Knowing Yogyakarta Indonesia
Knowing Yogyakarta Indonesia

Knowing Yogyakarta Indonesia

Most Filipino travelers would go to nearby countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Macau (Visa-free country) but very few would go to Indonesia. Most Filipinos would only know Bali and Jakarta but little did we know that Indonesia has so much to offer for all types of travelers.

Indonesia

In July 2016, I got invited by the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia together with 50+ other South East Asian bloggers and influencers to travel around Indonesia for 12 days.

I extended my trip to Jakarta for 3 days and was not able to do so much because of the traffic jam. Few from our batch went to Yogyakarta and seeing their amazing photos made me want and eager to go back to Indonesia and visit Yogyakarta.

Luckily Last January 2018, I was able to go back to Indonesia, had a 4-day trip to Jakarta with AirAsia and finally extended my trip for another 4 days just to see the wonders of Yogyakarta.

I always wanted to visit temples and palaces in this region and finally, I did. Let me share with you where we stayed in Jogja and few things we did for 4 days. Also, we get to experience some local food in the region.

WHERE TO STAY?

The 101 Hotel Yogyakarta

Book your stay here 
a beautiful hote of The 101 Hotel Yogyakarta

The 101 Hotel Tugu is situated very close to the famous Malioboro street in Yogyakarta. This stylish hotel offers 110 Deluxe Room with balcony and 10 Deluxe Room with direct pool access, 24 Deluxe Merapi Room and 6 Junior Suite.

What I love most about our Suite room is we have direct access to the hotel’s swimming pool and the buffet breakfast spread they offer to their guest.

We also experienced an affordable buffet dinner for only 15 USD good for 2 pax. It was a promo at that time and we didn’t skip the chance to save money and eat a lot, lol. That night, there was an acoustic band who serenades us and other hotel guests.

Room prices:

Deluxe Balcony per night         3,100 PHP / 62 USD
Deluxe Merapi per night          3,400 PHP / 68 USD
Deluxe Pool Access per night   3,900 PHP / 78 USD
Junior Suite per night               4,700 PHP / 94 USD

beautiful and charming lobby of The 101 Hotel

 

 The hotel lobby shows Javanese modern style.

 

suite room with pool access of the The 101 Hotel

 

We stayed in a twin-bedroom with pool access

 

clean and spotless bathroom of The 101 Hotel
I also love the idea that the bath gel and shampoo are in a dispenser and we don’t have to call the reception to always bring us extra toiletries.
I just started the Keto diet during this week and I failed! Who can resist rice porridge, muffins and so much egg for breakfast?
egg, muffin and coffee at The 101 Hotel
The hotel also has its in-house bar located on the 2nd floor, gym, pool, wide-range of food in its in-house restaurant.

 

THE 1O1 Yogyakarta Tugu

Jalan Margoutomo No.103 (Mangkubumi)
Yogyakarta 55232 – Indonesia 
p. +62 274 2920 101
f. +62 274 2921 101
e. reservation.tugu@the101hotels.com

Check-In Time: 2:00 PM
Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM
Hotel Currency: IDR (Rp)

WHAT TO DO IN JOGJA?

1. Visit Borobudur Temple

Entrance fee: 2,000 PHP / 40 USD – we availed the entrance for Borobudur and Prambanan (package).

The entrance for Borobudur at sunrise is much higher and because Kenneth and I are on a very tight budget we decided to go to Borobudur after sunrise. We didn’t expect this flock of tourists during this hour and to our surprise, there are a lot of students visiting the temple.

It was like a school field trip so having that picture-perfect at the temple is very difficult and you really have to be extra fast to take a snap or else someone will pass thru your camera shot.

photo of Borobudur
amazing shot of Borobudur
amazing view of Borobudur
intricate design of Borobudur

2. Visit Prambanan Temple

aura shot of momma lee at Prambanan Temple

 

amazing shot of Prambanan Temple

 

lots of people touring around Prambanan Temple
Both Prambanan and Borobudur are UNESCO World Heritage.

3. Learn and make Batik at Leksa Ganesha

This is my most anticipated part of our trip to Jogja, though I cannot make a superb art thru painting or drawing, I have this passion and appreciation for Batik. And I was so happy to finally experienced and learn the history and Batik making.
All I know is that Batik is an art on a piece of fabric but the real meaning of Batik is patience. Yes, it takes HUGE patience in making your Batik masterpiece. From sketching to embossing the wax, to washing, dying drying, repeat it several times until you finally see your artwork from the cotton fabric.
There are 3 types of Batik, the most expensive is the hand-made, next is the stamp and last is the printed Batik. 
 
Here at the Batik Leksa Ganesha, you can purchase Batik fabrics from 300 PHP to thousand of pesos worth of Batik art.
batik art in Leksa Ganesha

 

amazing batik arts here at Leksa Ganesha

 

ladies working on their batik art here at Leksa Ganesha

4. Visit The Sultans Palace

Entrance Fee: 50 PHP / 1 USD
Camera Fee:   50 PHP / 1 USD
We did not have any tour guide here so we did not know much of the story and history of the palace. However, if you want a tour guide, a fee is only 2.50 USD / 150 PHP.
chair of The Sultans Palace Indonesi

 

lots of tourist here at The Sultans Palace Indonesia

 

slow Indonesia dance here at the The Sultans Palace

5. Visit the Water Palace

Entrance Fee:  50 PHP / 1 USD
Camera Fee:    25 PHP / .25 USD
 
Tip to tour guide: 380 PHP / 7.6 USD
visiting Water Palace

 

we visited Water Palace

 

history tour at Water Palace

 

this is where the sultan and mistress take their bath

 

Water Palace Indonesia

 

touring arounf Yogyakarta Indonesia Water Palace

 

historial tour at Water Palace

 

street art around the Water Palace

PLEASE WATCH MY INDONESIA VIDEOS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WATER PALACE AND OTHER SITES WE VISITED.

6. Try local coffee – Kopi Joss and street food along Malioboro

For 50 PHP you can have a Chicken Satay or a Mi Goreng.
street food along Malioboro

 

local food in Yogyakarta Indonesia

 

Kopi Joss is a local coffee of Jogja with charcoal
Photo credit to Kenneth of www.kennethsurat.com

 

7. Buy Batik

I think the best pasalubong you can give to your family is unique and real Batik. For as low as 150 PHP up to thousands of pesos, you can purchase a simple Batik to an extravagant art made from Batik.

But because I sell clothes online and I make my own skirts and kimonos, I purchased few Batiks in Hamzah Batik. It’s an air-conditioned store that sells Batiks, was for Batik making, local delicacy, and many other Indonesian arts.

Our Borobudur, Prambanan and Batik Workshop is sponsored by Firsta of www.discoveryourindonesia.com. To know more about their tour package please visit their website and check their Instagram account www.instagram.com/discoveryourindonesia.
 
Let us enjoy life and travel. Do not skip visiting Indonesia on your next trip. I guarantee you that your experience will be as wonderful as mine.

Knowing Yogyakarta Indonesia