Visiting Vredeburg Fort in Yogyakarta

When you are in Yogyakarta and want to have a historical tour, Vredeburg Fort could be your choice. The fact that it was built by the Netherland army in the past gives Yogyakarta a western touch in the middle of local architectures. At first, the name of the fort is Rustenburg (rest) but later was changed into Vredeburg (peace). Thus, Vredeburg Fort  mean fort of peace. 
Another cool thing about this fort is that it is surrounded by trenches and it also has four control towers so that you’ll feel like you are in Yogyakarta in the 18^th century. In fact, it was built in 1765 and the building area is 2100 square meters. With this spacious width, you definitely will have an amazing time exploring the place and taking pictures. Moreover, this place is now a museum so if you plan to do a study tour, you’re in the right place.

Picture Selerawisata.blogspot.com

Vredeburg Fort is located at the end of Malioboro Street. In fact, after you finish exploring Malioboro, you can directly go this museum either by walking or hiring a becak. Since it’s very close, you just have to pay five thousand rupiahs to reach it from Malioboro. The admission fee to enter the museum is also very cheap. With only two thousand rupiahs (About 25cents), you can explore the old Yogyakarta and how it feels like to be in an old fort, just like in fairytales.

Just like any other museums, Vredeburg Fort has many antiquities from the Netherland era. There, you will also see dioramas from before Indonesia’s proclamation era until New Order or Orde Baru era. Besides, you can also see many historical objects, pictures from the past, and even paintings about how Indonesia’s heroes in the past struggled to defend the country. The moment of exploring the museum can be very thrilling as the museum atmosphere is set to feel quiet and somehow mysterious. Even, some say that it can at time feel haunted. Therefore, if you plan to visit, it is highly suggested that you don’t go there alone.

Although the place has been restored several times, the original form of the building is still maintained. So, you don’t have to worry that it’s not similar to how it looked like in the past. The only area changed is the indoor part as now the function of Vredeburg Fort is as a museum. Occasionally, seminars are held here but the must be an appointment beforehand. Furthermore, the place also provides a free Wi-Fi. There is also a library so if you want to know about Indonesia’s or Yogyakarta’s history, you can read the books there. On the outside of the museum, you can see some old monuments that you can capture with your camera.

In short, you should definitely visit this place because the lessons and knowledge you’ll get here are invaluable and the reminiscent of the past surely will give you a thrill. And the fort should be visited when you come to Yogyakarta.

Depok Beach, A Beach with the Most Delicious Menu in Yogyakarta

Depok Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Yogyakarta. The beach is popular for its unusual spot. It is also popular for its serves of seafood cuisine made from fresh fish and other sea food. The beach also has fine sand. When you visit the beach, you can sit down in the sand, enjoying the beautiful panorama. The sea has powerful waves, making them look pierce. When you see the ocean, you’ll see that it is so vast that it looks like it has no boundaries. Even the ocean looks adjacent to the sky. This is an amazing scenery. You can take pictures and perpetuate the beautiful scenery of the beach.

Location

Depok Beach is situated in Bantul, Yogyakarta. The beach is near Parangkusumo and Parangtritis Beaches. Hence, you can take the same road as that of towards Parangkusumo and Depok. The beach is quite far from the center city of Yogyakarta. It takes about 2 hours driving from Yogyakarta. You can drive your own car or take public transportation towards the beach.

Along the way to the beach, you will see the most fantastic view. There are still many paddy rice fields along the way. It looks so traditional. Hence, the two hours journey by car will not be boring with such a beautiful scenery. Driving your own car will be better as you can enjoy the beauty more comfortably. You can drive slowly and feel the cool breeze of the area towards the beach.    

Activities

          You can enjoy the beautiful panorama of Depok Beach when you visit the beach. The beach has black color sand, though, it is so beautiful. It adds the beauty of the scenery. Apart from this, you can also enjoy the delicious menu of sea food in the restaurants that stretch along the beach. You can choose the fish by purchasing them in the nearby market. Then, you can ask for the restaurant you select to cook them for you. You can also select the cooking type.

This is so delicious that you will not want to leave the food you have ordered. You must to eat them all. Apart from enjoying the delicious menu and buying some fish in the market, you can fish in the ocean along with the local people. Fishing is an interesting activity here since the fish in the ocean are various.

Accommodations

          There are many hotels you can select to stay around Depok Beach. They include Penginapan Pojok 1, Campus Inn, The Jayakarta Yogyakarta Hotel & Spa, Grand Quality Hotel and Sheraton Mustika Yogyakrta Resort and Spa. The hotels offer comfortable rooms and complete facilities for visitors. After tired of walking around the beach, you can take a rest in these comfortable hotels. It will make you relaxed.

          Visiting Depok Beach will leave you a good memory since you can taste the delicious menu of the beach. In addition, the panorama of the beach will never ever be forgotten. That is why, you should include this beach in your travel plan when visiting Yogyakarta. 

Pictures taken from www.diaryfotografi.blogspot.com

Jomblang Cave, Time To Adore the Light of Heaven on Earth

Jomblang Cave or Luweng Grubeg is worth to visit for an adventurer who love caving and interested to experience something different under the ground. The cave is really special because if you want to come inside, the only entrance you have to pass is a vertical hole. Jomblang Cave itself is a vertical cave and this place is very protected, indeed and not everyone is allowed to enter it.

Jomblang Cave is popular with the name of ‘Light of Heaven’ because this place is the only one cave with the entrance of the light. Don’t doubt to see the beauty of the cave because it has become the byword among the adventurer. Actually, most of the tourists, both local and foreign are interested to observe the character of the cave and the diversity of the flora and fauna inside the cave.

Picture Travel.kompas

Location of Jomblang Cave

Jomblang Cave is located at Jetis Wetan, Panjangrejo Village, Semanu sub-district, Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta. Precisely the location is around 10 km from the big square of Wonosari. If you start the travel from Yogyakarta, you need to drive around 60 km and it can be reached around 1.5 to 2 hours by car or motorcycle.

If you want to take public transportation, you can start it from Giwangan Terminal Bus and take Yogyakarta – Wonosari bus to Simpang Lime Wonosari. You still need to continue the trip by taking small bus to Semanu sub-district. Usually, before exploring Jomblang Cave, the tourist would stay at the Jomblang Resort first and then continue to go.

Lets get down to Jomblang Cave

When you heard about a cave, you may directly imagine you will witness darkness, humid, and quiet place. But, when you come to Jomblang Cave, you will shock seeing Light of Heaven. Yes, true!

Jomblang Cave is a vertical cave which is has collapse doline type. According to the geological processes, the ruins of the land and vegetation dropped into the bottom of the earth thousands years ago. Those ruins created a sinkhole with a diameter around 50 meters.

As a vertical cave, the caver must experiences the thrilling way because you must competent to single rope technique (SRT). You have to use certain equipment, i.e. SRT set which is consist of footloop, carabiner, auto descender, short cowstail, long cowstail, ascender, jammer, chest harness, seat harness, and many more. For the complement, you must have headlamp, boots, and coverall. Before going down to the cliff, you must listen to the instructor how to do it for your safety.

After your wear all of SRT set, you can get down to the base of the cave with a total depth around 80 meters. Actually, there are 3 lanes you can choose. Firstly is VIP with the depth around 15 meters, standard with the depth around 60 meters and extreme with the depth around 80 meters. For the beginner, you can choose VIP and standard. At the standard lane, you will land right in the ancient forest. This forest becomes the eco-tourism in this area.

Landing at the Jomblang Cave

Right at the base of Jomblang Cave, the stretch of horizontal cave is so wide. This is the entrance of the cave. You need to work along the dark path for about 10 minutes to go to Grubug Cave and then you will meet a spectacular phenomenon. At the base of the cave, there are 2 big brownis green stalagmits. If you arrive at the base of the Grubug from 12.00 – 13.00, the view of the sunlight that penetrates the darkness of the cave is so amazing and this what you can call as Light of Heaven.

The cost of exploring Jomblang Cave

Travelers, if you are interested to explore Jomblang Cave, you must know the cost. The cost is IDR450k per person with full facilities and lunch. If you want to stay at Jomblang Resort, you can add IDR350k per person. If you dont plan to stay at the resort and you only want to caving, you have to arrive at 9.30 sharp.

However, if you come with friends (minimal 6 person), they agree to pick you up at Yogyakarta by paying IDR550k per person. The number of tourist to explore is limited, i.e. 25 person per cave tubing and 50 person in the week end. If you still want to challenge the adrenalin there, you can try climbing at Jomblang Wall or caving at Jomblang Cave.

The owner and the instructor of Jomblang Resort said that the first time he managed and organized Jomblang was as eco-tourism because the caves and the environment around this area need to be preserved. The cave is organized as eco-tourism and definitely not a mass-tourism. And since Sewu Mountain area stated by UNESCO as a new member of Global Geopark Network at September 2015, Jomblang Cave is pointed as an icon of world geopark.

Ngrenehan Beach, Tasting Fresh Seafood at a Quiet Beach In Yogyakarta

Ngrenehan Beach is unpopular beaches in Yogyakarta. But, the beauty of the beach is comparable to other beaches. The main attraction when you come here is the activity of fishermen and enjoy the seafood. The dishes are fresh and if you like to bring the seafood, you can buy it at the fish market there.

Actually, Ngrenehan Beach is kind of strait and surrounded by stretches of hills with stunning panorama. The sound of waves come and gone. Although the beach still untouchable, but you will not regret to come because the beach is so beautiful.

Location

Ngrenehan Beach is located at Kanigoro Village, Saptosari sub-district, Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta. It lies about 30 km from Wonosari City and 60 km from the Yogyakarta. To reach the beach, you can ride a car or motorcycle.

There are two routes, firstly from Yogyakarta – Gading – Playen – Trowono – Ngrenehan Beach, and secondly Yogyakarata – Wonosari – Paliyan – Trowono – Ngrenehan Beach. Both are main roads and commonly used by visitors.

Along the trip, you will be entertained by beautiful scenery and sometimes the monkeys come down and cross the road. To enter the beach, you will need to pay IDR3,000 or US$0.3 per person.

Activities

Just like other beaches in Yogyakarta, especially in Wonosari, Ngrenehan Beach is a bit different because the beach just likes a strait and along the beach you can see white sand and green hills. The panorama around Ngrenehan is very stunning. You will amaze to the line of colorful boats.

Ngrenehan Beach is identical to fishing area indeed. If ever visited Depok, Kwaru, and Baron Beach, you will see the same nuance. Stall foods, boats, fishermen, and fish market. Most of visitor who come to the beach love to taste local culinary. With traditional ingredients, the taste of the food are so delicious and tasty.

If you like to swim, the beach is suitable for you because the wave is not powerful. So, it is a perfect place to spend the vacation. But you must be careful when the boat around the coastline. After that, you can sit on the white sand and feel the breeze while enjoying young coconut. 

You still can climb up the hill to see the view from the high. This is one of chance for you to enjoy incredible scenery. The blue sky and the beach become a perfect combination of Ngrenehan Beach. You can walk around the cliff to search amazing pictures and dozens boats sailing far away at the middle of the sea.

Come to Ngrenehan Beach mean you have to sit and taste their seafood dishes. You can order fried fish, crab, squid, and many more. The prices are reasonable and you can enjoy it while accompanied by the waves of water.

Then, don’t forget to buy the fresh seafood from fish market around the beach. There are many options you can buy and bring it at home. It is not surprising if Ngrenehan Beach become the right place for those who want to spend the time with family.

Pictures taken from www.rekreasi-indonesia.blogspot.com

Beringharjo Market, Yogyakarta

Beringharjo Market is the most famous traditional market in Yogyakarta. The word itself is originated from the word Bering (from Beringin tree) and harjo (prosperity). Therefore, the place, which used to be beringin trees, is expected to give prosperity to the people around. This market is also famous as the central of batik, a Javanese traditional cloth, in Yogyakarta. The price offered is also very attractive and can be very cheap.

The location of Beringharjo Market is in Malioboro Street near Vrederburg Fort. The place itself is easy to find and if you are in Malioboro, becak operators will offer to take you there. The admission price is free but make sure to bring some money as there are lots of goods that you can buy there with interesting price. Even, you can bargain the price to be really low.

Because it’s a traditional market, you will find many local products there. On the first floor, you will find lots of batik and it is the main commodity of the place. There you can find clothes, bed sheet, and souvenirs made of batik. The price range of batik is from ten thousand rupiahs (about a dollar) to a million rupiahs (about a hundred dollars).

However, the price is altering so make sure you have a good bargaining skill to get a great deal. Moreover, most of the sellers are friendly and nice so you can also interact with local people and understand their cultures. The market is closed at 5 PM yet many food sellers are still there to offer traditional foods and snacks like gudeg, martabak, or klepon.

Besides batik, the market also sells bags, sandals, and shoes in very cheap prices yet the quality is maintained. Even, on the back side of the market, you will find groceries like vegetables, meats, chickens, and many other things. Also, you can find wedding souvenirs and traditional cosmetics near the groceries vendors.

On the front side, you can buy traditional snacks such as bakpia, brem, hunkwe, nagasari, and putu. In fact, the snacks sellers occupy the front part of Beringharjo market and their products are mostly fresh and still warm.

On the second floor, you will find casual clothes and bed sheet. The price is not very low and the quality is just so-so. Also, the prices are usually fixed so the chance of making it lower is very limited. On the eastern part of this floor, you will find many jamu (Javanese herbal drinks) sellers that causes the area to smell like jamu.  

On the third floor, you can find antiquities with good quality. There, you can find old stuff like typewriter and water jugs. Third floor also consists of flea markets that sell second-hand clothes, bags, and shoes with cheap prices. However, you need to be thorough to get good quality stuff.

In short, you should certainly go to Beringharjo market when you are in Malioboro. The vendible are attractive and you can interact with local people by shopping there.

Wediombo Beach, the Beach with Natural Beauty in Yogyakarta

When you feel tired of your busy schedule, and you want to take a break for a moment, you better visit Wediombo Beach. The beach has a beautiful panorama. The calm atmosphere, the blue sea water and the cool breeze all make you feel fresh and soothe. The beach also has white sand, making it look so beautiful. Especially, the seashells maintained well all over the place. 

You can go to the beach your family and friends. Together, you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of the beach. You will feel like the atmosphere around the beach is so refreshing and peaceful. That is why, the place is perfect to relieve your stress.   

Location

Wediombo Beach is situated in Jepitu village, Girisubo District. It is about 40 km in the south east of Wonosari City. It takes about 2,5 hours driving from Yogyakarta. Although the location of the beach is too far from Yogyakarta, it is worth visiting. The beach is so amazing that you will never regret visiting the beach. There are two alternative routes if you want to visit the beach.

You can drive from Yogyakarta to Wonosari and Semanu. After that you can continue your journey to Jepitu and then you arrive at Wediombo. Otherwise, you can drive Yogyakarta to the south. Go along the complex of the south beaches until you arrive at Tepus.

You can then continue to Girisubo, and here you are at Wediombo. Once you have arrived at the beach, you can feel the breeze of the sea wind and listen to the sound of waves hitting the rocks. The entrance fee is cheap, only Rp5,000 (less than a half dollar).

Activities

          You can do various activities in Wediombo Beach, including fishing, swimming and surfing. However, surfing in this beach should be done by professional surfers only. This is beacause the waves are too powerful that an amateur will be difficult to handle. While, fishing is also an interesting activity as you can find many species of fish. 

Swimming should be done in shallow waters, and it will be dangerous if you swim too far in the middle of the sea. Apart from these water activities, you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of the sea. You can sit down in the beautiful sand and wait for the sunset. Sunset is an amazing panorama that you will regret missing it.

Accommodations

          There are many hotels and lodges around Wediombo Beach. The rate ranges from Rp40,000 to Rp80,000 (around US$4.00 to US$8.00). It’s quite cheap since the beach is not as popular as Parangtritis or Depok. The hotels and lodges are available for visitors who want to spend the night at the beach. When spending the night at the beach, you can find peaceful since the atmosphere of the sea is so comforting. 

          Plan your travel to Yogyakarta carefully, and include Wediombo Beach in your travel plan. This is a good alternative beach to visit apart from Depok and Parangtritis. Wediombo is one of the most beautiful beaches in Yogyakarta.

Pictures taken from www.pesonagunungkidul.com