Jogjakarta : The Cangkringan Jogja Villas & Spa

“Did someone knock on your door last nite?” Wan asked hubby and I.

“No…” Hubby replied.

“The last time someone knocked was when they sent us our bags. Before that, they sent welcome drinks and fruits. That’s all. Why?” I explained and questioned Wan.

“I don’t know…but someone knocked my door at 2.00am. I opened the door but no one outside.” Wan confused.

“Opposite your room, no one stayed at the room, right?” Hubby fabricated the story.

A bit of info about this hotel. Listen.

The Cangkringan Jogja Villas & Spa (click link to view hotel) is a boutique resort located in foothill of Mount Merapi, Jogyakarta. It is approximately 23-30km from the heart of Jogjakarta town, Jalan Malioboro. Though the distance isn’t that far, the driving time can be at most of one hour, due to traffic and the road condition.  This hotel has 19 villas, and 8 rooms, where 5 luxurious and spacious villas facing the pool, and some villas have sub-villas with its own attached door. Alongwith, they offered 4 spa treatment packages, including couple session. Sexy huh? But I didn’t use the opportunity to rip off neither Hubby’s wallet nor Mama’s purse. To top that, they also provide wedding package, meeting package, golf package, table manner package, honemooners-escape package, you name it. Fiuh! And from my point of view who usually not getting this kind of hotel while traveling, was tremendously amazing. The bed, the toilet, the service, the surroundings, except for the food lah.

So why on earth I stayed at this luxury hotel that sounded spooky at times? I tell you why.

This is the only hotel that is nearer to Eny's parent's house. I remembered last night, the reception told us that the hotel was fully booked. To be franked, I saw roughly less than 10 cars at the parking lot. So how could it be? Eny once told us that this hotel was hardly full coz it only used by golfers during 18-hole tournament season. Nonetheless, occasionally, it will be occupied by filthy rich people who want to stay near to Mount Merapi. Here comes the best part. It is said that this hotel is somehow, can be spooky at times. They heard voices and saw shadows! But, which hotel doesn’t, right? Vacant rooms can be “their” playground.

So back to the question, who knocked Wan’s door at 2.00am? *krik krik*

We left the confusion behind and walked to the dining area, for breakfast. Hubby and I went down before Abah, Mama, and Wan, coz we wanted to cycle to next door, having a quick view of Mount Merapi. For me, breakfast was simple compared to other noted hotels. As usual, I took eggs and cereal, while hubby took a plate of fried rice. After a speed bit on the food, we went to the reception and asked for bicycles.

Being clever enough, I suggested to take a tandem mountain bike! (Tandem bike is twin bike ya.) Guess what? It was double tiring! Hahaha! Rode down the hill going outside the villa was pretty easy. But rode uphill to Merapi Golf? We were half torn, before we even reached the guard house! At the guard house, we greeted the security officers and asked whether we are allowed to go in to have a clearer view of Mount Merapi or not. Note: Only golfers allowed.

They did give an unpleasant face and asked “Dari mana?” (Where are you from?)

That was what happened, earlier.

“Dari Villa Cangkringan sebelah pak.” (We came from Cangkringan Villa.)

The mood changed!

“Owh bisa…bisa…masuk sampe hujung skali, tempat parking ya.” (Go straight to the parking area.)

That was what happened, after we told him we stayed at villa. So, you judge! But I felt like Soekarno's daughter.

We rode and rode and…stopped. TIRED! Coz we rode uphill! I told hubby to call off the intention and rode back to villa. While riding down the hill, we rode faster and passed by the guards and said “Tak jadi pak, lelah pak!” (Canceled! Tired!)

Back at the dining area, we met Mama, Abah, and Wan. We then walked around the villa, while waiting for Ridz and Eny to pick us up. Hubby and I told them to bring us to Mount Merapi, where Mbah Maridjan used to stay. I read in Fatt’s blog earlier that the house now is gone, and the place is now a historical site. Let's see.

Jogjakarta : The Waroeng Raminten

We usually don’t repeat the same place but this time, we had too, to bridge my in-laws with the other side of family. I totally ignored all the details, as it was fully handled by hubby’s younger brother, right from the car rental, hotels, where to go, what to visit, and such. Mama, Abah, and Wan came directly from our hometown, while hubby and I, took our own sweet time on ERL ride, the morning after. Whilst, Ridz and Eny with their two kids overnight at Tune Hotels, the night before.

Though we were going to Jogja, we took a flight to Solo, instead. This was due to ridiculous ticket price that would cost my dad in law, a huge hole in his wallet. Well, he paid for this trip, so I didn’t bother much. Hahaha! The flight was smooth. Putri came to sit next to hubby and played with iPod, and I was quite surprised that she was well behaved along the flying time. Just like Aqilah. If I have a kid one day, I would force love him/her to act like this. Senang travel kan?!

We touched down at Adi Sumarmo International Airport around 4.00pm and Eny’s brother had waited us at the arrival. 7 adults and 2 kids in mini MPV was out of my expectation! Can you guys imagine, Mama, Eny, and I sat at the back seat, with Putri and Haikal on our laps? Hahaha! Baru indon sempit-sempit camni kan. We were told that the distance from Solo to Jogja was only 1 hour away, but reality bit! It was doubled up! 

The frustration added when we couldn’t find any restaurant that well-matched to Mama’s ISO. Some restaurant did sell mix-rice with chicken heads (with half-closed eyes) hung at the glass window, and ants encircled around the fish curry bowl. Hahaha! Mama finally agreed to eat at one big Rumah Makan Padang (restaurant). Instead of being served with choices of food, we took the food on our own. Easy. I saw Mama didn’t enjoy the food, unlike Abah, who eagerly wanted to try pieces of cow lung. Quite tasty you know.

We then continued our journey where Ridz insisted to find a hotel in the town area (Malioboro) that eventually held us in super packed traffic! Eny then suggested a villa near Merapi, that was pretty close to her hometown. Hubby and I said nothing, since Abah paid for it. But being a good son and daughter in law, we told each other to chip in some money to cover the expenses, though Abah never requested for it.

It was already Maghrib when we reached Merapi area. We were forced to stop by at Eny’s parent’s house, since her mom and dad wanted to see Putri. Mama and I went in and did a toilet visit due to nature's call. The house was a typical village house that made of volcanic bricks, with tile-less kitchen floor. Yup, soil floor, straight from the mother nature. I got to know this when I rushed into the toilet and suddenly saw my two feet coated with black soil. Above all, the house was ok, and it was quite cold. No need a/c or fan.

Eny’s mom was super energetic, fun, and bubbly. She vivaciously spoke and laughed at the same time, whenever she talked. I looked at hubby and said "I tell you, she is obviously on laughing gas!" Hahaha! Meanwhile, her dad stood there silently and once in a while, smiling, in his songkok, Javanese batik shirt and batik sarong. A very typical Javanese. Eny’s sisters and brothers were not around, for they had gone back to their houses. Eny told us that her family did cook in big portions and call a feast for the whole village in welcoming us, but we turned up late. Like, seriously? Glamer kot! Well, her dad’s brother happened to be the ketua kampung, she said.

We excused ourselves and promised to come back tomorrow and straight to The Cangkringan Jogja Villas & Spa (click link to view hotel). I seriously didn’t expect that there is such an exclusive beautiful boutique hotel, built in this village, with no street lights, restaurants, entertainment and what not, around it. I bet we can bumped into pocong or zombie anytime coz the village was a total dark, except for this villa area! (I’ll tell you guys about this hotel later!) We were told that this hotel normally occupied with golfers, who golfing next to this place, Merapi Golf (click link to view hotel), that is noted as the place where you can golf at the top of Jogja. WOW! I was impressed. *cricket sound* We took 3 rooms, and the cost? I didn’t bother to ask, coz Abah paid for it. *cricket sound*

Ridz and Eny then went back to Eny’s parent’s house, which later, came back to the villa to take us out for dinner. Again, we were looking at a place that must well-matched to Mama’s ISO. So, they took us to this one exclusive eating place, The Waroeng Raminten at Jalan Kaliurang, that was an hour journey from the villa! OMG! So far meh? I must admit that the restaurant served delicious food but what’s wrong with that super super super super super hot sambal? Why I repeated five times? It was super hot, even my dad in law who is a champion in eating sambal, CANNOT handle it! All of us ate in tears! Yes, we ate, it was a mouth-watering dish, but we cried coz it was ridiculously hot! But worth a rupiah, coz it was on us.

The resto ambiance was Balinese enough to me, with weird statues at all corners, old antique spooky photos of Javanese fat-middle-aged lady (owner maybe), angklung sounds with Balinese instrumental song played at the background, dimmed light, I can say that almost a melancholic feeling. The fun part was where they caught fishes from unseen pond down there, put it in a net, walked in between visitor’s table, straight into the kitchen, and later came out, the fish ended up becoming our dishes. Hahaha! But it was delicious. Ok la.

We went back to the villa and along the way, we experienced some awkward moment when the rented car was equipped with dangdut karaoke dvd. Putri was looking at the vidclip where once in a while, Abah had to cover her eyes from looking at those 18sx actions. Hahaha! Back in the villa, we ended the night on a comfy bed, lazing and talking, thinking how Abah going to communicate with Eny’s dad tomorrow. Will it be like duck and chicken? Cute!

 

Video : Da Nang Trip

Ok. I have yet to blog about my Danang trip, for I have too much in hand and I am currently drowning with Sydney trip preparation. In the meantime, you guys can have a quick look on this video, produced by Dan Ariff, on our fantastic fun trip. Enjoice!

Here is the link : http://www.youtube.com/embed/H_rvBgvGwTo?