Terlelap di Amaris Hotel Sriwedari

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Aku masih berada empat kilometer dari batas barat Kota Solo. Udara tak sepanas tengah hari tadi, kini waktu sudah menunjukkan pukul 14:15 dan aku baru saja selesai mengeksplorasi Museum Pabrik Gula De’ Tjolomadoe. Seporsi rawon dan es susu coklat yang kusantap di dalam museum setidaknya membuatku lebih tenang dan jernih memikirkan tahapan survey berikutnya.

Tapi sudah enam jam sejak aku meninggalkan pelataran Grand Amira Hotel by Azana di daerah Pasar Kliwon tadi pagi. Aku memutuskan untuk segera mengurus proses check-in di Amaris Hotel Sriwedari. Itu berarti, aku harus menuju ke tengah Kota Solo kembali.  Aku memutuskan untuk menempuhnya dengan taksi online.

Tak lama aku memesannya. Hingga taksi online yang kunaiki pun mulai merangsek menuju pusat kota. Setelah menempuh jarak sejauh dua belas kilometer, akhirnya aku tiba di depan Amaris Hotel Sriwedari dalam waktu tiga puluh menit.

Rahadian di meja resepsionis.
Lobby.
Pemandangan dari kamar hotel.

Rahadian segera mengurus proses check-in di meja resepsionis dan aku memilih menikmati segelas orange juce  sebagai fasilitas welcome drink hotel bintang dua itu. Kami segera memasuki kamar dan memutuskan untuk mendinginkan tubuh di bawah siraman shower.

Aku kembali membuka itinerary yang sudah kususun di Jakarta. Aku menghela nafas panjang, karena masih banyak agenda tersisa untuk dijalani.  Tapi sebelum menuju ke tempat berikutnya, aku memutuskan meluangkan waktu sejenak untuk mencatat hal-hal penting yang telah kudapatkan sedari pagi. Aku mulai mencatat hal-hal penting perihal Es Dawet Telasih, Pasar Gede Hardjonagoro, Kereta Wisata Jaladara, Taman Balekambang, Swiss-Belinn Saripetojo dan De’ Tjolomadoe. Catatan itu akan menjadi sebuah laporan survey yang dibutuhkan Seksi Acara Marketing Conference untuk menentukan bentuk konferensi secara lebih mendetail.

Berbagi tugas dengan Rahadian dalam menyusun laporan tersebut, membuat kami lebih cepat dalam menyelesaikannya.  Genap satu jam untuk membuat ulasan detail tentang enam destinasi itu dan laporan itu sempurna terselesaikan setelah kukirimkan via email kepada Bapak Dedi Damhudi yang menjadi Ketua Seksi Acara yang tentu masih berada di Jakarta.

Restoran hotel.
Sarapan di keesokan hari.
Hari ketiga di Solo.

Merasa kelelahan semenjak dua puluh dua jam dari waktu kedatanganku di Kota Solo, aku tertidur di samping laptop yang masih menyala. Sepertinya Rahadian membiarkanku yang pulas tertidur hingga beberapa saat kemudian dia mulai membangunkanku.

Pak Donny….Bangun!. Ayo kita survey lagi. Masih banyak tempat yang harus kita kunjungi!”, ucapnya ringan sembari tersenyum ringan.

Aku sudah berapa lama tertidur, Rahadian?“, sergahku gelagapan.

Satu jam, pak”.

Astaga, sudah sore. Ayo kita berangkat!”, aku melompat dari tempat tidur.

Hampir pukul lima….Aku memutuskan berkemas untuk menuju ke destinasi berikutnya. Aku akan menuju ke timur sejauh dua blok. Destinasi ini berada di daerah Keprabon dan hanya berjarak satu kilometer dari hotel tempatku menginap.  

Mari kutunjukkan tempat itu!.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Jongke Market: Food Souvenir Center at the Banks of Solo River

<—-Previous Story

Toko Bu Cokro inside.

The silence of Mangkunegaran Palace set my steps to leave one of power entities of kings era in Java Island. Towards half past six in the afternoon, I continued a survey agenda to Laweyan area.

An online taxi which I ordered would slowly penetrate traffic jam around Keprabon area, i.e an area where Mangkunegaran Palace was sat. Slowly I headed west, crossing Honggowongso Street and completed by fulfilling a current along Dr. Rajiman Street.

After covering a distance of five kilometers and within a span of fifteen minutes, I was dropped off at the bank of Solo River, on east side to be precise. At this stage, at first I wanted to visit Kampung Batik Laweyan, but I canceled. I chose to would directed Marketing Conference participants to Kampung Batik Kauman because of its strategic location and on the route of Jaladara Tour Train.

I quickly thought to eliminate Kampung Batik Laweyan from the list of destinations and I chose a replacement destination, namely Jongke Market. This market would become a destination for hunting food souvenirs for all participants later.

In fact, there was nothing special in this twenty-eight year old market apart from prices which were offered by food souvenir sellers inside. Amazingly, I still found food souvenirs at a price of seven thousand Rupiah in this market.

I started my exploration in an area around Jongke Market by visiting the famous food souvenir outlet, i.e Toko Bu Cokro. This shop which was located right on the side of Dr. Rajiman Street was so striking because of large size of the shop to massive food souvenir displays. I myself got a recommendation for this place from one of my colleague who came from Solo.

Meanwhile, precisely on front opposite were row of food souvenir outlets with the largest stall called Erlangga Jaya. Some food souvenir such as ampyan, chicken fried claw and intip were quickly seen in this outlet. Meanwhile, the front yard which also had function as a parking area looked neat with pavling block.

The front of Toko Bu Cokro.
Food souvenir outlets near Jongke Market.
Food souvenir outlets near Jongke Market.

Meanwhile, I realized that Jongke Market itself has been closed since an hour ago. I was just trying to find out its location to get accurate information. I took my steps towards the west, passed Solo River and arrived within three hundred meters. A row of bicycle stalls could be clearly seen from road side. Meanwhile, at inside, there were rows of sweets, vegetables, groceries, meat and clothing stalls. The name of Jongke itself was also used by a village name which was located around market.

Meanwhile, in a series of Marketing Conference agendas, Jongke Market would be accompanied by other destinations in same category, namely Javenir which is located one kilometer on the western boundary of Solo City and Toko Abon Mesran Mistopawiro which is located in Jayengan area. So it was hoped that all participants would be spoiled by the existence of several options for hunting food souvenirs.

The afternoon slowly turned dark, while my itinerary still featured six places to visit. It didn’t matter if that places still open or have closed, I would visit it.

Let’s continued…..

Next Story—->

Fall asleep at Amaris Hotel Sriwedari

<—-Previous Story

I was still four kilometers from western boundary of Solo City. The air wasn’t as hot as midday earlier, now it was 14:15 hours and I had just finished exploring De’ Tjolomadoe Sugar Factory Museum. A portion of rawon and chocolate ice milk which I ate in the museum at least made me calmer and clearer thinking about the next stage of survey.

But it was been six hours since I left the courtyard of Grand Amira Hotel by Azana in Pasar Kliwon area this morning. I decided to immediately do an check-in process at Amaris Hotel Sriwedari. That means, I have to head to the middle of Solo City again. I decided to take an online taxi.

Soon I ordered it. Until the online taxi which I was riding began to rush towards downtown. After rode twelve kilometers, I finally arrived in front of Amaris Hotel Sriwedari in thirty minutes.

Rahadian at reception desk.
Lobby.
View from guest room.

Rahadian immediately handled of check-in process at reception desk and I chose to enjoy a glass of orange juce as a welcome drink facility at this two-star hotel. We immediately entered the room and I decided to cool off myself under the shower.

I re-opened the itinerary which I had compiled in Jakarta. I took a deep breath, because there were still many agendas left to do. But before heading to the next place, I decided to take a moment to write down all important things which I have been getting since morning. I started to type all important things about Dawet Telasih Ice, Gede Hardjonagoro Traditional Market, Jaladara Tourist Train, Balekambang Park, Swiss-Belinn Saripetojo and De ‘Tjolomadoe. That notes would be a survey report which was needed by Marketing Conference Event Section to determine conference form in more detail.

Sharing the task with Rahadian in compiling the report, made it faster for us to complete it. It took one hour to make a detailed review of six destinations and the report was completed after I sent it via email to Mr. Dedi who is the Chair of Event Section who was of course still in Jakarta.

Hotel restaurant.
Breakfast on next day.
Third Day in Solo City.

Feeling exhausted after twenty-two hours from the time of my arrival in Solo, I fell asleep beside my laptop which was still on. Looked like that Rahadian let me soundly sleep until a few moments later he started to wake me up.

Mr. Donny….Wake up !. Let’s take another survey. We still have many places to visit! ”, He lightly said with a light smile.

How long have I been asleep, Rahadian?”, I nervously said.

One hour, Sir”.

Oh Gosh, it’s late. Let’s go! ”, I jumped out of bed.

Almost five o’clock….I decided to pack up to go to next destination. I would head east for two blocks. This destination is in Keprabon area and only one kilometer from the hotel where I stayed.

Let me show you that place !.

Next Story—->