i'm back.... for Jogja
I'm back from Yogyakarta and Jakarta. It was a fascinating, mesmerizing but tiring vacation. After all it’s an experience, right!.
Day 1 – From KLIA to Yogyakarta (or they pronounce it as Jogjakarta/Jogja). Flight was Garuda, a little bit scary with all the news/stories about Indonesian Airliner and the landing was bad. Alhamdulillah, touchdown! From the airport (Bandara), I already arrange a transfer to the hotel. We were staying in Sheraton Mustika at Jln Adisujipta, very near to the airport. But I would not recommend this hotel unless you are on your honeymoon! Reached hotel after 5pm and almost dark. Trying to get a dinner at nearby restaurant but non-was up to my liking, so we had dinner at the hotel, but it’s not advisable. (tak sedap, I prefer food in Bandung)…
Sheraton Mustika
Suggestion for other hotel: 5* - Novotel, Melia Purosani – Others, please visit www.yogyes.com
Day 2 – Travel to Malioboro using hotel shuttle service. Bought a train ticket, Executive Rp200,000 (very expensive), Argo Lawu to Jakarta on September 11th, 2005 at 09:00am. Right after that, we stop by at one of the travel agent in Malioboro and booked a tour package to Borobudur, Kaliurang, Prambanan & Kotagede. Only cost Rp50,000 per person for tomorrow morning. After that we get into a tricycle (beca, I don’t know what they call) and visited The Kraton (Hadiningrat Palace), the latest Sultan still live in that Kraton, Water Castle (Taman Sari) & around the town… Stop by at their shopping complex, we had our lunch at the Japanese food stall ‘Teppanyaki’ and bought some snacks. I was trying very hard to like their local food, especially Gudek but can’t take it… We took a cab back to the hotel. Dinner in the room… haha, guess what, Maggie mee cepat dimasak, sedap dimakan!!
The Kraton
Taman Sari (Water Castle)
Day 3 – Wake up very early in the morning coz tour start at 8:00am to the 1st destination, Borobudur. About 1 hour to reach the place from Sheraton. 8 pax joint the tour inclusive two foreigners (I also foreigner kan) in one van. The entrance fee for foreigner USD10 (approx. Rp90,000) but as for local only Rp7000 (if I’m not mistaken). To see Borobudur from far was spectacular, magnificent, and so beautiful.
Borobudur is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in the world and it is listed as The World Wonder Heritage. The monument is the biggest Buddhist temple of the world and it had been acclaimed by the world as a cultural heritage mankind that are the most frequently visited by over a million domestic as well as by foreign visitors up to now. The inspired structure have very often given risen to question e.g. when, in what way, during how long time and by whom the sanctuary had been built.
Borobudur
The right answers up to now remain a mystery since no written documents had been found so far. Based on the brief inscription most scholars that Borobudur was built around the 8th century when Samaratungga – King of Cailendra Dynasty ruled Central Java. The meaning of Borobudur remains vague. It is a compound of words Bara and Budur. Bara from Sanskrit has a meaning of complex of the temples or monasteries. While Budur reminds us the Balinese word Beduhur, which means above. Accordingly, Borobudur means monastery on the hill.
Borobudur is the soul of art, culture and philosophy.
We have been given two hours for this visit but the two foreign ladies took their own sweet time and we got to wait for another hour. Due to the delay, visit to Kotagede has been cancel but we visited one of the silversmith shops on our way out from Borobudur. I bought a silver brooch cost Rp150,000. Nice and beautiful. The two foreign ladies again delay for the next departure.
After that we headed to Kaliurang, on the slopes of Mt. Merapi, surrounded by an enchanting countryside and a place to view Mt. Merapi, the active volcano. I can have the view from the balcony of my hotel. Mount Merapi is the most active, and has had at least twelve eruptions that killed people. The name Merapi means "Mountain of Fire". The volcano is considered sacred and every year a priest climbs to the top to make an offering. To know about this more, check: Mt.Merapi
Mount Merapi, view from Kaliurang
It’s already 3pm before we reached Prambanan Temples. Before that, we had our late lunch in one of the small restaurant “warung makan”. In Prambanan the entrance fee is the same… but the driver suggested me to joint the local coz I look alike them. Kan saya ni mixed Malaysia & Indonesia… hehe… My great grandfather is from Java. So I paid only Rp7000… Why can’t he tell me the same in Borobudur? I can save a lot.
Prambanan Temple
Prambanan is a beautiful and fertile region. In ancient time, it was the place where the capital of a Kingdom – now known as “Kraton Boko” – stood. But it is pity that the ruins of the palace cannot give any hint about the existence of the Kingdom and those who had reigned there. A clearer hint is from Kalasan’s inscription which was written in “pra nagari” characters, dated from AD 778. This was clarified in the inscription of Raja Balitung from the year of AD 907. Raja Balitung’s inscription mentions the pedigree of the kings who reigned in that period. It was the period when the Sanjaya dynasty reigned. Their religion was Hinduism.
at Prambanan
Simultaneously, during that very period, the dynasty Sailendra, whose religion was Buddhism, was also blooming. This Sailendra dynasty had been closely related to the Kingdom of Sriwijaya in Palembang. At that particular time, Buddhism reached its peak and left many grand monuments which still stand to the present time.
Prambanan Temple, as it is known nowadays, is a name given to the complex of several sanctuaries of Siwa. In fact, it is more accurate to call Siwa’s Temple (Candi Siwa) according to the real character of the temples. Some of sanctuaries in the complex have been restored, but most of them are in ruins.
That’s the end of the visit for today. The driver sends us back to the hotel. Going to the SPA for sauna. Another Maggie for dinner tonight… I love Maggie more then their Gudek.
Day 4 – We took hotel shuttle service to Malioboro, coz our plan for today is Parangtritis. At first I thought Parangtritis Beach is very near from town and when I saw the tour package cost about Rp75,000 per pax, I thought it’s not reasonable. That is why the plan was to take a cab from Malioboro to Parangtritis. In the cab, we view beautiful villages and sceneries along the way. After about 15 minutes, we ask the cab driver, “Ini jalan ke Parangtritis ya Pak, kenapa jauh bangat ye Pak?” He told us, “E ya, ada lagi 20 kilo (km), emang nya Parangtritis di Selatan kan, lagi jauh..” Almost the same with tour package price.
Parangtritis is a seaside 27km south of Yogyakarta on the Indian Ocean. According to Javanese mythology, the Goddess of the South Seas, Nyai Roro Kidul or Ratu Kidul, was married to Panembahan Senopati who founded the Mataram Kingdom. Since that time every year the sultans of Yogyakarta have made special offerings to her in a beach-side ceremony called “Labuhan”. Swimming along the seashore is not allowed because its waves are not too friendly.
Parangtritis Beach
It is suggested that visitors should not be in green in Parangtritis beach to give respect to the local inhabitants’ belief. They are afraid of calamity befalling ones who are wearing green clothes.
The cab driver sends us back to the hotel. We went into the sauna at Taman Sari SPA. We had a special dinner by the pool for our last night in Sheraton Mustika, Yogyakarta. It was tiring but beautiful experience. An early night today coz tomorrow we have to wake up early for our departure to Jakarta via train.
Day 5 – After breakfast, check-out and take a cab to Train Station in Malioboro. Our train is at 9:00am to Jakarta. The train experience was okay; they served plain-not so nice-smell likes jamu-tea for the passengers. But they do have menu and taking orders if anybody wants to eat anything. After half of the journey, they served meal, which I did not touch at all (I don’t have the appetite), and another plain-not so nice-smell likes jamu-tea just before we reach Jakarta Station Gambir. We took a blue-bird cab to the Crown Plaza hotel, beside Semanggi Shopping Complex.
Train Station
In side the train - Argo Lawu
Lots of hotels in Jakarta, you’ll have a choices from 5* - 3* or budget hotels.
We had our dinner at Semanggi, Hoka-Hoka Bento my favorite.
Day 6 – Not much activities here, because I need to relax after a hectic vacations in Jogja. We had breakfast in hotel and lunch at Semanggi. I’ve booked SPA at Taman Sari Mustika at Jln Wahid Hasyim (not far from Sarinah) at 5:30pm. I call my friend Finaz to joint us for the massage. We took a bus (the latest transportation in Jakarta) to Sarinah and walk to Taman Sari. Met my friend Finaz, but she got to leave early after the massage. We choose the 2 hours SPA package but exceeded 3 hours. Wow… nice massage! After the SPA, we headed to Sari Pan Pacific for our dinner. Seafood & Sashimi Dinner… Too full!! This is on-the-house dinner, coz my friend knows someone.
Day 7 – Again breakfast & lunch in the hotel. Relaxing and reading a book in the hotel. I read Dan Brown’s book, Digital Fortress and watched TV. We had our dinner at Planet Hollywood.
Day 8 – Last day in Jakarta, leave the hotel after 4pm to catch our return flight at 6:30pm. Arrived KLIA at 9:30pm…
Day 1 – From KLIA to Yogyakarta (or they pronounce it as Jogjakarta/Jogja). Flight was Garuda, a little bit scary with all the news/stories about Indonesian Airliner and the landing was bad. Alhamdulillah, touchdown! From the airport (Bandara), I already arrange a transfer to the hotel. We were staying in Sheraton Mustika at Jln Adisujipta, very near to the airport. But I would not recommend this hotel unless you are on your honeymoon! Reached hotel after 5pm and almost dark. Trying to get a dinner at nearby restaurant but non-was up to my liking, so we had dinner at the hotel, but it’s not advisable. (tak sedap, I prefer food in Bandung)…
Sheraton Mustika
Suggestion for other hotel: 5* - Novotel, Melia Purosani – Others, please visit www.yogyes.com
Day 2 – Travel to Malioboro using hotel shuttle service. Bought a train ticket, Executive Rp200,000 (very expensive), Argo Lawu to Jakarta on September 11th, 2005 at 09:00am. Right after that, we stop by at one of the travel agent in Malioboro and booked a tour package to Borobudur, Kaliurang, Prambanan & Kotagede. Only cost Rp50,000 per person for tomorrow morning. After that we get into a tricycle (beca, I don’t know what they call) and visited The Kraton (Hadiningrat Palace), the latest Sultan still live in that Kraton, Water Castle (Taman Sari) & around the town… Stop by at their shopping complex, we had our lunch at the Japanese food stall ‘Teppanyaki’ and bought some snacks. I was trying very hard to like their local food, especially Gudek but can’t take it… We took a cab back to the hotel. Dinner in the room… haha, guess what, Maggie mee cepat dimasak, sedap dimakan!!
The Kraton
Taman Sari (Water Castle)
Day 3 – Wake up very early in the morning coz tour start at 8:00am to the 1st destination, Borobudur. About 1 hour to reach the place from Sheraton. 8 pax joint the tour inclusive two foreigners (I also foreigner kan) in one van. The entrance fee for foreigner USD10 (approx. Rp90,000) but as for local only Rp7000 (if I’m not mistaken). To see Borobudur from far was spectacular, magnificent, and so beautiful.
Borobudur is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in the world and it is listed as The World Wonder Heritage. The monument is the biggest Buddhist temple of the world and it had been acclaimed by the world as a cultural heritage mankind that are the most frequently visited by over a million domestic as well as by foreign visitors up to now. The inspired structure have very often given risen to question e.g. when, in what way, during how long time and by whom the sanctuary had been built.
Borobudur
The right answers up to now remain a mystery since no written documents had been found so far. Based on the brief inscription most scholars that Borobudur was built around the 8th century when Samaratungga – King of Cailendra Dynasty ruled Central Java. The meaning of Borobudur remains vague. It is a compound of words Bara and Budur. Bara from Sanskrit has a meaning of complex of the temples or monasteries. While Budur reminds us the Balinese word Beduhur, which means above. Accordingly, Borobudur means monastery on the hill.
Borobudur is the soul of art, culture and philosophy.
We have been given two hours for this visit but the two foreign ladies took their own sweet time and we got to wait for another hour. Due to the delay, visit to Kotagede has been cancel but we visited one of the silversmith shops on our way out from Borobudur. I bought a silver brooch cost Rp150,000. Nice and beautiful. The two foreign ladies again delay for the next departure.
After that we headed to Kaliurang, on the slopes of Mt. Merapi, surrounded by an enchanting countryside and a place to view Mt. Merapi, the active volcano. I can have the view from the balcony of my hotel. Mount Merapi is the most active, and has had at least twelve eruptions that killed people. The name Merapi means "Mountain of Fire". The volcano is considered sacred and every year a priest climbs to the top to make an offering. To know about this more, check: Mt.Merapi
Mount Merapi, view from Kaliurang
It’s already 3pm before we reached Prambanan Temples. Before that, we had our late lunch in one of the small restaurant “warung makan”. In Prambanan the entrance fee is the same… but the driver suggested me to joint the local coz I look alike them. Kan saya ni mixed Malaysia & Indonesia… hehe… My great grandfather is from Java. So I paid only Rp7000… Why can’t he tell me the same in Borobudur? I can save a lot.
Prambanan Temple
Prambanan is a beautiful and fertile region. In ancient time, it was the place where the capital of a Kingdom – now known as “Kraton Boko” – stood. But it is pity that the ruins of the palace cannot give any hint about the existence of the Kingdom and those who had reigned there. A clearer hint is from Kalasan’s inscription which was written in “pra nagari” characters, dated from AD 778. This was clarified in the inscription of Raja Balitung from the year of AD 907. Raja Balitung’s inscription mentions the pedigree of the kings who reigned in that period. It was the period when the Sanjaya dynasty reigned. Their religion was Hinduism.
at Prambanan
Simultaneously, during that very period, the dynasty Sailendra, whose religion was Buddhism, was also blooming. This Sailendra dynasty had been closely related to the Kingdom of Sriwijaya in Palembang. At that particular time, Buddhism reached its peak and left many grand monuments which still stand to the present time.
Prambanan Temple, as it is known nowadays, is a name given to the complex of several sanctuaries of Siwa. In fact, it is more accurate to call Siwa’s Temple (Candi Siwa) according to the real character of the temples. Some of sanctuaries in the complex have been restored, but most of them are in ruins.
That’s the end of the visit for today. The driver sends us back to the hotel. Going to the SPA for sauna. Another Maggie for dinner tonight… I love Maggie more then their Gudek.
Day 4 – We took hotel shuttle service to Malioboro, coz our plan for today is Parangtritis. At first I thought Parangtritis Beach is very near from town and when I saw the tour package cost about Rp75,000 per pax, I thought it’s not reasonable. That is why the plan was to take a cab from Malioboro to Parangtritis. In the cab, we view beautiful villages and sceneries along the way. After about 15 minutes, we ask the cab driver, “Ini jalan ke Parangtritis ya Pak, kenapa jauh bangat ye Pak?” He told us, “E ya, ada lagi 20 kilo (km), emang nya Parangtritis di Selatan kan, lagi jauh..” Almost the same with tour package price.
Parangtritis is a seaside 27km south of Yogyakarta on the Indian Ocean. According to Javanese mythology, the Goddess of the South Seas, Nyai Roro Kidul or Ratu Kidul, was married to Panembahan Senopati who founded the Mataram Kingdom. Since that time every year the sultans of Yogyakarta have made special offerings to her in a beach-side ceremony called “Labuhan”. Swimming along the seashore is not allowed because its waves are not too friendly.
Parangtritis Beach
It is suggested that visitors should not be in green in Parangtritis beach to give respect to the local inhabitants’ belief. They are afraid of calamity befalling ones who are wearing green clothes.
The cab driver sends us back to the hotel. We went into the sauna at Taman Sari SPA. We had a special dinner by the pool for our last night in Sheraton Mustika, Yogyakarta. It was tiring but beautiful experience. An early night today coz tomorrow we have to wake up early for our departure to Jakarta via train.
Day 5 – After breakfast, check-out and take a cab to Train Station in Malioboro. Our train is at 9:00am to Jakarta. The train experience was okay; they served plain-not so nice-smell likes jamu-tea for the passengers. But they do have menu and taking orders if anybody wants to eat anything. After half of the journey, they served meal, which I did not touch at all (I don’t have the appetite), and another plain-not so nice-smell likes jamu-tea just before we reach Jakarta Station Gambir. We took a blue-bird cab to the Crown Plaza hotel, beside Semanggi Shopping Complex.
Train Station
In side the train - Argo Lawu
Lots of hotels in Jakarta, you’ll have a choices from 5* - 3* or budget hotels.
We had our dinner at Semanggi, Hoka-Hoka Bento my favorite.
Day 6 – Not much activities here, because I need to relax after a hectic vacations in Jogja. We had breakfast in hotel and lunch at Semanggi. I’ve booked SPA at Taman Sari Mustika at Jln Wahid Hasyim (not far from Sarinah) at 5:30pm. I call my friend Finaz to joint us for the massage. We took a bus (the latest transportation in Jakarta) to Sarinah and walk to Taman Sari. Met my friend Finaz, but she got to leave early after the massage. We choose the 2 hours SPA package but exceeded 3 hours. Wow… nice massage! After the SPA, we headed to Sari Pan Pacific for our dinner. Seafood & Sashimi Dinner… Too full!! This is on-the-house dinner, coz my friend knows someone.
Day 7 – Again breakfast & lunch in the hotel. Relaxing and reading a book in the hotel. I read Dan Brown’s book, Digital Fortress and watched TV. We had our dinner at Planet Hollywood.
Day 8 – Last day in Jakarta, leave the hotel after 4pm to catch our return flight at 6:30pm. Arrived KLIA at 9:30pm…
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