Jaladara Tourist Train

House of Danar Hadi and Ngarsopuro Night Market

6 January 202122 January 2021travelingpersecond

I was just trying to find as much information as possible about some events which would be held at Sriwedari Park in two months since my arrival. But unfortunately, there would be no cultural performances in next two months at that cultural park. That means, Marketing Conference participants couldn’t be directed to enjoy cultural performances at Sriwedari Park. Okay, that was okay, this survey was arguably a failed, but on other hand, at least, I had time to visit Sriwedari Park and added cultural treasures about Solo, even though it only took half an hour to visit.

At half past ten in evening, I started to leave Sriwedari Park. Then again swinging steps to east to survey the last destination on Jaladara Tourist Train Line. The place which I was aiming at was still a heritage site, located half a kilometer from Sriwedari Park.

This destination was nicknamed House of Danar Hadi. Of course, I already knew that when I arrived, this place was definitely closed because its operating hours was only until five in the afternoon every day. But that was okay, I only meant to confirm the place because I definitely recommended Marketing Conference Event Division to including this place as one of places to visited. Besides shopping for Typical of Solo Batik^*1, Marketing Conference participants would also be able to visit Danar Hadi Ancient Batik Museum, which collected up to ten thousand types of batik in it.

A few minutes after arriving at destination, I was just silent looking at the shape of building and surveying surrounding area. It took me time to observe this destination before deciding to leave it and moved to another destination. Because that night, I would spend time around Ngarsopuro Night Market before going back to hotel for rest.

I continued swinging steps to Keprabon area. Ngarsopuro Night Market was no more than one kilometer from House of Danar Hadi. It only took fifteen minutes to get there.

Arrived at Diponegoro Street. My attention was suddenly drawn to crowd on west side of road. Gamelan sound made me curious and finally I couldn’t refrain to take a look at it.

Oh, it turned out that there was a Wayang Kulit^*2 performance at that place. Better, for half an hour, I stood still and enjoyed the show, I haven’t seen a Wayang Kulit show in a very long time.

Several time before ten in evening, I finished in watching the show and rushed to Ngarsopuro Night Market area. This night market was actually open every Saturday night, while I come on Monday night. Therefore, traders at that night market didn’t seem optimal. There were only several food cars and culinary carts which sold foods and drinks at several points. But still, I decided to hang out and mingle with several groups of young people who seemed to be enjoying the night while sipping coffee and eating street culinary in Solo.

Taking a seat and enjoying a cup of coffee latte, I began to spend the evening in that place. That night I felt satisfied because my full day adventure was full of memories and very satisfying.

Until it was almost eleven o’clock in evening. I decided to immediately went back to Amaris Hotel Sriwedari and took a rest because tomorrow there was still a very busy survey schedule.

Come on….Back to hotel….Sleep!

Note:

Batik^*1is an Indonesian technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to the whole cloth. This technique originated from the island of Java, Indonesia

Wayang Kulit^*2a traditional form of puppet-shadow play originally found in the cultures of Java, Bali, and Lombok in Indonesia

Next Story—->

A Project at Loji Gandrung Front Yard.

27 December 20205 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Previous Story

Have you ever visited Merdeka Palace? Or visit DKI Jakarta City Hall? Yes, these two important places in Jakarta often offer visiting tours.

So, what about Solo City?

Yups, Solo City also has a similar tour. A place which has become attention center for this tourism type is Loji Gandrung, An official residence of Solo’s Mayor which is located on south side of Slamet Riyadi Street.

The night went on, it was almost nine o’clock in evening when I finished in designing a Marketing Conference teaser. Luckily, I got help from a design staff in Jakarta. I have also sent that teaser to Whatsapp number and email of all prospective Marketing Conference participants.

Now, I thought again about next destination. My task this time was to choose several destinations along Jaladara Tourist Train line which be rented by event comittee to get around Solo City on second day of Marketing Conference. So in remaining time, before it got too late, I would survey at least three tourist attractions which were located nearby each other.

I immediately ordered a taxi online, then drove to downtown. I moved south for five kilometers from Manahan area to Laweyan area.

“Loji Gandrung, Sir!”, I asked online taxi driver.

“Wow, it had closed, Sir“

“Oh, it’s okay, Sir. I just want to find information there”.

“Oh well, Sir. Loji Gandrung is indeed popular in Solo City, Sir. In the past, President Soekarno often stayed at Loji Gandrung when he visited Solo”.

“Wow, it’s cool, Sir“, I started to be stunned by a story from that young driver.

Our conversation topic progressed to several things, until driver hit brake just across Loji Gandrung gate.

Without hesitation, I entered the gate. It seemed that renovation was underway at Loji Gandrung front yard. I just saw the top end of a bronze statue whics was tightly covered by a row of project boards. My arrival made a security out of his post and swiftly directed his steps towards me.

“What do you need, Sir?. Sorry this is a city government building. It’s forbidden to carelessly enter the yard”, he admonished.

“Oh sorry, sir. I just want to find information“

“What information, Sir?”

“Sir, we will rent Jaladara Train and intend to make this place as a tourist destination on train route. Can I know the procedure, so that I along with event participants can visit this historic place, sir?”

“Wow, the licensing is a little tight, Sir because it’s being renovated. But you may submit a formal application and is addressed to Head of Household Department. Hopefully on the event date, you can be allowed to enter”.

“Oh good, Sir. I hope so“.

I looked around. This Loji Gandrung building had a very classic architecture. There was a blend of European and Javanese architecture. Thick European walls were covered with a typical Javanese roof. The front and back yard of the building was wide with several trees.

I realized that what was in front of me was a government building and I couldn’t stay long in that place. I must immediately go and empathize to security by did’t disturbed the comfort of that place.

Before I stepped out of Loji Gandrung yard. I was still intrigued by project mystery around front yard. Finally, I ventured to ask to securiry.

“Sir, whose statue is blocked by this project board?”

“Oh, that’s a statue of General Gatot Subroto, Sir”.

I said thank to secutiry because he had accepted me well even though he only talked for no more than fifteen minutes.

Why should it be General Gatot Subroto statue?……..

Next Story—->

Food Testing at Swiss Belinn Saripetojo Hotel Solo

21 November 20208 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Previous Story

“Hi Donny, make our Marketing Conference event very great and meaningful. I have booked a very good and strategic hotel for our event. You have to survey it and design our event according to hotel facilities which I ordered ”.

That was a brief greeting from my CEO a week before I conducted a survey to Solo. A sentence that holded hope and certainly becomes a burden for me as Chairman of Marketing Conference.

What I knew, this hotel was located in Laweyan area and right across from Purwosari Station which was the second oldest train station in Solo. And my first day survey, i putagenda of visiting this hotel in the itinerary.

It was still morning….The time was 8:38 hours and I already had some sufficient information about Jaladara Tourist Train rental for Marketing Conference purposes later. Now I was in front of Solo City Transportation Board courtyard and waiting for an online taxi picked up me.

Soon the taxi arrived and I hurried up. Rahadian sat on back seat on right side and I chatted with the driver in front seat. Rahadian continued to try to contact marketing division of hotel which we were aiming for, Mr. Bekti was his name. It seemed like Rahadian was a little annoyed because he couldn’t reach him.

“Never mind, we’ll just ask on the spot“, I lightly muttered.

“Yes, Sir Donny” he briefly replied, then his gaze flew out the taxi window to enjoy the atmosphere of Solo City.

Escalalator to Robinson Department Store.

The online taxis were moving towards southwest, about three kilometers. And in 15 minutes arrived in front of hotel lobby. Swiss-Belinn Saripetojo Solo, the name of the hotel. Located on south side of protocol road, namely Slamet Riyadi Street, directly opposite the Purwosari Tabanas Monument.

Our CEO was kind. He ordered a three-star hotel which was integrated with city’s shopping center, namely Robinson Department Store. But who would have thought that this hotel was a former ice factory building from Dutch colonial era in 1919.

As soon as we got off from online taxi, we went straight to reception desk and asked where was Mr. Bekti who was in charge in marketing division. It turned out that he was in a meeting and we had to wait up to fifteen minutes.

For some time waiting, Mr. Bekti came and a moment later we were invited to tour to all rooms which would be related to our Marketing Conference event. Starting from the meeting room then continuing to the barelo (bar, restaurant, lounge), swimming pool, fitness center and spa and massage room, all shown one by one.

The main survey, we allocated it to see the Keraton Ballroom, because this location would be the main venue for our event. We have to pay attention to ballroom layout in detail to design the best form of event which could be done.

Meanwhile, the second facility which was be our goal is barelo. We would make a plan that this place would be the location for a gala dinner with local band, namely Artcoustic Band. We were also allowed to do food testing to determine the best menu which we will chose to serve at the event.

It was just a shame, I couldn’t see guest room because in that morning, rooms were still full of guests. Finally, our last survey was conducted to see swimming pool, fitness center and spa and massage room.

We thought the survey this time was enough and it was time to go to next place.

Next Story—->

Dawet Telasih Ice and Gede Hardjonagoro Traditional Market

13 November 20208 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Previous Story

North Gate of Gede Hardjonagoro Traditional Market.

Even though Rahadian had just arrived in Solo very early in the morning and had a chance to take a shower and breakfast in hotel, according to schedule, I still checked out from Grand Amira Hotel by Azana. The time was already 8:30 hours when we came out to hotel courtyard.

I immediately ordered an online taxi and headed for Sudiroprajan area to do the first culinary survey. The special culinary which I was aiming for was Dawet Telasih Ice^*1, dawet which was consisting of black sticky rice, jenang sumsum^*2, tape ketan^*2, telasih seeds, liquid sugar, coconut milk and ice cubes.

I was dropped off at the north door of Gede Hardjonagoro Traditional Market, right next to Pasar Gede Clock Tower. This old market building of Dutch heritage was indeed amazing. The combination of Javanese-Colonial architecture could be clearly seen from the appearance of Colonial-style walls and Javanese-style roofs. Thick walls, high ceilings and windows extending upwards.

When I arrived, market courtyard area was already busy that morning. The flow of visitors who come in and out of the market to shop, traders who flocked to entering their trading goods into market, boisterous of pedicab drivers who looking for passengers and busyness of light culinary traders outside the market made atmosphere of the biggest market in Solo City very lively .

I rushed into market inside to find whereabouts of Bu Dermi’s Dawet Telasih Ice Shop which was said to be very well known throughout Solo City. How couldn’t, it was said that Bu Dermi’s Dawet Telasih Ice recipe concoction was 90 years old and hadn’t changed at all since it was first made. Even this Dawet Telasih Ice had become a subscription for Mr. Joko Widodo (Republic of Indonesia President) when he went home to Solo.

Walking through narrow alleys in the middle of market made me immerse in commercial sense of Solo residents. And finally, unfortunate circumstances befall me. When I arrived in front of Bu Dermi’s Dawet Telasih Ice Shop, the shop was still closed and deserted. I tried to ask some traders in the market about when the shop would open.

“Later on 10:00 hours, Sir“, they replied.Oalah, aku terlalu pagi melakukan survey dawet ini.

“Until 14:00 hours, it usually ends, Sir“, they added information when I sat on one of empty shop benches.

No matter how, I have to find and taste Dawet Telasih Ice to test its taste, because Marketing Conference participants will be directed to Gede Hardjonagoro Traditional Market to taste this culinary item.

I tried to walk on other alleys in the market, until I found Ibu Hj. Sipon’s Dawet Telasih Ice Shop. Without thinking, I immediately ordered a portion for IDR. 8,000. I enjoyed it so slowly, this Dawet Telasih Ice had very special taste, combination of savory, sweet, soft and cold texture became an appetizing unit. Finally I decided, Dawet Telasih Ice would be the first culinary destination for Marketing Conference later.

After enjoying Dawet Telasih Ice, Rahadian and I rushed to Solo City Transportation Board to charter a Jaladara Tourist Train^*4.

Notes:

*1 : Dawet Telasih Ice is a culinary specialty of Solo City.

*2: Jenang Sumsum is a kind of food in the form of white porridge made from rice flour and eaten with sweet sauce.

*3: Tape Ketan is is a traditional Indonesian food made from sticky rice which is processed by fermentation.

Next Story—->