Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine October 2019 | Page 80

Travel / Yogyakarta
/ ON THE MAP
The only Indonesian royal city still ruled by the monarchy, it
was once the nation’s capital from 1946 to 1948. Yogya means
‘suitable, fit, proper’, and karta means ‘prosperous, flourishing’
– thus, ‘a city that is fit to prosper’.
For the people of Yogyakarta,
the future is definitely in the
south. Over the past few years,
numerous changes have taken
place in this area of Java: the
Trans-Java toll road is now
connected, a new international
airport is being built, and
numerous charming beaches
known previously only to locals
are becoming more visited.
One hot afternoon, I decide to visit the area
along the south coast, some 40km from Yogyakarta
city centre. Along the way, I pass rows of karst hills
hiding a network of underground caves. Some
of these caves have become popular tourist
destinations – for activities such as cave tubing,
visit Goa Pindul, or witness the spectacular
shaft of sunlight entering the rotunda
at Goa Jomblang.
Many of the visitor destinations in south Yogyakarta
have become more popular due in part to social
media. In the past, these beaches and caves were
considered mysterious; they were difficult to reach
and effectively closed to visitors. When I last visited
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 any of the visitor destinations
M
in south Yogyakarta have become more
popular due in part to social media.
In the past, these beaches and caves
were considered mysterious...