P.K. BANSAL

New Delhi, India