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Mercedes-Benz SUVs go on an adventure
It’s a long, long road: Hungry for Adventure 2019 group ride on Mercedes-Benz SUVs from Yogyakarta to Semarang
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It’s a long, long road: Hungry for Adventure 2019 group ride on Mercedes-Benz SUVs from Yogyakarta to Semarang.
A Mercedes-Benz adventure tour? Why not.
In January, PT Mercedes-Benz Distribution Indonesia organized its Hungry for Adventure 2019 event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
The program ran from Jan. 13 to 15. It started in Yogyakarta and ended in Semarang.
All Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicle (SUV) models were available during the event. These models comprised the GLA 200 AMG Line, GLC 200 AMG Line, GLE 250 d, GLE 400 AMG Line, AMG GLE 43 Coupe, GLS 400 AMG Line and the latest SUV model, AMG G 63, which is worth Rp 5.6 billion (US$386,6751).
The capabilities of the premium SUVs from Germany were put to the test by exploring such destinations as Widodaren Beach, Gumuk Pasir Park, Jomblang cave and Curug Lawe Waterfall with 435 kilometers covered.
On the first day, The Jakarta Post traveled using the GLC 200 AMG Line, leaving from Mercedes-Benz Yogyakarta dealer PT Kalimas Al on Jalan Raya Yogya-Solo to Widodaren Beach in Kanigoro village, Saptosari district, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta.
The beach was 60 km away and it took an hour and 40 minutes to reach it.
The 2-km access from the road to the beach parking lot was quite challenging, with stones covering the newly opened, uneven lane.
From the beach, the adventure group headed to the Gumuk Beach sand dune in Parangtritis, Yogyakarta, where people go to enjoy sand boarding, a sport like skiing but on sand.
The GLC 200 was comfortable to drive with, with electronically regulated seats, upholstery and headrests. Its driving modes are complete, ranging from Individual, Eco, Comfort, Sport, to Sport Plus. The Sport mode is more than enough to get one’s adrenaline going.
The GLC 200 has a 1,991-cc engine with 184HP output power, which is transferred to propelling wheels through 9G-TRONIC 9-Speed automatic transmission, making it forceful and responsive at the time of acceleration. This car’s cabin is sealed in deeper silence while its suspension also gives a gentler cushion, producing almost no sound and minimum jolts on bumpy roads.
In Indonesia, the GLC-Class is offered in 5 variants: GLC 200 Exclusive line, GLC 200 AMG line, GLC 300 Coupe AMG line, GLC 43 AMG Coupe and GLC 63 S Coupe.
From Gumuk, the adventure continued to the Plataran Heritage Borobudur Hotel in Kretek hamlet, Karangrejo Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java. The distance from Gumuk is around 70 km, which was covered within an hour and 50 minutes.
The second day began with a trip to the Jomblang Cave in Jetis Wetan village, Pacarejo, Semanu, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta.
The cave was located around 100 km away from the hotel and it took around 3 hours to get there.
This time, the Post was driving the Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 AMG Line. It runs on a 1,595-cc engine and 156HP power output. This car was very agile and satisfying as it turned from one road bend to another.
There are several variants of the GLA-Class. The GLA 200 Urban Line will be launched this year, to be followed by the GLA 200 AMG and GLA 45 AMG.
The Jomblang cave is a relatively new tourist spot in Gunungkidul, which began to be frequented by visitors in 2010 and professionally managed in 2012. With a depth of around 60 meters, the cave is located in a remote village. A fairly good access road has been built, which is a stoney path that is more level than that leading to Widodaren.
Visitors have to go down into the cave to enjoy the beauty of sunlight penetrating the forest around its entrance. An underground river lies at the base of the cave, about 100 m from the point of landing. To reach the stream they have to pass the soggy and muddy ground.
The colors of the light get more dramatic in the water vapor coming from the stream. To enjoy the spectacle, tourists can pay Rp 500,000 per person to explore the cave base from 11 a.m. and climb up again before 3 p.m. From Jomblang, the adventure team returned to the Plataran Heritage.
On the last day, at dawn before going to Semarang, the group drove to Borobudur temple to watch the sunrise from the eastern part facing Mount Merapi, along with foreign tourists who took pictures of the gorgeous moment. At exactly 5:36 a.m. the sun was seen rising east of the temple.
After taking delight in the natural splendor, the adventure was to wind up in Curug Lawe, Kalisidi village, West Ungaran, Semarang, Central Java.
Sadly, the group encountered a downpour along the way, getting incessantly heavier as they arrived at the parking area at midday. The plan to relish the beauty of the waterfall at the foot of Mount Ungaran had to be canceled.
— Photos by JP/R. Berto Wedhatama
