Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine February 2019 | Page 90

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Travel | Solo
1
Any time I step foot in Solo, I cannot help feeling excited
and, at the same time, very peaceful. The slow rhythm of the city,
as well as the warm and friendly nature of the people, makes me
feel wholeheartedly welcome, and a world away from
the hustle and bustle of Jakarta.
While it is renowned for its rich Javanese
culture, Solo is not all about batik, luscious
delicacies or even its celebrated abundance
of well-preserved historic destinations.
The home city of the Indonesian president,
Joko Widodo, offers plenty of surprises.
On my first day in Solo, which is also
known as Surakarta, I check into a hotel
in the Timuran area, within Banjarsari
Sub-District, a perfect downtown starting
point for exploring the rest of the city.
Banjarsari is packed with a wide variety
of hotels, ranging from budget to five-star.
Even for first-time visitors, it is relatively
easy to explore the city and even without
help from a guide. You can take a double-
2
decker tourist bus called Bus Werkudara,
which is available from nine in the morning
every Saturday and Sunday, departing
from Dinas Perhubungan (Bureau of
Transportation) in the Manahan area.
At each stop, travellers are given time to
explore and take pictures.
Our first stop is De Tjolomadoe in the
Karanganyar District, a former colonial-era
sugar factory, built in 1861. After renovation,
the building is now an appealing museum,
and cultural and convention centre,
displaying giant old machines used to
process sugar cane, and also a small bazaar.
If you’re tired from walking around the
museum, you can just sip a good coffee
while relaxing in the pleasant café.
A vibrant view of Grebeg Sudiro carnival,
celebrated around Pasar Gede Hardjonagoro, Solo,
West Java.
Gladak Langen Bogan (Galabo) culinary centre
serves diverse Solo’s traditional delights.