Celebrating Indonesia 70th Anniversary at Surakarta

This year Indonesia celebrating its 70th Independence Day, and I got a chance to celebrate it at Surakarta (Solo), Central Java.

I have never been to Solo before, so I am quite curios and interested to stroll around the city, which is one of my favorite type of travelling. I went to Solo by train from Gambir Station, Jakarta. It took about 8 hours to Solobalapan station.

The first destination I visited in Solo is Danar Hadi Museum, an ancient batik museum which exhibit hundreds batik collection. I choose this museum because the location is not far from the hotel where I stayed in 8 minutes by walk. This museum also listed as the number 1 must visit tourism object in Solo by tripadvisor. And yes, this museum is pretty cool. I can say the guide explain very detail about the batik history and the collection is amazing.

Ayo Kerja!

What I love the most about this city is the wide pedestrian (unlike other cities in Indonesia), the pedestrian also completed with pretty chairs and lot of trees, so even if you are walking for the whole day you will not feel hot.

The other interesting spot is Triwindu antique market. Since I really love unique and vintage staff, I spend hours here just for looking around, there are quite lot of vintage stuff sold here such as radio, phone, charcoal iron, pretty plates and lamps, masks, old coins, stamps, statues, even old photos of common people in black and white.

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I love this street light design so much

Sadly, since August 17 is holiday, lot of shops and restaurant are closed. Also most of the tourist attraction/ museums are closed by 2- 3 p.m. So, I didn't get to visit all of the attraction I have checked on my to visit list. I also didn't visit the palace, because it was already closed at 3 p.m.

I actually planned to visit Taman Sriwedari to watch wayang orang show. But since it was started at night I didn't have enough time because I haven't pack my suitcase.

People gathered for flag ceremony

Ice cream street vendor

I am so into vintage designs

I am so into pretty packaging. If there are two products with the same function, I could choose the one with prettier packaging even tough the price is higher.
One of packaging design that I love is vintage style. Here are two of the recent items I bought with vintage packaging design:

Kellogg's Vintage Tin Packaging

Since I was a kid I always be a fan of cornflakes cereals. I usually didn't really like the packaging,
but some times ago, when I went shopping groceries, I found the corn flakes with this packaging.
I am so happy, because it is petty and you can reuse it.

The Balm lip & cheek cream palette "How 'bout them apples?"

At first I am not sure to buy this because the price is quite expensive (Rp 650000). Plus, I am not a make up fan, who collect lots of make up with various brand, type, and colors.  But the cute packaging plus the great discount makes me cannot resist, and in a few minutes I already click OK and purchase this online.
I am a bit disappointed because the staying power of the lip cream is not good. I never try this as a cheek cream, because I prefer a powder blush as my cheek blusher (but most of the reviews said that the cream palette looks better and stay longer when you apply it on your cheek than on your lips).
Overall I was so happy when this product arrived, because the colors are pretty and the packaging is even prettier :D

1000 steps to Grojogan Sewu

Last Monday I got a chance to visit Tawangmangu, Karanganyar, Central Java. This place can be reached in an hour by driving a car from Surakarta. There is no public transportation option to reach this place, so I suggest you to rent a car to reach this place.

What is the interesting thing to see in this place?

Well, people usually come to Tawangmangu to see the Grojogan Sewu Waterfall, or should I say Sewu Waterfall, because literally 'grojogan' is the Javanese terms for 'waterfall' while 'sewu' means 'a thousand'. It was named 'Sewu (Thousand)' because to reach this place you need to step on more than a thousand stairs (or 1250 stairs as written on its exit gate)

What else?

Here, you can also see monkeys, a lot of, a long the way to the waterfall. But you need to careful, because the monkeys are a bit aggressive, especially if they noticed that you bring food and/or beverages (except for mineral water). 

In the middle of the area there is also a swimming pool. 

There is also flying fox that you can ride, if you wish, children are also allowed to ride it, all in a relative cheap price Rp 11000 (less then a dollar!) 

How if I did't want to use the stairs?

There are horses at the front gate if you think you didn't want to use the stairs. The price for a horse rent is Rp 100000, quite expensive though. But, I suggest you to use the stairs, because for me that is the most interesting part of this tourism site.

What to eat?

There are not many choices in this area, but there are food stalls, or can I say small restaurants, that sell rabbit satay and chicken satay. 

More suggestion?

You may check the strawberries field not far from this area. You may also pick the fruits by your own, then you can pay for kg of the fruits you have picked.

Or you may also visit Telaga Sarangan (Sarangan Lake) in Magetan, East Java, like I did, it can be reached in less then an hour driving.  The view from Tawangmangu to Sarangan is refreshing because we need to go across the Lawu Mountain to reach it. At Telaga Sarangan, you may ride the horse or the speed boat around the lake, all at RP 60000. Another interesting thing here is the market which is quite crowded but content to look around.