KERATON TOUR

 Written by : Aurel Ezmarelda Ratu Imang

Class : XII-6

 

Helouurrrr!!! Kumaha damang?

Hellooo guys!! How are you today? Welcome back to my blog!! This time I’m going to share my trip to Yogyakarta with Keraton Trip!! Come and follow my daily activities for 4 days in Yogyakarta! Let’s gooo!!

 

On the first day, we gathered early in the morning at APT Pranoto Airport in Samarinda. Even though I was still a little sleepy, I felt excited because we were finally going to Yogyakarta. After arriving at Yogyakarta International Airport, the air felt warmer and slightly more humid than in my hometown. We had lunch first, and after that we checked in at the hotel to rest for a while. In the evening, we went to Malioboro. The area was very lively and crowded with tourists, street musicians, and local sellers. The bright street lights and busy atmosphere made everything feel energetic. I saw many batik shops displaying different patterns, from classic brown designs to more colorful and modern styles. I spent quite a long time looking at them and even tried wearing a batik outer just to see how it looked on me. For a moment, I felt like I was blending into the local culture. I also noticed some foreign tourists asking sellers about the meaning of certain batik patterns, and unexpectedly one of them asked me to take their photo. After walking around and shopping, we had dinner at Angkringan Lik Man, where we ate nasi kucing and drank warm tea in a simple but cozy setting. After that, we returned to the hotel to rest and prepare for the next day.

 

On the second day, after breakfast at the hotel, we went to Keraton Yogyakarta. The atmosphere inside the palace was calm and very different from the busy streets outside. The traditional architecture, large open halls, wooden pillars, and detailed ornaments made the place feel historical and meaningful. While listening to the guide explain the history of the Yogyakarta Sultanate, I tried to imagine how the royal family used to live there in the past. Next, we went to Bale Raos for lunch and tried royal-style dishes. Some of the food tasted sweeter than what I usually eat, but it was interesting to experience traditional flavors that have been preserved for generations. After lunch, we continued to Parangtritis Beach. The wind was very strong, and the waves were big. Sand kept getting into my shoes, and my hair became messy, but it actually made the moment feel more natural and fun. I stood near the shoreline for a while, just watching the waves. After spending some time at the beach, we went to Obelix Sea View. The place is located on a cliff overlooking the sea, with many photo spots and seating areas facing the ocean. I preferred sitting quietly and watching the sunset as the sky slowly changed from blue to orange and pink. After enjoying the sunset, we returned to the hotel feeling tired but satisfied.

 

On the third day, after breakfast, we went to Prambanan Temple. The temple complex was very wide, and the main temples were extremely tall. When I looked up at the detailed carvings, I felt amazed and wondered how people in the past built something so magnificent without modern technology. The weather was very hot, so walking around the area was quite tiring. After exploring the temple and taking photos, we went to have sate klatak for lunch. The meat was grilled on iron skewers, and the taste was simple but delicious. Next, we visited a Bakpia Pathok center to see how bakpia is made. I could smell the sweet aroma from the oven, and watching the workers prepare the dough and filling carefully made me appreciate the process more. Of course, I bought some boxes to bring home as souvenirs. After that, we had dinner and tried gudeg, which tasted quite sweet and different from what I usually eat. Finally, we returned to the hotel to pack our belongings because the next day we had to go home.

 

On the last day, after breakfast and checking out from the hotel, we prepared to go to the airport. I kept thinking about the experiences from the previous days. Even though the weather was hot most of the time, I felt that the trip was meaningful. I was able to experience culture, history, nature, and traditional food within a short time. When the plane took off, I felt tired but also grateful for the journey.

 

Overall, this trip was a new experience for me. It wasn’t just about going somewhere far from home, but also about learning how to manage my energy, my time, and my expectations. The schedule was quite full, the weather was sometimes exhausting, and there were moments when I just wanted to rest. But at the same time, I felt happy because I was able to experience something different from my daily routine.