Yogyakarta Special Region (Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta)

1. Hunting for Salak Pondoh in Sleman
Salak is one of Indonesia's traditional fruits. Covered with brownish-black scales, the flesh tends to be ivory in color. Salak pondoh is the sweetest variety. The flesh is firm and succulent. The taste is unique yet addictive. Visiting salak pondoh farm in Turi, Sleman regency, is truly a remarkable experience for you and your loved ones. In this 27 hectare farm, you can have a picnic while enjoying the scenery, take pictures, sample salak pondoh straight from the trees. You can also visit gardens containing flowers and orchid, garden consisting of plants with medicinal value in this area.

2. Imogiri
Imogiri, the official cemetery of the royal descendents from Yogyakarta and Surakarta, is about 17 kms southeast of Yogyakarta and easily accessible by the bus or car. The tombs lie within three main courtyards perched on a hilltop. Entry into the smaller courtyards housing the tombs of the princes is allowed only by visitors wearing traditional Javanese dress. Open on Monday 09.00 am to 12.00 pm and Friday 13.00 pm to 16.00 pm The cemetery is closed during the Moslem month of Ramadhan.

3. Jogjakarta's Dining Guide
Jogjakarta is truly a unique city. Ruled by a king (sultan) whose lineage can be traced to centuries, this city offers plenty cultural and historical heritage. Here you can eat lesehan style without chairs. The rather sweet cuisine of Jogjakarta might surprise you first, but many people have been longing for good Javanese food after trying it once, so you might have the same experience. This city offers many luscious delicacies. From bakpia cookies, wingko babat, to enting-enting kacang, visitors will be delighted to find there are so many delicious choices here in this town. Jogjakarta is a small city. To illustrate this, for some Jogjakartans, 2 kilometers is considered very far. In the city, you can give your legs some exercise, ride andong/delman (cart carried by a/two horse/s), use the bus and public transportation, ride a taxi, or, try how it feels like to ride becak/pedicab. If you want to visit interesting sites within the city, it is best to move around on foot. If, however, you want to marvel at the grandiose of Borobudur Temple, for instance, it is best if you rent a car.
To Do
o Take a walk on Malioboro street, it's packed with people selling interesting souvenirs, with stores offering more exclusive products. Bering Harjo market on Malioboro street offers cheaper products. Don't forget to use your bargaining skill!
o Visit Kota Gede, the center of silverwares and silver jewelries. You can even see silversmith at work here. The items sold here are usually more pricey because they're more exclusive. For regular yet still beautiful silver jewelries, visit Malioboro instead.
o Visit Kasongan if you're into potteries.
o Explore the city from Kraton (Palace) to Taman Sari, where old kings and their families spent their happy days, swimming and enjoying themselves.
o Take a trip to Borobudur and Loro Jonggrang (Prambanan) Temples.
4. Kaliurang
Kaliurang. A popular mountain resort 24 km from Yogyakarta and lies on the slopes of Mt. Merapi is surrounded by enchanting countryside. Mt. Merapi active volcano 2,968 m above sea leree. It takes 10 hours to reach the top.

5. MERAPI : One of the World’s Most Active Volcanoes
Living in the shadows of active volcanoes is like sitting on a time bomb, especially when one of them is called Fire Mountain or Gunung Merapi in Indonesian language. Merapi is one of some 500 volcanoes in Indonesia, of which at least 129 are considered active. It lies in one of Indonesia’s most densely populated regions, and is only a few kilometres from the sultanate of Yogyakarta. Despite frequently giving out smoke, the mountain still attracts hikers and climbers. It takes 5 hours to climb up and 3 hours to return.
6. Parang Tritis Beach
Parang Tritis Beach. A popular seaside resort 28 kms south of Yogyakarta on the Indian Ocean, Parang Tritis combines rocky hills, dunes, and a white sandy beach. It is famous in Javanese mytho¬logy as the home of the Goddess of the South Seas, who was married to Panembahan Senopati, founder of the Mataram Kingdom. Every year the sultans of Yogyakarta make special offerings to her in a beachside ceremony called “Labuhan”.

7. Prambanan: The Exotic Hindu Temple
Once upon a time, there was a young and powerful man named Bandung Bondowoso. One day he wanted to marry a beautiful princess named Roro Jonggrang. However, she did not love Bondowoso and did not have the heart to refuse him. After thinking hard, the daughter of King Boko found a way to refuse Bondowoso, whose magical power was well-known all over the region. Roro Jonggrang demanded something which she believed Bondowoso could not fulfill, as a condition to marry her.
Jonggrang demanded Bondowoso to build 1,000 temples in one night before the dawn breaks. and the work must be completed before the rooster crowed. With the help of genies and his magical powers, Bondowoso completed 999 temples. Panick, Jonggrang told the women of her village to start pounding rice so the rooster quickly got up and in a second, it crowed. Bondowoso was disappointed to see this. He was very mad. When he found out that it was the work of Roro Jonggrang, he came to her and turned her into a stone, making her as his 1000th temple.
This is the legend of Roro Jonggrang or Prambanan temple, which is the largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia. This temple is 47 meters high. Historically, Roro Jonggrang or Prambanan temple was built in the 10th century during the Wangsa Sanjaya era. It was built to respect the Trinity, namely Sive the Destroyer, Vishnu the Sustainer and Brahma the Creator.
You have to go on foot after all. No matter, you'll be able to enjoy the landscape better. This temple compound covers 39.8 hectares. In its main yard, there are three main temples, three Wahana temples, two Apit temples, and eight Patok temples surrounded by fences. In its second yard, there are 224 Perwara temples. Enough to make your day. Compared to the temples in Angkor Wat, the temples in Prambanan are easier to explore and more tourist -friendly. Before you get your hopes up and wish for a rustic setting of tall grass, a handy machete and a monkey or two, this temple complex (four temples) is positioned in a large, landscaped park complete with spotlights and lots of stalls that has "tourist trap" written all over them.
Enjoy the reliefs inside the temple, which show the epic story of Ramayana. Inside, there are historical items such as the Lingga Batara Siwa stone, a symbol of fertility. At certain periods, the management of the Prambanan temple performs Ramayana dance, as shown in the abovementioned reliefs. This dance is performed by more than 250 dancers in an open stage and in two versions. Ramayana Prambanan version is an adaptation of Javanese culture over several centuries. And of course, snap as many photos as you can. The ticket you had purchased to enter Prambanan (or Borobudur) is good for a whole day. Meaning, you can exit and reenter the sites as many times as you wish, as you move around. This allows you, especially for photographers, to take pictures of the sites at different times of the day.
8. Shop Till You Drop in Malioboro
Malioboro is perhaps the most famous street in Jogjakarta. Packed with shops selling curios and street vendors offering souvenirs with affordable prices, one is bound to find something of interest in this street. If you like merchandises made of batik, Jogja is the right place to shop. From house dresses to posh, formal batik shirt for men, this street has them all. Batik can also be made into bags, table cloths, bed sheets, pillow covers, curtains, and a lot more. There's also the Bering Harjo market where you can get similar products with cheaper prices. Malioboro's also located at the heart of Jogjakarta city. So places like Kraton or Taman Sari are within walking distance.
9. Tamansari: The Tantalizing Water Castle
When a traveler is browsing in Kraton, then she/he should not miss The Water Castle or known as Tamansari, less than 1 Km west of Kraton. Just west of the Kraton, are the ruins, pools, arches and underground passages of the former pleasure gardens. It was built in 1758 by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I as a rest house and pleasure park for the Royal family. Tamansari means beautiful garden. It was badly damaged due to an earthquake in 1867. Some parts of it, for instance "Umbul Binangun" bathing pools have been restored.
Upon seeing the ruins of Taman Sari, some cultural experts say that it has multi purposed functions, such as:
1. A Rest house, in the form of water castle with beautiful park. The air is fresh due to:
o Artificial lakes and canals
o Bathing pools
o Large gardens with several kind of varieties of trees
2. A place for sport and entertainment
o Boating and swimming
o Deer hunting
o Classical dance Bedoyo and Srimpi
o Gamelan music
3. A place for meditation
4. An important palace and shelter for the Sultan. It was well protected. It had 2 Bastions with 12 and 6 Cannons.
The Castle itself divided into two (2) complexes. They are:
1. Umbul Binangun - swimming pool complex
It is the swimming pool where only the Sultans women can frolic. In this complex only woman employees serve the Sultan. Theres also a three story tower, with Sultan private bedroom stands south of the swimming pool and The Sultans private bath-pool is behind the tower. Somewhere in the south part of the palace, there is a special place, believed to be Sultans meeting place, from time to time with the Goddess of the South Sea, Kanjeng Ratu Kidul.
2. Pulo Kenongo – Complex
Pulo Kenongo, the Palace of Kenongo Island was found in the middle of Segaran Taman Sari. (Taman Sari artificial lake, which was connected by water canal to the other artificial lake nearby the kraton) Kenongo is a name of flower trees planted in the front yard, where the fragrance spread out in the palace. Just like in a palace, there were living rooms, bedrooms, rooms to make Batik, a hall to perform classical sacred dance of Bedoyo and Srimpi, gates and sentry-boxes guarded strongly by the palace soldiers.

(references: www.indonesia.travel and www.my-indonesia.info)