Yogyakarta (also Jogjakarta in pre-1972 spelling or Jogja) is a city and province on the island of Java, Indonesia. It is the only province in Indonesia that is still formally governed by a precolonial Sultanate, the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Sultanate. The city is known as a center of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry and puppet shows. It is also famous as a center for Indonesian higher education. The official name of the Yogyakarta province is Special Region of Yogyakarta. Haunted by spiraling population, economic and political problems, the most populous island in South East Asia is a land of contrasts with an uncertain future.Java is an island of striking natural beauty, rich in cultural history. But it's getting harder to recognize it. At Yogyakarta's center is the palace, or the Sultan's palace. Surrounding the palace is a densely-populated residential neighborhood that occupies land that was formerly the Sultan's sole domain; evidence of this former use remains in the form of old walls and the ruined Water Castle (Castle), built in 1758 as a pleasure garden no longer used by the sultan, the garden had been largely abandoned, and was used for housing by palace employees and descendants. Reconstruction efforts began in 2004, and an effort to renew the neighborhood around the palace has begun. The site is a developing tourist attraction.
The Ramayana ballet is worth attending even if you're not a fan of traditional Asian stage performances. Rp 50.000 gets you a 90-minute show with a talented dance troupe and a full gamelan orchestra. It's a casual, well-organized atmosphere and you can meet the performers and even dance with them on the stage!
The Cirebon Restaurant, also on Jalan Malioboro, attracts a steady stream of Locals and Foreigners with its (mainly) vegetarian specialties and convivial atmosphere - all at good prices.
Honestly, there are no other cities in Indonesia that have different names equally popular like this one. And, frankly speaking, none of the hundreds of names of areas in this country have been Abbreviated in so many ways by its name like Yogyakarta.
3 comments:
I want to go there to have a real look.
My nephew who just visited to Indonesia got the videos of the wonderful Ramayana Ballet. What a splendid performance!
@ Anna
I bet that you would like one of the traditional dances from Java.
@ Jessica
I hope you also will have the opportunity to see it directly.
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