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When in Yogyakarta, make time for these activities
The general manager of Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel Alain Rigodin shares travel tips for those who want to explore Yogyakarta.
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A bicycle is parked near Plaosan temple, Bugisan village, Prambanan district, Klaten regency, Central Java. (Shutterstock/File)
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xploring the vertical Jomblang Cave in Pacarejo village, Gunung Kidul regency, Yogyakarta, for the very first time was an experience to remember for Alain Rigodin, the general manager of Marriott Yogyakarta Hotel. Accompanied by his wife, Rigodin, he bravely entered the 60-meter-deep cave.
“I was given some kind of boots that allowed me to explore the muddy cave,” Rigodin said.
After walking around for 30 minutes, which was not easy to do, he discovered stalagmites and a hole where the sunlight enters, popularly known as "the light of heaven". Although he admitted that it took a lot of energy to explore the cave, he planned to go back.
The former general manager of The St. Regis Beijing said he liked to explore and understand the country where he worked. In Indonesia, he has traveled to several provinces, such as Jakarta, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and Kalimantan.
Read also: Foreign traveler’s search for her Yogyakarta hero goes viral
“You have so much to offer in this country,” he said. “People are nice, the food is good. Every time you eat a nasi goreng (fried rice), you know it will taste different.”
As he spends most of his time in Yogyakarta, he suggests that visitors ride a bicycle if they have more time on their hands.
“It’s safe, it’s not complicated to go around; just get a tourist map. People will help you if you’re lost,” he said.
“I think you’ll be able to appreciate [this city] a bit more [that way]. You can stop whenever you want to.”
Meanwhile, for those who have limited time in the city, Rigodin said visitors should not miss out on Yogyakarta’s famous tourist destinations, such as the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan, or the kraton (the palace of Yogyakarta).
He also advised tourists to shop for batik. “There’s more to explore outside the city, but it requires more time.”
Rigodin, who began his career in 1989 as an executive sous chef, said the food in Yogyakarta was too sweet for his taste, although gudeg (jackfruit stew with palm sugar and coconut milk) was one of his favorite local dishes. He advised visitors to make time to try local restaurants that offer an authentic taste of Yogyakartan cuisine for a complete travel experience. (kes)
