It was Thursday, February 14, 2008. This is vacation at the end of my semester, while graduation is still waiting for another month. Together with two friends of mine, we depart from Jakarta by Taksaka train heading to Yogyakarta. The trips taken within 8 hours by this train. I bought the tickets a day before, it’s fares Rp.180.000 per ticket. The next day, another friend came after from Malang. In Yogyakarta, two of my cousins would accompany us tour around Yogyakarta.
There are several alternatives to go to Yogyakarta beside by train, by an aircraft which only takes 50 minutes flight with tickets costing less than IDR 300,000 or could also use the inter-city bus takes about 12 hours with a ticket price between IDR 50,000 to IDR 100,000.
The first day: Manding.
Because it was Friday, after Friday pray ended we rushed to the center of leather craft industry located in Manding, Bantul. Entering these areas, along roads lined shops selling various leather products with affordable price and the quality are not less good with the same products that are sold in the shops downtown, plus a choice and a variety of models ranging from sandals, shoes, bags, jackets, hats, wallets, belts, and other various trinkets made of leather. The price offered was affordable ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands rupiah depending on the model, but for spending here you should be a good bargain.
The second day: Prambanan Temples and Depok Coast
By using motorcycles to get to Prambanan temples takes about 40 minutes from the house located in the region Wojobaru, southern Jogja ring road. We intentionally through Wonosari road that are not as busy as Solo road, in addition the scenery along this road are still beautiful and soothing eye. Admission to the Prambanan temples complex is IDR 8.000 per person. In this temple complex, the biggetst Hindu temples in South East Asia can be seen which was built around the year 850 AD. There are three main big temples called Trisakti which dedicated to Shiva (God of destroyer), Vishnu (God of preserver), and Brahma (God of Creator). Shiva temple in the middle, contains four rooms, one room in every direction of the wind. While the former contains a ten feet statue of Shiva Batara, the other three statues contain a smaller size, the statue of Durga (wife of Shiva Batara sakti), Agastya (his teacher), and Ganesha (his son).
Two other temples dedicated to Vishnu, facing to the north and the other dedicated to Brahma, which facing to the south. In addition, there are several other small temples dedicated to the cow Nandini (vehicle of Shiva), the Goose (vehicle of Brahma), and Garuda (vehicle of Vishnu).
Read more about Prambanan Temple and Depok Beach
But we can only see this temple from outside the fence because the temples are being restored from the because of the earthquake in 2006 which breakdowned some parts of this temples complex. Out of the Prambanan temples complex we make time for lunch around the temples, only with IDR 5,000 we can already eat pecel (vegetables with peanut sauce) with rice or ‘lontong’ plus one skewer of quail eggs.
After lunch we headed to the next temples complex located in the north of the temples of Prambanan, the Lumbung temple (Granary), Bubrah temple (Debrish), and Sewu temple (Thousand). All three are complex are Buddhist temple but the largest temple is Sewu temple and Bubrah temple was already out of shape and the only form of debris only.
From the east north of Yogyakarta we headed the south Yogyakarta, precisely Depok beach. Here you can see beautiful sunset while playing on the beach. Because Depok itself is fishermans village area, there are many shops that sell seafood off the coast. The price is also very affordable an the atmosphere is very support as well, the price of tuna is only IDR 15,000 per kilogram and it's been cooked. The food is quite diverse ranging from fish, squid, crab, shrimp, mussels, and other.
The third day, the Borobudur Temple.
Travel to the temple of Borobudur takes within 1 hour 30 minutes. It is located in Magelang, 40 km north west of Yogyakarta. About 2 miles before heading Borobudur temple, there is Mendut temple located beside the main road. Borobudur temple can be seen from a distance because it is located on the hill, while the admission IDR 9.000 per person. Because of its location which is above the hill to reach the temple of Borobudur is quite tiring for those who not used to walking away with an uphill track. At Borobudur temple there are 4 levels of each level there are reliefs depicting the story of human life. From the top of the temple can be seen beautiful scenery around the temple consists of hills and valleys. Down from the temple we have a time to buy a traditional drink named "Legen". A drink made of stem coconut flowers water. It’s only a thousand rupiah a glass.
Read more about Borobudur Temple
On the fourth day, Malioboro.
This area is quite famous in the city of Yogyakarta, presenting a shopping tour. Along Malioboro Street lined variety of merchants, ranging from clothes, souvenirs, handicrafts, foods, and others. We also briefly stopped by the Mirota Batik. This 2-storey shop presents various items of traditional knick-knacks, can say that almost the merchandise at Malioboro are also sold here.
Fifth day, the Palace of the Sultan.
Poorly, we only got to go to the "Porch" of this Pallace because it has been closed since 14:30, so if you want to visit the Palace, came before it time closed. The tickets themselves is only IDR 3.000 per person. Here can be seen a variety of the palace army shirts at the front door, then there is Siti Hinggil wards used for the coronation of Sultan (king) and reliefs of Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX struggle against the Dutch colonialists. From there we went to the residence of the Sultan X, who still lives until now. To enter we had to buy a ticket IDR 5.000 per person. In the sultan's residence there are many relics from the Sultan II until the present, Sultan X. At the entrance there is a chicken cage that is used for the ceremony off the ground, the ceremony for children who are starting to learn to walk. In one room there is a bed made of silver. Behind the house there is a gamelan which only rung at certain times.
Read more about Sultan Palace
We only had a time to visit those beautiful places. Actually there are more beautiful places such as Taman Sari Water Palace, Goa Cermai, Parang Tritis beach, Parang Wedang (hot spring water) which located near Parang Tritis, Baron Beach, Ratu Boko Temple, water fall of Kaliurang at the foothill of mount Merapi and many other great places to visit in Yogyakarta.
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