Oyot Godhong? Vein of leave?

Dont be confused with my title....

While my friend was busy in buying some gifts, I let myself to have lunch in Mirota café named Oyot Godhong. Javanese name, means leaf vein. You could reach the 3rd floor of this store. The place was quite unique on its traditional touch. You could see wooden chair and table, gazebo, old vespa (motorcycle from India), some statues, fresh rose flower upon the table.

I chose nasi goreng as I need rice very much that morning. I was quite starving eventhough I had noodle for breakfast. This café offered some traditional menu too, like what the store sell, traditional items like batiks fabric, accessories, statues, etc. Well, you could find pecel, tempe bacem, tempe koro, gado-gado….and some simple menu’s like bread, fried rice, fried noodle, enough for accompanying in waiting friend, relatives, spending time while they were shopping or after shopping.

Mirota itself is centre of batiks fabric and handycraft. When you come into it, you can feel strong Javanese air like gamelan music (Javanese music), incense fragrance, pictures of King Hamengku Buwono, very old things……

Curious? Come and see then….
(yk, 12apr)

Omah Dhuwur? again!

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Woke up late, got lazy in bed. Stomache was not well, I got my period. Oh no! But show had to go on. Picked up my friend in front of Dagadu counter at Malioboro Mall then walked out to Malioboro shelter.

Took a busway Trans Yogya from Malioboro to Kotagede, via Giwangan bus station, ended in Tegalgendu shelter for about 30 minutes. Paid 3,000 rupiah for one way. The main aim was lunch at Sekar Kedhaton restaurant. Kotagede itself was centre of silver handicrafts. HS Silver was one of the famous silver handicrafts store. They offered lovely small design, very unique craft. Prices were variation, from cheap to expensive. The small and simple design would have cheap price. As so complicated the design, you would get expensive price.

Tired and hungry after visiting HS Silver, especially my friend who just came out of town, brought our step to Sekar Kedhaton. Poor me, it was full of 2 tourist bus except I reserved first. No other choice than having lunch at Omah Dhuwur, in front of HS Silver store.

I had ever eaten there so I was not keen on going there but we had no choice unless we wanted to get headache and stomache for late eat. It was quite expensive for us but I thought, I seldom went there, why not?? Honest confession, I had no deep feelin’ for this place. It felt casual for me. I did not feel Javanese air. I did not know why. Forgive me! Maybe because of modern touch in this area.

Omah Dhuwur offered local food combine with oriental and European taste like Omah Dhuwur steak or Thiwulan steak (creamy cassava with rolled vegetables and tenderloin) or shrimp fried noodle. Just come and order!That was the reason why I did not feel so traditional, as because of they offered European or American food

For sure, we ordered the big portion food on cheapest price Smoked beef and mozzarella cheese salad as main course, accompanied by a glass of hot lemon tea with sereh stick and avocado fruit for me. Got cassava chips for free. Total paid 80,000 rupiahs for 2 person only.


Lets talked about the building for a while. Even I did not feel so deep but I was impressed with this place. Old house.
Omah Dhuwur was one of 170 well known Rumah Kallang (Kallang House) in Kotagede. Kallang are people who invited by the King to become carvers of court jewelries. Rumah Kallangs was built on about 1700 to 1900, mixed of European and Javanese atmosphere in its architecture. Located in Mondorakan 252 streer, belongs to Mr. tembong,famous Kallang at that time then bought by Mr. Harto Suharjo, HS Silver owner and to be reataurant in 2002.


After took a picture, enjoyed meal, some chit chatted, gossip and laughed, we finished this story by stepping out the place and took busway again. Our next plan was attending Easter mass tonight. Started from same shelter, through ring road, stopped over at Adisucipto bandara, then continued through Ambarukmo Plaza then ended up at Malioboro again. (Yk, 11 April)

Good Friday! Good for me

Tired of yesterday, I was packing in early morning, not the night before. Took a bath, got dressed and bye, bye, I was going!. Yogya I was coming! Train departed on 7, but on 6.30 a.m I was still waiting for taxi, oops I got bemo, then walked for 5 minutes as bemo route did not pass the Gubeng station route. Actually I wanted to continue it by becak but becak asked for 5000rupiahs for short way. Te erg!! Train went on time. Economic train, 2nd class. Pay 80thousand for pick season. Limited facility. A cup of water only. No cycling chair. No air condition. Winds came from window and fan only. Seller could come inside offering nasi pecel (rice and vegetables poured by peanuts dressing), nasi rames (rice and chicken spicy sauce) for about 2000-3000 rupiahs, getuk pisang (banana swwt steamed loaf), wingko babat (mixed of flour and coconut to be solid nugget).

Forgot a less facility. Just thanking God for let me enjoyed the short journey for about 5 and half hours. There was a lot of rice field scenery such as Javanese traditional homes at villages, sugar cane plantation, kangkung (leavy plantation on water), buffaloes wallowed in mudhole, duck grazed, small wooden house full of people made white bricks, farmer harvest. Wait! I could see another farmer activity when they had harvest. Started to plant rice, plowed field using traditional way by using buffalo or modern way by using tractor, and fertilized.

Train route was Surabaya, Krian, Mojokerto, Jombang, Kertosono, Nganjuk, Madiun, Sragen, Solo, Delanggu, Klaten. And Yogya as the last destination. Yupii….But my camera had limited facility either. I couldn’t take a picture when train run so fast. All was blur!

Spending time in reading Paris Pandora of Fira Basuki to avoid boringness. Could not sleep. I didn’t know why. Too excited I thought. Besides me was a woman with her 3 friends. Sometimes they chatted and gossip. Woman habit! What a lovely shinny half day in train.(Yk 10 April)

A little journey to Yogyakarta

Easter holiday brought me to Yogya for 3 days, started on Friday morning then ended up on Sunday afternoon. Just wanted to find another air, let myself forgot my daily activity for a while. Actually, it is nothing surprised by choosing this town as I ever went there many times. Considered my money was only enough for spending time in this area thus I chose Y o g y a .....
Eventhough I bought train ticket 3 weeks ago before going but I was still unlucky as I couldn’t get first class train. It was OK, I cheered up myself. I went on full of energy and spirit. No problem for what I got. Economic class of Sancaka train. When I went back to Surabaya under full of tiredness, using executive train, Argo Wilis from Bandung via Yogya, was a benefit as I could feel comfortable, no sweat, get lunch and have a rest.
Plan was plan! Nobody knows what happened next. See guys!! My go home journey on train was quite interrupted by a bunch of ladies and gentleman from teacher group. They talked each other and laughed loudly. It seemed they had a lot of gasoline inside the body. Machine run fast! Oh my God! I couldn’t sleep well. Some passenger chose to put earphone in and listen to the music.

Stayed 2 nights at Kristina Hotel,Dagen street. Rp 125.000 for single room with AC, hot water and TV. Not bad. Considered that I would do a lot of activity outside hotel thus I thought the facility was good enough


Met a friend from Bandung for a while at malioboro mall. A while? Yes, as I had to go to mass when she came. I was sorry as I have no enough time to meet her. But another friend came and be together till Sunday and we went home separately using different transportation.

No new thing was offered by Yogya handicraft, it was still same like last year, you know... vintage batik bag, plait bag, so I didn’t buy much, just 2 pieces hotpants and slipper. The rest was gift for friends and family.

The main activity was attending 3 Holy Days. As white Thursday mass had already been in Surabaya, I went to Good Friday and Easter Saturday night mass at Fransiscus Xaverius Catholic church Kidul Loji, close to Malioboro.

Twice attending Easter night at same church, last year and this year, my friend and me were quite surprised as duration of the mass was longer than duration in Surabaya. I was quite sleepy and headache for standing from sleepyness..Beginning at 9 pm then it stop at late midnight. Thnaks God for letting us celebrate risen of Jesus Christ. HAPPY EASTER!
(my story 10-12 April)

I really like Friday

Entering the yard of Virgin Maria cave on my church, felt comfortable. Voice of litte water falling on the fish pond, some candles shined brightly, mistique smell of smoke of fire of candles were touched my nose deeply. I took one candle from drawer then lightened it on to accompany me in praying. Before Cross mass I needed time to be calm down for a while!

I took a day off on Friday as I wanted to go to church for participating in Pre Easter program. Eventhough church mass started at 5.30 pm, but if I came from office directly it was impossible. I would be late 30 minutes. I could ask permission for early go home but I thought it was not worth it. My salary would be cut for some hours. To be honest, I did still need money, even a single penny. Taking a day off was better as I could have a time to run slowly. No rush.

Actually I also had problem and I needed something to refresh and clear my mud mind. It was important as it was about my daily xxxx. I felt uncomfortable lately for (again) unclearness! The choice was only compromised or to be discussed again but be careful with the decision or leaving for fresh air?? Here I was, begging, hoping, praying to Our Father in Heaven via Virgin Mary...

I was not a really religious person. I did not go to church every Sunday or doing something with God intensively, I admitted it. But... I tried to follow the program of Easter as long as I can. Was I wrong?? So when some of my friends knowing my reason they felt so strange. For that you took a leave?? I did not understand their opinion but I did not care! Whatever....SO what...

Easter mass program are Ash Wednesday, Confession, Fasting or Prohibition, every Friday Cross mass, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Sunday.

Too bad I missed the As Wednesday as I had overtime suddenly so I did not want to miss another program. That's why I took on leave for following Cross Mass in the 5th week a.k.a last week of Pre Easter. Luckyly it was a 1st Friday for April month. How lucky I was, could attend both.

Take a day off on working day is feeling different compared off on holiday, because when people are working I am not working. I can do everything I want, so enjoyable!
But the effect was I suddenly woke up early morning when moslem praying voice was heard loudly in the cold and serene early morning. It was funny! Usually I felt hard to wake up for working.

Thanks God for making this happened! I really like Friday!