When talking about holiday destination people would generally split the options to three: 1) Mountain, 2) Beach, 3) City tour. Those who likes cold and calm ambience will choose mountain, those who enjoys sun and sea salt will choose beach, while those who dislike both will choose to do city tour. For me those option is not even an option. If there are any possibilities to do the three of them at one time, I would prefer to not choose only one, or two. I am a type of person who doesn't care where the road leads me to, as long as I go with the right companion, I will be amused.
Last weekend, at the end of July, the long awaited getaway finally realized. Me and my best companion, Ardini and Ana - whom I acquainted from University's Community Development Program 3 years ago in Bojonegoro, have planned this since a year or even two years ago when I just graduated from University. The plan was only a discourse until Ardini bought the ticket for me and Ana to force us go. Long story short, Ardini, Ana and Rose (Ana's friend) departed from Surabaya on Friday morning and arrived in Jogjakarta on Friday night. While I just arrived in Jogja on Saturday morning due to the night train from Jakarta.
We rented a car with a driver to take us to places we planned to visit that day. Our first destination was Mangunan, a highland with pine trees and extraordinary view of Jogja.
There is this place called Kebun Buah Mangunan which was built to provide the best spot to see hills and rivers of Jogja. From here, you can see an extraordinary face of Jogja. You would not even realize that this place is in Jogja if you only see the picture. Pardon me if I am being a hyperbolic, but it's true!
The access to Kebun Buah Mangunan is pretty easy as the local government already built a proper road for two cars to pass. Even it is located in a highland, you don't have to spend a lot of energy to walk way up since the distance from parking lot to the view-point spot is not so far. Ardini has backbone issue that made her unable to do mountain trek or walk too far but she survived here, so.. you will survive.
The next destination in Mangunan was Pine Forest.
But I guess I'll continue the story later..
So.. til next part of the story!
