(Un)Tranquil Evening

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon. I was working on my literature thesis and I thought I needed some refreshing. I looked horrible. My hair was tied in a super messy bundle and my face was disgustingly oily. I texted my friend, Ivana, and told her to come over to my place. We chatted while I packed a huge pile of my read novels and unused books. Turned out that reorganizing your stuffs can bring a hint of freshness inside the room.

Satisfied with the new, refreshing atmosphere inside my haven, Ivana and I decided to hang out in a cozy restaurant-park in Ambarawa city. It was a 20-minute drive. Upon entering Ambarawa, we turned left to the northern (I guess) ring-road. On the sides of the road are immense ricefields -soo green and soothing.

Then we saw the entrance to the restaurant. The road splits into two and the one leading to the restaurant is just on the left. A big greyish gate welcomed us. Once again we passed through a huge ricefield, showing off their greens. At the end of the road is a post on the left where we paid the entrance fee, Rp. 5,000,- for cars. It's weird. Since the post is on the left, it was difficult for me to pay and communicate with the security.

Anyway, we turned right and immediately saw a spacious area. The area is divided into two main scenery. The first that we went was the floating restaurant, "Rumah Makan Apung Kampoeng Rawa"

To get to the restaurant, we have to cross the man-made pond using a roofed wooden raft that can carry up to eight people. The raft is secured by two ropes that function as a pulling mechanism. These rafts are able to float because of the blue plastic barrels supporting each raft.

Though it is clear how many people are able to get onto the raft, many just don't care anyway. I saw about 12-14 people getting on. I was just praying the raft won't overturn. The funniest thing was when one really fat guy got onto the raft that was already filled up with 10 people; the raft was jolted backward and the shocked look on everyone's faces was just priceless. HAHA! Then all the way through the 10-meter ride, the raft leaned backward... as if it was about to take off the water. What a view...

The restaurant, as you can see, looks traditional.. It is also sustained by a foundation of blue plastic barrels.
(The photo was taken when Ivana and I rode the raft heading to the restaurant.)

As I stepped my right foot onto the wooden floor, and was warmly welcomed by the waiters, I felt like I was a little jiggling. I thought it was the after-effect of the short raft-ride. However, the rocking continued even after Ivana and I were seated. It turned out that the restaurant sways because there isn't any firm foundation to the ground below. Soo, beware, this restaurant is not recommended for those suffering from severe vertigo or migraine because this restaurant rocks and jiggle all the way and gets even worse when there are people walking.

We ordered fried banana and stuffed tofu. I would recommend the tofu. My first bite was a mess. Turns out it is (too) generously filled with carrots, snaps, diced-chicken, and mini-shrimps. It's rich in flavor though.  We both thought that this place is just a perfect get-away until we heard the music surrounding the place. The restaurant put on some dangdut koplo pieces. Dangdut is an original genre from Indonesia, with great songs. However, dangdut koplo is another thing. It is often considered cheap and uneducated.

We were quite disturbed with the lyrics -but we couldn't help not listening to it. The lyrics are mostly sexist and sexual, and the video was showing an indecently dressed women, dancing seductively, showing off their curves too much. I wonder for what purpose is this genre for. Marx said that a work of art brings about societal issues but why does dangdut koplo present mostly sexual issues? Do the audience have issues on their sexual life?

When I asked those questions, Ivana said that dangdut koplo is a cheap entertainment, usually enjoyed by the male peasants as an easy way for men to get excited without spending too much money. Then I remembered a sermon where the priest said that men is usually weak on the eye. So I think, these singers are regarded because of their physical appearance and partly, their singing ability. Such a shame for such beautiful voices..

Well, we've strayed too far, fella. Anyway, what Ivana and I thought would be a tranquil evening was totally disrupted by the presence of dangdut koplo. I wonder if the restaurant expects its customer to be the audience of dangdut koplo. I remembered a lecture my friend Patty shared with me on room ambience for business that for restaurants, building atmosphere through music will determine who comes to your place and how much you charge for your products.

Despite the music, this place is a great place for family and for your own getaway. For those who are fond of fishing, you can go to the other main site which offers you fishing ponds and small cubicles to enjoy your cooked fishes.

And so we ended our sunday get-away with a discussion on dangdut koplo. We come to a conclusion that sexuality is always a societal issue regardless the social class. What differs is the attitude in projecting our thoughts regarding the issue and the moral standard used in dealing with these. Though what contains is similar.

Just a little heartily remark, I love hanging out and having discussion with Ivana. She is such a fun and open-minded woman :) You would know her better through -> http://ivanaamelliabudi.blogspot.com/

So here's our smiles captured together. Although we often met each other, this is the second time we took picture of ourselves (the first was in Jogja)

So there goes our (un)tranquil sunday evening get-away!

Escape to the superficial city lights

It looks like an ordinary crossroad. But as the sky turns violet and grows velvety; it's magic.

It all starts with my monthly routine of going to Yogyakarta to see my violin tutor. Last week especially, had been a frustrating week, so I decided to postpone my lesson and just strolled around the city. Hint: I was not alone. I brought along my faithful travelling mate (a.k.a partner in crime), Fiona.

Along the way, I thought we were going to spend some time wandering around malls and streets with girly giggles and laughs. Another hint: erase the "girly" and "giggles". We roared.

The afternoon sun was warm and nice. It was around 3 p.m. when we drove across small, bumpy roads, to get our other friend, Yayang, to her practice hall (she is a great cellist, by the way). As we got there, we could see massive rice fields around the building. It was peaceful and soothing (I was thinking of bringing a picnic set and had some sandwiches. It would be perfect). Sadly we  couldn't stay long. So we waved goodbyes to Yayang, and went back into the city.

The city was crowded, as usual, as we drove to our next destination, Malioboro. People were driving motorcycle recklessly and there were street beggars in every stops. Guess everyone was out at that hour. Well, we did get lost two or three times but finally we made it! Malioboro! One of the places you should stop by if you are new to Yogyakarta. Ignore the heat, smell of horse poo, and crazy becak; you MUST go there. Tell the world you've stepped on Yogyakarta after you go to Malioboro. That's what I told Fiona by the way.

Since Malioboro is a long and crowded road, either on the main road or the smaller road in front of the street shops, we did not walk all the way from one end to the other. We parked beside Mirota Batik (it was the smallest parking entrance I have ever driven through, seriously, but strangely enough, every car gets pass that gate). Things went smooth inside; we looked around, shopped small stuffs, gaped at the 26-million-stunning-vintage desk clock, smelled some aromatherapy, giggled at the strange breast scrubs, and flipped through stacks of batik cloth. 

After buying some chocolates, we went out. I told Fiona that the view right on the crossroad is beautiful, and we should go there. And so we went. The sidewalk leading to the big crossroad is just perfect. Cool breeze blowing to your face, large trees above your head, and bright street light shining. There are some interesting things too; one statue that looks like a pair of feet (only), strange people in strange colorful clothes, and some juvenile teens hopping around, taking pictures aimlessly. As we got there, we crossed the main road, and took pictures in front of the gracefully-lit Bank Indonesia building. I felt happy, seeing so many old buildings still preserved and stand majestically in the middle of all the hustle-bustle of the city.

It was all perfect -until our phones caught little drops of rain. I thought right away, "No, Yogyakarta has never poured its rain on me, it won't." And I was wrong. It was raining hard that evening. So hard. We were running like mad girls. And we ROARED. Yes now you know why we roared. Though Fiona and I thanked the huge trees that held the water from above, it wasn't enough. We turned into two juvenile girls, counting one two three, and hopping from one tree to another, jumping around like chimps after successfully reaching our 'post'. I kept yelling, "Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, SH*T!" (I'm so sorry, but you can't expect me to say hallelujah in a situation like that), and Fiona kept laughing.

Suddenly, our savior, the blessed ojek payung (umbrella carrier) came and rescued us. And so we didn't swear as much after that. He came right in time! We can't thank him enough. I felt happy. But sad at the same time. I think he just happened to own a huge umbrella and saw us running in wet clothes, then offered his umbrella to us.

I saw his two little kids with their mother, curled up near their unsold goods. Fortunately the large tree is big enough to shield them from that large amount of water. It was not the rain nor the unsold goods that made me sad -I was wondering whether they go to school or not. It would not be enough just to sell drinks to send those little kids to school. Then I regretted giving him only ten thousand rupiahs. I should have given him more. But sometimes in times of anxiety and worries, often, we can't think of others aside from ourselves. We, selfish human. I promised myself as I drove away from Malioboro that if I saw that man again, I would give him some money. That's all I can do. It's frustrating how much things you want to better and yet, in the end, money is all you can give. It doesn't really fulfill my intention. Then I thought, what is so good about having rights and access to everything in this democratic era, when they only 'function' in the presence of money? I hope I can make changes in the future, especially that regarding children who couldn't go to school like the little kids of the kind ojek payung.

Anyway, after that we escaped to Ambarukmo Plaza and spent the rest of the evening there.

It was a fun trip. But on the other side, it's a different trip from many preceding. Yogyakarta has always become one of my escape venue, with only good things, superficially. But it showed me its different side that night. I'm guessing that there would be many others that will follow in my next visits.