Read more on Day 4 here 

Day 4 was a busy day but when Day 5 finally came, I think it was the day where things just go as smoothly as it can be. The morning was filled with shopping activities at a Tshirt printing factory. I am not sure what is the name of that place but the clothes in there can be consider for buying. The quality is good and the design are typical Indonesian design.

 

The method of doing the design for the shirts looks super easy but maybe it's because the team are so use to doing what they are doing though.  

Right after lunch, which we had at a super atas location for it looks like a house and act as a house but they do sell batik and good food. It may be pricey if you compared it in Indonesia but if you were to convert it back to malaysia, I would say that the food would be around RM9-RM15. 

 

I forgot what is the name of this dish but it looks like some sort of a salad.

 

This is a pilu fish. You eat this with rice and it taste heaaaveeen~ 

With our stomach full with good food, we head off to the main activity of the day which is to conquearu my fear of caves. I don't know if I ever discussed about this but I have a slight claustrophobia. I hate tight spaces. I can still go in but I just hate the anxiety that I feel. Anyway, when this acivity was inserted into our tentative, I dread the coming of this day. I kept forcing myself to watch videos on cave and force myself to imagine myself in that place. It is scary but I am glad that I did it.

The moment I saw the cave opening, my heart felt. I was trying to be strong but the tears just came down like rainfall. I wasn't crying like boo-hoo kinda cry but it was more of a silent cry. Thank God there were friends who held on to me and kept giving me inspiring speech *eh gitu* 

We did went into the Pindul Cave and the beauty is mesmerizing. There's bats, crystallize stones and myth that everyone should try, like if guys touch a certain stone, he would be stronger and if girls were to felt the drop of a water from a upside down Borobudur stone structure, they will be much prettier. I don't know how true is all that but myths are always fun don't you think? 

 

  

  

The mouth of the cave

 

 The crystallize stone

  

The upside down Borobudur. Psst. Only ladies are allowed to feel this okay. ><

  

This was almost the end of the cave. At this point, all I know is that "I can see light!!"

  

 

I've done it! When we reach this point, there was light pouring in so there wasn't any fear in me as long as I am in a safe spot. I sort of found my comfort zone. Besides, we are in the water and there are stones to jump off, so that is MY thing people! >< 

 

The end of Pindul Cave. It was a short journey but it is a memorable memory. Psst, don't we look like cows ready to be sold away? 

 

 

The trip ended well. And tired. 

 

That night we went to a place call Bukit Bintang where you can see the whole town of Yogya. It is a place where you can see how small we are - and although we realize that when we saw Borobudur Temple, Mount Merapi and Pindul Cave but when you came to this spot, you could really say, "Wow". Besides, at this point, I was a little emotional. The trip is coming to an end and DIGSMA crew is going to be on their own once again once this trip is over. This team had proven to everyone that we could plan a GOP in six months time no matter what people said. Although, we did had out ups and downs laa and most of it is downs but I am glad that we are done and over with this program.

 

The team

  

 

 

With the retire royal guides. Please don't question the look. 

 

And the model eu is out. Ahah! 

  

#selfie with the current king in his young age

  

The tour ended with a wayang kulit show and I will admit it is a little boring for me. Maybe it's because there's no introduction to the story or maybe it's too early but if given another chance, I would wanna catch a wayang kulit show.

The next location that we went was Taman Sari where it is well known for the King to visit this place to choose the "lucky one" where His mistress and wives would bath in the swimming pool located here. It is kinda run down and you can see people houses in this place. I can say it is one hella messy place to go to but looking at the beauty, you won't say no. 

 

The entrance to the swimming pool.

 

#candid 

  

The wolf pack. 

 

There's this place inside where if you continue walking you will find a place call Kampung Internet. At this place itself, you can see many shops selling batik and local brand. Bought a shirt from a place call the Voice of Jogja and I just love their products!  There is also a underground mosque where in the old days only the Ulama is allowed in there to lead the prayers together with the royal family. 

 

Our next stop for the day was a formal/academic event where in every GOP program, we need to visit a university in that area to understand and see if there are any differences in between the two universities. Anyway, UGM had been a great help to us all. They were busy with their classes and yet they still manage to give us some of their time. UGM may be smaller than our university here but man, you still need a bicycle to take you around! AND guess what, the bicycle is register by using their card yea. You can even use the student card for buying food too okay. Damn cool. ><

 

DIGSMA crew with the crew from UGM. Thanks guys for welcoming us! 

 

This was during a sharing of culture between Indonesia and Malaysia. Don't they look lovely? 

 

With the international officer from UGM. 

Right after that event, we went off for something less formal which is a festival. It is an arts festival and we were lucky that they were having it there when we were in Indonesia. Bukan selalu taw! Our time was short here so we went back the next day for some fun and we did had our share of fun. There's great food, a good time for bonding, and there's just so many shops that sell incredible stuff! A friend bought from a designer who designs her own clothing and you can check it out here. I don't know if she send out international shipping though.

 

#burn 

That night itself, the four of us head out for the night with the intentions to see what is the nightlife around Jogya and I won't say that I was disappointed for the crowd there always involves themselves with food and drinks - unlike Jb-ians who always have some good spots to hang out for the night. We did make our self go to the tugu though. It is a famous must-go place to take picture when you are in Jogya and I am glad that we manage to be there.

 

Presents to you the Tugu from Jogya!

 

The midnight crew. 

 

Overall Day 4 was a fun day. In one day itself it was filled with activities from morning till night and I can say that it is a successful day?  Btw, Jogya do have nightlife but.. you got to dig a little deeper. We got limited cash and limited time so we did not manage to dig all up but if given the chance to do that again, why not?

xoxo,

eunice gm.

 

The sky is blue, the water is strong, you are with your friends cruising along the beach. What could go wrong eh? 

Falling off the ATV could go wrong! 

I fell off the ATV and boy - Once down, you forget how to get up for a moment. 

 

A pathetic moment which I will never forget 

Anyway, right after that fall, with the adrenaline still high up in my blood, I couldn't tell if I hurt myself but once the pain hits, man. Only God knows how I deal with it during our next event. 

 

A cool picture before the incident took place

The next event is also an event that almost brought tears to my eyes. Ninja was chopping onions around me and all that I can do is to keep the people that I met in prayer. We collaborate with  Suara Hati, a group of young and super awesome people who are doing work that makes me salute them. They are a team of students from different age group that came together to bring happiness into people lives. Their work is to visit orphanage during the weekend and some people may say that "Cheh, it's nothing." Nope man. That is something. They are doing something that will have a huge impact in the children that they touch. They are doing something that will bring back good memories not only for them but for whoever whose fate entwine with them.

 

Our intention was never to arrive early but we did eventually arrived early and I admit, it was a little awkward at first. The language, the expectations that we have for ourselves, it is kinda stressful I would say. I did not know what to expect from a culture so different from ours. In my head, I was expecting that the children would not want to talk to me at all for I speak weird Bahasa Indonesia or I might look weird to them but.. all that change when we start shaking hands with them. 

We talked about the food, the culture, the different type of music that we have, the movis that we have, and yesh- apparently, Upin Ipin is a huge hit in Indonesia. If you mentioned that you are from Malaysia, be prepared to know all about Upin Ipin. They are the Power Rangers of all time.  After some time communicating, I realized, heey, they are the same with our kids in Malaysia. All they want is to talk and laugh and have fun together! 

That settle it! It means that all I need to do is to talk - and talking is so much easier than dancing. *That would be my last resort in breaking the ice*

 

The principle of the orphanage 

We were greeted by the children playing music for us and if you were to come into that area, blindfolded, you would not have guess what are the background of the children are from. FYI, some of the children here are not as lucky as the others so try to imagine the need and different types of method of communicating to ensure that the music played by all are flowing in the same flow. It is amazing that this group of people can work together when trying to control 11 people for a trip can be kinda tough at times! *winkwink*

 

DIGSMA crew did prepared some activity and one of it is a colouring contest. It may be a simple contest but with this contest, we could see the persistence of each and everyone in the room. A boy name Bakti just puts me back in my place with his fighting spirit. Bakti is a boy who have trouble in hearing and eyesight but his colouring is magnificient!He manage to potray his colouring character true to itself! It is an awe to see them putting their best in an activity that may be a simple activity to us. 

 

Now, let me just tell you that this place is going to produce people with great talents in music! They are just so amazing with it and they even have a band right now. They may be covering for people right now but who knows in the future, Bina Siwi would be producing their own album eh? 

 

Coming out from this place, you may think that they are unlucky but let me tell you something. We are the unlucky ones cause we do not understand how happiness work. We do not understand the concept of persistence for we always tend to give up and go for the easy way. We do not understand the beauty of music or art as much as they do. They are the lucky one for although they do not have what we have, they have something that we do not have. So, what's stopping you from not giving up? What's  telling you to stop when these kids are not stopping? 

 

  

#swaglife

 

Nasi soto

 

Forgot the name of these two dishes but it is tiptop! 

Although the day started off with a fall but I did had my fill of fun towards the end of the day. I gained new friends, new insight and new taste buds. 

Day 4 coming up soon! 

P/S: Don't go for the ATV unless you really want to try. 

P/S/S: 6th September would officially be the starting date of the new semester. 

xoxo,

eunice gm.