Jogja, entah untuk yang keberapa kalinya ...

It is untold how many I've been to Jogja. Yeah, it's never bored to go there, even though the city has been changed a bit (or more?). And it's been a while I do not visit this city which is very well-known with its Javanese cultural heritage and many attractive tourism destinations.

Yet, last month (11-12 of June), my friends and I went there by motorbikes. We had planned it since a month earlier, we wanted to celebrate our finished final test for this term. There were 5 bikes with two passengers on it. I ride my black Mio as usual :)

We left Salatiga at 2 p.m and preferred the Kopeng road. Well,  it was kinda tiring do to its mountainous and winding road, but it's worth! We could see the fresh and beautiful sceneries of Merbabu Mountain and the far-little part of Merapi Vulcano. After passing the busy highway of Magelang, finally we entered the city of Jogja. It was almost dusk when we arrived in the famous Malioboro Street.

We left our stuff at a guest house (actually it was one of our friend's home).
The following are some places and activities we did there!

South Square (Alun-Alun Kidul)
The South Square is an area at the back part of the Sultan's Palace. It has totally changed. I mean the entertainment it offers. Actually one of my friend wanted to try the Masangin challenge, namely walking through two banyan trees in the middle of the square with your eyes being closed. The belief says that those who successfully do it will get unlimited blessing. However, do not try to peep since you will enter to other world so that it is difficult for you to return to the real world! The ritual of going through between two banyan trees is not mystical but it is means of saying our prayer to God. The answering of the prayer will depend on one's belief. At last, we all tried this challenge.

 Three of my friends tried the challenge

 Girls wanted to try the decorated semi-bike-cart vehicle (back), we should paddling ourselves!

At certain occasion, you can see leather puppet performance in Sasono Hinggil Dwi Abad, the building that is located adjacent to the South Square. Unfortunately it was not held at the time we were there.

Malioboro Street at Night
After having dinner, we continued our journey to Malioboro Street. It was extremely crowded due to the holiday season. In addition, there were a lot of events held along this street, especially at the Vredeburg Fort and the President Palace.

   

The girls did some shopping the next day, there are plenty supply of Batik and many other arts and cultural stuffs.

Baron Beach
The second day we went to beach. Actually we'd like to find the Siung but we're little bit lost of track and we arrived at the other beaches. Due to the road block so we decided to visit this beach.
It was located in Gunung Kidung Regency (literally, South Mountain), so you can imagine how the way to get there. Extremely winding and curving. And in hours! However, it paid after we smelled the air of the sea hehehe.
First sight, lots of blue boats are the welcome!
And followed by such a "lake" that separate the land and the real beach or ocean. You can cross by swimming or riding a boat only with Rp.2.000.

 

 

 

We back home at night and along the journey we passed what it's called Bukit Bintang (Star Hill), it was a place along the winding highway where we can stop for a while and watch the view from up hill. It was such a grandeur scenery of beautiful night landscape of Jogja city, with its lamps, sparking roads, etc.

Honestly it's very tiring traveling by motorbike, but it's worth though.