A Short Healing Trip to Yogyakarta

 By Awliya

At the age of 18, I went to Yogyakarta, Indonesia with my mom for a short 3-day trip. We left the house right after Subuh because the journey from our house to the airport took around 1 hour and 45 minutes, while our flight was at 11 a.m. After arriving at the airport, we immediately headed to immigration and waited at the departure area. Since our trip was only for three days, we decided not to check in any luggage and only brought hand-carry bags because our bags were under 7kg.

We flew with AirAsia, and the journey from Malaysia to Jogja took around 2 hours and 45 minutes. During the flight, I ordered my favourite in-flight meal, which is the famous Pak Nasser’s nasi lemak. One reason why I always enjoy flying with AirAsia for short trips is honestly because I can eat Pak Nasser nasi lemak on the plane. I also got my favourite seat, which is the window seat, so I could enjoy the beautiful fluffy clouds that looked like cotton candy and the ocean view near Jogja airport.

 
                        

After almost three hours, we finally arrived at Yogyakarta International Airport. I was honestly very impressed because the airport looked modern compared to some other regional airports in Indonesia. After that, we booked a Grab ride to our hotel, which had already been booked one week earlier before our trip.

We stayed at Grand Mercure Yogyakarta Adi Sucipto, and honestly, the hotel felt very comfortable, clean, and minimalist. I think it is very suitable for tourists who want a comfortable stay, and the price was surprisingly affordable even though it is considered a five-star hotel.

After arriving at the hotel, I ordered nasi goreng and jasmine iced tea directly from the hotel room using the room service phone. Honestly, I did not expect the nasi goreng to taste that good because the flavour felt very unique compared to the fried rice I usually eat in Malaysia. The nasi goreng came with two chicken satays, a fried egg, two prawns, and crackers served in a small bowl. It tasted so delicious, flavorful, and really suited the Malay taste buds. The jasmine iced tea was also very refreshing because the tea aroma was fragrant and not overly sweet, making the drink feel very calming and fresh.

After resting in the room, the next day we decided to visit a café because many people say Jogja is famous for its café culture. Since the city has many university students and educational areas, there are cafés almost everywhere.

We visited Nest Coffee & Donuts, and the café had a very nature-inspired concept. There were many green plants around the café, wooden tables and chairs, and even a fish pond, which created a modern kampung-style atmosphere. The café had outdoor seating downstairs and upstairs, while the indoor air-conditioned section was located upstairs. My mom and I decided to sit upstairs because the weather outside was quite hot.

Personally, I think the café is very suitable for people who enjoy taking OOTD pictures because the aesthetic vibe really matches Gen Z preferences. I also noticed that most of the customers there were young people hanging out or doing work on their laptops.

For food, I ordered lasagna and iced chocolate, while my mom ordered a smash beef burger cheese set with iced peach tea. For dessert, we shared one slice of burnt cheesecake served with ice cream.

For me, the food presentation looked very good and did not make the dishes look cheap at all. The taste was also delicious. I especially loved the lasagna because the meat filling was rich and flavorful, while the cheese was creamy without being too overwhelming. The burger was also very tasty and reminded me of a McDonald’s burger, but with a much thicker and juicier meat patty.

As for the iced chocolate, I personally thought it tasted quite normal, similar to iced chocolate drinks from many other cafés. However, the iced peach tea was very refreshing and tasted exactly as good as expected.

After taking several pictures there, we went back to the hotel.Back in the room, I became curious about Indonesian currency and started arranging the money while trying to understand it. Honestly, I was confused at first because the numbers on Indonesian rupiah notes are very large even though the value is actually smaller when converted to Malaysian ringgit. Sometimes it feels like you need help from ChatGPT just to count all the zeros correctly.

Later that evening, I went down to the hotel restaurant to order some snacks. I ordered nachos, churros, and iced chocolate. Personally, I think the hotel staff may not have been very skilled in making baked desserts because the churros were unfortunately disappointing. Instead of being crispy, they felt soft and doughy, while the chocolate dip tasted cheap, similar to low-cost chocolate sauces. The nachos tasted average, similar to the regular nacho chips sold in grocery stores. As for the iced chocolate, it was just normal and nothing particularly memorable.

We were also given a complimentary drink, although I honestly cannot remember what it was because I did not finish it since I did not really enjoy the taste.

The next day, we headed back to Yogyakarta International Airport to return to Malaysia, marking the end of our short healing trip abroad. We chose Indonesia because the prices for five-star hotels there are much cheaper and more worth the money compared to five-star hotels in Malaysia, which can sometimes cost two or three times more.

Overall, even though it was only a short trip, I truly enjoyed my experience in Jogja. From the affordable luxury hotels to the aesthetic cafés and delicious food, the trip felt relaxing and memorable. I honestly hope I can visit Jogja again in the future to discover even more aesthetic cafés that often go viral on TikTok.