Day 1: #TripofWonders: How We Spent 3 Days in Yogyakarta


Yogyakarta, also known as Yogya or Jogja is the center of Java culture and arts. The city is known for its traditional method of handcrafting Batik, interesting temples, and the breath-taking sunrise in Borobudur temple.

Read Day 0: Manila to Jakarta, Indonesia

Boarding

Our Day 1 of #TripofWonders #RuthGoestoIndonesia adventure started with a flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta. On our first day, I already got used to the drill – wake-up call, bag drop, breakfast, check-out, meet at the lobby. 

It was an easy 2 hour flight via Garuda Indonesia. I was seated next to Indonesia Social Media Superstars Shasya Pashatama and Rijal Kamaluddin Husaeni. 

During the flight, I got to ask if Indonesia has any banana – and they said they have a lot too! I always start my morning with coffee then banana (I kind of conditioning my body to the food). It appeared that I asked the wrong person as Shasya had developed a weird feeling towards banana when she was younger 🙂 Do you know that trick that when you got fish bone stuck in your throat you have to eat tons of banana? That happened to her and it was weird that she hates banana now (should be fish, yes?)

Same row with @pashatama who is a full time blogger in Indonesia. I love her energy and motherly love that makes me feel comfortable and secured. 
@rijalkamaluddin is a popular Instagram Influencer in Indonesia. He is mostly quiet during the trip but his photos tell alot of stories.  Please do stalk him in Instagram. Tell him I sent you guys 🙂  

The Ministry of Tourism smoothly planned everything during the trip. As soon as we landed in the airport, we didn’t need to worry about our luggage (they say, we could meet our luggage in the hotel after – and sure we did).

Now here’s Part 1 of the 3-day itinerary + must-do’s when in Yogyakarta

1. Taste the Local Food at Gudeg Yu Djum
Jl. Kaliurang KM 4,5 | Karangasem CT III/22, Yogyakarta

While most of the participants skipped the early snack (I seriously thought we were served lunch here!), I ate my food (also a sign of being gracious to the host who was sitting next beside me – hi Kama!). Gudeg Yu Djum is rated highly and a must-visit restaurant in Yogyakarta. I find the taste a bit too sweet for me – but I guess that’s how the dishes should taste like? Indonesia always serve their food with Kreopek (or they pronounce it as Kreopok), But instead of serving it with vinegar (just like how Filipinos eat it, they serve it with different spicy pastes).

Kama, a participant from #TripofWonders Batch 1 and volunteered to be part of the organizing team. He’s an architect by profession but I seriously think he is a singer 😉 
I still remember my first interaction with him, during the Welcome Dinner. I asked him if I could have a black backpack, he said that he would check and came back to me saying “all the bags have been distributed”. I told him, “never mind, I’ll just fly back to Manila”. 🙂
A few minutes before the photo was taken, I once again had a request from him. If they can assure that our bags are safe in the bus. He said there’s someone who would look after the stuff. I told him, my bag has a dead body inside. That’s when we clicked 😉 

2. Have Coffee at Epic Coffee + Take #OOTD Shots
Palagan Tentara Pelajar Street No.29, Sleman, Yogyakarta

My brain cells were screaming coffee and I was still adjusting to a new environment and schedule so I we went crazy when we arrived in Epic Coffee. Everyone found their own #OOTD spot, but the favorite is the Epic Coffee ‘s logo.

It didn’t occur to me that there is such a, as Thanis Lim (Brunei) puts it “hipster coffee shop” in Yogyakarta! Truly, it is instagrammable with the perfect, spacious dining area and cool garden. The place is a combination of artsy coffee shop and ethnic furniture shop.

The coffee offerings didn’t disappoint either. Indonesia is, afterall known as one of the best exporters of coffee beans in the world.

3. Join the Javanese Dance Performance at Pendopo Ontei Tingal

How would you react if you are welcomed by men in dark makeup, colorful costume and angry expressions? I have weird feeling towards costumes. But when they I heard the sound of the gong and the fierce men danced to the beat, I got my camera working. It is Kuda Lumping which a traditional Javanese Dance featuring group of horsemen. They wore colorful costumes with rattan horses. The dance is usually performed during special occassions such as boy’s circumcision or rite of passage.

It is an interesting entertaiment while we enjoyed our traditional Indonesian food. The best part about it? You can join the troop and be a wild, mad dancer. Jia Qin (Singapore) joined the dance and sure had a great time with her wig and fancy costumer 😉

I love that Jia Qin is always game and curious about things. She’s only 20 (now I feel so old once again :)), a Psychology student in Singapore and contributor to an online magazine website. 

I was quite relieved when I saw bananas! I felt like a monkey when I took 3 pieces 🙂 I enjoyed the Steamed Rice which is a meal of its own with jackfruit, fish flakes and some good spices. I also love the noodles that somehow reminds me of a local Filipino comfort food.

Now that is real lunch.

4. Cycling Around the Village

I know I am dead when I saw cycling on our itinerary (!!!). I should have prepared for the adventure. But worry not, if you cannot ride a bicyle, wander around the Borobudur Village via a Horse Cart! So glam!

We got to wander around the Wanurejo Village via bike horse cart while the others pedalled their way around lush green plantations with the view of Borobudur. It was sure a great exercise and an interesting way to discover the local life in Central Java. I love the architectural designs of the houses of small villages – that Kama (from Ministry of Tourism) said, are very traditional.

It is a guided cycling tour and you can stop by at some spots for #ootd.

At the end of the trail, we were treated with local Indonesian snacks. They very much remind me of the local Filipino kakanin – mostly made of sticky rice. There’s something like suman, maja blanca, and puto. However, there is still a distinct taste that is truly Indonesian. Bonus points for the colorful presentation and plating.

5. Try the Traditional  Handcrafted Batik-Making 

At the end of the Cycling Tour, we had a stop at the Wanurejo Village (located at the east of Borobudur temple area to the West of the Progo River). In the small village, you can try your hands at Traditional Batik-Making. 

I was all for trying everything so I prepared myself to the challenge even if I know I have shaky hands.

Did you know that most of the Indonesian Batiks are handmade? Yes, they are not made in the Factory which makes everything more special. Now, the first step to creating a Batik is to heat up the wax. Then scoop the wax using a paintbrush with dip and smoothly glide the tip to the pattern. Again, smoothly glide. But I was shaking!!!

I had a shaky hands after working for a coffee shop mixing hot and cold drinks. I know I could never be a Batik Master. I let the village woman finish my work and I just sat there admiring how dexterous she was (very much like how dexterous I was at making coffee!). Haha. 

It was a beautiful art. 

6. Pottery Making

 I am a true blood Potterhead (oh hey, Harry Potter fans!). But before I even learned spells and magic, Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze (RIP) already showed us the beauty of pottery-making (ah Ghost!). 

If you want to chanel the inner artist in you, try the clay pottery making.  Located in the Wanurejo Village, the woman villager would help you with your masterpiece.

It looks pretty easy but again, it takes a good practice and concentration to perfect your pot. You can choose your own designs from little temples, pots or ashtrays. A cute souvenir that you can display at your workplace. Make sure that you pack it carefully!

Now that ends Day 1. Or maybe not.

Bus Ride 

Where We Stayed: Atira Hotel

True to their promise, I found my luggage in my room after checking in. I love that Atira Hotel has everything that a business traveler needs – especially comfortable bed 🙂

We had dinner at the Atira Hotel where we were welcomed by a Traditional Dance. I think it was also meant for Halloween Night and we found it really funny when people refused to step out of the elevator when they saw the dance.

We had traditional Indonesian Food and we all love the Spiced Noodles.

We ended the night with a surprise birthday cake for Trice! How awesome it was to celebrate your birthday traveling? I haven’t tried going to another place during my birthday. I don’t really celebrate my birthday (well, expect for last year, when I had a magical Harry Potter Themed Birthday Party). Check #HarryBirthdayRuth in Instagram for quick access.

 I celebrate life everyday – and it was nice to have celebrated with Trice.

Happy Birthday Trice!

The following day I woke up at 2:00 AM for the morning hike to Borobudur Temple.