Andra and I decided to go on a (not-so) spontaneous trip to Central Java. Both of us had gone through too much long days at work, we knew we had to have a breath of fresh air. Jogja sounds pretty reasonable as for the distance and budget at the time we were planning it – two weeks before the departure. Apart from the recent hits from Ada Apa Dengan Cinta 2, the last time I went to Jogja was when I was 15. So, this would be the right time to revisit or I might call, a part of the journey rediscovering Indonesia that I had, perhaps, forgotten because I was too busy being in my own Brits bubble for far too long.
We stayed at Greenhost Boutique Hotel Prawirotaman, notably known for 'Bule' area because there are many pubs nearby. Too bad we did not have the chance to explore. You will know why later on this post. I don't want to bore you with all the details, so I am going to tell you my favourite part of this trip.
Holiday with your best friend - our flight to Jakarta with Citilink was delayed for about fifteen minutes due to the crowded lanes at Adisucipto Airport. Since we already on the plane, and no bookshop to kill time, I told Andra, let's play a game. Which ended up not a game, but more like an intimate post-trip experience interview. We realised then this trip was more than just a getaway from our 9-to-5 routines but this was actually a long overdue trip for both of us to celebrate our lifetime friendship since way before we, or I, know how to differentiate love and obsession back in junior high. We both are quite a handful kind of people, thus having this trip hassle-free was a blessing in its own way. More so, with all the adulthood craziness in our early 20s, we tend to forget what matters. This trip allowed us to take the time we need, to be reminded of why we're best friends at the first place.
Stories - Jogja keeps a lot of stories. That was why, unlike most of other tourists, we were willing to spend extra money on tour guide when we visited Candi Borobudur and Taman Sari. We arrived at Borobudur at 6.15 A.M just about the time when the mist were making their way to the bottom of the hillside, and most of all, there were not many people just yet. This first tour guide was perhaps in his late 40s or early fifties, dressed in all white. He had almost grey eyes behind thin gold-framed glasses, and massive akik ring around his finger. He told the stories with rather flamboyant voice as if it scripted at the back of his head. Funny sometimes he slipped English terminology with funny accent in between the stories. I loved listening to stories as you might have noticed. Especially when it is based on history, somehow it reminded us the lives before us and how majestic history is. The philosophy behind each of the carvings, the number of statues leading to one ultimate nirwana amazed me.
Making the most of 24 hours hotel services - This, would be my favourite part of the trip. You might find this bizarre or hilarious but to me in the ordinary sometimes lies great beauty. On the last night of our stay, Andra and I agreed to book a massage session at our hotel. Thinking after 'hiking' to the top of Borobudur (I know, I know it perhaps nothing for you, but I could not help but deny the lifestyle of living in Jakarta and its minimum habit of walking around) and other long walks to Gumuk Pasir, it seemed like a marvelous and well-deserve treat/idea for us. Therefore, we headed back to our hotel early and skipped dinner. We thought we'd be alright considering the heavy lunch and many other snacks on our way back. But apparently, we were wrong.
After such relaxing massage, the night was still young. Half nine, it was. We could have gone to the nearest pub, perhaps five minutes walk away, but when the question popped up, we both ended up staring at each other silently. 'Let's just order a room service.' and marched back to our room. I laughed at myself as I browsed over the recycled paper-menu, never thought ordering room service would be so much fun. Perhaps, the exchanging look was more of 'guess we're not that young and adventurous anymore let's do something calmer'. I'd say adulthood isn't too bad after all.
P.s: If any of you are planning to go to Jogja anytime soon, please do visit Museum Vredenberg just across Mirota Batik on Malioboro Street. It deserves more recognition (and visit too) than it has now.
