Central Java Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Borobudur Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
9th Century Architectural Marvel
My visit to Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Indonesia was eye opening. Located about 1 hours drive to Yogyakarta, it was akin to stepping into a world of ancient wonders. If you have been there, you would agree that this massive temple, built over 1,000 years ago, is truly a breathtaking architectural marvel. And beyond just being a pretty sight, the rich cultural heritage and history makes this a must see for anyone visiting the Yogyakarta region.
Currently (as of March 2024), we can now have full access to the temple structure but there is a daily limit of 1,200 visitors. I highly recommend getting the Temple Guided Tour ticket from Trip.com, as opposed to the Borobudur Temple Tickets, as having a guide that explains a brief history of the temple, the carvings on the wall, the religious context etc makes a world of difference. Having made you way there, wouldn’t you want to also go up the temple structure (up the the 9th level)? Also, you get a free pair of sandals when you join the full tour!
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#winhkflight
I want to travel to Hong Kong to experience its vibrant city life, delicious cuisine, and breathtaking skyline. From bustling markets to the multitude of shopping malls, Hong Kong offers a perfect blend of culture, history, and modernity that I can't wait to explore.
Borobudur Temple, Yogyakarta
Located on the island of Java, the magnificent Borobudur temple is the world's largest Buddhist monument with 504 Buddha stupas, an ancient site widely considered to be one of the world's seven wonders.
Borobudur is a Unesco World Heritage site!
Heaven on Earth indeed, one feels blessed and relieves all the tension when you are up there, the feeling of Nirvana.
Catch buddha at sunrise, nature, hidden ones
Should you chance upon the opportuntity to be one of the 1200 allowed to enter the top of this temple, you should really visit.
There is nature views to enjoy right at the top and also the chance to see hidden buddha under the stupa. No wonder it is a popular attraction.
located at
borobudur temple
Jl. Badrawati, Kw. Candi Borobudur, Borobudur, Kec. Borobudur, Kabupaten Magelang, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia
Captivated by the Ancient Architecture
Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, located on the island of Central Java. This temple was built in the ninth century AD. At that time, Indonesia was still a Buddhist kingdom (Syailendra dynasty).
The temple was built to serve as a place of worship for Buddhists. Seen from above, Borobudur looks like a large Mandala, representing the human journey from reincarnation (samsara) to nirvana (nirvana).
The Borobudur Temple has 9 floors (6 square terraces and 3 circular terraces). This terraced world is divided into three levels: Kamadhatu (the lowest is the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the middle is the real world) and Arupadhatu (the circular platform is the world of spirit).
The platform of Borobudur Temple is higher and smaller. There are also four staircases in four sections (east, south, west, north). Borobudur consists of 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. There is a main pagoda in the highest upper part, surrounded by 72 pagodas
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Lawang Sewu Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Lawang Sewu
Lawang Sewu is classified as heritage. Cultural heritage which must be preserved as a silent witness to the nation's history, especially railways. Lawang Sewu is the building for the Dutch East Indies Railway or KAI of the Dutch East Indies. Lawang Sewu is a museum that contains photographs of stations, trains, and miniature trains. The building is still sturdy and of course has a typical European architecture at that time.
#hiddengems
Historical Place In Indonesia⁉️👀🇮🇩
📍Lawang Sewu, Semarang
Lawang Sewu is a historic building owned by PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) which was originally used as the Head Office for the Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NISM) private railway company.
The main building was started on 27 February 1904 and finished in July 1907. While the additional buildings were built around 1916 and finished in 1918.
In addition to the unique building design, Lawang Sewu has stained glass ornaments made by Johannes Lourens Schouten. The stained glass tells of the prosperity and beauty of Java, Dutch rule over Semarang and Batavia, maritime cities and the glory of the railroad.
Other decorations on Lawang Sewu include pottery ornaments on the arch above the balcony, a small dome at the top of a water tower covered in copper, and a spire decorated with bronze.
At present the Lawang Sewu Building is used as a museum which presents various collections from the era of railways in Indonesia.
#indonesia #summerbreak #travel #tripblazers #urbanexplorer #mytripvlog #awesomepic #2023travelwish #passionpassport #celebratewithtrip
Address - Jl. Pemuda No.160, Sekayu, Kec. Semarang Tengah, Kota Semarang, Jawa Tengah 50132
Ambiance/Facilities - toilet, museum
Highlights - Historical Place in Indonesia
Avg. Price per Person - IDR 20.000
Rating - 4.6/5
A thousand doors in Semarang!
Lawang Sewu, the name of this museum is located in Semarang, Indonesia. It was previously a head office of the Dutch during the war. Today, the building is maintained as a museum and carried the heritage railway gallery operated by KAI.
The architecture itself is mesmerising! It has numerous doors and arcs as the name. The interior left a rich historical vibe.
I suggest you to have a local guide if you are interested in historical trip back in the colonial era to gain more perspective. :)
Beautiful Lawang Sewu at night
A visit to Semarang won't be complete if you don't make time to stop by Lawang Sewu.
This Dutch-style building has long been an icon of the capital city of Central Java. Lawang Sewu not only presents classical beauty but also historical tourism.
The building, which is famous for its large number of windows and doors, looks bright at night. Lawang Sewu can indeed be visited during the day or night. Operational hours at Lawang Sewu start at 07.00 – 21.00.
Witnessing this classical architectural splendor at night has its own sensation. Even though it was night, the visitors who came were not small. The sidewalks are always filled with visitors who sit back or just take pictures. Entering the building, the lights were highlighted in the darkness of the night. These lights add to the beauty of Lawang Sewu.
Exploring old buildings at night, of course, has its own impression. The long alleys seemed quieter at night. Even so, the mystical or frightening impression is no longer felt. Walls, doors, windows and other building accessories now look well maintained and clean. The impression of being old and unkempt can no longer be seen in this building, which was completed in 1907.
You can enjoy the beauty of the city of Semarang at night from the balcony of the second floor of Lawang Sewu. After the restoration, Lawang Sewu did try to get rid of its mystical impression.
Compared to day, night is better. The lights are on so it looks prettier.
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Semarang Old City Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Gedung Marba Semarang
The Marba Building is one of the central points that attracts the attention of tourists while in the Heritage area of the Old City of Semarang. How could I not, the color is the most contrasting compared to other old buildings which are predominantly white. Like a cup of milk, Gedung Marba is a sprinkling of chocolate on the surface.
This two-story building was built with bricks without plaster painted red. Every bone of the building is painted white so that it has an art deco feel too if people nowadays say.
The position of the Marba Building is also very strategic because it is on the "front cover" of the Old City, along with other popular buildings including the legendary Blenduk Church.
No wonder this building is one of the targets of tourists to use as a background when taking pictures.
Unfortunately, not just anyone can enter this building. Because even though it is old, the Marba Building is still used as a company office. So that only the front can be explored by tourists.
From the existing literature, the Marba Building, more than a century ago, was built and used by merchants from Arabia, Yemen to be precise, for their trading business center. Marta Badjunet, the name of this wealthy merchant. The Marba building is taken from its abbreviation. Marta Badjunet became Marba, that is.
Semarang history observer, Yongki Tio (80), explained that the old city used to be the city center and business center. Initially, many buildings were made for offices there. Meanwhile, the merchants chose to live by building houses in the upper Semarang area in the south, which is now called the new temple area.#semarang #oldtown
Semarang
A unique and historical place and one of the iconic Semarang town to visit. Strolling along the pedestrians will bring us back to Indonesia in colonial times. lots of unique spots to snap many pics. #passionpassport
Semarang Old City
If you love old buildings and something like that, then you must visit this Semarang old town.
I must say that Semarang old town is one of the recommended places when you visit Semarang.
In this old town, you can see, among other things, Gereja Blendoek, cafes, good restaurants, etc.
You may find many buildings with their European architecture. During the Dutch colonial era, The city of Semarang was mainly divided into three area; the Chinese camp, the inlander (or the native Indonesian) and the European area.
There are many photography groups who gathered in this area and took photos of buildings, streets, people and so on.
I love this area and looking forward to seeing how it will be developped in the future.
Lastly, you may consider taking becak (traditional transportation) to go around this old city, particularly in the late afternoon. It is nice and quite cheap!
#besttrip
#urbanexplorer
#summerdays
Pretty Semarang Old City
Everytime a friend visits me in Semarang city, I will always bring them to look around this area. It is one of the most popular tourist attraction in town. Super perfect to have #citywalk here.
The name is Semarang Old Town (Kawasan Kota Lama Semarang). It is very close to the 0 KM (center point of the city) Semarang. The area is not that huge. You can visit it in 2-3 hours.
There's no entrance fee for visiting Semarang Old Town. But if you come with your own vehicle, they have parking area for motorbike and car. So, you only need to pay for the parking fee. Things to see in Semarang Old Town are cafes, museums, art galleries, classic buildings, etc. Make sure you visit this place when you're in Semarang ✨
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Karimunjawa Island Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Bobby’s Beach Karimun Jawa
Bobby’s beach (Pantai Bobby) it’s one of the best and beautiful beach of Karimun Java, one of the most recommended to go.
beautiful landscape with swings on the sea shore.
Clear water and friendly local people, happy to provide you food, drinks and tours near by.
In the sea near the coast there is also a small colony of Ocellaris clownfish
(Founding Nemo fish), also if you ask the local staff on the beach they will indicate you where to go, to see these beautiful creature the water level is below one meter, it’s also easy for kids to arrive.
reminder:
on the sand watch your steps, sometimes have red ant that can bite you, but the bite it’s totally harmless.
Turtle conservatory Karimunjava
In Central Java north Coast near Jepara and close to Semarang, there is the ferry to visit some of the most beautiful and wild islands of Indonesia, the name is Karimunjava, it has few island to visits, you can expect to see beautiful tropical beaches similar Maldives, a lot of nature, excellent snorkelling spots and even points to see baby sharks.
this is the Turtle conservatory where you can release baby turtles on the sea in exchange of small offer (around 1-2 Us$) for the park, correct address: Konservasi Penyu Taman Nasional Karimunjawa. Many island tours can offer also to pass by here#turtle #Indonesia #karimunjawa #Karimunjava #island
Morning view
My morning view near karimun jawa harbour. its so quite, calm, and fresh air. its a good place to short escape holiday. it took 2,5 hour by express ship from jepara kartini harbour. there a lot things to do in karimun jawa, like snorkling, shark breeding, turtle breeding and also starfish breeding. You can also take a picture together with the baby shark by just paying 20.000 rupiah. the beaches is also beautiful. Bobby beach had a beautiful white sands. you can have barbeque party near the beach. #staycation #snorkelingspot #karimunjawa#beachlife #nationalpark #summervacation #campingglamping ..
snorkelingspot
karimunjawa
Karimunjawa National Park
One of my favorite tourist-free island in Indonesia is Karimunjawa, a small island north of Semarang off the coast of central Java. The main island has only one main village, many stunning hills and peaks, and a lot of untouched fringing reefs along the white sand beaches. The island is so remote that they only have 18 hours of electricity per day. If you are looking for a quiet beach time somewhere near Java island and you would like to avoid the typical candidate such as Bali or Lombok, then you will love Karimunjawa.
Getting to the island is a bit tricky, hence not many tourists managed to come here. There is only one slow boat per every 2 days which goes at 7 AM so if you are planning to do this independantly, please plan accordingly and arrive one hour earlier to get the ticket. If you are going with the agency, you will be alright as they will drop you off before 6 AM anyway.
Getting to Karimunjawa is very dependant on the tide level. Your trip will only be possible if the tide level is low enough so please consult the weather first for both in and out days with the agency before you book anything.
#nationalpark#urbanexplorer
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Wisata Sam Poo Kong Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
The Oldest Chinese Temple In Semarang⁉️🇮🇩
📸The Great Temple Of Sam Poo Kong, Semarang
The Sam Poo Kong Temple, also known as Gedung Batu (the Stone Building), is the oldest Chinese temple in Semarang, capital of the province of Central Java.
Unlike most temples, the building does not belong to any specific religion, but rather functions as a place of worship for people of various ethnicities and religious groups including Buddhists, Taoists and muslims. The temple is located on Jalan Simongan, West Semarang.
The temple is painted with a magnificent red color and crowned with a triple-layered pagoda-style roof, typical of East Asian culture. The surrounding area is thick with incense smoke, giving the feel of being in China itself.
GET THERE :
Ahmad Yani International Airport offers international routes to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Domestic flights are available from Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Bandung, Balikpapan and Banjarmasin.
Sam Poo Kong Temple is located on Simongan Road, approximately 3 KM south west from Simpang Lima and about 20 minutes from the city center. The temple is open to the public 24 hours a day.
Address - Klenteng Agung Sam Poo Kong, Jalan Simongan No.129, Bongsari, Semarang Barat, Bongsari, Semarang
Ambiance/Facilities - Toilet, Cafe/Restaurant, Prayer space
Highlights - The oldest chine temple in central java
Avg. Price per Person - IDR 50.000
Rating - 4.5/5
#summerbreak #semarang #indonesia #celebratewithtrip #passionpassport #2023travelwish #mytripvlog #urbanexplorer #tripblazers #awesomepic #summervacation #travel
One Fine Day at Sam Poo Kong Temple
Sam Poo Kong, also known as Gedung Batu Temple, is the oldest Chinese temple in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. Originally established by the explorer admiral Zheng He, it is now shared by Indonesians of multiple religious denominations, including Muslims and Buddhists, and ethnicities
It’s a good place to visit if you are interested in exploring local culture and heritage in Semarang City- Central Java
The recommended sightseeing time is between one
to two hours
#historywalk #semarang #urbanexplorer #summervacation #givethanks #indonesia
SAM POO KONG TEMPLE, SEMARANG CITY
Sam Poo Kong is one of the popular tourist attractions in Semarang. This temple has a distinctive and historical building design and interior. #triplocal
#themeparks#nationalpark#lakes#beaches#infinitypool
Does it feel like you’re in China?
One of the temples you can visit in Semarang. Sam Poo Kong is not quite far from the city. I really love the buildings. It’s really beautiful and colorful. The ticket price is around USD 1 each but if you want to enter all the temple the ticket should be twice as much. Multiracial issue is not appeared here at all. You can learn about Cheng Ho and his journey to Indonesia. I love the way it stands on the main area of the temples. It has both Chinese and Javanese culture. People who come here are not supposed to pray only, but also do the bigger thinks. Sam Poo Kong is so beautiful yet full of awesome historical story! ⛩🌟⛅️🍂 #solstice #urbanexplorer #summervacation #hikingtrails #adventure #historicculture #historicarchitecture
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Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations
Popular Restaurants in Central Java