Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Angkringan Lik Man-Yogyakarta

Angkringan is food stall selling rice, side dishes and drinks at very cheap prices. Angkringan Lik Man, named after the owner, is managed by the son of Grandpa Pairo who was the first angkringan seller in Yogyakarta. Serving special drink, namely Kopi Joss or Coffee Joss, this place once was the place for spending the night by some popular leaders of Indonesia.
Angkringan Lik Man, Spending Your Night in Yogyakarta with Kopi Joss

Do you know a famous place in Yogyakarta where university students, cyber communities such as bloggers and chatters, journalists, artists, pedicab drivers, and even hookers get relax and involved in a warm conversation? When you studied in this student city, where did you usually hold a discussion with your friends about your paper's themes of tasks? One of the places you mention must be angkringan Lik Man that is located at the north of Tugu railway station. It is understandable since the place is famous with Yogyakarta communities. No formal rules apply in this place but tolerance where people are willing to shares space, for example, and to aware of each other's feeling.


Parangtritis-Yogyakarta

PARANGTRITIS BEACH
The Most Popular Beach in Yogyakarta

Parangtritis is located 27 km south of Yogyakarta and easily accessible by public transportation that operate up to 17:00pm as well as private vehicles. The afternoon before sunset is the best time to visit this most popular beach in Yogyakarta. But if you arrive sooner, it will not hurt for going up to Tebing Gembirawati (Gembirawati cliffs) behind this beach. From there, we can see the whole area of Parangtritis Beach, southern sea, up to the horizon.

Psst, YogYES will tell a secret. Not many people know that on the east side of this clifft, hidden temple ruins. Unlike the other temples located in a mountainous area, Gembirawati Temple is only a few hundred meters from the edge of Parangtritis Beach. To reach this temple, we can pass road uphill near the Hotel Queen of the South and then go down the path to the west for approximately 100 meters. Faintly roar of the ferocious waves of the southern sea could be heard from this temple.

Parangtritis Beach is very closely related to the legend of Ratu Kidul (Queen of South). Many Javanese people believe that Parangtritis Beach is the gate of Ratu Kidul’s magical kingdom who controls the southern sea. Hotel Queen of the South is a luxurious resort that is named according to this the legend. Unfortunately the resort is now rarely, whereas it used to have a view that could make us breathless.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Malioboro-Yogyakarta

MALIOBORO

Down The Road of Flower Bouquet and Souvenir Paradise in The Heart of Jogja

The sun was beating down as thousands of people crowded along Malioboro street. They did not just stand on the sidewalk but they ran over up to the road. The atmosphere was so noisy and hectic. Bubbling laughter, screaming car horns, the strains of gamelan cassette, up to shouting traders selling food and toys for children blended into one. After waiting for hours, finally, the expected carnival troupe appeared. Started by Bregada Prajurit Lombok Abang, royal carriage convoy began to walk slowly. All squeezing wanted to see the couple of GKR Bendara and KPH Yudhanegara who continuosly waved and spreaded a friendly smile.
That scene was seen as the party of Kirab Pawiwahan Ageng of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X's youngest daughter from Yogyakarta Palace headed to Bangsal Kepatihan. Thousands of people crammed filling Malioboro Street that stretches from north to south. In Sanskrit, Malioboro means flower bouquets because in the ancient times when the Palace held an event, a mile-long road would be filled with flower bouquets. Although time passed and the era has changed, Malioboro position as the main street where a variety of carnival and celebration being held has never changed. Until now Malioboro, Vredeburg Fort, and Zero Point remain a venue for a variety of carnival starting from the event of Jogja Java Carnival, Chinese Cultural Week, Yogyakarta Arts Festival, Carnival Malioboro, and many others.

Klewer Market-Solo


KLEWER MARKET - The Legendary Batik Market


As people said, during the colonial era Klewer Market was a train station. People also used this place to sell merchandises to the train passengers; therefore, it was called Slompretan Market. The word slompretan comes from slompret (means trumpet) because the departing train’s sound is almost similar to the sound of the trumpet blown. Slompretan Market was also thronged by merchants who sell their textile products such as batik. These merchants sold their batik by carrying them on their back/shoulders and the batik looked dangling (klewer). Later, this market is well-known as Klewer Market - dangling market.
In 1970s, this market was renovated into a huge two stories permanent building. This market accommodates two thousand kiosks and the buyers would feel more comfortable to shop because of the wide stairs giving more open space.