After long time no holiday, finally we (I and my husband) have a right time and good budget to travel. We choose Jogja as our destination. So, this is my JOGJA TRIP. Firstly, i would like to tell you a little bit about the city.
Yogyakarta well know as Jogja is a capital city of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta/DIY (Special Administrative Region) Province in Indonesia. Jogja famous for arts and culture such as batik, puppet show (pertunjukan wayang), music gamelan, and etc. Jogja also famous as student’s city for there is one of the best university in Indonesia, that is Gadjah Mada University. Beside that, Jogja also called Gudeg City, you can find gudeg almost everywhere in Jogja.
In Indonesian history, Yogyakarta was the Indonesian capital during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to 1949 (after the fall of Jakarta to the Dutch), with Gedung Agung as the president's office. One of the districts in Yogyakarta. Because of its significant contribution to the survival of the Indonesian Republic, Yogyakarta was given the status of Special Administrative Region, making Yogyakarta the only region headed by a monarchy in Indonesia.
Jogja is an interesting city to explore. we start it from Malioboro Street. This street is the most crowded in Jogja, surrounded by so many hotels, shops, and restaurants. Along the street you also can find some artworks, souvenirs and street singers, that’s good for eyes and mind. Near to this street there is Pasar Beringharjo, The oldest market in Jogja. The other unique things is the traditional transportation such as andong (horse-drawn carriage) and becak (pedicab), it’s brings us back to past time. The crowded is not finish yet, at night you will see so many street restaurant called lesehan selling Javanese traditional foods and drinks.
The next day, we went to Candi Borobudur. This place is my number one reason why i travel to Jogja, I admire it since i was a child with hope someday can go there to visit, and it’s happen now. Actually Candi Borobudur located in Magelang, Central Java Province not in Yogyakarta Special Administrative Region but the access is closer from Jogja than Semarang, the capital city of Central Java.
Candi Borobudur is the biggest budhist temple in the world. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Candi Borobudur was once the seven wonders of the world, but not anymore. Candi Borobudur show us Javanese buddhist architecture, it’s very rich and of course magnificent.
After having a great time in Candi Borubudur, the local people recommend us to go to Goa Pindul (Goa means cave), the new tourist destination located in Beriharjo village, Karangmojo, Gunung Kidul district. Goa pindul managed by the local people of Beriharjo village. Goa pindul help their young men to find a new job as a local guide for tourist. Goa Pindul offers cave tubing, the adventure in the river inside a cave using a lifebelt. We can see an active stalactite and stalagmite with the story inside. We also can see the bats living on the top of the cave. The best time come here is at 11 a.m in dry season. Actually, we didn’t know it before. We came at 2 p.m in rainy season and we found the water a little bit dirty because of the rain. But, nice experience.
In the last day, we went to Kraton of Yogyakarta (kraton means palace). Kraton located in the city of Jogja. Long time ago, The Sultan of Yogyakarta and his family lived here. And now, It serve as cultural center for the Javanese people and contained a museum which display the sultanate's artifacts. Then, we continued to bathing complex of taman sari called Umbul Pasiraman. Long time ago, Umbul Pasiraman was a bathing complex for the royal family. There’s the central tower that was used by the Sultan to observe his concubines bathing in the pool.
After that, we went to alun alun utara also named alun alun kidul. Alun alun is a Javanese architectural term for the large central open lawn squares common to villages, towns and cities in Indonesia. There is two banyan tree in the center of alun alun kidul. Local people believe, its bring goodluck when we can pass through road between two tree with blindfolded. Seems interesting, but unfortunately, i can’t try it because of rainy weather. At night, you can riding bike with so many light (its looklike a car) around alun alun kidul. It is fun and relaxing.
Be happy Always.
