Backpackin' Magazine Volume 1: Exploring Yellow Sand Beaches in Gunung Kidul

BACKPACKIN’
B A C K P A C K I N ’ M A G A Z I N E .V O L U M E 1 . O K T O B E R - N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 0

F U N I R E L A X I LOW B U D G E T

HOW TO GET THERE
Go to WONOSARI

Local Culture
SEDEKAH LAUT
THANKS TO THE SEA

MY JOURNEY

KIDUL
BEACH YELLOW SAND BEACHES

ACCESORIES : LIFESTRAW I COMMUNITY : BLACKPACKER I TIPS : CAPTURING BEAUTIFUL MOMENT
WWW.BACKPACKINMAGAZINE.COM

CONTENTS CHEERS FOR BACKPACKERS!

BACKPACKIN’ OKTOBER-NOVEMBER 2010 B
right red sky is one of the best times
for enjoying beaches. Yogyakarta is a
province that has a blessing of beauti-
ful beaches in the South. However, there are not
YOU
WERE
HERE
01
02
03
11 HOW TO GET THERE :
GO TO WONOSARI
THERE ARE MANY WAYS to get to Gunung
many writings that show the detail of how to
go there, how much money we have to spend,
04 Kidul, with Wonosari as the capital. Below are
05 the routes to Wonosari that you can get by what we can find, what we can do, local stories,
06 train and bus. Special for train, you have to go and many more. Backpack-
07 to Yogyakarta first then take bus to Wonosari.
08 in’ tries to discuss them in
09
10
11
19 FROM SEA URCHIN
TO OCTOPUS details. So, the readers will
A VARIETY OF MARINE LIFE has been a daily meal get a full knowledge to go
12 for the people of the coastal Mount Kidul. Govern-
13 ment efforts to develop the coastal area of Mount BACKPACKIN’ MAGAZINE STAFF there, only with reading this
14 Kidul make the tourists can come to enjoy it. edition.
3 YELLOW
SAND BEACHES
I’VE JUST GOT home from a brief vacation with my
15
16
17
EDITOR IN CHIEF :
Ambar Arum
Parangtritis similar to

25
Roy Suryo, its name is really
family to Gunung Kidul’s beaches. The first time I 18 TENS OF BEACH
went to Sadranan Beach was at the Waisyak holi- 19 IN ONE LINE
SENIOR EDITOR : famous and there are more
day, May 28, 2010, with my friends from Univer- 20 MOST PEOPLE GENERALLY not realize many beau-
tiful beaches in Gunung Kidul. Baron Beach, Siung Muhammad Iqbal references from Google
sity of Gadjah Mada, bachelor of management.
Then, I got so excited for taking my family for a 21 Beach, and Wediombo Beach are already famous if we type its name. But,
vacation there. 22 among the tourists, but not many people know TRANSLATORS :
23 about Ngobaran Beach or Sepanjang Beach Parangtritis is not the best in South of Yogya-
Annisa M.F. Harahap
24 karta. There are Siung and Wediombo which
25 Anindya Leonita
26 Dea Maria Crista are quieter, cleaner, and more beautiful. Well
27 Ryana Andari Purba
28
it’s true that the access to go there is harder
29 than to Parangtritis, especially for solo back-
30 ART AND DESIGN:
31 Galih Permadi packers. But that’s the cool thing about back-
32 Odie Destrana packing.
33
34 Our message, don’t be a nature connois-
35 MARKETING :
seur, yet be the true nature lover. Because a
15
36 Jeremy Gemarista

OKTOBER-NOVEMBER I 2010

THANKS
TO THE SEA
AS A SOCIETY WHOSE life is still depended on
nature, the seashore society of Gunung Kidul has
37
38
39
35 COMMUNITY :
BLACKPACKER INDONESIA
INDONESIA RAYA SONG (national song of Indo-
Putri Uloly connoisseur can only enjoy the beauty of na-
ture, but a true nature lover maintains its beau-
40 WEBMASTER :
some custom rituals that is held routinely to pro- nesia –red), the more we sing it, the deeper the ty.
tect the harmony of nature. Sedekah laut (giving meaning. Kurniawan Aji Saputra
offering to the sea -red) and Melasti are two of 41
42 EDITOR IN CHIEF
41
the examples.
ACCESORIES: WEBSITE :
43
44
LIFESTRAW www.backpackinmagazine.com
23 GALLERY
CAPTURING KIDUL BEACHES
45
46
ONE WEEK WITHOUT food, human still can sur-
vive, but just three days days without water, most-
ly people cannot survive. The value of water be-
CONTACT/ADVERTISING:
47 redaksiezinebi@yahoo.com
48 come more important to the backpackers,

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MY JOURNEY
KIDUL BEACHES KIDUL BEACHES

I’VE JUST GOT home from a brief vacation with my family to Gunung Kidul’s beaches. The
first time I went to Sadranan Beach was at the Waisyak holiday, May 28, 2010, with my friends
from University of Gadjah Mada, bachelor of management. Then, I got so excited for taking
my family for a vacation there.

Yellow Sand Beaches
BY : AURELIA CLARESTA UTOMO

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I was so happy when I saw the yellow feces which really disturbs the scenery. The Beach. would stay at, I took Sundak Beach which
sand beach which located in Yogyakarta. beaches are also less clean, because the visi- We were late from what we have is more famous than Sadranan Beach as the
It seemed like I was looking for a beautiful tors often leave the garbage in the beaches. planned, because we packed our clothes just pole. He said that if we found an instruction in
thing that I haven’t seen before; at least that What I hate the most is the beaches are too before we left. We should have gone by 1.30 the street, we had to take the way that goes
was what I felt in the first thirty seconds, to crowded with visitors and merchants. pm from our house in Depok, Sleman, be- to Sundak Beach.


make it not hyperbole. What made it more It was a coincidence that my little sis- cause 3.30 pm is the perfect time for arriving After I had followed the way to Sundak
special was that the beach was still natural ter, who had just graduated from elemen- there, with a prediction that the sun will not (turn left), instead of to Baron (go straight
a.k.a. there was no merchant there and there tary school, had already had her school off. be too hot. ahead), I felt like it was not the way that I
were just a few people in Sadranan Beach. Therefore, my family planned to spend our At last, we departed at 2.15 pm, and have passed before. It seemed like it was not
Why did I so happy? It was because holiday in Sadranan Beach. Although I didn’t before we went to the beach, we stopped at the right way. Although I was a little worried,
the beaches that I’ve seen all my life in Yog- remember the way to go there, I was so sure Mister Burger first for the sake of our stom- I tried to fix the situation with driving faster,
yakarta were just Parangtritis Beach and De- we could get there with conventional GPS achs and mouths. With the information I got so we won’t get there at night.
pok Beach which have gray blackish sands. (read: asking everyone) and a little memory from Mr. Zulkarnain, the owner of a guest In short, I could finally find Sadranan
Moreover, there are many andong and horses’ from my trip with my colleague to Sadranan house called Kampoeng Baron where we Beach with a pole of a villa which is located
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CATPERBADUY CATPERPANTAIKIDUL

Photo :
Sunset 0n Sepanjang Beach

“Yet the sands were still pretty, hard to play in the water. Yet the sands were
yellow, and clean. still pretty, yellow and clean. I thanked God,
because there were still no merchant in that
on the hill. I had planned to stay there from beach. I felt like it was my private beach.
the first time, but from my browsing in the Wow, so happy!
internet, I found out that the rate for a night My sisters played in the seashore, but
in that villa is 4 million rupiahs. Noooooo! me, I was still too curious with that 4-million-
It was 4.30 pm when we arrived in Sad- villa on that coral hill. My mom agreed to go
ranan Beach. Wonderful! It’s true, Sadranan there. In short, we arrived on the hill and the

SEPTEMBER-OKTOBER I 2010
Beach is located approximately 500 metres view was not very beautiful up there. We
in the west of Sundak. Although there are could only see the view of Krakal Beach which
JULI - AGUSTUS I 2010

many rocks in the road, it still can be passed is crowded, and it has already had a building.
by cars. It was not as pretty as what I had imagined.
I was still a little bit disappointed when It seemed like there was no guide in that villa,
we were arrived here; the cloud was over- yet the plants looked very well taken care of.
cast, so it was less blue. Besides, the sea was I saw two cottages and a glass room simi-
in a low tide, so I could see the corals which lar to a restaurant or a meeting room inside.
are grown by the seaweeds, therefore, it was However, all the doors were locked. I did not
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know where the maids were. Then, we went my family. Before, I got pretty depressed with yet, just like Sadranan. Moreover, there was Aaaa… they are my favorite beaches
back to Sadranan Beach. that 4-million-rupiahs-villa and small hotels no parking lot, bathroom for rinsing, and mer- in Gunug Kidul. Say sorry to Krakal, Baron,
At 6 pm, we got ready to go to our that cost only 20.000 rupiahs a night. This chant. This morning, there was only a man and other beaches… I love virgin beaches like


guest house, Kampoeng Baron. We went the place is very recommended! My suggestion, that sat and fished there. Hooray!!! Another these ones.
wrong way from the first place, but then we you should come with lots of friends, because private beach! So happy! Audris, my sister, said that Tanjung
finally found it. Kampoeng Baron was not re- it was so quiet in the night. The sand in Sadranan is gentler and Tinggi in Belitong is way more beautiful, com-
ally far from the retribution of Baron region *** prettier, but Sepanjang is also beautiful, be- pared with these beaches. Well, but it’s in Yo-
gate. I knew this place from a brochure that I In the morning, we chose Sepanjang cause there are many beautiful corals in the gyakarta. At least these two beaches are the
had got when I was here with my friends. Beach as our next destination. It is also a east side. We played in the water from 5.30 best beaches that I could find in Yogyakarta.
We ordered a room with AC and dou- great beach! Again, the characteristics are am until 7 am. This time is the most perfect Love them!!!
ble bed, and then we added another extra similar with Sadranan Beach, it’s still natural. time to play in the beach, so our skin won’t
bed. This place was the best I could find for The road to this beach hasn’t been asphalted get dark.
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HOW TO GET THERE
GO TO WONOSARI GO TO WONOSARI

THERE ARE MANY WAYS to get to Gunung Kidul, with Wonosari as the capi-
tal. Below are the routes to Wonosari that you can get by train and bus. Spe-
cial for train, you have to go to Yogyakarta first then take bus to Wonosari.

JAKARTA - YOGYAKARTA TRAIN SCHEDULE
Arrive in Lempuyangan Station (for Economy train
Kinds of train - only), walk for 10 minutes to Hayam Wuruk Street and
Train Name Depart Arrive
Station Departure then take a bus in lane 10, stop at Giwangan Terminal.
Argo Lawu EKS - Gambir 20.00 03.38
Argo Dwipangga EKS - Gambir 08.00 15.10
Taksaka II EKS - Gambir 20.45 04.30
Taksaka I EKS - Gambir 08.45 16.28
Bima EKS - Gambir 17.00 00.42
Gajayana EKS - Gambir 17.30 01.25
Gajayana EKS - Kota 17.15 01.25
Fajar Utama Yogya BIS - Senen 06.57 14.53
Senja Utama Yogya BIS - Senen 19.42 04.10
Arrive in Giwangan Terminal, take a bus to Wonosari
Senja Utama Solo BIS - Senen 20.27 05.12
Progo EKO - Senen 21.00 07.04 Terminal.
Bengawan EKO - Tanah Abang 19.30 05.53
Gaya Baru Malam EKO - Kota 12.00 21.10

Important Contacts
Gunung Kidul Region Ministry of
Culture and Tourism :
Arrive in Tugu Station (for executive train only), 0274 - 391 031
walk for 10 minutes to Malioboro Street, and then Train :
take a bus in lane 4, stop at Giwangan Terminal. 121 atau 021 - 21391121 ,
or visit


Train Ticket Price website http://kereta-api.co.id/
Eksekutif: Pulo Gadung Bus terminal :
IDR 210.000,00 – IDR 320.000,00 021 - 4893 742
Bisnis: Kampung Rambutan Bus Terminal :
IDR 100.000,00 – IDR 150.000,00 021 – 84 000 62
Ekonomi: Lebak Bulus Bus Terminal :
IDR 26.000,00 – IDR 37.000,00 021 – 750 9773

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Go to Wonosari

Bus bus with Baron Beach direction. For other
beaches in Gunung Kidul, there is no public
Terminal. The guide from Wonosari to Gunung Kidul beaches can also be seen on the map.
transportation.
To get to Wonosari, the bus can be So the best way is to use private trans-
found at Lebak Bulus, Pulo Gadung and Kam- portation or to rent transportation from the
pung Rambutan terminals (between 1 until 2 nearest city, like Wonosari or Yogyakarta. In 1. Executive Price : 3. Motorcycle rent price :
o’clock in the afternoon) Yogyakarta, you can found transportations IDR 200.000–IDR 250.000 IDR 50.000–IDR 85.000 / day
If you have arrive at Wonosari Termi- to be rented around Tugu Station. As for 2. Economy Price : 4. Car rent price :
nal, to get to Baron Beach you can use mini- Wonosari, you can found it around Wonosari IDR 100.000–IDR 150.000 IDR 300.000- IDR 450.000 / day

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LOCAL CULTURE
SEDEKAH LAUT SEDEKAH LAUT

Sedekah Laut
This ceremony is the form of feeling
thankful for the harvest of the farmers and
fishermen who lives in the south seashore,
also asking for blessing so that there will be
no misfortune for the seashore society in do-
ing their work in the future.
Sedekah Laut is done with releasing
the offerings for spirits to the sea. The offer-
ings are loaded with 7 different things with
different meanings :

• Male chicken
representing that fishermen are brave
and strong men looking for fish in the middle
of the ocean.

• A shape of a boat
as the symbol of fishermen’s lives.

• Jenang-jenangan
Jenang Abang as the symbol of mother
and White Jenang as the symbol of father.

• Sugar cane
a symbol to protect the seashore soci-
ety.

• Foods from goat


represented for South Shore Queen
(the ghost who lives in the south shore –red)

Thanks to The Sea AS A SOCIETY WHOSE life is still depended
on nature, the seashore society of Gunung
Kidul has some custom rituals that is held
as the symbol of victim in searching for fish.

• Silk purple tube top
routinely to protect the harmony of nature. the symbol of clothing The Queen gave
BY : AMBAR ARUM Sedekah laut (giving offering to the sea -red) to her soldiers to not disturbing the fisher-
PHOTO : Various Sources and Melasti are two of the examples. men in searching for fish.

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SEDEKAH LAUT SEDEKAH LAUT

calendar. It is uctually held in many places
along the south shore of Java Island, so it
is not in the Gunung Kidul only. For Gunung
Kidul region, the Labuan Ceremony is usu-
ally held in Baron, Kukup, Drini, Sadeng and
Ngrenehan Beaches.
In the society of Wediombo environ-
ment, this tradition is called Ngalangi. The
ritual is more or less the same as the Sedekah
Laut, but in here some of the dead clothes of
the elders are also added in the offerings to
be released to the sea.

Melasti
Near to the New Year according to the
• Fruits Saka calendar, Hindus people held Melasti
aim to the spirits in the seashore to not ritual to purify themselves before New Year. to the Almighty in Sagara Wukir Temple
bother the fishermen. The Hindus society who lives in the Gunung and Bhuta Yadnya Ceremony or offerings to
Kidul region did the Melasti Ceremony in Bhuta Kala in Paseban Segoro Wukir.
The procession of Sedekah Laut starts Ngobaran Beach. This beach is considered After that, the holy property is carried
with prayers by the one who guard the place, sacred for the society because they believed to the sea to be cleaned. Sea water is believed
then the offerings are brought to the mid- that Ngobaran Beach once became the last as the eternal water and can purify ourselves
dle of the sea with one fisherboat which is place of asceticism of Majapahit’s last king, and the universe. Many nature products then
guarded by four boats. Meanwhile, there is Prabu Brawijaya. released to the sea.
also music played called Gendhing Kebogi- The first thing to be done is the God Melasti Ceremony is measured to the
ro. After approximately one kilometer from Yadnya Ceremony or the sacred offerings Tri Hita Karana, which means three impor-
the seashore, the offerings are dropped to tant things to get wealthiness and prosperity. Besides those two ceremonies, there
the sea with praying also so that fishermen That three things are to keep the harmony are still another ceremonies but isn’t held on
would be safe and get a lot of fish. with God, nature and human. the sea, but in mountains or villages. These


Besides of that part of the ceremony, Harmony with God marked with re- are the culture that still been kept by the so-
Sedekah Laut is usually held with thankful- leasing nature’s products to the middle of ciety of Gunung Kidul. This culture is also be-
ness event, where the society gathered and the sea. The harmony with nature is done by lieved to be the cause of the strong lasting
eat together. Sometimes there is also read- planting for about a thousand trees in some foods. Though modernization has occured
ing the Qur’an together or puppet show for location in Gunung Kidul, all done by Gunung in many ways, still Gunung kidul’s society is
a whole night. But all those things are tenta- Kidul society, young or old. The Melasti Cer- very strong in preserving their culture which
tive. emony is also open for people in different will be difficult to be separated from Culture
Sedekah Laut, or often called Labuhan, religions. That is the realization of harmony Visit Agenda by the Ministry of Culture and
held routinely every suro month in Javanese with human. Tourism.

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CULINARY
SEA URCHIN SEA URCHIN

Almost in all the beaches that have
been described, there is at least one food


From Sea Urchin stall, unless the Beach Baron and on the
beaches next to it, the presence of these
stalls are not too distracting the beauty of

to Octopus A VARIETY OF MARINE LIFE has been a dai-
ly meal for the people of the coastal Mount
the coast, because in general they maintain a
good hygiene.
The existences of stalls that actually
Kidul. Government efforts to develop the can make the interaction of visitors with the
OLEH : AMBAR ARUM
coastal area of Mount Kidul make the tour- local residents become more natural. After
PHOTO : Various Sources
ists can come to enjoy it. fishing, visitors can ask their caught fish to

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SEA URCHIN SEA URCHIN

has been dried, and then ground up into a
flour, steamed and given brown sugar. Tiwul
is usually eaten with grated coconut.
Formerly, when there was a difficulty
in finding rice, tiwul was a staple food and
rice was substituted by tiwul. But now, tiwul
only a food booster stomach like a cake.
One more food that is also interest-
ing is fried grasshoppers. It is said that so
many locusts in the agricultural fields of so-
ciety, then the grasshoppers into a commod-
ity for confectionary that is served with fried
just like that. Unexpectedly, these tasty fried
grasshoppers are much liked and have be-
come the merchandise in some areas in Java
that still have the rice fields, including in the
area of Mount Kidul.
Mount Kidul community, ranging from
coastal areas to the mountains and country-
side, in their daily life are very close to the
nature. Most of them work as fishermen,
farmers and ranchers. Therefore, they can
live from their own harvests.
be cooked, or even introduce new recipes to
the food vendors there. Prices are set in the
his body is broken down with a sickle, from
that the meat was taken. Then, the porcupine
“Tiwul is a food made from cas- There are still many villages that have a
habit of eating together. Not because there is
sava that has been dried, and then a wedding party or certain celebrations, but
normal range, or even slightly cheaper than meat is fried together with seasonings chili
ground up into a flour, steamed it is a habit that they do almost every day.
in the market. and salt. Finally, the chewy fried and deli-
and given brown sugar. Generally, they gather in the middle of
All kinds of marine-style food ranging cious sea urchin is ready to be served!
from the ordinary to the unusual here, one of If you get luck, the octopus also can be the village. There are some people who carry


the unusual seafood is fried sea urchin. Gen- a meal choice. Certainly not the whole octo- rice, others bring dishes, and the rest carry
erally people find this sea urchin in the vicin- pus that will be served, but the pieces of the vegetables, then all the villagers are called
ity of the beach. Only with bring the bucket, body and the tentacles that are processed the visitors. To be able to taste, visitors can and they eat together. They know each other.
the filter oil, and sickle, the sea urchins are with rica-rica seasoning, oyster sauce or it ask first whether it is available or not. If there are newcomers in their village, they
ready to be arrested. This scene can be seen can be cooked to be satay. Outside the seafood, there are also will be very happy and serve them with food
every afternoon at the Ngobaran beach. But both of these foods are not sold some unique foods that can be found along crops. That’s all about the life of people in
The way of cultivating is not difficult. by people who live there, not only because it the way to the beach. Some of them are tiwul Mount Kidul that is very simple and full of
Sea urchin that has been captured initially is is rarely obtained, but also because the food and fried grasshoppers. kinship.
beaten until blended to destroy prickly, then is not too popular. So, it is seldom offered to Tiwul is a food made from cassava that

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GALLERY

Photo : Ambar Arum

Capturing
Kidul Beaches
BACKPACKIN’

ON THE SPOT
WONOSARI

Tens of Beach
In One Line BY : AMBAR ARUM

MOST PEOPLE GENERALLY not realize It is understandable, because there are clean, the water is blue, and the coral is still sides all of those lacks, it is worthed if you

many beautiful beaches in Gunung Kidul. about 46 beaches spread in southern Gunung well-kept. The roads to several locations of can see the beauty of the beach in front of

Baron Beach, Siung Beach, and Wediombo Kidul. Not all of them are getting exposed the beach are not in a good condition, some you. Next is some of the best beaches from

Beach are already famous among the tour- as tourism object, even there is no data for is perforated and rocky. The access is not Backpackin’:

ists, but not many people know about Ngo- some of those place. Like a new born baby, easy to pass, also the electricity readiness

baran Beach or Sepanjang Beach. everything is pure and natural. The sand is and cellphone signal are terrible. But be-

WONOSARI WONOSARI

GESING BEACH NGOBARAN NGRENEHAN BARON BEACH
BEACH* BEACH
This is a small beach, full with fisher- If you want to feel another sensation It is located side by side with Ngoba- Baron Beach is the most popular beach
man’s ship. Gesing Beach is a beautiful beach, of a beach, this is the right place. Ngobaran ran Beach. Ngrenehan Beach is a rest area in the area. This brown-sand beach is really
but unfortunately the track to this location is Beach has a God statues which were a pil- for fisherman after they seek for a fish, also crowded with the trader, including fisherman
out of order and rocky. grimage to visit a sacred place (The 7th Ma- as a place for them to sell their fish. The two and litter.
japahit’s King: Prabu Brawijaya the 5th) by hills that flank the narrow beach make a hard
Facilities: lavatory, a place for fish auction. the follower of Kejawan belief. Not far from waves from Indian Ocean undirectly hit the Facilities: lavatory, small diner, a place for
that place, you will found a Pura, a temple shore. fish auction, and inn.
Ticket price: IDR 0 for Hindus. Few meters ahead, you will find a
mosque measures three across four meters Facilities: lavatory, small diner, a place for Ticket price: IDR 5,000
with sand as a base. It is a unique beach, isn’t fish auction. (including Krakal Beach, Kukup Beach, Dri-
it? ni Beach, Sepanjang Beach, and Sundak


Beach),
Facilities: lavatory, small shop.
Parking fee:
Ticket price: IDR 3,500 per person IDR 2,500 (car) and IDR 1,000 (motorcycle).
(including Ngrenehan Beach)

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WONOSARI WONOSARI

KUKUP SEPANJANG SUNDAK
BEACH BEACH BEACH
Located side by side with Baron Beach, Because the length of the beach, it is This beach is wide and clean. The sand
Kukup Beach has different sand color, which named by Sepanjang Beach. The clean sand is white. People say Sundak is from the word
is light brown. This beach is famous because and the beautiful waves make this beach ‘asu’ (dog) and porcupine. When asu chased
of its variety of sea creature. There are lots of known as old Kuta. a porcupine to a cave, no longer after that,
coral along the beach, its become the home asu came out from the cave with soaking
of the beautiful fish. The tourist can buy Facilities: wet. From that time, people believe that the
those fish at the store along the way to the
beach. The visitor can also catch the fish on
lavatory, small shop.
KRAKAL cave has a spring, something rare in Gunung
Kidul area.
their own at the coral on the shore by buying
the small fish net at there, but this activity is BEACH Facilities:
highly not recommended. lavatory, small shop, inn.

This beach is wide, similar with the
Facilities:
beaches next to it. Krakal has a clean sand
lavatory, small shop, inn.
with coral on the shore. The fisherman’s ships
and people who are fishing become a cool
view.

Facilities:
lavatory, small shop, a place for fish auction,
DRINI inn.

BEACH


This beach is more quite than the
beaches next to it, Baron Beach and Kukup
Beach. The beach is more wide, and the sand
is more bright.

Facilities:
lavatory, small shop, a place for fish auction.

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WONOSARI WONOSARI

BESIDES
THE BEACH’S VIEW?

B esides coddling our eyes and mind on
the Gunung Kidul beaches, there are
some activities that you can do :

Fishing
The heavy south beach waves is a chal-
lenging field to the fishers. Moreover, when
you do this activity on the uprock/uphill, or
SIUNG BEACH* WEDIOMBO usually called rock fishing. This activity in-
cludes hiking: to reach the top of the hill, and
BEACH* camping: when you want to do fishing on the
night if you want to catch bigger fish. The
fishers usually can catch several variety of
This beach is famouse with the coral, Coral reef, sand, and waves are per- fish, like shark (panjo), red snaper, grey snap-
because it is often used as a rock-climbing fect composition. Different with other beach er, barracuda, grouper, ribbon fish, and oth- The most famous path is sea horse
arena. The name Siung is taken from one of which have straight-long form, Wediombo er big fish. You should be careful when you path. It is named like that because there is a
the coral with siung (teeth) of monkey shape. Beach has inside-round shore line like a gulf, are fishing in this place, because if you fall rock which has sea horse form at the top of
If you get lucky, you can see long-tailed mon- until half of the area faced the south to see down, the waves and the rock are ready to the hill. Because of the position is facing the
key in this beach. the sunset. catch you. You can do fishing on almost each sea, you can see the extremely beutiful view
beach, but the most famous beaches to do from the highest point of the hill.
Facilities: lavatory, small shop. Facilities: lavatory, small shop. fishing are Wediombo Beach, Baron Beach,
Ngerenehen Beach, and Gesing Beach. Surfing
Ticket price: IDR 3,000 per person. Ticket price: IDR 2,500 per person. Southern beaches are known for its
Rock Climbing


high and heavy waves. Because of that, it
*) Recommended The beaches in Gunung Kidul have becomes the perfect plece to surf. The wide
many rocks to climb, but the most famous area, great waves, and lovely view makes
is Siung Beach with 250 climb-path. So it is Wediombo Beach the perfect place to surf.
not surprised if this place become host in
many rock-climbing competition. In 2005,
The Asian Climbing Gathering was held at
this place.

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MR. SETU
FIGURE
Mr. SETU NATURE VACATION PLACES, generally, are becoming less beautiful than it was after many
people visited it and then, conscious or not, damage it. There has been a dilemma in the back
yard of tourism world. Promoting the beauty of one’s place means that increasing the welfare
BY : AMBAR ARUM
of the society and the income of the regional government. But on the other hand, the beauty
of the particular nature are in danger by the unresponsible hands from many direction.

Realizing if there are visitors
that problem, Sadar who’d like to dam-
Wisata Community age the beach, well
(Conscious About we warned them.
Tourism Commu-
nity) or Pokdarwis Is there any diffi-
was formed in Gu- culties to ask the
nung Kidul’s beach- society to clean the
es. An effort to pro- beach?
tect the beauty of Nope. Be-
beaches to not because we often held
coming damage or routine gatherings
worst. and from there on
Actually, Pokdarwis was
a government program held in
“Usually, we we told them about the impor-
tance of cleaning in here (the
every region in Indonesia. The clean the beach beach). It’s for our sake also, so
execution involving particu- the people clean the beach vol-
lar society of one’s region. This oftenly and if there untary.
time, figure column would like
are visitors who’d
to present Mr. Sute, one of the How do you persuade visitors
active members of Sadar Wisa- like to damage the to also keep the environment
ta Community in Sundak Beach, clean here?
beach, well we


Gunung Kidul. Well, we told them. But
sometimes there are still always
warned them.”
Since when the Sadar Wisata garbages left because we can’t

Gunung Kidul Community exist in Sundak
Beach?
always monitor the visitors. But
if we see someone leaving their garbages or

Beautiful Beach Since about ten years ago. intended to damage trees, we warned them
not to.

Guard What are the activities?
Usually, we clean the beach oftenly and

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COMMUNITY
BLACKPACKER BLACKPACKER

A year of
Indonesia
Blackpacker
BY : MUHAMMAD IQBAL
To celebrate Indonesia’s independence community. Maybe from the spirit of red and
last 2009, some active members of the Indo- white, some people suggested to make a
INDONESIA RAYA SONG (national song nesia Backpacker Community held a travel new community, which was the part of some
of Indonesia –red), the more we sing it, the to Ujung Kulon, guided by Yuni Artha. For- sort of state of Indonesia Backpacker, then


“The name is “Blackpacker” deeper the meaning. If Susi Susanti (Indone-
sia’s batminton player -red) didn’t care about
tunately, there was a day-off on Friday, so it
was nice to go somewhere far without having
appeared the Indonesia Blackpacker.
The name is “Blackpacker” because
because they like to play on the her wet eyes appeared when her name was to furlough. Among them were the people they like to play on the beach and beach
beach and beach makes skin mentioned as the olympic gold receiver, then who didn’t know each other, very common makes skin black. At the beginning, the ideas
black.” several tens of young people in Ujung Kulon for people who is used to travel cheaply. was flowing naturally, not pushing too hard
could also be quiet for a moment for red and In one of the many islands in the Ujung to organize it seriously. But then, Yudhistira
white (Indonesia’s flag –red). WR Supratman Kulon region, they participated the Indepen- Rangga Wahesya, one of them, coinciden-
(Indonesia Raya’s composer -red) is indeed dence Day Ceremony which was coinciden- tally had a new modem. So between serious
great. tally followed also by Indonesia Surfing Couch and not serious, made a fan page of Black-

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BLACKPACKER BLACKPACKER

packer Indonesia.
The response was quite low. It was very
hard to ask people to join the fan page.
But next travels kept going on with the
same people, but more fun. Ujung Gen-
teng (Sept 09), Seribu Islands (Sept 09,
Oct 09, Apr 10), Sawarna Village (Nov
09), Dieng-Magelang-Jogja (Des 09),
Nusa Kambangan-Pangandaran-Green
Canyon-Galunggung (Des 09), Krakatau
(Feb 10), Malang (Mei 10), Surabaya (Mei
10), and Baduy (Jun 10) are the lists of
their traveling. It is common if there was a
“merger” along the road with other com-
munity. For future, they really want to ex-
plore Lombok, Komodo Island, Wakatobi,
Toraja, Alor and Raja Ampat. Maybe be-
cause having the same intention as them,
1400 people joined Blackpacker Indone-
sia.
Of course not all of the Ujung Kulon
participants participate on the above travels.
It is also added by new people which is al-
ways come almost in every travel. This can
be the indicator that Blackpacker Indonesia
is not a closed community. On the contrary,
they are happy with a new character colour Tanggerang, Bekasi -red), the gatherings is octopus tentacles, still got the biggest activ-
in the group. often held in Jakarta, usually in Setia Budi, ity which is, obviously, travelling.
The gatherings are not just held on Plaza Semanggi, Sarinah, Menteng Park or Travelling info always shared to mailing

trips, but also on their everyday life so that Suropati Park. There is no special base camp, list blackpackerindonesia@yahoogroups.
it get more and more intensive. Almost ev- but it looks like they don’t need that too. It com. Though they have the fan page, mailing
ery week they gathered, either for eating out is more fun to gather in different places that list is often used as an information board for
together, watching film or chit-chatting only. matches with their need at the time. community travelling. If you want to search
They grew to a community that bound emo- After that, comes the ideas to have ac- for a travelling community that has family re-
tionally, like a family. Blackpacker is becom- tivities outside travelling. Hunting and sharing lationship, Blackpacker Indonesia is the best
ing the comfort zone for most of them. photos are done more routinely. Swimming choice.
Since the majority of the members also one of the routine agendas for some
live in Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, members. These activities, though seem like

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REVIEW
THE FRIEND OF NATURE INHALING DUST IN AFGANISTAN

The Notes of
Norman Edwin
Inhaling Dust in Afghanistan

The
Friend of
Nature
BY :
GEREMY GEMARISTA

BY : GEREMY GEMARISTA TO A BACKPACKER, AF-
GHANISTAN might be-
come the last choice to vis-
IT’S TRUE WHEN Ibnu Batuta said it. I think it is OK because
that an adventurer has bigger inst- there is no people want to
ing to write than before he starts take the risk entering the
adventuring. That’s happen to Nor- warfare area, and then ac-
man Edwin. His name become “big” cidentally step on the mine
because of the national medias, in- fields, and only persented
cluding Kompas. with the view of collapsed
The new release book ‘Nor- building rubble along the
man Edwin: Catatan Sahabat Sang way.
Alam’ (Norman Edwin: The Notes explain some stories, like when he was ex- However, it is not
of Nature’s Friend), published by KPG, try to ploring Kapuas River at West Borneo, then valid for Agustinus Wi-


summarize all of the man’s work that spread walked along Luweng Ombo Cave at Pacitan, bowo. This Beijing Univer-
in many places become one literature as a East Java, and when he explored Indonesian sity alimnus like to explore
guide to the people who have the same pas- Ocean with Ammana Gappa, the Phinisi boat. risky countries like Iran,
sion to explore the universe. Until when the end of this ‘Friend of Nature’ Pakistan, Tajikistan, and
Sixty four notes from the journey from came at the snowy mountain named Acon- Turkmenistan. Agustinus spent long time on explore many interesting locations at that
the ex-member of Mapala UI are a gold mine cagua on March 21, 1992. The experiences in his journey in Afghanistan. He had stayed at country and he also explored the local cul-
to those who seek for eco-tour knowledge. his book make our feet want to run as soon Kabul for two years as a journalist photog- ture from the local residents. The reflective
Norman explains with such of his way that it as possible to those places. rapher, he was busy go around with truck to of Afghanistan face is very well described on
can criticize the arrangement of eco-tour. He this book.

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Backpackin' Magazine Volume 1: Exploring Yellow Sand Beaches in Gunung Kidul

Backpackin' Magazine Volume 1: Exploring Yellow Sand Beaches in Gunung Kidul

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Backpackin' Magazine Volume 1: Exploring Yellow Sand Beaches in Gunung Kidul