One of the main tourist attractions in Yogyakarta is Malioboro street as it is an icon and also the busiest business district in the area. The street is alive 24 hours a day and extends for 3 km from North to South. At the southern end there is a junction, known as Nol Kilometer (Zero Kilometers). Some people say that Malioboro comes from Marlborough, an English Governor General, who ruled in Yogyakarta during the colonial period. You can see the colonial buildings lining the street combined with a more modern building facade. One of the exciting facades known as Apotik Kimia Farma (Kimia Farma Facade), has a geometric structure and a classically decorated interior.
Walking along Malioboro street is just like entering into a big craft market where crafts sellers sell handicraft to the visitors. There are hand-made crafts and batiks, also sandals, sarongs, hats and bags all made from leather, dry plants, shellfish, coconuts, and rattan. You can barter the price for crafts and batiks and can purchase them for quarter of the price and often half the original asking price so don't hesitate to bargain!. The holiday season during July - August is the busiest time in Malioboro street and it can get very crowded with international tourists as well as visitors from around Indonesia.
If you are feeling hungry on Malioboro street there are many options of restaurants and places to eat and drink and there are plenty of food vendors available in the night from 10pm-4am. Local food is sold on the side of the road and includes gudeg, steak, onion sauce, tea, coffee and juice. You can choose whatever food you like from the Lesehan Vendors, put it on a plate, then sit on the footpath and enjoy!
There are many places available to stay if you intend to visit overnight or for an extended period near Marlioboro street. At the northern end of Malioboro street there are two main streets; Pasar Kembang and Sosrowijayan where several hotels and motels open 24 hours for guests. It's easy to get to Pasar Kembang and Sosrowijayan as you can walk to the north until near Tugu Railway Station. The hotels and motels are the most strategic places to stay as they are located in a central position and you can go anywhere from this point and there are many options for transportation available.
Teks by Danu Primanto
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