Yogyakarta

YOGYAKARTA or JOGJA is the main tour destination of the island of Java in Indonesia.

Yogyakarta (some people call it Jogja, Jogjakarta, or Yogya) is a city with outstanding historical and cultural heritage. Yogyakarta was the centre of the Mataram Dynasty (1575-1640), and until now the kraton (the sultan's palace) exists in its real functions. Also, Yogyakarta has numerous thousand-year-old temples as inheritances of the great ancient kingdoms, such as Borobudur temple established in the ninth century by the dynasty of Syailendra.

More than the cultural heritages, Yogyakarta has beautiful natural panorama. The green rice fields cover the suburban areas with a background of the Merapi Mountain. The natural beaches can be easily found to the south of Yogyakarta.

Here the society lives in peace and has typical Javanese hospitality. Just try to go around the city by bike, pedicab, or horse cart; and you will find sincere smiles and warm greeting in every corner of the city.

An artistic atmosphere is deeply felt in Yogyakarta. Malioboro, as the center of Yogyakarta, is overwhelmed by handicraft from all around the city. Street musicians always ready entertain the visitors of the lesehan food stalls.

Those who have visited Yogyakarta reveal that this city makes them long for it. Just visit here, then you will understand what this means.


Transportations to Yogyakarta:

Train
You may reach Yogyakarta by train from Jakarta, Bandung, or Surabaya
Bus
Yogyakarta is reachable by bus from Sumatra Island, Bali Island, and most cities of Java Island.
Plane
Recently, international direct flights from Kuala Lumpur are established to Yogyakarta. In addition, domestic flights to Yogyakarta from Jakarta, Denpasar, Balikpapan, and many others, are available now.

Grebeg Sekaten

Peak Sekaten this year so special. Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat prepared a special seven mountains to enliven Grebeg Dal sekaten year which falls on Friday, February 26, 2010 yesterday. "Usually only five mountains on each Grebeg sekaten, two Mount Question Gunungan Princess, Mount Mount Gepak and Pawuhan, but because this year is a year-Dal, the amount of the special mountain seven mountains," the statement Penghageng Kawedanan Ngayogyakarta Hageng Panitrapura Sultanate Palace GBPH Joyohadikusumo.
Dal Year is celebrated once every 8 years. Two additional mountains to be issued in the palace of Dal sekaten years later is Dharat Mount, and the most special is the Mount Brama / Kutug. Brama mound should not be contested by members of the community, and must be returned in full to the state court, after being paraded and pray in the mosque Gedhe, in Kauman, City of Yogyakarta. Mound Brama diperbutkan own will by the Emperor, Empress, and her family.
Kakung mound will be brought back to Pura Pakualaman.
Joint security forces guarding the Army, Navy, Police since 7 o'clock in the morning had seemed ready to start from the palace to the mosque Gedhe.

Apparently they do not want anymore missed like last year, the mountains had been captured by thousands of people crowded the mosque yard Gedhe.
Year 2010, the mosque door was closed starting at 8 AM.
Mount Brama addition, other features on Grebeg sekaten year celebration is the procession Dal make rice "lump" which is Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono (HB) X. Rice is taken from a container called Kanjeng Mrico Nyai, then distributed to anyone present at the event.

Sekaten is cultural and religious events are very important. Mound became a symbol of charity to the people of Sultan made from agricultural products (the symbol of public welfare).

Public enthusiasm for this sekaten Grebeg event is not only limited to the Yogyakarta region, but has spread to the corners of Java. Even Fathan (38) which comes from Malang, East Java, willing to fight to get crowded part of these mountains. They have the belief that if could be able to get these mountains, good fortune for this year will be plentiful.

Tugu Railway Station

 

Tugu Yogyakarta. How not, the main station in the town gudeg is located right in the heart of the city and close to many interesting tourist attractions. Off the train at this station, you do not have to waste time to reach the hotel and shopping center. Malioboro which is located just south of the station offers a number of star hotels and jasmine as well as traditional shopping centers and modern.Tugu station began serving the transportation needs since May 2, 1887, approximately 15 years after Lempuyangan Station. Initially, the station is only used for transporting railway transit of agricultural produce from areas in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. 1 Febnruari But since 1905, the station began to be used for transit passenger trains. Line the first town built in 1899, connecting Yogyakarta and Surakarta.

 

Starting from a small station, Tugu station has now become one of the largest stations in Indonesia. Has 6 tracks, the station serves the transportation of almost all big cities in Java. More than 20 train departures and arrivals take place every day, whether the train of economic, business and executive. There are various offers train and departure time to go to a specific area so that you have many choices.

Since built in Dutch colonial period, the architecture of the building is also very strong with European nuances. Once off the train, you will recognize from the big doors brown and the sky-high sky enhanced with a white wall color. You can also enjoy the charm of the station building, which until now still maintained its originality from the front. The building looks magnificent with a large door and two roof umbrella railroad.

 

Tugu Railway Station is one of the major stations that still retain its function as a treatment train, unlike the big stations are now only as a transit point. Therefore, you can travel to the corners of the station to be able to watch the activities of the mechanic and the train track the train station this age. Some employees at this station enough to know the history of the station, so it can invited talk.

When you go to the west of the station, you will see the improvement of railway locomotives. You'll be amazed to observe in detail each component in the locomotive. In fact, you can observe the machine from below because there is a ladder to the bottom of the locomotives 'parked'. Not far from there, you can see the statue of the ancient black train is also interesting to enjoy.

 

Walk a little to the south, you can see where the train car repairs. Although not get in, you can peeked at him from the fence-white iron fence that surrounds the blue. Looking up, will look sebuat parts are placed in the train yellow tower. Parts that are the crane carriage connector which has been used since the Dutch. If you walk back to the north, it will find the train janitors.

If you arrive or leave at dusk, it is time to stand at between 4 and 6 points and look to the west. Beautiful sunset scenery will be seen when the sky is clear, combined with the train rails are farther away will look like the lines that eventually coalesce into a single point. The existence of the tower crane and train street children who bring music to more add keeksotikan twilight scene.

Satisfied to enjoy the beauty of the station, you can start your trip in Jogjakarta. Various kinds of transport vehicles available at this station. You can ride tricycles to the Sultan's Palace and sales in Pathuk bakpia. If you want to travel some distance, you can use the city bus or taxi, as if to direct shopping, you are a short walk up the Malioboro which is located right in the south.

Gudeg

If an when we asked about the traditional foods of Jogja, we would spontaneously replied "Gudeg". Because it is a food Gudeg of Yogyakarta. Like Sate Madura and Pempek Palembang, Yogyakarta Gudeg also very familiar in the ears of Indonesian society. Even foreign tourists even if the visit to Yogyakarta, most of them would find Gudeg, because Gudeg also been known by the world community. In Yogyakarta itself Gudeg almost in all areas Yogyakarta, the center of Gudeg on Jl. Wijilan to remote areas in the province of DIY. 

Special on Jl. Wijilan, there are many stores selling Gudeg with price and taste vary. Besides Gudeg, at Jl. Wijilan we can also find a variety of gifts typical of Jogja. Particularly in the Palace District, Gudeg can we find in some other places, such as in restaurants or food stalls, food stalls scattered in various parts of the Palace District. 

Usually to entice prospective buyers, sellers pack Gudeg Gudeg wares with attractive packaging, which is served with kendhil, the container made of clay. In addition to attract more potential buyers, it also makes kendhil Gudeg more distinctive taste and better. Gudeg kendhil can we find in almost any place that sells Gudeg.

Based Gudeg young jackfruit stewed in conjunction with special spices, Santen, at the bottom and the top pan ingredients to boil boiled the leaf were young teak. To get the flavor and color Gudeg perfect and delicious, the material is boiled for about overnight. Teak leaves are used to obtain an attractive color Gudeg. For his areh or broth made from coconut milk, spices, and turmeric for coloring. Broth is poured on top Gudeg already ready to serve, only a little, but gravy is also sprinkled with fried onions.

Gudeg has a sweet taste. Gudeg usually served with warm rice, boiled eggs, chicken, chicken claw, tofu, tempeh, krupuk, and others. To drink mate, can drink anything; such as hot tea, warm orange, iced tea, ice lemon, white water, and others. It was less complete if a visit to Yogyakarta without feeling Gudeg.

Lesehan

As the sun began to set, when the street lights came on and shops that add to the beautiful atmosphere of Malioboro, one by one starting stall lesehan were held. Jogja traditional foods such as catfish pecel gudeg or can be enjoyed here in addition to oriental cuisine or sea food and cuisine of Padang. And entertainment songs or tembang memorable hits by the other street when dining. 

For tourists who want to taste the cuisine along Malioboro street, ask for price list and make sure the seller, to avoid the rising prices are not reasonable. 

Yogyakarta is not only considered the cultural heart of Java, it is an epicureans delight with literally hundreds of restorans and warungs from which you can choose the delicious foods of Indonesia.

The city is also famous for its Lesehan food. Late afternoon, crudely constructed open front tents are erected, and by nightfall, the tempting odours of spicy fresh chicken and fish waft through the air. Such delights as Gudeg Yogya (jackfruit cooked in coconut milk and served with boiled rice and chicken), and Burung Darah (pigeon cooked to your liking and highly spiced) will tempt you.

Usually around 9pm when the shops generally close and the street vendors cover their stalls for the night, straw mats are laid out on the pavement where small tables are placed for the customers to sit and eat the delights of their choice. These places are great to acquaint yourself with the friendly locals and be entertained by the wandering

Biennale Jogja X

After approximately 21 years, after 9 times the event, Yogyakarta Biennale has become an art tradition that allows people to appreciate the development of aesthetic and artistic achievement of the principals of art in this city. Another thing that is always considered in the event biennale is a curatorial theme initiated want. 
In this X Jogjakarta Biennale, curatorial themes set out from a real problem of art in this city, the memories so short that people will own history. The cause is one of the data management so weak, both individuals and institutions. Fragility of documentation becomes a critical point when the art building difficulty putting themselves in a broader context. That is why, Biennale Jogja X is a moment for the artist's invitation to read, interpret again the spirit of the time in every era of art history. The purpose of this biennale is not to collect records, but rather the artists awareness of the importance of the past that continues to have present. 

If we flashback art Jogjakarta, then we will see a spirit that became his time marker. Populist humanism, has become the dominant marker in the spirit of the time Affandi, Hendra Gunawan, and Sudjojono beginners who are generations of modern art in Indonesia until the 1960s. ASRI who stood in the 1950s, could not also bring the discourse which then differentiate itself from the strong discourse in Bandung for example. In the new order regime, which woke up in the discourse of art also tend apolitical. Aesthetic forms that grow more dominant leading to the spirit of universal humanism with the strengthening of abstract art, decorative, and others. Later, we also know, "spirit" which has implications for the behavior and aesthetic choices, sued by later generations, as reflected in the "New Art Movement" and "Art Personality Is". Later, outside the world trend of art, the discussion of his "local" and to "global" in the 1980s has been dragged practices art Jogjakarta. In this case, the event Biennale Art of Painting I to Art Biennale Jogja IX can be used as a case study, particularly organizational problems its implementation. To the most contemporary practices of art that can not escape from the urban culture and market trends. 

From the reading of art history at the top of Yogyakarta, can be taken five (5) "spirit" or "paradigm" that major artists used to be a reference in the work, namely: 1. Humanism Populist 2. Universal Humanism 3. Resistance to aesthetic 4. Turbulence between global and local culture 5. Fine art based on the daily life of urban Introduction curatorial Things that distinguishes the city of Yogyakarta with other major cities in Indonesia is the pulse of art that so hard detaknya. There are no empty weeks without art exhibitions. Artists never run out of ideas for using various places as "gallery." No miss, even the ordinary citizen working in public spaces. This situation would be compared in a Javanese idiom, autumn mountain, where mutual cooperation, togetherness, still strong in the social process of artistic activity in Yogyakarta. These dynamics can also be described as a jam session in which each artist to each other in dialogue, sharing, and create in harmony creation. 

Creative movement has spawned a monumental work and the discourse that marks the spirit of each era, such as humanism, democracy, universal humanism, resistance to the establishment of aesthetics, the unrest among the local and global culture, and urban art. Jogjakarta X-Biennale 2009, titled "Jogja Jamming: Art Archive Movement" is a reflection of these dynamics. Reflection is poured in two practices, the artists interpretation of the spirit of the times in the archives and exhibitions. In this context, the meaning of the archive is not just an inanimate object, but also the memories that live in the present. 

This practice dihantar by 126 artists who held interesting works in Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Sangkring Art Space, Jogja National Museum. While the exhibition will be held in the archives of Bank Indonesia Building. Then more than 200 artists and city residents will melt together to respond to the corners of the city. At this point, the biennale is not just displaying works of art, but also space for the operation of a culture. 

 Curator Tim Eko Prawoto, Hermanu, Samuel Indratma, Wahyudin

Malioboro

Stretched across the imaginary axis connecting the sultan's palace, monument and the peak of Mount Merapi, this path is formed into a trade locality after Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I developed a means of trading through a traditional market since 1758. After over 248 years, the place still survive as a trade area even be one of the icons of Yogyakarta, known as the Malioboro. 

Located about 800 meters from the sultan's palace, this place was once filled with a bouquet of flowers every time the Palace implement celebration. Malioboro, which in Sanskrit means "flowers" becomes the basis for naming the street.

Flanked by shops, offices, restaurants, star hotels and historic buildings, streets that once had to struggle as the basis of the Dutch military aggression to-2 in 1948 the land was once a wandering of the artists belonging to the community Persada Studi Klub (PSK) led artists Bannerman Landu Paranggi since the 1970s until around 1990. 

Souvenirs Paradise

Enjoy the shopping experience, unique souvenirs hunting Jogja, tourists can walk along the shoulder of the road corridor (arcade). Here will find many vendors that hold merchandise. Ranging from local handicraft products such as batik, rattan ornament, leather puppets, bamboo crafts (key chains, decorative lamps, etc.) also headcloth (hat typical Java / Yogyakarta) and silver goods, until the merchant who sells knickknacks are more common found in other commercial places. Throughout the arcade, but tourists can shop in peace in a sunny or rainy conditions, also can enjoy a pleasant shopping experience at bargain prices. If lucky, can be decreased or even third or half. 

Do not forget to leave little energy. There is still a traditional market that must be visited. In the place known by Beringharjo market, but tourists can find similar items for sale along the arcade, this market provides a variety of traditional products is more complete. In addition to local products Yogyakarta, also available products such as neighboring areas or batik Pekalongan batik Solo. Looking for batik or batik print, or just looking for decorating the windows with curtains unique motifs and batik bed sheets beautiful. This place will satisfy your shopping desires unique goods with cheaper prices. 

Shopping in the Malioboro area and Beringharjo, be sure not fooled by the price offered. Usually the vendors to raise prices than usual for tourists.