Malioboro
Malioboro is probably the most famous street in Yogyakarta. Street that line up on the imaginary line that connect Yogyakarta Palace, Tugu and the top of Merapi Mountain, is a shopping paradise for shopper. This street offers many kind of souvenirs, starts from unique handicraft, batik, to Yogyakarta traditional snack such us Bakpia or Geplak.
The street that located only 800 meters from sultan palace is founded as trade area after Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono the First decided to develop a trade area through a traditional market in 1758. After all that years, nowadays this street is still holding on as a trade area.
On this street you will easily find many street merchant selling Yogyakarta handicrafts. Starting from wickerwork, leather, batik, silver craft, bamboo, leather bag, leather shoes, wayang (java shadow puppet), to keychain. Don’t forget to bargain. If you are lucky, you will get the goods you wanted just by one third of the offered price.
If you want something with high quality, you can pay a visit to branded batik and souvenir stores like Danarhadi, Batik Semar or Mirota Batik. These stores are spread all across Malioboro. You don’t have to bargain in these stores, since they offer fixed prices.
Malioboro is also promising a nostalgic journey with Javanese traditional snack. You only have to take a walk on the morning or afternoon due south, until reach Bringharjo traditional market. In this market, you will easily find traditional snack that probably consider “extinct food” in other major Indonesian cities. With only Rp. 10.000,00 (US $ 1), you will satisfied by old Javanese traditional snack.
In the afternoon, crossed legged food courts will be opened across Malioboro sideways. They offered many kinds of food, starting from Yogyakarta special food like Gudeg, Bacemean Tahu, Tempe, to Padang food, seafood, Chinese food, and many more. One thing you need to take note of is that you should ask for price list before you eat. Otherwise, you will be surprised by the price you have to pay.
Besides souvenirs and traditional foods, Malioboro also offers historical places to be visit. On the north corner of the street you will find Grand Hotel de Djogja tha was built in 1908. This hotel once becomes a staying place for Dutch high officers. In this hotel, we can also found room 911 and 912 where once being used as TKR (People Security Army) base by one of Indonesian national hero, General Soedirman. In the south end of Malioboro, there is a fort called Vredenburg fort. This fort is once being used as protective base from Kraton army. Fort that was built on 1765 has four observer towers. Right across the fort, located Gedung Agung (Grand Building), where from 1946-1949 used as office of Administrative Chief of Dutch colonial government. This building was also once being used as National Palace when Indonesian capital forced to move to Yogyakarta.
Although the street is full of street merchants, but long time ago, Malioboro is once became a gathering place for local artist grouped in Persada Studi Klub (PSK), leaded by Umbu Landung Paranggi. Many Malioboro artists later become nationally and internationally well known. Emha Ainun Najib, Bagong Kusuadiarja and Ebiet G Ade are few of artists from Malioboro.
Nowadays, we can still enjoy a little of art atmosphere of Malioboro. Just try to walk to south end of the street. I you are lucky enough, you will find many community gather in front of Gedung Agung. Starting from antique bicycle community who show off their unique bicycles, group o artist who perform a happening art, street artists who play several simple music instruments to group o traditional dancers who perform certain dance.
