Colors of Indonesia......Wonderful Magelang

Magelang might not ring a bell for many of us, but one would be more familiar with Yogjakarta or Borobudur Temple. Magelang is located about two hours drive from the center of Yogjakarta, and houses the well known Borobudur Temple. But my story here will not revolve around the magnificent temple..it is about the lesser known attraction hidden not far from the main attraction itself. I have been to Borobudur Temple before , and amazed by everything there, but this round I'm looking for something less known, but equally awesome.

 



If you travel in by plane, the nearest airport is Adi Sucipto International Airport in Yogjakarta. If you are from Jakarta, West Java or East Java, you can travel by train to Yogjakarta Station (formerly known as Tugu Station). From the airport or train station, you can take Damri bus to Magelang, the journey take about one hour or two hours respectively, depending on the traffic condition. One must know that Yogjakarta tend to be very crowded during public holidays or long weekends, and the traffic will be very bad.

I flew in from Jakarta on one fine Saturday morning, landed 10 minutes early (what a blessing!) at terminal A in the airport. I walked directly to Damri bus shelter across the road, through the underground tunnel. The tunnel is located at the second left turning from the arrival hall exit, the first turning is the connecting way to terminal B. The 11am bus has left, so I bought the ticket for 12 noon bus (bus are scheduled every one hour starting from 7am, the last bus is at 8pm). It cost Rp50,000 for one way trip to Magelang. My guesthouse I was staying at is actually located near Borobudur, but even though on the Damri shelter banner stated destination Borobudur, unfortunately there is actually no direct Damri bus to the site. The staffs has to call and check if there is any connecting bus from Magelang to Borobudur, and usually the luck is not there. I have checked on the Taxi tariff from the airport to Magelang, it cost Rp250,000 without using meter. From reliable information source, I understood that the metered taxi can cost more than that if traffic condition is bad. For a trip to Borobudur, the tariff is Rp200,000. Agreed on the fare first if you are taking the one without using meter.

After a quick lunch at the cafe next to Damri shelter (the food cost almost like in Jakarta, so if you are not starving, better just wait until you reach Magelang), I walked back to the Damri shelter, it was 10 minutes to 12 noon but since the bus was already full, so it departed earlier. Anyone should not expect the executive class like Damri bus (not like the one in Jakarta if you have been on to), it was just a 12 seater shuttle bus. Unfortunately, the one I took also came with sauna package...the aircond did not work well and all of us were sweating through the whole journey. The bus stop and parked at Hotel Wisata (or known as Hotel Melati) in Magelang. There are taxis queuing on the roadside in front of the hotel, so it is quite convinient if one need to continue a journey to some other location. If you travel light with just one backpack, you can opt to go on the Ojek (motorbike taxi), with cheaper fare. I took taxi to The Armta guesthouse which located about 5 to 15 minutes walk from Borobudur (depending on whether you walk fast or just merely dragging your legs). The taxi fare was RP100,000, a reasonable one for 25 minutes journey.




My chalet at The Amrta Guesthouse.
Click the link to find out more.


Endless green paddy field seen from the chalet

 

I highly recommend this guesthouse. The view and the services are 5 star class



 For me, The Amrta Guesthouse is really a special place to stay at, and to experience Borobudur and all other attractions around. Not only because of the beautifully designed chalets and surrounding area, but because of the special attention and personalized service from the staffs. Before my trip, I had emailed the owner Mr. Aan for a special arrangement to fulfill my main reason to come back to this part of Indonesia. To my delight, everything was arranged accordingly, all has been communicated clearly to Pak Budi, the person on duty when I arrived. And the guide to accompany me to the site of my visit also has been assigned and arrived much earlier than the agreed time. Do look at the references through Agoda.com or booking.com, and if you are interested to stay at the guesthouse and need further information, do call +6281336027320 or email to theamrta@yahoo.com.

 And of course, if you are looking for English speaking , humble tour guide who knows every corners of the town and villages, please contact Mr. Jamal +6285725519925. You will have the options to go around with bicycle (just make sure you have strong pair of legs), by scooter or by his special ride that you can see in my following photos. It seems like everyone in the villages and around town, know him well ;) and he will not charge you hands and legs for his tour services...trust me on this one. Real humble and fun person.
 

It rained heavily before I went to my destination, so I took the chance to Dance in the Rain





My ride to the site. It took 45 minutes and burning legs muscles to reached there.



The Chicken church....soon to be well known hidden attraction in Magelang.
Restoration work has started to preserve this site

 

Facing the direction we came from, we need to pass by the forest, but the proper cemented walkway has been built, so it was an easy "inclining" walk to the site. Just do some warm up before you climb on...you will be fine! 





The door to magnificent view


Excellent view can be seen from the top of CC head. A proper wooden staircase has been built to allow visitors to climb until the top. A great place to watch sunset if you don't mind to pass by the forest area on the way back when it gets dark ;)

It rained and seems to rain again...so no hope for the great bright red sunset though



Make a visit to this site when you are visiting Borobudur,
before it gets too touristy in years to come 

Try to Google and read more about the history of this Chicken Church...it has never been used as a church anyway for certain reasons. It's unique shape, the mysterious story behind it existence and slightly interesting location (up on the hill in the forest) has attract many adventurous seekers to pay a visit. I wanted to see it for the same reasons...and to dedicate the visit to my Idol Fellow Traveler cum my Travel Inspiration who have no chance to visit this site yet. You know who you are ;) 



With my travel companion this round and our ride for the rest of our visit


It's time to hunt for dinner after the calories burning Chicken church hunting.


This is Bakmi Godog Pak Dal. This super delicious noodle is served at a house café in Kampung Patran. If you want to find this...assign Pak Jamal as your tour guide.

Dessert time. One must have this delicious Wedang Ronde when in Jogja or Magelang. This one located on the road alongside Borobudur temple compound. The owner is so generous with his smile.


I asked for the one with 2 small slices of bread 


 The next morning...on the way down after sunrise viewing at Puntuk Setumbu Hill

Shy princess plant as Indonesian call it  



After the climb for sunrise we refuel with Nasi Pincuk at Kampung Limpoh



Pincuk is referring to the banana leave that used to replace a plate

Happy heavy breakfast

My all the time dessert....banana fritter

After breakfast activity...Batik painting



My drawing before the painting lesson



Painting tools for drawing with the wax

 
 I painted it so slow until my teacher get
bored and left me alone

 

But I am persistent okay....

Teacher repairing and put final touch up on my artistic work..haha!
Thank You teacher..... 



The warm wax that seep through the cloth on to my palm...

 
Not bad at all for the first timer right! With my teacher and the owner,
Ms. Lusi (+6281578720883)


Batik for sale. It will take me months to finish this 2 meters.



Journey continue...next destination




On the way to Camera House

 

The splendid ride

 Introducing...the Mad Buffalo

 The Camera House which consist of gallery and also the
4th floor tower for visitors to capture nice scenery



       Some nice plant around the vicinity of Camera House       

 



Bringing out my other talent...pottery making.

That one is the precious piece. I sweat fro that ;)



 The end products
 

 Snake fruit (salak pondoh)...easily found around Jogja and surrounding cities/ towns

 It's time for local food again

 Kupat Tahu for lunch...yummy!!

In all, the visit to Magelang this round was a blast for me. Everything so wonderful. Wonderful places, wonderful people and hospitality, wonderful foods and wonderful new experiences. If I do fall in love with this place...you would too.

Colors of Indonesia...Paragliding in Majalengka

I have been thinking  of doing paragliding since few years ago, even before I moved to Jakarta. There is a place called Jugra, located about 1 hour from my hometown in Malaysia, but I never made it there. Few times before, it also crossed my mind to do it in Puncak, 2 hours drive from Jakarta city, but again there always so many reasons causing me to left the thoughts just as thoughts. But recently, I  feel that I need some adrenaline rush to just let go. To de stress...

So, on one fine Saturday morning, I decided to join few friends that I have never met before and headed for Majalengka, a town in West Java. Majalengka is about 3 hour drive from Jakarta city center. The new highway is good and convenient,  it made the journey a smooth one, compared to 6 hour journey it took before the highway was built. We left Jakarta at 6.30am and by 9.45am we reached Gunung Panten paragliding point at Desa Sidamukti, about 7 kilometers from the main road of Majalengka town.


It feels great when I was up there...truly peaceful



Majalengka location

Paddy fields besides the main road, a pleasant view for the eyes

Gunung Ciremai can be seen clearly once we enter Majalengka from the highway exit.
Can you spot the huge cat hugging the mountain?
One day I would love to climb this one!

The entrance to the paragliding point. Entrance fee is Rp5000 for each person

The paragliding point located on the hill top at Desa Sidamukti. Eventhough it is called Gunung Panten, it is more like a hill top, not too high. It has magnificent view of the surrounding paddy fields and also the majestic Gunung Ciremai. Even though it is on the highland, the weather was very warm by the time we reached there. There are food stalls selling Mie Ayam (chicken noodle), hot and cold drinks, and also the refreshing fresh coconut juice. They are also selling snacks, fried banana and few other local snacks. There is only one toilet facility available, and we have to pay Rp2000 for the use.

The morning cycle of flying has ended at 8.30am and there was no strong wind. At around 11am,  suddenly the paragliders that have been waiting,  started to carry their paragliding equipment to the middle of the take off point. The quiet morning turned into busy moments, when one by one the paragliders spread their  bright colorful paragliding canopies on the green field. Not long after that we heard the swoosh sounds of the parachute like canopies open up in the air , when the paragliders taking off one by one. Wonderful sights. Some took off  smoothly, even gracefully but not a few have to repeat few times when the wind change direction suddenly or the canopy failed to open up fully.

At around 3pm, we were asked to get ready for our first flight. We took turn, one by one. My take off was not successful on the first time as the canopy did not fully open when we almost reach the edge of taking off point. On the second take off, we did it smoothly and I was lucky that the wind changed direction and brought us to a longer route before we landed at the landing point.

That was a great experience hanging up there, soaring with the grace of the wind. And the whole view of surrounding area was just so magnificent, the paddy fields looked so much beautiful from above. The peaceful quietness erased all the nervousness I experienced due to the failed first take off.  

The paragliding point...look at the beautiful paddy fields and Mount Ciremai view

Checking the parachute canopy  before gliding  & soaring

Gracefully taking off

With my newly found adventurous buddies

Before our flight

anticipating....

Watching the take off

Admiring the grace

other available activity...hang gliding

With our instructur, Pak Aries (+6281809360505 / +81224037531)



We added some more fun by enjoying the king of fruit before we left Majalengka

I would recommend that once in a lifetime one should do  paragliding, then decide whether you like it or not. It's your choice...but just give it a try first. Do it at a beautiful place like Majalengka, it so much worth it.

Next I would love to soar above the super green, tea plantations in Puncak, Jakarta.