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Exploring Yogya
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Motorcycle
tours around Jogja
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| Yogyakarta
(Yogya / Jogja) province is one of the most beautiful and interesting
places in Central Java. It stretches from the slopes of mighty Mount
Merapi in the north to the wave-swept beaches of the powerful Indian
Ocean to the south.
 Gamelan
orchestras keep alive the rhythms of the past, classical Javanese
dances entrance with visions of beauty and poesie, shadows come
to life in the stories of the wayang kulit and a myriad of traditional
visual art forms keep locals and visitors alike spellbound. Yogya
has an extraordinary life hire and charm which seldom fails to
captivate.
While
walking and using a becak is the best way to explore the city,
renting a motorbike and exploring the vicinity of Yogya and Central
Java is definitely one of the greatest fun rides you can do. I
have done many of my best motorcycle trips around here.
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 Jogja
province is
one of the most densely populated areas of Indonesia.
Expect a lot of traffic and traffic jams on all main roads.
Not that much fun to ride you may think, until you do it
in the right way and with a bit of an explorers spirit.
 Avoid
the main roads and use the extensive network of small interconnected
country roads which are typical for Central Java. It's almost
everywhere possible to go parallel to the main roads and
enjoying a ride through beautiful traditional Javanese villages
and an
incredible countryside wthout any traffic. Stop wherever
you want for a cup of tea and a chat with the villagers,
or to confirm your direction, if necessary.
All
you need is an idea about your general direction. A map
and a compass are helpful, but don't expect that maps actually
show all the roads you can choose from. Take the one which
is looking most interestingly and use your instincts. Be
ensured, you can't get lost in one of the most densely populated
countrysides in the world!
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To
name just a few:
- Kaliurang,
the mountain resort on the foot of Merapi. Good for a quick
dip in the ice cold water of the swimming pool up there, or
a walk in the mountain rain forest. I normally avoid the main
road and drive up through the villages.
- Prambanan
and Borobudur of course, they are both spectacular. Again, using
back roads is much more fun to visit the temples!
-
Parangtris. A unspectaclular 25km drive straight down south,
and not that much of a nice beach.
But from there on, the fun starts. Either back through the mountains
through Imogiri, or along the southern coast towards Baron,
Krakal, Kakap beach and then back via Wonogiri. Lots of good
twisty corners and almost no traffic at all!
Never forget about
the great impressions and experiences which you can have right
in Yogya itself. Jl. Malioboro at night, the Kraton aerea, the
night spots along Pasar Kembang, Jl. Prawirotama, Jl. Guerillia,
Jl. Parangtritis, etc.
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Visit
Kaliurang and Merapi
This
mountain village is located 25km north of Yogya at the foot
of the impressive Mt. Merapi volcano.Definitely worth a
visit and best aproached on back roads. Try Jl Turi, past
the Yogya Hilton, or any back road which offers a way going
North. In Kaliurang, follow any Bemo to find the swimming
pool and the entrance gate for a walk in the mountain rain
forest.
Be
aware, that this mountain can be dangerous to climb. Always
get informed before you consider a climb, and stay away,
if it's not safe. (While I'm updating this page, I can hear
the eruptions, and just yesterday there was a big event)
Try the old and famous homestay 'Vogels' for more information
If
you're up there on a bike, you may want to do a bit more
of driving. A nice trip is past the Merapi golf course turning
east and going all the way to Prambanan (see below). You
only have to keep a southeast direction to hit the Solo
/ Prambanan road described below.
Or,
you can go west towards Sleman, Muntilan and visit the Borobudur
area.
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A
Yogya Secret:
the TNI Airplane Museum
If you are into Airplanes
and/or mechanics, you definitely should check out the TNI airplane
museum, which displays some of the most unique WW II and post
WW II planes you may have ever heard about. Lightnings, Thunderbolts,
Zeros, and the best Migs collection outside of Moscow, ... all
lined up for a close look and touch.
The Yogya Air Plane
Museum is located south of the airport, located on TNI airforce
ground,.The entrance is at the southern bypass link, following
the road east after you have cleared the check post.
You can easily arrange
a visit by contacting the TNI post at the entrance and ask for
permission to visit the museum. It will cost you a small fee.
It's strange, but this
important airplane museum is not promoted at all. You may not
find any other promotion or web site which directs you to this
place. Nor have I found it to be mentioned in any Traveller's
guide.
Try it, and send me
an e-mail, if I'm wrong.
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Visit
Prambanan Temple via back roads
Its
name is taken from the village where it is located, seventeen
kilometers east of Yogyakarta. Prambanan is believed to
have been built by King Balitung Maha Sambu in the middle
of the ninth century. Its parapets are adorned with bas-relief
depicting the famous Ramayana story. It has eight shrines;
the three main ones are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.
The Ramayana ballet is performed on an open-air stage during
the full moon in the months from May to October.
Forget
the Yogya -Solo main road,
which is the direct way to Prambanan and one of the worst
roads to ride in Central Java. Instead, go North from Yogya
up to Jl. Kaliurang until you reach the village of Pakem
(you'll ride past my house!) In Pakem, turn east (not up
to the volcano!) and follow the alternative route to Solo.
You'll reach the temple area from the back without touching
the main road at all.
Or,
another quick and nice one to go to Prambanan!
Take the Northern Yogya bypass and turn East towards the
airport. Go past the Veteran University. Then move over
to the slow lane, follow the road until it makes a 90 degree
to turn south.Go on for another 2-300m. Watch out for a
small road turning left after a kind of a bridge (quite
unspectaclular), following an irrigation channel. Follow
the road along the channel, and you will hit the Prambanan
main road about 2km before the temple complex.
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