Java Garden Spa: The Javanese Healing Art

Daily routines that consume your time, energy and mind will subconsciously result in imbalance between physical and mental condition that ultimately cause some health problems. It is a must, therefore, to restore the balance of the body, mind and soul.

Located among the green rice field in Sariharjo area of Sleman Regency, Java Garden Spa has very comfortable atmosphere with fresh, natural air and quiet surrounding. The location, which is around 10 minutes drive from the center of Yogyakarta city, makes this spa resort the best in its class to release tiredness.

The beauty of the building as well as the garden reflects the harmony of Balinese and Javanese culture. Balinese gate and Japanese frangipani are combined with Kasongan lamps and the aroma of special Javanese spices and some photographs describe that the art of messaging had been popular among Javanese noble since long ago.

'Back to nature' concept can be seen from those semi-open treatment rooms both for men and women where there is Balinese garden with the sound of water flowing in each room. Decorated with fine arts, the rooms offer distinctive sense of art for the guests who are enjoying the treatment.

One of the favorite menus in Java Garden Spa is 'Taman Sari Herbal Massage'. During 120 minutes, the body will be spoiled with combination of various massage techniques with herbal treatment that will give comfort and warmth, smooth blood circulation and give nutrition for skin as well as omitting bacteria and fungi.

Some spa packages such as 'Touch of Harmony', 'Jojga Breeze', 'Jogja Memories', 'Exotic Jogja', 'Jogja Serenity' and 'Perfect Hand and Foot Care' are available and will be given by trained therapists, both male and female.

Java Garden Spa has a very experienced consultant from Abian Biu Bali with international standard since he works in world tourism destinations like Bali. Essential oil, message oil and some herbal materials made by Java Garden Spa that are used here meet the international standard.

There is a certain lounge provided for you to enjoy cinnamon tea - Java Garden Spa's special drink - after the treatment while gathering with your friends or members of your family in a more relax and fresh condition. This is a new alternative for you to make your relationship with partners closer.

Get special membership fee during March and special discount during promotion month.

Steamed Snacks, from Wajik to Jadah Manten

The culinary creation by Yogyakarta society in the forms of these steamed snacks can be enjoyed in many traditional markets all over the city. Some of the steamed snacks are still used for sacred rituals held by spiritual communities and Yogyakarta kingdom. The others are purely intended for sale.

Reflecting the richness of Yogyakarta natural resources, most of the steamed snacks are made from sticky rice, rice flour and cassava or cassava flour. The flavors enrichment is done by using the available natural resources such as palm sugar as sweetener, pandanus leaf as coloring agent and grated coconut or meshed soybean as the fillers. The combination of rich and sweet flavors reflects the taste of Yogyakarta society.

One of the steamed snacks that is popular is wajik, which is made from sticky rice steamed with palm sugar. Originally, the utilized sugar was palm sugar to produce brown color. Later, there are other variations using sugar from sugarcane and pandanus leaf to create green wajik. Until now, wajik is still used in the ceremony of Tumplak Wajik that is held some days after the ceremony of Muhammad's birthday.

Other snack that still decorates some ceremonies is apem, which usually is used in Ruwah month of Javanese calendar. Apem combined with steamed sticky rice and kolak is shared to relatives, used as offering and to send prayer to the ancestors. This snack is made from rice flour, palm sugar and eggs added with yeast or tape that is fermented cassava.

If you are not satisfied yet with the steamed snacks of different rituals, you can still try other snacks. Mata kebo, for example, is a round cake resembling the buffalo eyes in green or red color. It is made from rice flour and sticky-rice flour with the outer part is added with white pasta from rice flour added with coconut milk to taste rich, while the inner part is filled with grated coconut cooked with sugar.

Kue Ku is also worth trying. Made from the same materials as mata kebo, ku snack is filled with sweet, smoothly meshed soybean. Initially, ku snack was flat and round in red color with banana leaf as the base, but now it is in the form of fruits in different colors and is packed in interesting container. Because of more composition of the sticky rice flour, it tastes a bit tough.

If you walk around the market, you will also find a funny steamed cake, namely jadah manten that means the sticky-rice cake for bride and bridegroom. The cake is made from sticky rice that is lumped to make a round shape filled with chicken or mince of beef. The outer part is wrapped with mixture of flour and eggs then it is clamped with two pieces of thin bamboo stick to make it beautiful. Different from other snacks that taste sweet, jadah manten is dominant with rich flavor.

Other kind of jadah or the sticky-rice cake is sold in the markets in the shape of flat and round or square. Usually, it comes with sweetened soybean tempe. The tempe is boiled with laurellike leaf, palm sugar, onion and garlic then it is fried in medium oil to get brown color.

If you go the market in at around 06:00a.m. - 08:00a.m., you will find other special snacks of Yogyakarta such as thiwul, and gatot as the original snacks from Gunung Kidul Regency, cenil, gethuk and lopis. To serve thiwul, it is usually mixed with palm sugar to taste sweet. Gatot that is made from cassava, the colorful cenil from starch and gethuk from meshed cassava are usually served with raw grated coconut. Meanwhile, lopis is served on banana-leaf plate (called pincuk) and added with grated coconut with palm sugar sauce.

All of the steamed cakes are sold at cheap prices. One piece of steamed snack is sold at around IDR 600 to IDR 2,000. For gethuk, lapis, and cenil they are sold at around IDR 1,500 to IDR 3,000. Several markets such as Beringharjo, Kranggan, Kotagede, Giwangan and Demangan sell complete choice of the snacks.

Text: Yunanto Wiji UtomoPhoto & Artistic: Agung Sulistiono MabruronCopyright © 2007 YogYES.COM

Special Drink and Porridge of Yogyakarta, the Healthy Freshness

When you have been satisfied with various traditional snacks such as lumpia and other steamed snacks, you must long for something refreshing. You do not have to worry since traditional markets provide you with fresh drinks and delicious porridge. You only have to spend less than IDR 3,000 to enjoy each of the menus.

Es Dawet is the right choice when you get to the market on a hot day. Combination of sweet and cold taste will clench your thirst after taking a long walk. This drink is made from cendol as the main material. There are two kinds of cendol; the green one is made from starch and the white one is from rice flour. Both of them will taste smooth and rich on our tongue.

As complement, es cendol is added with cam cao that will give unique sensation to the tongue. Cam cao is natural jelly made from the squeeze of cam cao leaf to make a solid, green jelly. This cam cao differentiates es dawet of Yogyakarta from other dawets from other areas in Indonesia. Generally, es cendol from other parts of Indonesia contains only one cendol.

Two kinds of smooth cendol and the fresh cam cao will combine with the sweet taste of the mixture of thick coconut milk and palm sugar syrup with the aroma of Jackfruit mixed in it. The sweet sensation will not only clench your thirst but it will also cool you down for a while. They use pure palm sugar as the sweetener instead of artificial one.

In addition to cendol, other fresh drinks are of Javanese herbs and ingredients. One of the drinks is beras kencur made from pounded rice and soak for one night and it is added with squeezed galingale. In addition to refreshing, beras kencur is also advantageous for health. The warm effect from the galingale will prevent the throat from experiencing inflammatory and it is believed to make our voice more melodious.

Other choice of traditional drink from Javanese ingredients is kunyit asam, made from grate of turmeric that is squeezed and mixed with tamarind and palm sugar. There is also similar drink composed of tamarind and palm sugar only. All are healthy for our body; turmeric that is rich in antioxidant will refresh the skin and smoothen blood circulation, while tamarind that is rich in vitamin C will increase our stamina.

While es dawet and the Javanese herbs drinks will give freshness on the hot day, various porridge will warm you in the morning or evening time. Usually, the porridge sellers will start selling at around 06:00a.m. to 09:00a.m. or 03:00p.m to 05:00p.m in the afternoon. Generally, porridge is made from rice flour that comes in different variations and it is mixed with thick coconut milk and sometimes is added with liquid palm sugar.

Jenang Mutiara or the Pearl Porridge is one form of the porridge that you can find in Kotagede and Beringharjo markets in the morning. This porridge is made from perl-like grains with white color in the inner part and clean red in the outer part. The porridge comes with thick coconut milk that tastes rich. Combination of sweet taste and the rich flavor of the pearl grains that are often called monte is suitably served warm.

Jenang Gempol is another choice worth trying even though less people sell this kind of porridge now. The main material of this porridge is the 'gempol', the steamed, round lump of rice flour mixed with coconut milk. As complement, mixture of porridge from rice flour and palm sugar with thick coconut milk is added. Usually, this porridge is served in a small cup.

Text: Yunanto Wiji UtomoPhoto & Artistic: Agung Sulistiono Mabruron

Copyright © 2007 YogYES.COM

BALE RAOS - Royal Cuisine Restaurant

Bale Raos is the only restaurant that serves the favorite cuisines of Sultan Yogyakarta (The King of Yogyakarta).

The Sultan Royal Palace of Yogyakarta (Kraton Yogyakarta) is the center of culture, which is rich of various kinds of glorious cultures which are quite exist until now. One of them is the culture of food. Now, people can try various special foods of Kraton Yogyakarta which are served by Bale Raos.

Bale Raos is located around Kraton Yogyakarta, in the nuance of Javanese architecture. Joglo building that stands gloriously, and strong royal palace aura make you enjoy the food in Bale Raos.

Bale Raos Restaurant has the indoor capacity of 80 seats which are divided into two joglos and up to 200 seats capacity in the forms of indoor and outdoor party combination. The opening hour is at 09.30 - 21.30 WIB (except Monday, at 09.30 - 15.00 WIB).

The dish of food in Bale Raos can be enjoyed as:
A'la Carte, buffet lunch or dinner.
Menu set dish (full serve waiters).
Pretentious riztaffel dish.

Beside enjoying special dish of food, on certain days, there are live gamelan orchestra and classic Javanese dance (beksan), and every Saturday night, Bale Raos serves live performance of keroncong music.

Trained cooks will serve high tasted dish of food, that is the favourite food of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VII to Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, and various foods of the family of Kraton Yogyakarta.

Bale Raos is the right choice for various formal and informal programs. The examples are family programs, serving guests, gathering, private party, and as the special and authentic culinary tour.

The authentic menus from Keraton Yogyakarta:
Bebek Suwir Suwir (Sultan HB X)Special menu of Kraton Yogyakarta, made from slices of duck meat which is served with fried pineapple slices and rasped kedondong sauce.

Semur Piyik (Sultan HB IX)Unique dish made of pigeon.

Urip Urip Gulung (Sultan HB VII)Fillet freshwater catfish which is rolled then roasted and served with mangut sauce.

Sanggar (Sultan HB VIII - HB X)Original menu from Kraton Yogyakarta, made from sliced beef with the spice flavor, which is roasted with coconut fiber and held by bamboo.

Soup Timlo (Sultan HB X)Classic Javanese soup which is the combination of ginger and ketchup, along with various combination of ingredients.

Beer Jawa (Sultan HB VIII)Original drink from Kraton Yogyakarta which is made from ginger, secang wood, clove, citrus fruit, etc.

Various exotic menus in Bale Raos:
Roasted goat
Bestik LidahThe variation of tongue beefsteak with thick sauce, served with pierced potato and serces (a kind of vegetable stoop, favourite food of Sri Sultan HB IX).

Bestik JawaGrinded beef with sweet gravy served together with potato puree and sauted vegetables.

Bebek Ungkep GorengDuck dish which is boiled in coconut sugar with spices and fried sweetly.

Price:
Price of drink: IDR 5,000 - IDR 11,000
Price of food: IDR 13,500 - IDR 35,000

For the comfort of service, we hope that you can reserve first at +62 274 415550

BALE RAOS

Jl. Magangan Kulon No.1Kraton Yogyakarta (Close to Pasar Ngasem)

Phone/Fax: +62 274 415550

Shortcut URL:http://www.yogyes.com/bale-raos

Unique dan Beautiful Handbags

All of bags are made of chosen natural stuffs which are processed by the professional staffs. Eceng gondok which has been chosen then is dried in the sun on the sands in order that the colour is spread evenly and plaited by the skilled hands. Whilst for the pandanus stuff, after the selection of pandanus, it is dried with the appropriate heat so that it reduces the risk of the fungi growth. The bag products have been plaited carefully, neatly, and strongly.

To keep the quality of goods during the dispatch period, a layer that is resistant to fungi to prevent the damage of the products.

Home Decor

Find your home decor suppliers in Yogyakarta - Indonesia.

Enjoy exploring hundreds of home decor products that will add beauty and style to your home; including colorful boxes made of natural fibre, elegant candle holder made of sonokeling wood and exotic tropical lamp.

Anna Craft: Handicraft and FurnitureAnna Craft : Handicraft and furniture

http://www.yogyes.com/en/shopping/home-decor/anna-craft/

Minimalist Interior Furniture from Arkananta - Practical, Modern, and BeautifulMinimalist nuanced room will look beautiful if it is added by series of interior furniture from Arkananta, from flower vase, candle holder, decoration, to small table.

PICTURE FRAME, TABLE LAMP, CANDLE HOLDER, and TRAY from Bongo ArtBongo Art focuses on the home décor products such as picture frame, table lamps, candle holder, and tray which are made of sonokeling wood.

BOROBUDUR RELIEF & GANESHA STATUES - Exotic Home Decor from Emji StonePerhaps you have ever thought to have a Borobudur relief in your house. Or you have a dream to have Ganesha statues and Buddha statues. Emji carves statue art based on your order.

WOODEN BATIK BOWL, JEWELRY BOX, PLACEMATS - The Beauty of Wooden Batik by Rizki AyuIt has been more than ten years of experience that Rizki Ayu gains in making wooden batik. The beauty of wooden batik bowl, jewelry box, placemats made by Rizki Ayu have been spread to European and American continents.

Cheap and Comfortable Hotels in Yogyakarta

As a tourist destination, Jogja provides many kinds of lodgings for the night; from star hotel to cheap hotel. The following is the complete information on cheap hotel, homestay, and bed & breakfast in Yogyakarta with the price under $10 per night.

Hotels at the tariff below $10 per night are suitable for backpackers, group of students, and travelers who expect to save cost of lodging in order to be able to stay longer or to allocate it for other trip necessities.

List of cheap hotel, homestay, and bed & breakfast below surely will make you happy for cheap yet merry reason. Being cheap does NOT mean bad, moreover all of the following lodging places are favorites among foreigners and they have sufficient facilities, even completed with swimming pool. In fact, some others only offer basic facilities. Thus, be keen on selecting and adjusting it with your needs.

Delta Homestay, Yogyakarta, IndonesiaDelta Homestay, Yogyakarta, Indonesia: The homestay with a beautiful garden setting.Class: Starts from IDR 65,000Location: Prawirotaman

Wisma Martha, A Guesthouse Close to JEC & Kotagede
WISMA MARTHA has been on operation since early of 2005 with its entirely new building. This guesthouse looks just beautiful.

Martha RoomRp. 70,0001 room for 1 or 2 persons, maximum capacity of 8 peopleAdditional fee of IDR 35,000,- is charged for every addition of 1 person in the same room.The rate includes breakfast, tax and services.

WISMA MARTHAJl. Rejowinangun No. 15a Kotagede, YogyakartaPhone: +62 274 7496373Shortcut URL:http://www.yogyes.com/wisma-martha