Showing posts with label kotagede. Show all posts

Culinary: Kembang Waru, the old-school snack from Kotagede

That morning after having breakfast, my friends told me that she wants to buy Kembang Waru at Kotagede. I asked her what Kembang Waru is. She said that Kembang Waru is a traditional snack from Kotagede. We can only buy it at Kotagede, because Kembang Waru are not sold in any bakeries. The taste is similiar with sponge cake.
So I told my friend to come with her.

The location of Kembang Waru shop is at the siuth of Kotagede post office. Not too far from WS supermarket there is an alley. Just turn left to the alley and follow until you find a sign board, telling you that you are at Kampung Bumen. The house next to sign board is the house of Pak Bas, the famous baker at Kampung Bumen.






Pak Bas and his wife is very kind and friendly. They let me to take some photos of them and gave us some roti Kembang Waru to try. 
According to him, roti Kembang Waru is a traditional snack from Kotagede. Usually made when there are special occasions, such as traditional events. 
The interesting part is we can't found this snack outside Kotagede. 
This snack is made from wheat flour, sugar, milk, and egg. Then the dough baked in a traditional oven that still use charcoal.


Here are some tips from me!
  • If you want to buy in a large quantities, better you order first. Sometimes, they don't bake too much!!
  • Enjoy this snack with hot tea. It will be perfect!!
  • Eat while it hot. 
How much is the price?? Only Rp 1000 each.!!!
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Culinary: Chocolate time @Coklat Monggo


Who doesn't love chocolate?? I guess most of people love chocolate. Now...for chocolate lovers, if you visit Yogya, you can find the most delicious chocolate-100% produced from Indonesian cocoa- that is...Coklat Monggo. The owner of Coklat Monggo is a belgian chocolatier who lived in Yogyakarta.

Located at Kotagede, Jl Dalem KG III/978, you can find the outlet easily. Just go to the Kotagede traditional market (Pasar Kotagede) then just ask people there about the direction to Coklat Monggo outlet.


The chocolate itself made from dark chocolate and milk free...so for people with lactosa allergic..this chocolate is 'friendly' for you. The taste is really good....!! Slightly bitter but my 4 years old son loves it so much. They have praline, caramel, strawberry, dark chocolate, and ginger flavor.
Actually...you also can find Coklat Monggo products at Mirota Batik, Circle K, and supermarkets. But...if we buy at the outlet we can see 'the chocolate kitchen' from the store.
And the cozy outlet..I'm sure you won't mind if you have to stay longer there, eating chocolate and have a chit chat with your friends.

























If you buy Coklat Monggo from the outlet, I give you one tip. The cashier sometimes make a mistake on giving the change. So you have to count back the change before you leave the store.

HAPPY CHOCOLATE SHOPPING!!!
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Travel Destinations: Kota Gede...feel the past


Kotagede is in south area of Yogyakarta. In the past, Kotagede is the capital of Mataram Kingdom. Now...Kotagede has an archeological site - the royal cemetery, the royal mosque, the palace - and becoming the central of silver industry in Yogyakarta. Kotagede also has a unique spatial pattern of dwelling - also known as 'Between two Gates' - and the architecture at this area dominated by Javanese architecture-known as Rumah Joglo.
I can say that...if you are in Kotagede, you can feel about Yogyakarta in the past. This place is rich in culture




How to get there

I don't recommend you exploring this area by car. Okay...you can come to this area by car but you have to park your car at Kotagede market or at the Kotagede Mosque car park.
You also can come to this area by public transport Trans Jogja, or...you can come by andong.
The best way to explore Kotagede is by your own feet. I'm not kidding. The streets at Kotagede is narrow... When you want to see the 'Between Two Gates' at Jl. Rukunan, you only can use your foot.

What to see

Kotagede mosque
This is the oldest mosque in Yogya. Before we entering the mosque, there is Banyan tree that has been there for hundreds year. This mosque is located in the same area with the royal cemetery. Unfortunately, people often skipped this building. In fact, this building has a great history and for architecture lover.. you will love the details of this building.




Royal cemetery

This is the cemetery of Old Mataram's founder, i.e Panembahan Senopati. His mother and father, and some of the royal family were buried here. If you want to enter the cemetery, you have to wear the special clothes (you can borrow from juru kunci or the cemetery guard) and you are not allow to wear any jewelery. At this cemetery, you are not allow to take any pictures.
The picture in right side is the special clothes for entering the cemetery. That is a special clothes for men. For women, they usually wear batik fabric that wrapped around the body. We called it kemben.

The cemetery's gate

Near the cemetery you can find two pools, the place where the prince and the princess of Mataram bathed. The pools is called Sendang Keliran and Sumber Kemuning. This complex is surrounded by fort, made from bricks with ornaments. The gates usually made from woods, full with unique carved. This is the best place for heritage lovers.


The gate


The ornament at the gate

The ornament at the wall
Old Mataram artefacts
From the cemetery complex just go straight to the south about 300 m. Then you will find those artefacts: Watu Gilang, Watu Gatheng, and Watu Genthong (sorry... I don't have the artefacts photograph. Next time I will take the pic and present it to you!). They are stones, usually used for throne (watu gilang), water carrier (watu genthong) and for...playing (watu gatheng) in Old Mataram era.


The architecture - Joglo house
Joglo house is the traditional house in Java. We can find the Joglo at Kotagede, but nowadays, the amount of Joglo house at Kotagede is decrease, since the earthquake in 2006 has destroyed the Joglo houses.


Inside Rumah Joglo

The ornament

Pendopo

You should go to Gang Rukunan that located not far from the cemetery complex. At this alley, you can see the example of 'Between Two Gates' this is a unique form of enviromental in Kotagede.

The gate at Gang Rukunan

The houses inside the gate

What to buy
  • Silver craft, from jewelery to home decoration. From excellent quality to standard quality. All you can find here.
  • Coklat Monggo, homemade chocolate produced from 100% Indonesian cocoa. The owner of Coklat Monggo is a Belgian chocolatier.


  • Kipo, traditional snack from Kotagede. Made from glutinous rice, the taste is sweet.

For heritage and architecture lovers...you cannot skip this destination. One word for this destination: AWESOME!!!
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