3-Day Short Trip to Central Java - DAY 1: Bandungan

Last time, around the end of March I went for a short 3-day trip to Central Java along with my fellow college friends. Two of them came from Semarang, which located in Central Java too. Actually, at first we planned to do this trip  as a farewell trip since most of us graduated already, but the rest of the gank couldn't make it, so it was only 4 of us including me.

DAY 1 - Semarang and Bandungan

We took the economy class train (only cost me Rp 33.000 or USD 3.37) at 9 pm and arrived in Semarang in the morning. It was fun, though it was economy class, with straight 90 degrees seats and no air-con inside, our laughter burst into the night making it wonderful trip.

Arriving at Stasiun Tawang, then we took the taxi all the way to one of my friends' house; Reni in Pedurungan area. When we arrived, her parents are away for work and I quickly took some bites and dozed off. LOL.

After that, another friend came with her boyfried; Vita and Kak Arif and we planned to visit Bandungan to see Candi Gedong Songo!! I was really excited because we've read an article telling that there's this pine forest dupe for the one in Twilight Saga movies! OK, I'm not a Twi-hards, I just love the idea of pine forest. Haha.

Then off we go!

It took around 2 hours to reach Bandungan from Semarang by car and the sightseeing is just lovely with all greenies on the right and left. The road was pretty bumpy and dangerous but well, the visit will worth journey anyway.

hello from Bandungan!

So, we arrived! 

To enter this site, you will only have to pay Rp 6.000 on weekdays and Rp 7.000 on weekends and holidays  (both fares are less than USD 1). But, if you are a foreign tourist, you have to pay for Rp 50.000 (USD 5.10). Well, that's a lot of differences, almost 10 times compared to local fares. 

here's one fine gentleman named Imam. Posing like those beautiful statues in Athena :p

So, Candi Gedong Songo is a Hindu temple located in Bandungan, Central Java. The site was originally built during the Sanjaya dynasty which controlled Central Java during the 8th and 9th centuries. Similar to Dieng Plateau, Gedong Songo was erected out of volcanic stone and the two complexes represent the oldest Hindu structures in Java. Dieng and Gedong Songo predate Borobudur and Prambanan. The temples of Gedong Songo reflect a similar architectural structure to the Dieng Plateau. However, Gedong Songo displays more emphasis on plinth and cornice moulding. At Temple 3, an entrance is outlined by a vestibule that is decorated by guardian figures. (from wikipedia)

Gedong Songo derived from the Javanese, "gedong" means house or building, "Songo" means nine. So the meaning of the word Gedongsongo is nine (groups of) buildings.

To reach candi Gedong I, we have to walk as far as 200 meters away through the path up. You can ride horses for transportation services around the sights traveled candi Gedong Songo. In 1740, Løten find Gedong Songo temple complex. 

journey began!

one of the Candi (forget the name)

ME!

FOTD

Me and Vita!

And oh yes! Please don't forget to wear warm clothes, but not too thick. Shawls and jacket would be nice since it's pretty windy and breezy. And remember that this is a highland so you will find it useful to bring along your huge oversized sunnies or hat!

three stupid girls posing like normal ones

On the sidelines between Gedong III and Gedong IV there is a hot springs with high sulfur content. The tourists can take a shower and warm up in a bathhouse that was built nearby. Sulfur smell is quite strong and it also produces pretty thick cloud of smoke as it approaches the hot springs.

mind my monkey face!

another stupid attempt from Imam -_-

this is really close to the cliff not to forget that the sun is soooo bright, so please mind my nervous face hahaha!

Found the pine forest, but unfortunately it is not under the tourist trail, so we just sneak for a while for pictures and continue following the tourist path again.

no, not Bella

just like the commercial does

lonely bench

We stopped at this place above and took sooo many pictures before going down. Enjoy the photo flood!

I love taking my selfies because the lighting was GREAT!

wohooo, act like a sweet girl waiting for prince charming! (actually I tried hard not to burst into laughter)

another snap on the lonely bench!

behind the scene

Vita's BF; Kak Arif (what's with the thumbs? hahaha)

last selfies during our walk down!

To sum it up, all we did was enjoying the beautiful and magnificent nature around. Of course it was very very nice, my eyes have both excitement and rest, and so are the rest of my senses. The air is very clean and weather, though a bit cold, was nice too.

See you on my next post of DAY 2 and 3!