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Hospitality of Jogja
2:08 PM | Author:








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Mystery of Ancient Gebang Temple
10:48 AM | Author:

This temple is located in the village of Gebang, Wedomartani, Ngemplak, Sleman is still a mystery. Gebang temple was established with the background that has not been confirmed. But this temple is hinduistique found by residents in November 1936. Hindu known sign of Lingga, Yoni, and Ganesha statue, which is one of the hallmarks of a Hindu temple. The foot has a high proportion and without relief. This temple was built in the period is estimated to be older (± 730 - 800 F).

Temple Gebang is not special, just a square-shaped size of 5.25 mx 5.25 m by 7.75 m. higher In the body of the temple there is one room with a direction to the east which there Yoni. North and the south side of the situation in the blank. In the west there is a space that is filled with Ganesha statue that sits above a Yoni to the north. While at the peak there Lingga that cushion above the lotus. Lingga only form of the top, namely the form of a cylinder. In the roof there is also a small room that shaped cavity space above the temple.

Apparently, in addition mysterious temple Gebang also neglected, the area is able to become one of the objects of interest and tourism potential. Gebang temple remains one of the ancient sites that have historical value and should be its existence. But for the lover of solitude, this area may be suitable, because it is still very thick with the rural atmosphere of quiet and far from pollution.

Gebang area of the temple full of mysteries become destinations for your vacation-oriented, but there is also a good idea if you know the game that other cultures besides coloring Yogyakarta Prambanan or Borobudur, so that together we are able to appreciate and preserve the culture of Yogyakarta, which is very diverse.

So, welcome to jogjakarta...

ref: apakabarjogja.com

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Wedang Secang
11:55 AM | Author:

Domination in the various beverage brands with high dominance supplements, beverages traditional secang apparently saving benefits higher. Besides improving stamina, the drink is also believed to be able to overcome flatulence, colds and to make the body warm.

In the village, spice plants, as the material basis of making the drink secang easily found. Crops that had become the reason for Europeans colonize in Indonesia, can grow in the fertile around the house, just scrub.

How to make syrup secang also not difficult to thin. Material is also very easy to get. Such as ginger, clove, cardamom, secang bark, plant stems and sere.
In addition to basic materials easily found, how to drink any gathering is not hard. After quoted from the garden, raw materials, spices are to be washed clean. While waiting to be cleaned, while in the cooking water to boil, all materials included.

To give color does not need to use coloring substances. But using the bark of secang. After the skin secang entered into the boiling water, then do not need to wait long time. Stew of spices can be strained.
With the traditional beverage is ready to secang presented in the form of warm or cold. But it will be far more favor when presented with a warm, still conditions.
Although not setenar drink-drink brand at this time, drink enough interest secang many domestic and foreign tourists.






ref: apakabarjogja

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Tugu Railway Station
9:11 AM | Author:

Tugu Railway Station that started to function as a train-stop in 1887 turns to have tourism potential. You can enjoy the grand, old building architecture; observe locomotive details, old crane and exotic twilight.

It is likely no other railway station that is located as strategically as Tugu railway station. It lies in the center of Yogyakarta city, close to traditional and modern shopping centers; it only takes a little time to reach five-star and budget hotels and it is close to some tourism objects. One other thing that most people neglect is that this station turns to have tourism potential because of its characteristic building and more than a century of its age.

Tugu railway station started to serve transportation need since 2 May 1887, around 15 years after Lempuyangan station, another railway station in Yogyakarta that is located to the east of Tugu station. The construction of Tugu station was part of the efforts by the Dutch government by that time to distribute crops in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Passengers service from this station as one of the oldest railway stations in Indonesia began to function since 1 February 1905 and the first out-of-town line was to Surakarta that was built in 1899.

Starting as a small station, now Tugu station becomes one of the biggest railway stations in Indonesia. With 6 train lines, this railway station serves transportation from almost all big cities in Java. More than 20 train departures and arrivals - economy class, business and executive ones - occur everyday. There are various options for train types and time departures to go to a certain city.

Being built during the Dutch colonial time, the architecture of the building is so close to European nuance. Getting down from the train, you will directly notice it from the big doors in brown color and the high roof accentuated with robust walls painted in white. You can enjoy the original shape of the building from the front view. The building looks so great with big entrance and two high roofs sheltering two platforms on the north and south sides of the main building.

Unlike other big railway stations that function as a place for transit, Tugu railway station still preserves its function as a place of train maintenance. For the reason, you have an opportunity to wander about the corners of the station to see technician activities and to trace the oldness of this railway station. Some of the workers know well about the history of this station so that they can be good sources of information.

If you walk to the west part of the station, you will get to the place for locomotive maintenance. You will admire details of components in a locomotive. You can even observe the lower part of a locomotive since there is a ladder that enables you to reach the lower part of it. An old, black train monument can be another object to enjoy.

Walking a little bit to the south of the place, you will come to an area where compartments are maintained. You can see them from distant through the iron fence painted in blue-white colors. Looking above, you will see a train part that is located on top of a yellow tower. That part that has been utilized since the Dutch time is a crane that functions to connect train compartments. When you walk to the north, you will see workers cleaning the trains.

If you arrive in the afternoon, take your time to stand in between line 4 and 6 and look westwards. Beautiful scenery of the dusk will be seen on bright days, combined with railways that look like lines and finally end as a dot. The train crane and singing street musicians complete the exotic scenery of the dusk.

Then, you can start your tour in Yogyakarta after you are satisfied to enjoy the beauty of this railway station. You can travel by pedicab to go to Yogyakarta Sultan's Palace and to buy bakpia - special cake of Yogyakarta - in Pathuk. For farther travel, you can travel by public bus or taxi. If you want to go shopping directly, you just need to walk along the Malioboro Street that is located right to the south of the railway station.

ref: yogyes.com, skyscrapercity.com

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Alun-Alun Kidul (The South Square) symbolized by a calm elephant offers a tour package to calm someone's heart down, to warm nighttime with ronde and bajigur beverages and to get blessing through Masangin.

Those who had lived in Yogyakarta will never forget friendly nuance of the South Square. With your friends at college, you might have sat in one night on the mat spread close to stalls around the square while discussing your tasks or talking about popular juniors in campus. You might just have a chat with your neighbors or your colleagues when you stayed in Yogyakarta while enjoying the sweet, hot ronde or bajigur beverages.

The South Square is an area at the back part of the Sultan's Palace that you can reach southwards from Wijilan, the central place for purchasing of Gudeg as special food of Yogyakarta. Symbolized by a calm elephant, the South Square is the balance of the North Square that is so busy. For the reason, the South Square is considered the resting place for the gods. It is clear now that the area functions as the place for people to calm their hearts down.

The area begins to be busy at five o'clock in the afternoon. Food and drink sellers began to erect tents and to prepare their food and drink to be sold. When night comes, you can begin enjoying the food and beverages. You can try traditional beverage called ronde containing peanut, fruit of sugar palm, and rounded dough of rice flour filled with palm sugar that are poured with hot, light ginger-taste liquid. The price is quite cheap, only at 2,500 Indonesian Rupiah.

In addition to ronde, you can try the so-called bajigur beverage. It is similar to ronde with strong taste of ginger but its thick liquid is made from coconut milk, coffee and syrup of palm sugar. It contains slices of bread, coconut and fruit of sugar palm. These hot beverages are the best choices to expel the coldness of night while chatting with your friends.

When you are hungry, some choices of dishes are available. Baked corn, baked banana or baked bread are good companions for ronde or bajigur drinks. The corn is spread with margarine and chili sauce before it is baked while the banana is spread with chocolate that will melt when it is baked. Baked bread is available in various tastes. All of them are simply delicious!

If you want to eat rice, it will come with some side dishes such as fried chicken, grilled fish and fried tempe. Those are all common side dishes you can find in most restaurants in Indonesia. However, if you include the nuance of the South Square into its ingredients, the cuisine becomes so special. Served in cross-legged arrangement, most of the food and drink are offered at affordable prices. You will be satisfied with spending 5,000 Indonesian Rupiah only.

Then, you can try an attraction called Masangin, namely walking through two banyan trees in the middle of the square with your eyes being closed with black cloth that is available for rent at 3,000 Rupiah. 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!

Please ask the person who has been renting the black cloth for thirty years, namely Mr. Albertus Harjo Suwito, anything about Masangin. He will explain that renting black cloth is not merely a business for him but it is an effort to preserve the culture and belief of the past community. 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 certain occasion, you can see leather puppet performance in Sasono Hinggil Dwi Abad, the building that is located adjacent to the South Square. You have to prepare yourself to enjoy the nightlong performance. You can also see the troops of Yogyakarta Kingdom are preparing themselves before joining the Grebeg ceremony (to commemorate the birth of Muhammad). They gather in this square before the ceremony and then march to the North Square at the ceremonial day.

At day, you can also enjoy different situation of the South Square. You can see the elephants of the Kingdom in its stall or children playing football in the afternoon. Antique things are also sold around the square.

ref: yogyes.com

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BERINGHARJO
2:59 PM | Author:

Beringharjo has been functioning as a trading place since 1758. Now, it offers more merchandise, ranging from batik, traditional snacks, Javanese herbs, to Buddha effigy costing hundreds thousands.

Beringharjo market becomes part of Malioboro that is worth visiting. This market has been center of economy activity since years ago and its existence has philosophical meaning. The market that had been renovated several times symbolizes stages of human life that is busily engaged in its economy fulfillment. Furthermore, Beringharjo is also one of the 'four in one' poles (consisting of South Square, Sultan Palace, North Square, and Beringharjo market) symbolizing economy functions.

The area where current Beringharjo market lies used to be forest of banyan trees. Soon after the foundation of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Kingdom, i.e. in 1758, the area was used as a place for economy transaction by the people of Yogayarkta and its vicinities. Only hundreds years later, namely in 1925, the transaction place had a permanent building. The name 'Beringharjo' was given by Hamengku Buwono IX, meaning that the place where banyan tree (bering) used to grow is expected to bring welfare (harjo). Now, tourists define this place as an enjoyable shopping place.

The front part and the western part of the market are the right places to find delicious traditional snacks. At the north side of the front part, you will find round brem (a kind of snack made from the extract of fermented tubers) that is softer than that of Madiun city and krasikan (sweet cake made from glutinous rice and palm sugar). In the south part, you will find bakpia cake filled with mung bean that is sold warm and wet snacks such as hung kwe and nagasari. Meanwhile, at the back part, usually they sell durable snacks such as ting-ting made of caramel mixed with peanut.

If you want to buy batik, Beringharjo is the best place because of its complete collections; ranging from batik cloth to batik clothes made of both cotton and silk materials, with the prices ranging from tens thousands to a million. Collection of batik cloth is available in west and north parts of the market, while batik clothes collection is available almost everywhere in the west part of this market. In addition to batik clothes, the west part of the market also offers traditional clothes: surjan, blangkon, and sarong both woven and batik printed ones. Sandals and bags sold at reasonable prices are available around the escalator of the west part of the market.

Stepping upstairs to the second floor, you will smell the aroma of Javanese herbs. Herbs such as turmeric that is usually blended with tamarind to produce special drink and temulawak to make bitter drink for medication purpose are sold here. Spices such as ginger (to make ronde drink or merely to be baked, boiled and mixed with crystal sugar) and cinnamon (to enrich the flavors of such drinks as ginger drink, coffee, tea and sometimes to substitute chocolate in cappuccino).

This is also the right market to hunt antiques. The center of antique goods is in east part of the third floor. There, you can get old typewriter, helmet made in 1960s with the front part of which is mica as high as one's nose and some other items. On the same floor, you can get used items of good quality if you want. Various kinds of good quality used imported goods such as shoes, bag, and even clothes are sold at much cheaper prices compared to the original prices. Of course, carefulness in choosing is needed.

After completing your going around in the market, it is time for you to explore the area around the market with not less interesting offers. The area at the north of the market that used to be popular as Chinese Kampong is the most popular place. You can find oldies cassettes of musicians in 1950s that are rarely found in other places at the most expensive price of 50,000 Rupiah. Besides, there are Buddha effigies in different poses costing 250,000 Rupiah. For collectors of old money, they can get the ones from various countries, even the ones utilized in 1930s.

To quench your thirst, special cold drink of Yogyakarta, namely cendol ice, is the right choice. This cold drink from Yogyakarta has richer flavor than the ones from Banjarnegara and Bandung. The contents are not only cendol (jelly-like substance made from glutinous rice but also cam cau (jelly-like substance made from cam cau leaves). Other drinks you can try are young coconut ice with palm sugar and the drink made from turmeric-tamarind and rice-great galingale mixtures. The price of the drink is cheap, namely 1,000 to 2,000 Rupiah.

Even though the market is closed at 05:00p.m, the dynamics of the merchants does not stop by that time. In front of the market, there are still many food sellers offering many kinds of special food. Martabak with various fillers, the sweet terang bulan mixed with chocolate and peanut, and the delicious klepon filled with palm sugar are sold every evening. At around 06:00p.m. until late at night, there is usually gudeg seller who also offers special cuisines of cow skin and variant of stir-fried vegetables with chili. While having your meals, you can listen to Javanese traditional music or have a talk with the seller who will address you friendly. It is just complete!

ref: yogyes.com, farm1.static.flickr.com

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