The City that Fit for
Prosper
Bank of Indonesia Building, Yogyakarta City Centre |
As the base for visiting 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Central Java, Yogyakarta or Jogja is one of the most popular cities in Indonesia. City itself has a lot of prominent cultural spots and surrounded by artistic people and handicraft stuffs.
Travellers always
spend a day in the city for sightseeing and shopping, mainly historic landmarks
and batiks.
Kraton (Sultan’s Palace)
Located in old town
and opened for tourists visit. Kraton is consisting of many Javanese pavilions
and enclosed with walls. Inside the walls, there are cultural activities
performed regularly by the skillful court artists such as traditional classical
music band.
When we entered to
Kraton, time walked back to the old days, court servants in Javanese dress both
men and women playing music, guiding tourists, guarding rooms and even reading
newspaper were around.
Batik museum is the
most interesting spot. It displayed collection of hand-made batiks created by
Indonesian great artists. Brown is the royal batik colour for the court use.
Photographs are not allowed inside the museum.
Other museums
presented collection of sultans and royal family’s stuffs such as portraits,
furniture, dress, and kitchen utensils.
Taman Sari was the
personal garden of sultans in 18th century. There are bathing pools
surrounded by walls and 3-storey building.
After visiting Kraton,
I walked to Taman Sari by following vague sign. I went through the tunnel to
the site, not from main entrance. This way, I had to pass old town neighborhood
and bird market (Pasar Ngasem). Conversation with the local was a great friendship
I got from getting lost. An Indonesian guy who living in the corner of the shortcut
to Taman Sari, he has to point the way day after day and he never bored. He is
so friendly and happy to talk with tourists.
Dutch fort and
administrative office during the colonial era is located on the main road of
the city, not far from Jalan Malioboro. Inside the fort is museum about
Indonesian independence, courtyard and old buildings in Dutch colonial
architecture.
Vderburg is the plain
attraction which we can spend a short time to visit or skip it. Opposite
Vderburg is the governor house and nearby is the Bank of Indonesia.
Jalan Malioboro and Pasar
Beringharjo (Market), please see details from Eat & Buy.