Semarang, Central Java

Wayang Kulit / Leather Puppet Shadow Show

The show is held at RRI Semarang, Jalan Achmad Yani, from 9 pm – 5 am the following morning at the third week of each month on Saturday night. The plays are based on some episodes of Ramayana and Mahabharata epics.

Shop Till You Drop in Malioboro

Malioboro is perhaps the most famous street in Jogjakarta. Packed with shops selling curios and street vendors offering souvenirs with affordable prices, one is bound to find something of interest in this street.

Here to Stay
If you plan to spend a night in Malioboro, you can stay at hotels and inns with various kind of prices located on this street.

Moving Around
Walk around while browsing the wares. There are so many to see.

Dining Guide
Various restaurants throughout Jogjakarta. Try some local foods, like:

• Gudeg, a curry of jackfruit, chicken and egg served
  with rice, and is the most famous local dish.
• Nasi Langgi (Langgi Rice), warm rice served with various side dishes.
• Kipo, bite size snacks made of green colored tapioca dough filled with sweetened grated coconut. Can be found in Kotagede.
• Jadah Tempe, sandwich of rice cake and sweet bencake. Can be found in Kaliurang.
  

Souvenir Tips

• If you like merchandises made of batik, Jogja is the right place to shop. From house dresses to posh, formal batik shirt for men, this street has them all. Batik can also be made into bags, table cloths, bed sheets, pillow covers, curtains, and a lot more. If you buy machine-printed batik, make sure you wash them separately first, using lerak (available on this street) or mild detergent.
• Silver jeweleries and silver-plated items can be found here.
• Items made of wood, metals, plastic. They are made into jewelries, bags, keychains, and a lot more.
• Why not try local cookies? Bakpia is filling, tasty, and sweet.
  

Visit Bering Harjo market for cheaper products. Visit Kraton or Taman Sari, they're within walking distance.

Travel Tips

• Malioboro tends to be packed with locals and tourists, so please take care of your belongings.
• For more exclusive items, visit stores such as Mirota in Malioboro.
• Use your bargaining skills.
• Bring a bagpack to store the items that you've bought.

Malioboro is within walking distance from Stasiun Tugu (Tugu Railway Station). You can go to this place on foot or ride a becak (pedicab).

Gift and Souvenirs

If you're interested in traditional artworks, you can visit the production village and either watch the locals at work, or haggle for any items you like.

For instance, there's Kasongan, a village that focuses on ceramic and pottery, located 20 km from Jogjakarta. Also near Jogjakarta is Tembi, a handicraft village, about 35 km by land.

Bali also offers many places to go shopping for these handicrafts. Various art markets offer traditional Balinese souvenirs, be it carved statues, beachwears, or masterpieces from the painters that reside in Indonesia.

But if you're looking for modern pieces of clothing for low prices, you can always go to Bandung, capital of West Java and safehaven of factory outlets, where you can get a pair of branded jeans for five to fifteen American dollars.

Jamu For health

"Traditional Jamu" photo from www.tourismindonesia.com

JAMU-Secret to better health
For the treatment of mild complaints and sometimes quite serious ailments, most Javanese and Madurese will swear on the virtues of Jamu, a traditonal herbal concoctions. Hundreds of different Jamu remedies have nearly the solution to all kinds of illnesses.

AMANJIWO RESORTS, A Peaceful Resort in Central Java

Amanjiwo (peaceful soul) opened in Central Java in 1997. With clear views to 8th century Borobudur, and drawing its design inspiration from this the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world, Amanjiwo specializes in cultural excursions and experience, highlighting the influential and long-standing artistic traditions of Central Java.

Amanjiwo (which means peaceful soul and opened in 1997) is fashioned out of limestone and takes its inspiration from the surrounding culture of Central Java. The resort is located within a natural amphitheatre with the limestone Menoreh Hills rising directly behind, the Kedu Plain in front and four volcanoes "Sumbing, Sundoro, Merbabu and Merapi" gracing the horizon. Amanjiwo looks out onto Borobudur, the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world. Indeed, Borobudur is carefully mirrored in the resorts design and central dome. The view runs arrow-straight through Amanjiwos entrance and the stone corridor that neatly cleaves the resort, up the steps to the soaring, bell-shaped rotunda, down to the Dining Room, on to the Terrace, past rice fields in an unwavering line to Borobudur itself. Several kampungs (small villages) are within walking distance.

Amanjiwo is constructed from paras yogya " the local limestone. Thirty-six suites radiate outward from the main building in two deep crescents. These are rimmed by high, limestone walls set off by spider lilies and morning glory. The walls blend into the stone walkways that link the suites to the main building and the Pool Club. At the far end of the resort, in a lush tranquil setting, is the Dalem Jiwo, a large private suite with two separate bedrooms.

Getting There

• Amanjiwo can be reached by daily domestic flights to Yogyakarta and Solo either from Indonesias capital, Jakarta, or from Bali. Flights take less than an hour from either place and Amanjiwo is a one-hour complimentary transfer from Yogyakarta or two hours on the more scenic route from Solo, which passes some of the biggest volcanoes in Java. There are also several direct flights to Solo from Singapore and a thrice-weekly service to Yogyakarta from Kuala Lumpur.
• Private air charter on a six-seater Piper Chieftain is available between Bali and Yogyakarta at a cost of US$2,590 nett. The flight takes two hours and maximum load is 500kg which allows for approximately four passengers with luggage or six with only hand luggage.

Where to Stay

Amanjiwos main building is framed by 36 suites arrayed in two deep crescents. The walled suites feature terrazzo flooring, high ceilings, domed roofs and sliding glass doors opening onto a garden terrace with a view towards Borobudur. 15 suites come with private swimming pools.

Dining Guide

From Amanjiwos entrance, five steps climb to the rotunda bar, a circular salon of columns, ceiling fans and a coconut-wood bar. The Bar gives way to the arcing Dining Room, with its amber washed, silver-leaf ceiling. Indonesian and Western cuisine are both available in an open air setting. The speciality of the house is makan malam, classic Javanese offerings served in brass dishes. A Javanese gamelan orchestra performs at lunch and dinner.

Moving Around

You can move around Amanjiwo site on foot or bicycle.

Other Things to See or Do
Theres a lot of thing that you can see and do here in Amanjiwo, including:

• Visiting the city of Yogyakarta and Solo
• Trekking: Hike up the Menoreh Hills to a vantage point over the Kedu plain or the leisurely 40 minute walk through the village of Selogriyo and its surrounding verdant jungle and steep rice terraces.
• See the crowded of Market mornings in Central Java
• Watch the village dances
• Golf
• Watching the mist rise off the rice fields and densely packed coconut plantations
• Revealing the silhouettes of distant volcanoes in the distance.

Souvenir Tips

You can buy some souvenir at the resorts, or for more option, you can browse at the near city like Yogyakarta and Solo. There you can buy many local souvenirs like handicraft, textile woven, batik, sculpture and many else.

Travel Tips

• Loose and casual clothing is advisable.
• In the dry season, April to November, a light sweater may be useful in the evenings, especially in the hill country.
• Airport customs procedures are generally handled in a fast and efficient manner.
• In certain areas of Southeast Asia there is a chance of contracting mosquito borne diseases. Reasonable precautions, including the use of mosquito repellent will minimize the risk.
  

CANDIREJO – BOROBUDUR : A World Heritage Site

Borobudur temple is located in the district of Magelang, Central Java. It isconsidered one of the world’s wonders and has the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist relief in the world. UNESCO has listed the temple as World Heritage Site.
The village of Candirejo is located some 3 km from Borobudur Temple. A traditional Javanese village, Candirejo is being promoted for village tourism, portraying traditional Javanese culture and daily life through traditional houses, art performances, ceremonies, farming and local food.

How to Get There:
The temple of Borobudur and Candirejo Village can be reached from
Yogyakarta by public buses that start from Umbulharjo Terminal or by taxis
and rental cars. The distance is approximately 42 km from Yogyakarta.

The Best Season to Visit:
Almost anytime during the year, but preferably in the dry season
(April to September).

Amarta Spa

Amarta Spa features treatment inspired by cultural concept of well being from around the world. Modern facilities support various body treatments and relaxation; from massage, aromatherapy, sauna, Jacuzzi to just laying around doing nothing in our gazebo sipping healthy drinks.

The treatments are designed to bring the indulgence that will ease the stressful life, stimulate the senses and awaken the spirit.

All treatment at Amarta Spa use natural and hygienic herb. The indigenous of body and beauty treatments provide selection of scrubs and masks to suit the skin needs. And aromatherapy, includes oils of native flowers and plant essences, believed to have physical and psychological healing properties.

It is here that the very best ingredients of both Eastern and Western health and beauty techniques are blended with exotic aromas and natural ingredients.

AMARTA SPA