Third Trip to Yogyakarta by Express Train

A Wisdom Park (Taman Kearifan) within Gadjah Mada University (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-02)

Preface

I love flying by aircraft. But I wanna go around by public transport such as express train. Why? Because aircraft is too boring for me, and also it's too expensive to go around it, especially Yogyakarta. So, when I had appointment in Yogyakarta at Labour Day ago (May 1st to 3rd), most recently, a study excursion at Gadjah Mada University to commemorate a National Education Day every May 2nd, I used types of public transportation such as express train, buses, and ro-ro ferry, and taxis.

May 1st, Departure

At midnight, May 1st, I went to my college by car. Because Bali has no railway system, I took a bus from my college at Denpasar to Gilimanuk Harbour with my friends. Then, I disembarked from bus, I walked through a ticket booth which must pay with prepaid IC card (such as e-money, flazz, and etc.) at the harbour. I walked to take a ro-ro ferry to cross the Bali Strait to the island of Java. The destination was Ketapang Harbour at Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province. This harbour is adjacent next to a train station, the southeasternmost in Asia, the Banyuwangi Baru Station (New Banyuwangi Station).

Somewhere at Jembrana Regency when going to Gilimanuk Harbour (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-01)

A ro-ro ferry at Gilimanuk Harbour (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-01)

I walked from the harbour to a train station. I checked in my ticket and so as my friends to do so. Then, at 6.30 in the morning at local time (UTC +7), I and my friends were onboard the train and departed. I took a train named "KA Sritanjung" from Banyuwangi to Yogyakarta-Lempuyangan with stops at several stations such as Karangasem, Rogojampi, Temuguruh, Kalisetail, Kalisat, Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Bangil, Sidoarjo, Wonokromo, Surabaya-Gubeng, Mojokerto, Kertosono, Nganjuk, Caruban, Madiun, Barat, Paron, Walikukun, Sragen, Solo (Jebres or Balapan or Purwosari?), Klaten, and finally Yogyakarta Lempuyangan (I didn't remembered any several stations that I passed or stopped). In the afternoon, I ate nasi goreng as my lunch during the trip, and in the evening, I ate nasi krengsengan daging as my dinner in a dining car. During the trip by train, I often took a picture of any landscapes of the island, such as mountains, train stations, roads, rice paddies, and also an enormous mud reservoir. I spotted an archaeological object too, a Candi Gunung Gangsir that adjacent to the rail line at Bangil, Pasuruan. And at about 19.25 in the evening, The train arrived at Yogyakarta-Lempuyangan Station. Then, I and my friends took a taxi to the hotel at Seturan Street, Caturtunggal, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta SR. I and my friends were at the hotel and sleep.

Banyuwangi Baru Station in the Morning (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-01)

At Wonokromo Level Crossing, Surabaya, East Java (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-01)

At Yogyakarta-Lempuyangan Station, Yogyakarta City, Yogyakarta SR (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-01)

Inside an Express Train "KA Sritanjung" towards Yogyakarta-Lempuyangan (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-01)

May 2nd, Excursion during Commemoration of National Education Day

The next morning, I and my friends took a taxi to Gadjah Mada University to attend a study excursion. This is my first glance as a visitor at that university. A vast, with several faculties, and had a most integrated library in that university. I visited Faculty of Humanities instead of Cultural Studies and Media for study excursion (It's because we are postgraduate students, a Cultural Studies within a faculty in Udayana University). After the excursion, I and my friends visited a library. I'm astonished by a well managed, most integrated, and a very complete collection of books, thesis, dissertation, and etc. In the end, I and my friends returned to the hotel and went anywhere at Yogyakarta City.

Me at the Hotel with Mount Merapi Background at Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta SR (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-02)

This is Us! Cultural Studies Postgraduate Udayana Students (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-02)

Some of Us (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-02)

Me at Gadjah Mada University's Library (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-02)

May 3rd, Scrambled to Return to Bali

The next day, I and my several friends returned on their own. Some returned by train or remained in Yogyakarta until sunday. I returned with some friends to Bali overnight by bus, an "elephant of Temanggung" (Safari Dharma Raya - OBL).

Tugu Pal Putih at Yogyakarta City (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-03)

Me and My Friends Before Return to Bali at Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta SR (Calvin Damas Emil, 2019-05-03)

Safely Arrived at Mengwi Bus Terminal, Bali (Bagus Krishnayana, 2019-05-04)

Okay, that's the end of my journey with my friends at Cultural Studies of Udayana University. This is my best experience of my life, because riding a train makes me feel happy and exhilarating. Someday, I will return to Yogyakarta in the future.

Matur suksma. Ngiring cingakin blog tiyang.

Mang Bagus