Strolling along the 1,500-m strip of Yogyakarta's Malioboro
Street is as essential as visiting Times Square when in New York
City.
Tracing an imaginary line from the Sultan Palace on the south
toward the peak of the legendary Merapi volcano to the north, the
iconic street has been a bustling traditional market since
1758.
Yogyakarta is an ancient royal capital and one of the country's
prime tourist destinations, abounding with cultural history,
temples and a vibrant arts' and crafts' scene, and second only to
Bali for visits by overseas tourists.
But the city, province and tourism industry were shattered by a
pre-dawn earthquake, which flattened large areas and killed more
than 5,800 people.
The May 27, 2006, magnitude-6.2 quake in the Central Java region
damaged more than 350,000 homes and displaced 1.5 million people.
Those figures would be astonishing except for the fact that the
earthquake was anything but an isolated event for the country.
But now, the city seems to have bounced to its normal pulse, and
Malioboro Street is the city's magnetic pole.
"I have to go to Malioboro when I visit Yogyakarta. I just have
to," Ardian Ghani, 30, a visitor from Jakarta, says. "It's the
exquisite atmosphere that you just can't explain."
About 800 m from the Sultan Palace, the famous Souvenirs
Paradise street is framed by hundreds of shops, restaurants and
historical landmarks. It once functioned as a rallying point
against the Dutch.
Strolling on foot, one may soak in the sights, sounds and smells
of vendors and their wares, ranging from local specialties such as
batik, rattan ornament, leather puppets, bamboo and silver goods to
general handicrafts.
Tourists can also take a ride in a pedicab or a horse-drawn cart
for a cheap price.
Along the arcades, visitors may enjoy a leisurely shopping
experience, but should follow the lead of the locals and bargain
with the vendors for the best prices. The skilful haggler may be
able to get the offered price halved and traders appreciate
tourists who try to bargain in good faith and with good humor.
Near the end of the street, the famous Beringharjo market offers
a full array of traditional products. In addition to local products
of Yogyakarta, the market brims with other regional favorites, such
as Pekalongan batik and Solo batik.
There are many choices of handmade batik, printed batik, window
curtains with unique motifs and batik bed sheets. Adding to the
local atmosphere, this traditional market offers great prices,
too.
At one end of the street, tourists can drop in at the colonial
Vredeburg Fort opposite Gedung Agung, an official presidential
palace in the province. The fort was the Dutch bastion against
attacks by Yogyakarta kingdom troops.
When the sun sets, the arcades transform into sprawling eateries
featuring traditional "cross-legged" seating.
Enjoy a local specialty of Yogyakarta called Gudeg, a meal of
sweetened jackfruit cooked in coconut milk as street troubadours
serenade diners for gratuities.
(China Daily February 18, 2008)
