Discover Yogyakarta: Indonesia’s Cultural Gem Worth Revisiting

If I were to visit Indonesia again, it would probably be Yogyakarta. My evaluation of Yogyakarta is so high that I even doubt if it’s through a filter.
The bustling crowds on the streets at around 10 PM on the day of arrival, the early morning joggers, the well-dressed office workers, the tourist information center (Figure ) and police (Figure ) on the main road, as well as the hospital (Figure ), made me feel a bit more at ease with this city.

The main area of Yogyakarta revolves around Malioboro, and I believe its public transportation system is quite well-developed in Indonesia. There are indoor bus stops (Figure ), and importantly, there are two staff members. Cash is not accepted, but you can use Gojek, and I don’t remember the exact price, but it was very cheap.

In Malioboro, you can see how inclusive this city is and the efforts it has made to protect local culture while embracing foreign cultures. There is a modern bus system (Figure ), shared electric scooters (Figure ), and shared bicycles (Figure ), as well as rickshaws and horse carriages (Figure ).

Within a short distance, you can see mosques (Figure ), churches (Figure ), and Chinese archways (Figure 11).
So, for the first time, I went for a massage at night (Figure 12, recommended by Xiaohongshu, Djemari Reflexologi), which cost 125,000 IDR for a full body, 90-minute session, and I was so comfortable that I fell asleep.

I also ate at a “clean and hygienic” place (Figure 13, average) for 20,000 IDR, and bought various colored candies (Figure 14, couldn’t really taste much, bought 250g, and surprisingly finished them on the way). Most of the items were local specialties (textiles, tie-dye, coconut shell crafts, wooden crafts).

I took a bus from the street to Prambanan (Figure 15), where the student ticket was 232,500 IDR, and Visa cards were accepted. I heard that one should watch the sunset there. However, it was a bit strange that the Chinese version of the brochure (Figure 16) was always empty. I saw other versions being replenished immediately when they ran out, but the Chinese version, even when I asked the staff, was not available.

Due to time constraints, I couldn’t climb to the top, so I didn’t go to Borobudur… Let’s leave it for next time.
When taking the train to Jakarta, the staff lined up and saluted (Figure 18) as the train started.