Volcano Tour Package after Merapi eruption

After Merapi Eruption, Yogyakarta Tourism was down. Some tourist was afraid with Merapi eruption. Merapi eruption that was happen at last November 2010 caused over 190 peoples died and more of 200thousands people leave their house for fleeing. This eruption leaves a trauma for peoples who live around Merapi Volcano and tourist who will visit Yogyakarta.

Now, Merapi eruption was end. Yogyakarta Province government and business tourism owner who invested their business in Yogyakarta, preparing volcano tour package or lava tour for special tourist whose interesting in volcano. Head of Indonesian Tourism Company Association (Asosiasi Perusahaan Perjalanan Wisata Indonesia / Asita) Chapter Yogyakarta, Edwin Ismedi Himna, at Monday 6 December 2010, has told to Antaranews.com that this association and Yogyakarta Province Government have reviewing the idea for volcano tour or lava tour. “Now, we still coordinating with Sleman Region Government and other government around Merapi Volcano, to ask the availability of selling volcano tour, “ Edwin said.

This tour package wills became a part of “Go Jogja” tour package that used for helping Yogyakarta tourism recovery after Merapi eruption that caused Yogyakarta Tourism buried.

“We have reviewed the safe place for volcano tour become new destination. It can be Pakem, Kaliadem or Cangkringan we still looking,” Edwin said.

The important things, this planning should wait the Merapi Volcano status. This planning must be waiting the status of Merapi Volcano in safe level for tourist.

While, Setdirjen Pengembangan Destinasi Pariwisata Kementrian Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata, Winarno Sudjas said that he accept this idea and ready in trained the local guide from youth lives around Merapi Volcano become volcano tour guide.

He said that this idea was very potential become interested things for helping in arriving tourist with special interest in volcano tour and also helping in Yogyakarta tourism recovery after Merapi eruption.

“With this new tour package will make some souvenir shop, hotels and other tourism supporting facility start working and help Yogyakarta economy,” Winarno said.

“For starting this plan must have a commitment from all sector include tourism business owner around Merapi Volcano,” he said.

Source : antaranews.com - peristiwa

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Soko Tunggal Mosque

The majority of Yogyakarta people’s religion is Islam. So, there are a lot of mosque was built in around Yogyakarta. One of the great mosques is Soko Tunggal Mosque. Soko Tunggal Mosque lies in the south of the path, which leads to the Taman Sari Pesanggrahan (a rest-house).

This mosque is called Soko Tunggal because of its single pillar. This mosque built in 28th February 1973 by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX. This mosque built in honor of suhada or heroes that fall in battle opposes Dutch army in battle that known General Attack 1 March. Different from other Javanese traditional buildings, the pillar of the mosque is supported by a bar of stone called “umpak”. It is interesting to know that the umpak used to be the one to support the pillar of the old-Mataram kingdom in the Islamic period. Up to now, the mosque is still in use by many Moslems at Yogyakarta. Has vast 288 meters square this mosque also showed to simplify tourist’s middle paid a visit to Taman Sari. This mosque can adopt until 600 jamaah (the members of a religious community).

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Nglanggeran the beautifull hills

Nglanggeran Hills are hills at Gunungkidul Residence that has beautiful view. This hills placed at the north side of Gunungkidul Residence in direction of Klaten Residence, Middle Java. This place was not far away from the center of Yogyakarta City. It’s about 20km to the southeast from Yogyakarta City. When we go there, we can through curving street with beautiful hills scene. Before we arrive to Nglanggeran Hills, at the hills area at Pathuk Subdistrict, we have viewed with beautiful scene of Yogyakarta City like in Puncak-Bogor-West Java.

When we arrive in a crossroad not far away from Old Pathuk Village Office, we must turn left, pass through small road around 6 km for reach Nglanggeran Hills. Before we reach Nglanggeran Hills we presented some TV transmitter tower and some cellular operator antenna at the edge of this small road. After we arrive at Tawang Crossroad, we must turn right follow small road as far as 2 km and we arrived at the bottom of Nglanggeran Hills.
At the bottom of Nglanggeran Hills, there are so many big stone spread. Some big stones bigger than a house and elephants. Between the big stone there is a house like a public building. This public building used as traditional ritual/ceremony place. As some villager said, we can park our vehicle at the village near the hill. We only paid Rp2000 for park a motorbike and Rp5000 for park a car for along day. Through that village we can start climb the hill pass through small footstep to aim Nglanggeran Hills. It is not long time to reach the top of the hills. The distance of hill climbing around 2,5 km for parking area and it can reach only in 1,5 hours.

During climbing the hills we presented leafy trees and sedimentary rock formation at the edge of footstep. The leafy trees make the ambience more chilly. And when we reach the top of the hills we will be impressed. Beautiful nature scene can viewed from here. The road bendeds like snakes, wet rice fields like green ladder and trees spread out area like green beautiful carpet. At the top of this hills we can see Wonosari City surroundings by the green hills. We also can enjoy the fresh air, composure and peacefully.

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