Jogja 2012 | Day 1

I took the train that left Bandung at 7am on 26th June 2012 to Jogjakarta. That was a dream came true. I had been dreaming to have a journey on a train after so long I've never been on a train anymore. I really missed the train noises, the beautiful sceneries, and ate nasi goreng inside the train. And the place I was going was my dream journey destination; Jogjakarta. The last time I went there was on around mid 2010 when I joined my high school's comprehensive learning (study tour) program. But we only stayed for a while there. We only stopped by around Malioboro and bought some souvenirs over there. After that, we continued our trip to Bandung on Buses. Thanks Allāh to have given me this opportunity, to have come back again to this lovely city.

I went there with my mom, and three of her friends. Then, we arrived at Jogjakarta around 2pm. And for an hour we finally got reservations at a hotel in an alley nearby Malioboro street. Luckily, the hotel we got is placed close to the main road. It was really hard to find ones! In the holidays, the hotels are mostly fully reserved.

After that, we had an afternoon walk to get some foods. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful afternoon vibe I experienced there. I've never seen such thing on the road before (below). It's such an creative, artsy guardrail. It's Aksara Jawa written there which I don't actually know what it really means and moreover, I don't know how to read it. 

After that, we went to Gudeg's Central Place around Street Wijilan to eat gudeg (of course) with the traditional transportation service called becak. On the picture on the two left (below) is my mother's friends, and I was on becak on the right with my mother and her friend. I sat in the middle. The becak I used has wider seat than the becak on the left, and it's equipped with machine! I've just experienced this latest innovation in Jogja. Though, becak with machines are already used in some cities in Sumatra. But surely, the shapes are totally different with becaks in Java. I wonder how if the traditional becak is really gone. Could becak is still categorized as an environmentally friendly transportation anymore?

Left: It is the becak without machine. I'm liking the lighting at that time so much! The sun shone beautifully. Also, the "Indonesia" touch on that becak also giving a nice object for my photo. 

Right: The main focus in this picture is the clock. It depicts of how the Jogjanese (Jogja People - I made out that word. lol. sorry) are well concerned about timing. I felt that way because I've seen so many clocks around Jogja streets. Unlike in the city I'm living in. 

Malioboro street on the afternoon

Left: A huge half human body sculpture on the street. I really had no idea whether the sculpture stays there forever or it was just because the event around that time? The event was called "Festival Kesenian Yogyakarta" The event was held for some days. I also saw a crab sculpture on the beginning tip of Malioboro street.  

Right: A beatiful bird cage and the bird outside the place where I ate gudeg.  

Really enjoying Jogja on the afternoon on becak with mom, tante ida, and mang becak! eh? how to call 'mang becak' in Javanese?

 These are my first thoughts which I tweeted after hours stepping on Jogja land: 

Tiba-tiba pengen kuliah di Jogjakarta, agar jauh dari kemanjaan yangsudah menjalar di Bandung.. #eh
— Mila A. (@milaanzib) June 26, 2012

Jogja oh Jogja.. Baru saja aku menapakkan kaki 6 jam di atasmu tapi kau sudah membuatku terpukau dengan vibrasimu!
— Mila A. (@milaanzib) June 26, 2012

 ✭✭✭ and I feel like I still have that feeling! ✭✭✭ 

 ...But reality awaits and I must face it with smile and dignity. Bismillah :)