Day 3

On our 3rd day in Jogja, since this is the last day, we all trying to make the best of our trip.

• Starting the day with breakfast in bed at the hotel, we start the day by visiting Vredeburg museum. At the first the only purpose is to take a photo in front of the museum, but when we find out that the ticket is only Rp 750 we all decided to go in. We’re quite surprised, compared to the cheap entry ticket price; the museum has so many things to offer. With a well maintained building, the museum share stories on Indonesian independence against Japan dan Dutch colonialization, and some of Youth movement during Indonesian early years after Independence Day. The stories are well presented using a 3D media called Diorama.

• After the museum, my wife still has some things to buy, so we decided to visit the famous Beringharjo Market. At the market, we manage to buy one batik bed sheet, and for me I bought a small pillow for shoulder rest to be place in my car. This is the only thing that I bought for myself while we’re there.
• We went back to the hotel at around 11.30 am, me and my son just stayed at the room to have a little rest before going back to Surabaya. While we are in the room, my wife visited another store to buy a jilbab, gosh,,,,she has a lot of energy when it comes to shopping

• At 1 pm, we started our journey back to Surabaya. We decided to avoid the Magetan route, and choose to pass Ngawi. The journey is a very scary and tiring one because it rained all the way from Jogja to Surabaya.
• On the way back, we stop by at a restaurant called Rakitos at Nganjuk; a very fine place to have dinner and have my legs stretched.
• Arriving at Surabaya at around 12 pm, the journey was so tiring. Bravo to my wife who is always trying to stay awake to accompany me in my first long distance drive.

Day 2

After having a rest at the hotel, our 2nd day in Jogja is full with so many agenda;

• Early in the morning (6.30 am), I rushed to go to enjoy Malioboro street atmosphere. One of the reasons why we went to Jogja is when I visited the place around 8 years ago with my friends; I really enjoy looking at people preparing their store in the morning. But this time I failed to experience the atmosphere. Malioboro street felt just the same like any other street that day. I don’t know, whether it’s me or the street that has changed

• After having breakfast at the hotel, all of us went to see Kraton. Habibi is asking to ride delman. After hard bargain with the Kusir, the agreed price is Rp. 35.000 to visit places like: Dagadu Store, Sultan residence, Back side of Kraton, Bakpia place, and back to alun-alun. My son was so happy finally he can get on to Delman, but the trip was then a very short and strange one.
• The first stop is to a store that sells T-Shirt; the Kusir told us that this store is the one that sells Dagadu’s original. My wife bought a shirt at a place. Second stop is the small warung near the street selling Bakpia,,,,hahaha, I laughed to myself. I thought that Kusir will take us to the ‘Pusat Oleh-Oleh’ that is especially sold Bakpia. Get real,,,If it’s only warung, everyone can go to that place. Third stop is to across the back of Kraton seeing the famous twin Beringin treeAnd back to the alun-alun. The trip was so short, and we are wondering, are we just being tricked by the Kusir. We didn’t discuss this further to keep the holiday mood on.

• The next place is to see the inside of the Kraton. Another offer comes to us, and this time it’s from the Becak’s driver. He offers a Rp 5.000 ride to visit Sultan’s residence, Royal Train museum, and another Dagadu store.
• The visit to Museum was very short, it’s only like 50 meters away, we had a great time seeing the Royal Train that is used by Royal family for many occasion. I also notice that one particular train is gold plated. We didn’t enter to Sultan Residence, the ticket is quite expensive; Rp. 20.000, since there’s no guarantee that we will see Sultan or the royal family there ;). The next stop is to a store that is (again) claimed another store that sell original Dagadu T-shirt. The becak driver said that the Kusir tricked us, the previous store is fake, and this is the original one. Still, we’re not sure which one is the original.
• After this, we hurried back to the Hotel to get some rest and I also need to go to the mosque for Friday prayer
• Its lunch time, after a bad dinner, we decided to travel around the city to look for lunch. After spending around half an hour driving, my wife pointed out a place that looks interesting. It’s a small pasta and bakery shop, which also offers local Indonesian food. We decided to try the Nasi Timbel. It turns out that we had a good lunch. Small inconvenience happens when the meals come without sambal. The waitress said that they’re running out Sambal and replace it with tomato sauce. After I insist, they finally made and give us the sambal. I’m sure you’re all agree that sambal is a very important thing when it comes to eating Nasi Timbel.
• Back to Hotel at around 3.30 pm, we start to visit the famous Malioboro Street on 4 pm.Since my wife has so many shopping list, I decided to accompany my son who are asking to enter stores that is equipped with an air conditioner and left my wife do the shopping
• The shopping finish at around 7 pm and we closed the day by having Pempek as dinner somewhere near UGM campus

Surabaya - Jogja Trip

May 13th – 15th, 2010

Our family first (long and far) trip is to Jogja. Why Jogja, my wife and me agreed that we miss Jogja’s atmosphere, where people are still practicing Javanese culture. We miss the attitude, honesty and humbleness.

This is the first trip that we have using our own car, not by plane or train. This is why also I called the trip my first long distance drive (700 km)

Day 1

• Leave home at 09 am
• Route has been planned using the map that we bought a week earlier
• Always a great feeling seeing city gates like Welcome to Nganjuk, You are Leaving Jombang – City of Adipura and many more
• At the afternoon, on around 2 pm we arrive at Magetan, and in a moment we realize that the roads are getting smaller and climbing. We’ve just found out that if we choose the shortest route, we will pass Lawu Mountain. The view was excellent, roads are covered with fog. We decided to stop by to have some lunch. The menu is rabbit satay with dark tea.

• After experiencing problems with finding a correct way in Solo and Sukoharjo, finally arrived at Jogja at 6 pm.
• At sometime around 7 or 8 pm we look for the hotel and decided to stay at Mitra Hotel. A simple hotel that cost us Rp 200.000/night or around US$ 20/night
• The hotel was nice, with that price, it’s equipped with air conditioning, hot water and TV (no cabel)
• Eating dinner at the closest ‘lesehan’ near the hotel, gosh,,,,having Gudeg for Rp.15.000 and Roasted duck for Rp. 20.000,,,this is expensive, but since we’re so tired, and no energy to do the bargain, we decided to accept it as the way it is.