Visit JOGJA? The Very First Steps for Your Jogja First Visit

Tamansari

Jogja is located in Java Island, the most populated island in Indonesia. This province is called Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta or Special Region of Yogyakarta. Jogja is special due to the leading of King since it was set up until now and geographically containing various kind of unique objects: volcano, ocean, lowland, hill, sand dune. Plenty of tourists (local or international) have come by and probably you still have no idea what to do on your very first step in Jogja. Here a brief guidance for you (backpacker case).

1. Transportation

You may come by plane, train, or bus. Jogja City still has no excellent public transportation. However, you please try Trans Jogja, operated around city and stop by airport, train station, bus station to the nearest halt where you plan to stay at (hotel, inn, guesthouse) with flat rate 3500 rupiah. Another choice is gojek, motorcycle facilitation with driver or gocar (car with driver). I mention this since it offers affordable price and because of the easiest way to lead you go wherever you want. You just need to install gojek application on smartphone. I don’t recommend you to go by taxi since it usually offers higher price, as well as public bus because it comes rarely and unpredictable but the price is almost same with Trans Jogja. If you plan to stay for some days and wanna visit other regencies (some tourism places are located in different region) you may rent a motorbike from city, start from 50000 rupiah per day.

2. Accommodation 

• I’m not really sure about the price, but I bet Jogja City offers affordable price for backpacker hostel. Please kindly check booking.com or traveloka.com to know further. Usually tourists take hostels around Malioboro which is the tourism center.

3. Local sim card 

For foreigners, local sim card is a must. Don’t worry, you can find easily sim card store everywhere or you can ask local people ‘toko pulsa’ which sell many kinds of internet providers. The cost is quite cut-rate and it has included telephone number and internet package.

4. Food

Mostly local people of Jogja are muslim. So, find halal food is easy, nevertheless not all of the seller care about the importance of halal food. That’s why, please kindly ask to the seller or you may check in halalmui.org to search halal product in Indonesia. Mmm, you must try Gudeg, lodeh vegetable soup, and gorengan. That’s so Jogja.

5. People 

Jogja citizens are hospitable. Don’t hesitate to ask them mannerly. Using bahasa Indonesia is ok if you can not jawa language. Some of citizens can not speak English fluently but they know the basic sometimes. If you still young, visit university is a good choice. Students in Jogja are welcoming the foreigner because students here coming from multi region, province, island, even other country of Indonesia. Jogja is well known as student city. So, asking the student while visiting the university is my favorite activity when come over certain places.

6. Tourism place

If you have enough time, go to each region of Jogja province, such as Kulon progo with Menoreh Mountains, Sleman with Merapi Volcano, Prambanan, and many temples, Bantul with south sea of Parangtritis, Gunung kidul with white-sandy beaches and karst view, and Jogja City with its cultural heritage (Kraton, alun-alun, Vredeburg fortress, Malioboro street, Tugu Jogja, Tamansari, etc). One day one region is minimum. Special suggestion for 'berkah ' journey, kindly visit masjid. Masjid Gedhe Kauman, Masjid Kampus UGM, Masjid Jogokariyan, Masjid Nurul Asri are some of them. 

7. Souvenir

Around Malioboro you can find many souvenir shop. I recommend you to buy batik (shirt, skirt, or bag), traditional-drink sachet, bakpia, and belut crispy. Sure, there are still a lot of souvenir you can find and it just according to your preferences.

Well, at last I apologize couldn’t present complete information. What I’ve written are simply guidance from me, Jogja lover, for you who intend to visit Jogja with your backpack. Welcome to Jogja and enjoy!