Kalisuci Cave Tubing

Kalisuci Cave Tubing is located in the village of Pancarejo, Semanu, Gunung Kidul about 60 kilometers from the city of Yogyakarta, takes about 1.5 – 2 hours drive. Called Kalisuci because there is a fountain which is located next to the river where the water flow is very clear and remains clear despite the murky river water during the rainy season.

Kalisuci a karst cave tours to the underground river that is currently used as a new tourist attraction in Gunung Kidul. Special interest tourism continues to gain the attention of the public turned out. This is evident by tourists to Gunung reservation during this long holiday.

An exciting rides visit is Susur Goa (cave tubing) Jetis Kalisuci in Hamlet, Village Pacarejo, Semanu. This place has actually been initiated as a tourist in the Soeharto era around 1997 with the construction of the access stairs down to the river, but the lack of attention from the local government then makes this place is not well maintained, even used by local people for bathing and wash.

It’s really a very sad case because it can contaminate the ground water conditions under the river. Without boiling, the water from the water source at Kalisuci can be directly drink without fear of pain, because the water source is not polluted.

Visitors began many that visit the cave tubing Kalisuci. They come from outside the area. They are very keen to explore the beauty of the earth immediately presented traverse through the cave.

Characteristics of the soil type limestone in Mount Kidul that is dry in the dry season did not dampen the swift flow of the river Kalisuci. According to the village elders stories Kalisuci springs believed to cure diseases has not been tested, although the truth of the story.

Not only springs that exist in Kalisuci mystery but the scenery is so magnificent could also eliminate fatigue After struggling with the work week. We can see the limestone cliffs that is so beautiful plus clear water is so refreshing.

Along the twists in Goa Kalisuci was really fun. Atmosphere of unspoiled nature and a desire to invite exotic adventure. Gunungkidul karst beauty is not really a myth. Some karst caves can be enjoyed by way of adventure and explore the carvings beautiful nature. We can enjoy the beautiful nature in the stomach Earth Handy with fringe cave (cave tubing).

Underground river that flows beneath the cave became one of the challenging adventure, how not, the ceiling caves are formed in such a beautiful and green river.

View of the cave that we usually can only see on the Discovery Channel or from magazines, can be enjoyed in Kalisuci. The beauty of stalactites and stalagmites and cericit bats hanging above the cave ceiling adds to the atmosphere even more astounding and amazing.

Kalisuci has its own challenges and requires each visitor have extra energy. It was due to reach Kalisuci, visitors had to walk 70 meters along the trekking path. The path has been casted concrete, but there are some parts that are still maintained its authenticity.

The adventure begins when the tubes provided great start into the water. The tour then began to move the tubes so as not restrained rock and tourists are also invited to sit with ease. Tube moves in rhythm and flow of water in the cave adventure brings calm water and cool temperatures.

Up to Cave Tubing location, you will see the underground river with flowing water to penetrate karst caves like Grubug, and the cave that is often used group of nature lovers to search the cave.

In this cave, enjoy the river flow turn. Turquoise water looks brown contrast with soil, karst cliffs, and shouted, while the guide proceeded to explain all the caves. According to the guide, Goa Kalisuci often considered society as Siti Wot (land bridge).

It takes about 2 hours to complete the cave traversal, starting from the Holy Cave, Luweng Senglat, Luweng head, and ended up in Cave Mburi Omah.

In some sections, tourists can also play around for just a photo and swimming. The driver was already familiar with the behaviors of tourists to linger with delight. Normally, playing a very busy place in the near Watu Gajah, a large white stone brown. Nearby are the emerald water depths of about 1.5 to 1.8 meters.

Not rare mob flying bats in a cave using only accompany visitors as torch head lamp. Also various shapes that adorn the cave karst scenery love to be ignored. Do not need to worry about fatigue, because after completion of trip Cave Tubing, villagers owned cottage ready to be the resting place of the visitors.

Cave Tubing trips done as an individual match or cluster. These rides suitable for all ages because anyone done peacefully enough. Members and experienced instructors are ready to ensure the enjoyment and safety during the trip. A variety of equipment is mandatory for cave tubing participants also completed, such as tube, keeping the helmet, head lamp, floating vests, boat shoes also.

Kalisuci location is also ideal for othr activities such as outbound, hiking and other adventures. Steep cliffs and footpaths around the river into its own place to train, skill, and courage. (source: yogyes[dot]com)

Kotagede

Since the 1930′s, Kotagede has become famous for being the center of the Yogya silver work industry. There are a number of workshops where visitors are welcome to watch silver being transformed into beautiful works of art known as “Yogya Silver”. Kotagede is easily reached by “andong”, the four-wheeled horse-drawn cart, by taxi, bus, or car.

In that cemetery complex one can still visit the cemetery of the Mataram kings like Sutowijoyo or Ngabei Loring Pasar, the founder of Mataram Kingdom, who was then called Panembahan Senopati. There is also the unique tomb of Ki Ageng Mangir. He was Panembahan Senopati son in law and also Panembahan Senopati enemy. His dead body was buried half inside of the special area for kings and Panembahan Senopati families, and a half of his body was buried outside of the complex. There is a stone called ” Watu Gilang “, a stone on which Panembahan Senopati smashed the Ki Ageng Mangir head to dead.

Those who want to go inside the cemetery have to wear traditional clothes that one can hire at the place. Kota Gede Royal cemetery is open on Monday at. 10.00 am – 12.00 am, and Friday at 01.30 pm. – 04.00 pm. In addition to the cemetery, there are also graceful gates, a pond full of Clarius Melanodermas and a yellow turtle. This turtle is hundred years of age and people believe it as a sacred miraculous turtle.

Since the 1930′s, however, Kotagede has become famous for being the centre of the Yogya silverwork industry. Kotagede is easily reached by “among”, the four wheeled horse drawn cart, by taxi, bus, or car. There are a number of workshops where visitors are welcome to watch silver being transformed into beautiful works of art known as “Yogya Silver”. (http://www[dot]indonesia-tourism[dot]com/)

Punthuk Setumbu Hill - Chasing Sunrise

There is one good spot, also cheap, to see the sunrise. It’s called Borobudur Nirwana Sunrise –  Punthuk Setumbu Hill. Not so far from Borobudur located. It’s a small area on the top of the hill. But, we can see Mount Merbabu, Mount Merapi and Borobudur Temple straight. On May 24, 2014 I was there to guide my guests. Surprisingly, weather in good condition. From the top, we can see Borobudur Temple surrounded by the mist. From the hill we could only see the top stupa of Borobudur Temple. Just amazingly beautiful.

From the top, we could breath the fresh morning air. It make our mind so peaceful. The sky slowly turning into red, yellow and orange. People getting ready with the their various camera. Prepared for the sunrise.

And finally, the sun is rising. Right in the middle of Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi. I heard many people scream in happiness. It is not a regular condition that the sun came up from the middle. I think I was so lucky that day. And maybe you will be the next lucky persons. Who knows…

Mendut Temple

Built around early ninth century AD, Candi Mendut is the oldest of the three temples including Pawon and Borobudur. According to the Karangtengah inscription, the temple was built and finished during the reign of King Indra of Sailendra dynasty.

The still standing temple was originally merely one building in a large temple complex that was surrounded by a brick wall. However, only fragments of a few memorial stupas are left from all the other buildings. Candi Mendut appears to have a flat rooftop, but this is merely the result of an incomplete restoration.

Originally the temple had two rooms, a small porch in the front, and the large main chamber in the center. The porch has only been partially rebuilt because exact layout of its original roof is disputed.

The eight great Bodhisattvas are displayed at the eight corners of the building. Their names are the following: Khagarbha, Manjusri, Avalokitesvara, Vajrapani, Maitreya, Samantabhadra, Ksitigarbha and Sarvanirvana Viskambhin.

The main chamber houses three beautifully carved large stone statues. Each of them was carved from a single block of stone on site, with the walls and the ceiling of the temple constructed around them afterwards. The centrally located 3m tall Buddha is flanked either side by the statues of two bodhisattvas. To the left sits Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, he is identified by the small figure of the Amitabha that he wears in his hair. The Bodhisattva to the right as Vajrapani due to his slightly demonic, threatening expression. All six currently empty niches are decorated with the same Kala-Makara theme. Their emptyness indicates that they might have contained statues made out of highly prized materials such as bronze, silver or gold.

Elo River Rafting

With the exotic location, River Elo offers a challenge and beautiful panorama while your adrenalin rushes in fast in rafting along the river. Surely, rafting at River Elo will give you a sensational experience.

River Elo rafting is on grade II, means  that it is safe enough for beginners. With some challenges of the rapid current of the river along with some big rocks in it, the trip will take around 2.5 hours to finish a 12.5 km track. That's challenging enough to increase your adrenaline even if you have tried river rafting before.

The Elo River is situated close to Borobudur Temple and Mendut Temple in Magelang district, tipped on the western slopes of Mount Merbabu. River Elo has clearer water than River Progo. It offers not only a challenging journey, but also beautiful natural scenery such as trees and chirping  birds along the rafting river.

This trip starts from Blondo bridge and finishes at Mendut  or a point where River Elo and River Progo meet. In the middle of the trip, participants will take a short break  and have their snack, served with fresh coconut water which will give them more energy to get back in the rafting game.

Jomblang Cave

The journey to get to the bottom of Jomblang Cave are indeed exhausting. Vertical step path to reach the bottom of the Jomblang Cave requires bravery, especially for first timers. The cave horrible history indeed scares the local people. Many eerie stories come along with it. However, when we reached the bottom of the cave, all the fatigue and fear will be replaced by a sense of awe of the beauty of Jomblang Cave.

Jomblang Cave is a vertical cave characteristics which diametrically 50 m wide with vertical sides varies between 60-80 meters. Because getting enough sunlight, at the bottom some trees grow exuberantly like an underground forest and on karst wall grow shrubs.

When we reach the bottom of the cave, we can take a rest for a while in a cubicle from natural phenomenon. After sort resting, explorers can continue the journey by tracing the tunnel that connects the Jomblang Cave with other vertical cave named Grubug. The tunnel is quite wide with a length of about 500 m. It's not difficult to pass the tunnel because there is a stone passageway. The both of cave is a cave that type of combination of vertical and horizontal cave.

If we can reach the bottom of Grubug at 01.00 pm, the views of the sun through the eternal darkness at the bottom of the Cave Grubug would be so amazing. The ray has touched a number of stalactites and stalagmites formed by dripping water over thousands of years. Sunlight broke into the mouth of Grubug cave and one large stalagmite cave located at the bottom. On the north side of the huge stalagmites, there is the river flow that comes from Kalisuci.

Jomblang Cave and Grubug located in Semanu district,  Gunugkidul Regency, 50 km  southeast Yogyakarta, about 10 km from Wonosari (the capital of Gunungkidul regency). We suggested To reach Jomblang cave with use private transportation vehicle or motorcycle and will take about 2 hours drive from the city of Yogyakarta. Location of the cave was in middle of field rice by the way is quite challenging with rocks along the road to the location of the cave.

Ratu Boko Temple

Ratu Boko Palace Complex is located on a plateau, south of Prambanan Temple in the province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. To get to the Ratu Boko Palace, take the minor road from Prambanan towards Piyungan for less than half an hour and you will easily find the palace complex.

Ratu Boko Temple (Ratu Boko Palace) is a magnificent building which was built during the reign of Rakai Panangkaran, a descendant of Sailendra dynast. The palace was originally named Abhayagiri Vihara ( meaning monastery on a peaceful hill ) was built for seclusion and focus on the spiritual life. Being in this palace, you can feel the peace as well as see the sights of the city of Yogyakarta and Prambanan Temple with a backdrop of Mount Merapi.

On a hillside plateau, overlooking Prambanan temple complex and with a view to Mount Merapi behind Prambanan Temple complex, lie the remains of a once grand palace. The palace (kraton) is named Ratu Boko after a King Boko of local folklore, but the real owner of the palace is more likely to have been a king of a local dynasty.

The position gives a view worthy of royalty, but in addition, it is possible that the location was chosen for strategic reasons, as the structures also show signs of being fortified, and a dry moat was used for additional security.

Grand stone gates, built on two levels, are the largest and most often photographed structures of the site, it is clear that these lead to what was once a settlement, which sets Ratu Boko apart from the other archeological sites in Central Java which are entirely religious in nature.
The hilltop plateau is divided into terraces that are separated by stone walls and stone faced fortifications. The main residence is thought to have been built on a set of stone foundations with a timber structure for pillars and roof. The timber elements are no longer in place, but the stone base shows the scale of the residence.

Throughout the area you can find small Hindu and Buddhist temples and structures, a fountain adorned bathing area, bath house, a crematorium, multiple caves, an area used as a public hall.

The highly recommended time to get here is before sunset. When the sky is clear you will see the very beautiful view of this temple.