Yogya. Jogja, Jogjakarta, Yogyakarta!

Jogjakarta: many call this the city of students, city of culture, never-ending Asia... The best thing to do here is to explore more of Jogja. Famous as the place of Javanese culture, you can go to the sultan's palace called Kraton. Once you go to Kraton, don't forget to stop by Ngasem Brid Market and Water Castle (built during Dutch colonialism).

There are some annual festivals in Jogjakarta. From around March to April, there is Jogja Expo Sekaten established around North Square of Kraton. A night attraction there is walking around the underground tunnel of Water Castle, which was used to keep Indie (Indonesians, as called during Dutch colonialism) prisoners. Be prepared for the spooky things there!

The most famous tourist destination in Jogja is Malioboro Road. There you can buy Javanese goodies from clothes to souvenirs like silver or woodcraft. Besides exploring the culture, you may go to pottery center of Bantul or see the silver crafts at the Kotagedhe residence.

Longing for the beach? You could go to the beach of Yogyakarta, Parangtritis (abbr. Paris) beach, Kukup, Sundak, Wediombo, etc. Most of the beaches have big waves, and you're not allowed to swim there. Not so far from Jogjakarta, you could visit Borobudur Temple, the largest Buddhist temple, or just visit Merapi Mountain View and Ketep Pass - there you could see four mountains right away, along with the Borobudur Temple, from one spot: Ketep Pass.

If you like nightlife, just go to some cafés there: Hugo's cafe, Insomnia Longue&Bar, The Club concert café, Boogey's Teras, Soda Longue, etc.

Quick Tips:

Be careful if you're holding your wallet. Don't put your wallet in your pant’s pocket because there are many pickpockets in public buses.

The people of Jogja are friendly. They are eager to talk to and help you if you need it. Be prepared for their directions, because most Jogjakarta people prefer to use south, north, east, and west instead of just right and left! This is one of things that confused me.

When you want to bargain at the market, offer half of the original price. When they don't make a deal with your bargain, just leave them. They might call you back again for the best price. And don't forget to bring mineral water.

Best Way To Get Around:

Public buses with specific number of route are available on the city. I spend only 2000 Rupiah from my place to Malioboro Road or Kraton by public bus with two times route. Taxis are most available with their new brand cars Toyota Vios. If you wanna get a taxi, just call Centris Taxi (0274) 546977 or Setia Kawan Taxi (0274) 448333. 5 kilometres away only cost 10,000 Rupiah. If you want to get around the off beaten track of Jogja, just rent cars with reasonable price. Becak (three wheeled vehicle) are also available if you want to get relax sitting on becak and loking around Jogja. Bikes are also available in hotels, just hangout with 'm! Planes are working well here. there are at least 26 flights a day from Jogja to Jakarta, and 4 flights per day from Jogja to Denpasar. Actually there's nothing problem with how to get some place in Jogja. Don't worry if you get lost. Mostly people in here are eager to help you.

The architecture is portrayed as a Javanese building called Joglo. It has its unique shape despite the modernity around Jogja. Formerly named the Radisson Hotel. The price is relative, from Rp329,000 for deluxe room pool overview. The food is fine, and the bar is situated right in front of the pool. The staff were friendly, but you wouldn't find any pub/bar there, because it's quiet for business occasions. Overall, it's the best hotel I've ever stayed in.

The restaurant is really fine. It's not far from where I live. The restaurant opens in the evening at 6pm and closes at 10:30pm. The restaurant itself is divided into three parts: one part with jazz-classical live music, one with Javanese Gamelan, and one with country live music. Situated on the riverside of Gadjah Wong River, the restaurant is romantic with candlelight dinners, and set with tropical greenish garden. They serve International food, which includes French, Indonesian, Indian, and Yani's Special food. The most recommended menu that I would choose here is Boeuf Burguignon. It's really fantastic there! There were many elephant statues (Gadjah means Elephants). The restaurant is recommended for couples, family, or colleagues. The price might be dear as well, but you'll get a fair price regarding the portion and the taste of the menu. The process of waiting for the menu is quite long especially when in the weekend. Therefore, reservation is highly recommended.

It has both a regular and VIP room. The regular one is just like in the movies, but it's better than the VIP room because VIP is crowded. There are so many smokers there that the room is foggy. The restroom was not so good, as the men’s and women's areas are under one roof. Anyway, it's quite okay.

It's an amazing museum, unlike more common museums in Indonesia that are not treated well. It was formerly Affandi's, one of the greatest Indonesian painters ever, residence. The museum is divided into three buildings, and the roofs are in a banana-leaf shape.

We can see his works and the car he used to have. We can swim in his former private pool. There is also a café called Loteng Cafe. There is also a big tower from where you could see all sights of Jogja. Affandi and his wife are also buried at the museum. It is a must-visit!

Situated on the south sea of Java, famous as the waiter "Nyi Roro Kidul" - Queen of the South. The beach is clean and has big waves. Don't try to swim there, because there are many missing unknowns that have never been found until now. On the corner of the beach, there is a small waterfall. You can ride a horse carriage just in case you're tired of walking the beach because it's so wide. Spending a weekend at the beach would be great idea. There are also motels available for a cheap rate. High-end hotels are also available at Queen of the South hotel.