Hi readers! I am back! I wasn’t able to write for a couple of days but here I am today! I am so glad to be able to share a piece of Jogja with you and this time it’s about my weekend getaway in a cottage named Kebon Krapyak Cottage in Sleman Jogja. 

I don’t know if you feel the same but there are times in which I have to work on the weekend but I need to feel at ease as well. I need a different atmosphere to tickle my creativity and to keep the good vibes on. For those reasons, I liked to stay in a place with a different ambiance to refresh my mind.

It was my first experience of staying in a cottage. The cottage was in the countryside and it was in a nice area. I mentioned the word ‘nice’ because it wasn’t in a touristic place and it was in a quiet neighborhood. Perfect for me!

I arrived at Kebon Krapyak Cottage in Sleman Jogja after having some lunch in the area nearby. Its customer service welcomed me with a warm smile and showed me my room which was on the ground floor.  I booked a standard double room via OYO. The room was about 123 square feet and it has two entrance doors. 

My room was nice. I shouted ‘wow’ in excitement! Hahahaha… The room was simple but it had a serene earth tone ambiance. I took photos of the room and then moved the one and only table there to one of the corners, next to the bed. It’s better to put my stuff in a reachable spot eh… This maybe sounds funny but my favorite part of the room was its big window and its curtain! They both looked awesome at 4.30 AM! Yes, can you believe that?! I woke up and sat on my bed early in the morning just to enjoy the view I got from the window for a while. 

 If I didn’t go eating out, I spent most of my time in the room, worked on my laptop. The internet connection there was pretty stable and it could accommodate me well. I just had to make sure I had enough water and snacks for the day! Hahaha…

The next thing I liked about my weekend getaway place was its café called Kopi Plosok. I tried some menus there and they were fantastic! I won’t write about it here but I will give you the juicy details in my next post! All I can say right now is just I am glad I explored the food there. It was worth every penny! However, today I will show you a bit the look of Kopi Plosok café to feed your curiosity. 

Apart from Kopi Plosok, I was delighted to figure out there were many places for cool photoshoots! If you are so into putting yourself in a frame and upload your photos in social media, you would fall for this place. I spent one afternoon to explore the place and took some photos with me inside and outside of the frames. Their semi-traditional buildings were appealing as well to be put in frames. 

I checked the location of Kebon Krapyak Cottage in Sleman Jogja and this place is near to some tourist places. The nearest one is Jogja Bay Waterpark. Besides, you can also reach Candi Prambanan (Prambanan Temple) in less than 30 minutes of driving. If you’d like to go to a shopping mall, the nearest one is less than 15 minutes of driving. 

That’s all I have for today. What do you think about Kebon Krapyak Cottage in Sleman Jogja? Based on what you read, what do you like the most about it? Please share your comment in the comment section below. I’d like to read something from you!

Make your visit to Jogja more special by learning a few words and phrases for your trip. As you know, when we travel to a foreign country, many local people in that country would really appreciate our efforts to speak their language even though ours probably ain’t perfect. The same thing applied here.

Jogja has Javanese language. I have written about it a bit in my other post. This time we focus on Indonesian language, the official language of Indonesia. Indonesia has thousands of islands and more than 700 local languages. The Indonesian language or bahasa Indonesia is one of the things that unite us. So, this time I will share seven Indonesian words and phrases for you to practice in Jogja. These words and phrases can be used as well in any other part of Indonesia. With no hesitation, let me share you down below the useful words and phrases:

1.  Selamat Pagi/Siang/Sore/Malam

One easy way to interact with local people is by greeting them.  Saying selamat pagi (good morning), selamat siang (good afternoon), selamat sore (good evening), and selamat malam (good night) are some ways the local people do to greet others. You can practice this to the local people nearby and make sure you also put a genuine smile on your face while doing so.

2. Terima Kasih

Politeness matters in Jogja. Javanese people like to emphasize the importance of politeness to their kids. This is considered as one of many significant attitudes people here need to have. Saying thank you is one of the ways to be polite and to appreciate people. If you’d like to thank local people for their help or efforts, you can say terima kasih or matur nuwun.

3. Maaf

Sometimes it takes courage to apologize. If you make a mistake and you’d like to apologize to the local people, apart from saying “sorry” you can always say “maaf”. To make it even more polite, you can say “Saya minta maaf” which means “I am sorry/I apologize” in English. “Saya mohon maaf” can be used too but this one is more formal.

4. Tidak

“Tidak” is a word to show refusal. This means “no”. If people on the street offer you items to buy and you want to refuse it, you can say “tidak”. If you want to refuse in a more polite way, you can add the word “terima kasih” as in “tidak, terima kasih”. 

5. Iya/Ya

When there’s a no, there’s a yes as well. If you’d like to show agreement in bahasa Indonesia, you can say “ya” or “iya” which means “yes”. 

6. Saya Tidak Tahu

If you have no clue or don’t know about something, you can always say “Saya tidak tahu” which means “I don’t know”. 

7. Saya Mau Minta Tolong

There will be a time you probably will need some help. If you want to ask for help, you can say “Saya mau minta tolong” which means “I’d like to ask for a favor”.

I hope the above words and phrases will be useful for you. Which one of those seven that steal your attention first? Do you have any experience in using the Indonesian language while you are staying in Jogja? 

Terima kasih for reading. Feel free to leave a comment below or share your experience in practicing Indonesian language.

What do you know about Jogja? Do you know that Jogja has a mangrove forest? Today let me take you to leave the center of Jogja to visit a mangrove forest that has been polished and becomes a tourist attraction in Kulon Progo, one of four regencies in Jogja.

Will you walk with me on this bamboo bridge?

Jembatan Api-Api or MJAA (Mangrove Jembatan Api-Api) is a mangrove forest tourist destination located in Jangkaran Temon Kulon Progo. This place is about 1 hour 14 minutes of driving from the center of Jogja. This place offers you the enjoyment of relaxing and walk on bamboo bridges while you are exploring the mangrove forest. I think it is pretty fun to have a walk there because they have some instagrammable sitting area and photo spots. Yet there’s a beach nearby to visit by walking through the bamboo bridges that led you to the beach. 

If you like to explore Jembatan Api-Api more, you can get yourself a tour by boat. This tour is so affordable! Its low-priced ticket is only IDR 5,000/person. Once you jump in and seat on the boat, they will take you around to see the mangrove forest and the outfall of the Bogowonto river. Along the way, you will pass many spots for photos and even 22 meters height twin towers that look like the Eiffel tower. They are made from bamboo! Wooo!   

I like this view seen from the the boat in the Bogowonto river. Is that only me who wonder if there are alligators in big rivers?

One of the area passed by the boat.

More water. I enjoyed the tour, for a moment I felt like I was a free-spirit adventurer!

Hold on! Before I go further, let me tell you that the name Api-Api from MJAA or Jembatan Api-Api is taken from the mangrove. The word ‘api-api’ is taken from the black mangrove that is called ‘api-api’. Its Latin name is Avicennia germinans.

A mangrove forest has more than mangroves of course. During my visit there, I saw some fishes swimming, groups of water snails, shrimps, and various crabs. You have no idea I was so excited about those animals! Hahaha… Maybe your mind shouted, “Why do you get excited over some swimming fishes?”  Hahaha… Well, it’s just me. I am excited about…almost anything! Yep!

Hello! I am the famous crab Eunike just mentioned!

So, after being excited about seeing some animals, I kept on walking and passed some shrimps ponds only to find… tadaaaaa…a beach! This beach was like hiding itself behind Jembatan Api-Api to surprise us! A windy black-sand-beach called Pantai Congot (Congot Beach) that was facilitated with some gazebos for visitors who want to hide in a shadow while having a fresh coconut drink. Yes, you can have some coconut drinks because there are some coconut sellers near the gate of the beach.

During my visit to both Jembatan Api-Api and Pantai Congot, I didn’t see any foreign tourists. This could mean that this tourist attraction is not famous among foreign tourists. If you are a foreigner and you plan to visit this place, don’t get surprised if most visitors there are either local people or domestic tourists. If you’d like to mingle with local people, this could be the place for you!

Jembatan Api-Api in Kulon Progo is one of the famous tourist destinations among local people there. To enter the tourist attraction, you only need to pay IDR 4,000/person for its entrance ticket. They start to open from 7 am to 6 pm. 

Have you visited any mangrove forest? What do you like about it? Would you like to explore Kulon Progo and its tourist attractions while you are visiting Jogja? Please share your comment below.

Maybe you already know that Jogja is one of the main tourist destinations in Indonesia. You probably have heard that this city is famous for its cultural tourist attraction. But today I’m not gonna talk about that. Today I’d like to take you to a lovely place where you can chill and enjoy nature’s beauty. Yes, let me share about Embung Batara Sriten.

Embung Batara Sriten is a water reservoir located on the top of the Batur Agung hills in Pilangrejo,  Nglipar, Gunung Kidul.  What makes this embung special is its location. This embung’s height is about 859 meters from sea level. Compared to any other water reservoir in Gunung Kidul, this one is the highest.

The scenery on my way up to Embung Batara Sriten.

Welcome to Embung Batara Sriten!

There's no fish in this water reservoir "Embung Batara Sriten".

Batara Sriten would be a great location for you who would like to get a stunning view of sunrise and sunset. If you are one of those who are so fancy to capture moments of sunrise and sunset, you shall not miss this place. This is a place for chilling and enjoying the panorama of an awesome green landscape seen from the top of the hill. If you look for a place that can give you a stunning view and fewer visitors, I suggest you visit this place on weekdays.  I was lucky for being there when it had only a few visitors. It made things better for me for I sought silence some time ago.

Batara Sriten has some facilities for its visitors. Officially opened by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X in September 2014, this embung is facilitated with a  huge parking lot, restroom, a prayer room, a gazebo, and a place to eat.  When I was there I had for myself a bottle of mineral water and a bowl of fried noodles.

If you are in Jogja and plan to visit Embung Batara Sriten, make sure your vehicle is in good condition. Since the embung is on the top of the hill, your vehicle machine will surely work harder to take you there. This place is open 5 AM to 6 PM and its entrance ticket is IDR 3,000.

What I liked the most about the embung was the scenery. For someone who lives in the center of the city, such a view is something rare to find. I really loved to have the wind kissed my skin and played with my hair. It was so quiet and I could even hear the wind had fun with leaves as well. When I was there I walked around and went up a bit to explore the place. My eyes liked what they saw; a green landscape that looked like a green carpet.  It was relaxing.

My favorite view of Embung Batara Sriten.

Look at that hill! Can you imagine yourself living in such a hill with no neighbor?

Apart from Embung Batara Sriten, Gunung Kidul has a lot to see. When you are in this area in Jogja, you can explore many places such as an ancient volcano, caves, and beaches. If you are curious about other places in Jogja with a great panorama view, you can also visit Batu Papal.

That’s all I have for you today. Do you think you’d like to explore Batara Sriten and Gunung Kidul once you are visiting Jogja? Talk about a water reservoir, is there such a place in your area? Is it also touristic? Feel free to share your comment below.

Thank you for visiting Rindumiu.  May we all are in good vibes. Warm regards from Jogja. See ya later!

Are you able to speak Javanese? No? Well, knowing a few words in Javanese will certainly color your interaction with local people. I often see how people get excited when they are talking or listening to a tourist who makes efforts to say a few words in the local language.  The local people will appreciate the effort the tourist has made.

As you probably have heard, Jogja is famous for its hospitality. People are warm and they like to greet one another. Some people do not hesitate to even say hi to foreigners although their English is probably limited. So, if you would like to get more interaction with the local ones, here are 5 words/phrases in Javanese to use during your visit in Jogja :

You just got your 5 Javanese words and phrases. Maybe you find it difficult to say but don’t give up because there’s a famous saying that says practice makes perfect! Oh yeah! Wink! Hahaha…

What do you think about the Javanese words and phrases above? Do you think you can remember them all? What’s your favorite one among those five?  Please share in the comment section below.

I do hope what I share today is informative and useful for you who have a plan to visit Jogja. The Javanese words and phrases I mentioned above can be applied as well when you are in both East and Central Java. Oh, if you are in Central Java, you probably would like to visit Selo to enjoy nature’s beauty and chill there or go to Gua Maria Gantang in Muntilan. 

That’s all I have for now. Thank you for taking the time to read. I hope the COVID-19 pandemic will be over soon.  Stay healthy and stay positive.  Warm regards from Jogja and see ya next time!

The prayer garden I’d like to share with you is Taman Doa Maria Ratuning Katentreman lan Karaharjan. People here also like to call this place Gua Maria Gantang (Virgin Mary cave of Gantang).  This prayer garden is in Gantang village, Sawangan sub-district in Muntilan. Muntilan itself is about 25 km north of Jogja and it is a district part of Magelang Regency. It was inaugurated in 2017 by Archbishop of Semarang, Mgr Robertus Rubiyatmoko.

The entrance of Taman Doa Maria Ratuning Katentreman lan Karaharjan

The name “Maria Ratuning Katentreman lan Karaharjan” is taken from the Javanese language which means Mary the Queen of Peace and Salvation. The creator of this statue –a-Merapi-artist—Ismanto liked to call this work of art as Mbok Tentrem. “Mbok” is a Javanese phrase comes from the word “simbok” which means mother whereas the word “tentrem” means peace.

Mbok Tentrem is a 10-meters-height statue. This statue’s height symbolizes things that are related to the Catholic religion. First symbolism can be seen from its 3-meters-height of foundation which represents Trinity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The second one is in the height of the Virgin Mary statue. The 7-meters statue represents sacraments in Catholicism. The third one is in the total 10-meter-height which symbolizes Ten Commandments. The last symbolism is in the pose of the Virgin Mary stands on a dragon’s head. This pose is meant to remind people that being with the Virgin Mary will help them defeat the cruel dragon in their life.

Mbok Tentrem

I arrived at Taman Doa Maria Ratuning Katentreman lan Karaharjan early in the morning. The way to this prayer garden was appealing to me. For someone who lives in the center of the city, the view of rice fields was not something I saw in my daily life. It was like green carpets everywhere. Lovely! I could enjoy the fresh air as well though it was rather chilly.

My visit to Gua Maria Gantang began with seeing the statue of Mbok Tentrem. I took time to contemplate and prayed there though I am not a Catholic. This prayer garden was quiet and I could feel in peace there. After taking my time in front of the famous statue of the Virgin Mary, I decided to move away to another spot in this prayer garden. Yes, I visited another area of praying. I sat on a stall and once again, took my time for praying. Later on, before deciding to leave this place I looked around to see flowers there. Yeah, I like flowers and they had various colorful flowers. 

A part of the prayer garden of Gua Maria Gantang.

Can you tell me the name of this flower? I have no clue. This is one of the various flowers I saw in Gua Maria Gantang.

Warm regards from Jogja. See ya!

• The look of R. Hamong Wardoyo seen from Pandanaran Street.

Hi readers! Welcome to Rindumiu! How are you doing? I hope you are OK and are both happy and healthy! Today I will just execute my a-few-days-ago-plan which is sharing with you my Day 2 of vacation in Selo Boyolali which is in the northeast of Jogja.  If you are curious to know about my Day 1, feel free to check it here.

Now, let's focus on Day 2 of my vacation. On the second day, I went to the city of Boyolali. It was about eating pork that later led me to explore the city. Craving for pork, I headed to a Balinese restaurant only to figure out that they served no pork at all. Oh well, I was there already and a culinary adventure is a culinary adventure even when there’s no pork. I ordered Nasi Campur Bali in this restaurant named Warung Makan Khas Bali Bli Nyoman.  Despite the fact that they replaced pork with chicken, the taste of my breakfast was really good. Good food helps us to have a good mood eh…and my good mood triggered me to seek Tugu Jagung.

Tugu Jagung or Corn Tower. Is giant corn good for pop corns?

Tugu Jagung or Corn Tower is a 15 meters height copper tower which of course looks like corn. This tower is one to replace the original one made from piles of corn. Once, this tower was viral in social media here and many people went there to put that corn tower (together with them) in a frame.  An iconic tower! Yes, you’re right. I visited this copper corn and took photos there.  Oh, I am like any other people eh… Hehehe…

After making a memory with Tugu Jagung, I started off to the R. Hamong Wardoyo Museum.  Located on Pandanaran Street No.19, this museum has a free entrance. All you have to do is just filling in their visitor book. This museum was built in the year 2015 and the name of the museum came from the name of the first regent of Boyolali who led after Indonesia proclaimed its independence.

"What are you looking at, Miss?" If the statue of Mr. R. Hamong Wardoyo could speak...

R. Hamong Wardoyo Museum has an appealing architecture, in my opinion. Dominated by the color white, this museum has collections that pretty much explain to us about Boyolali. What I saw first was collections of heritage items; old Hindus – Buddhist statues. Apart from statues, they also exhibited photos that showed the progress of  Boyolali and its regents from time to time, examples of local industry products, tools for farming, traditional clothes, and so on.

A photo of Soekarno, the 1st president of Indonesia, visited Boyolali in 1954. He was at the guard's post of Mount Merapi.

Statues you can see in R. Hamong Wardoyo museum

Who's that chick?

Boyolali has its local traditions and they put that as well in the museum.  I saw dioramas of Saparan Sebaran Apem Kukus Keong Mas and a traditional ceremony of Sedekah Gunung Merapi. Saparan Sebaran Apem Kukus Keong Mas is a thanksgiving day in Sapar month (the second month in Javanese calendar) in which thousands of steamed apem is given away. Apem is a traditional snack that looks like a mini thicker pancake made from rice flour.  People like to get this apem because they believe this apem will give them a good fortune. Sedekah Gunung Merapi is a traditional ceremony done in Sura month (the first month in Javanese calendar).  This ceremony is a tradition in which people pray to God asking for protection and safety.  In this tradition, people present alms and a buffalo’s head to God by putting them on the top of Mount Merapi. They present the buffalo’s head by giving it away through Mount Merapi’s crater. 

A diorama of Saparan Sebaran Apem Kukus. You can see here people are so enthusistic to get the steamed apem.

A diorama of Sedekah Gunung Merapi. The guys in traditional clothes walk to Mount Merapi.

On my way out of the museum, I saw a statue of a cow.  As information for you, Boyolali is the number one city of milk-producing in Central Java and no, I don’t have the photo of the cow, unfortunately. It’s a mystery why I didn’t take its photo. Uhmmm…

If you would like to know Boyolali better, you should visit this museum. You can learn about its history, its culture, its tradition, and many more. And… yes, you can take a picture with the cow I mention in the paragraph above, something that I missed to do while I was being there. 

In brief, my second day was pretty short. The rain fell in the afternoon but luckily I already reached the backpacker’s hotel I stayed in.  During my trip back to Selo, the sky was cloudy. It turned grey. What I was rather afraid of was the fog. Oh yes, the street was being grey and foggy and it limited my sight. Fog reminds me of horror movies and any other scary thing! The sky poured rain for the rest of the day and I had to be happy being in my room.

I left Selo in the northeast of Jogja early in the morning. The air was fresh and I could enjoy nature’s beauty while leaving the area. Overall I was happy spending time there. If you would like to visit Selo, make sure you plan it for summer. Oh, once again let me remind you! If you haven’t read my first blog post about my vacation in Selo, just click here.

Bye Selo, bye vacation. Welcome to the real life!

Thank you for reading.  I should have taken the cow’s photo. It was a real size chubby cow! Uh… Anyways, I am curious. Are you a museum person? If so, what’s your favorite museum to visit? Do you have any unforgettable experience with any cow? If so, what is it? Please share on the comment section below. I’d like to know your story.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you plan to visit Jogja later, maybe you would like to put Selo in the northeast of Jogja as well on your agenda.  

Stay safe, stay healthy, and see ya in my next blog post!