stay: In the area between JI. Ahmad Dahlan and the little lane Gang Keprabon Wetan (right off JI. Slamet Riyadi), you'll find the cheapest and most convenient accommodation, only 6 minutes walk from the G.P.O. Also lots of good places to eat in this area. Pang. Timur, down the alleyway right next to Hotel Central, is Rp350. A small, Javanese traders' hostel, very quiet with a nice long sitting room. Ask Murdi if you can borrow or rent his pushbike. Hotel Wigati, Gang Keprabon Wetan IV/14, Rp500 single or double, Rp700 for a larger single or double. A maze of rooms, food is served by vendors in the halls all day long. But probably the best cheap hotel in Solo is called 'The Westerners' found 50 m down the lane exactly opposite the Bata Shoe Store on JI. Secoydan; run by Muswardi. Quiet, laundry space and kitchen, Rp400 single.

Very good deal, and can rent pushbikes there. There are other hotels close to the train station, though a bit far from the center of town, Rp100 by becak. Hotel Jayakarta, J l. Balapan 122, Rp1270 single or double (cheapest rooms) on up to Rp2300; very plush. Down the lane next to Hotel Jayakarta, the best one is San Francisco, JI. Marjurjo Kulon 8, Rp750 single or double. Also try Hotel Wismantara in the vicinity of the train station on JI. Pasarnongko 53, Rp1500 double or single, quiet clean and comfortable with a bathroom in each room. Hotel Soeboer, on JI. Gadjah Mada 172; near the RR station; new, clean, and each room has a bath; Rp1500 single or double.