#michelletrip

[michelletandean]

Another Face of Yogyakarta (Part 3 -End)

3.  Prawirotaman Street

It was already on my list since the last time I visit Yogyakarta. Actually, I’m going to Tirtodipuran Street next to Prawirotaman. Back then I was visiting Cokelat Monggo Showroom and found this street. Since I was on my way back home, I didn’t explore that much. This time it was on my list. You can say that Prawirotaman is the hippest street in Yogyakarta. It’s like Legian or Seminyak Street in Bali. With so many small café, pub, small stores, a lot of hostel and guest house, this is the main tourist site in Yogyakarta.

At first I was going to stay at Greenhost Boutique Hotel located in this area. We have already booked 4 rooms a week in advance. Couple days after, they said we should take extra charge due to high season which my mom doesn’t want to take it. Come on, we have already sent the payment guarantee! They said they will waive it this time. 2 days before departure they said 4 of our booked room will be renovated due to the problem on the air con and they are still trying to found the spare part from Malaysia. So, they asked us to down grade our room. My family was disappointed. How come all of 4 room’s air conditioner is broken at the same time? My dad decided to cancel the hotel if we should down grade.

So, that ruined my list to explore Prawirotaman again. =(

Luckily, at the last day, we managed to go there! Not for exploring, but only for the purpose of trying the hippest gelato here. Il Tempo del Gelato. When I got there, it was already 9 PM, yet they still have so many crowds in front of the gelato bar. To buy an ice cream, you should pay at cashier first then you’ll get a coupon to exchange it with ice cream. And, here we go, the fight against people to get your ice cream! They have a lot of flavor, my family mostly choose the chocolate, snickers and hazelnut for them, while instead I choose the lemon & ginger one (my guilty pleasure is always a sorbet =)).

So, that gelato made my last day in Yogyakarta. Still, I will be back to explore more of this street next time. 

Travel Essential:

There are a lot of beautiful hostel in Yogyakarta, but due to high season when I got there, it was fully booked. Try Lokal Hotel, Pawon Cokelat, Adhistana Hotel, Yats Colony and despite how I disappointed with it, you should go try Greenhost Boutique Hotel. I was staying at Harper Mangkubumi Hotel next to Tugu Yogyakarta. It was a nice hotel with great varieties of breakfast menu. The price is around IDR 575.000,-/night.FYI, there are a lot of ‘angkringan’ (street food stall selling traditional snacks and wrapped rice but in small portion) next to the hotel and it will get more crowded as the night goes by.

Il Tempo del Gelato price: IDR 25.000,- for two scoop gelato with cone.

Dare yourself to try the lemon and ginger gelato! =p

Well, that’s my little story about Yogyakarta. Hope you enjoy it and see you on my next trip!

[michelletandean]

Another Face of Yogyakarta (Part 2)

Sorry for the late post, but here is the long wait article ;)

2. Ullen Sentalu Museum

 Ranked for the best Museum in Indonesia from Trip Advisor, strike my attention to this Museum. It was about Javanese Culture and Art located in Kaliurang highland. From the outside its look like a building with a modern architecture with so many glass, but going inside, you will found a Dutch castle look alike. Going deeper you will found this building still follow Javanese tradition. It used to be a private museum, and officially open for public on March 1st, 1997.

After bought the admission ticket we should wait. They separate guest in groups consist 15-25 person with one guide to explore the museum. There will be a tour every 10 minutes. Inside, we will find tons of hand painting of the Yogyakarta’s royal family, dress, and musical instrument. You will also find the princess love letter and so on. Photographs are allowed only on some part of the museum. 

They also have a relic which is a copy from the relic found in Borobudur, but they placed it sideways. They said it’s a statement of concern for the young people who doesn’t appreciate traditional culture and art anymore.

It was a great museum, maybe because it was a long weekend with so many tourist, the tour going in a rush, I still want to read the princess love letter and hear some stories about batik pattern, but my group has already move to the next area and behind me there’s more group going inside. So, I found myself didn’t enjoy the tour as much as I was excited going there. The guide told me that I should come on weekdays to enjoy more and we can even have a private tour.

Besides Museum they have a cute gift shop selling some batik clothes and accessories. Also they have a Beukenhof Restaurant. I was going to take some coffee there but they said it’s only 15 minutes left before they closed. It was a restaurant with a Dutch decoration. I will put it on my list for my next trip to Yogyakarta. 

Travel Essential:

Admission fee: IDR 30.000,- (including tour for Indonesian Visitor)

Opening hours : 8.30-17.00PM (last tour is 30 minutes before closing)

It took about 35-45 minutes from Yogyakarta city to Kaliurang, make sure you have enough time to try Beukenhof Restaurant.

Try Jamu Ratu Mas (they give it as a refreshment in the middle of the tour) it’s a traditional herbal drink for the Royal Family.

(tbc..)