It’s very easy to fall in love with Yogyakarta. The people are warm, laid-back and fiercely proud of their artistic and intellectual pedigree. The city is brimming with creativity, from hipsters in bands to wizened craftsmen with skin as tough as the leather they work. You can very happily lose yourself in Yogya’s serene streets — in fact, we highly recommend it. Pop into a quiet cafe for an ice-cold Tehbotol as you watch the world go by. Or if you prefer, soak up the animated chatter of art students and young rock stars-in-waiting at a bohemian café. This is, as they say, “same-same, but different.”
The next episode in the #SSBD series features Yogyakarta, a city with deceptively mellow charm. Upon closer examination, you’ll find that there is a an electrifying undercurrent of artistic and cultural vibrancy in the city. This is Yogyakarta in 48 hours, #SSBD style.
Day 1
Get an afternoon flight into Yogyakarta if possible, so you have time to decompress and savour the city’s quiet lanes and artistic enclaves. Chuck your bags at the hotel/ hostel and get immersed in Yogyakarta’s bohemian vibe at the Kedai Kebun gallery and café. Here, you can find Yogya’s artistic residents en masse, along with cheap and good Indonesian food, including very respectable vegetarian fare.
When you feel like you’ve soaked up enough of the artsy vibe, continue your bohemian journey with a batik class, where you’ll try your hand at the ancient art of batik dyeing.
Continue your artistic immersion with dinner at Atap, an unpretentious Indonesian restaurant with a distinct bohemian feel and a menu catered to meat lovers. This is where your path diverges, depending on whether you prefer fire or water.
Day 2
If you choose fire, then you’re headed for Gunung Merapi. Your journey to (and up) this still-active volcano will take you to a stunning sunrise view after you’ve tackled the trail.
If you choose water, you’ll go on a tubing adventure to Pindul Cave, which contains a stone believed to hold the power of eternal youth.
Head back to Yogyakarta city for a more relaxed quest to find the best gudeg (slow-boiled jackfruit stew) in town, then wander Jogja’s excellent museums. The Sono-Budoyo Musuem houses a collection of batik, wayang kulit (shadow play) puppets, and kris (daggers). Also worth a visit is the Affandi Museum, which pays homage to one of Yogya’s most well-known artists.
A silver jewellery-making workshop is a pleasantly productive way to spend the afternoon, and of course, you get to take your masterpiece home. Afterwards, indulge in a seafood dinner at Jimbaran, a restaurant overlooking rice paddy fields. A post-dinner stroll around Malioboro is always a good idea, as this street is always buzzing.
You’ll be up bright and early at 4am for another unforgettable sunrise at Borobudur (trust us, the view is worth the painfully early start). When you’re done wandering the ancient stones of Borobudur, it’s time to head back to the colourful lanes of Yogyakarta and allow yourself to get lost for a few hours. Also worth a visit is this artist, who is tackling waste disposal problems by using a tattoo gun to turn trash into art or even backpacks.
As the afternoon slips away, you realize that your 48 hours in Yogyakarta are almost over and it’s time to say goodbye to one of Indonesia’s most charming cities. Almost time to leave, that is: there’s always time for one last pit stop in a warung (stall) where the smiles are warm and the Tehbotol is ice-cold.