Have Perut Will Travel...: YIA Day 2 │ CNY Eve • Yogya Morning Stroll!

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Monday, 16 February 2026

YIA Day 2 │ CNY Eve • Yogya Morning Stroll!

Breakfast at ibis Styles

Our morning began at half past eight, and the buffet breakfast at ibis Styles Hotel was waiting downstairs. The spread was generous and full of local flavours. We sampled a bit of everything and eased gently into the day.

Securing Our Borobudur Adventure

After breakfast, we stopped by reception, where a kind gentleman helped us book a 12‑hour car rental for the next day. Pickup was set for eight in the morning. We were thrilled knowing Borobudur and the surrounding sights were finally within reach.

Laundry Run

We crossed the street to the local laundry, found it open, and hurried back to drop off our clothes. At 2.9 kilograms, the four‑hour express service cost IDR72,500 (≈MYR17/USD4/EUR4). With that sorted, we were free to explore.

Strolling Toward Malioboro

We stepped onto Jalan Dagen with breakfast still warming our senses. The air felt soft, carrying the quiet anticipation that comes before celebration. Chinese Lunar New Year hovered close, giving the morning a gentle shimmer.

Red lanterns trembled lightly above us, catching the sun like small beating hearts. Shopkeepers swept their thresholds in slow, steady strokes, sending tiny spirals of dust into the golden air. We matched our pace to the city’s calm rhythm.

Malioboro’s Rhythm

At Malioboro Street, we walked north almost to the end before crossing over and heading south past Malioboro Plaza, still an hour from opening. The street pulsed with colour and movement—a lively tapestry of everyday life.

We stopped by MJ T-shirt to custom order 2 pairs of t-shirts each adorned with traditional Yogya logo and motif for IDR460,000 (≈ MYR106/USD27/EUR23).

Pasar Beringharjo

By late morning, Pasar Beringharjo drew us in. Heat, spice, and sound rose in waves—turmeric in the air, vendors calling out, steam drifting between fruit baskets, batik stalls, and fragrant herbs.

We found a small stall tucked between fruit and fabric and picked up souvenirs worth IDR85,000 (≈ MYR20/USD5/EUR4).

A Cool Pause at Kedai Djoen

Later, Kedai Djoen welcomed us with cool shadows and the soft clink of cups. We ordered:

Onbitjkoek (Dutch spice cake)
Kopi Kulinar
Teh Leci

All for IDR57,000 (≈ MYR13/USD3/EUR3).

The coffee arrived dark and fragrant, steam rising like a quiet offering. The first sip felt like calm settling into our bones.

Batik Hunting

After our break, we wandered into Malioboro Mall but couldn’t find a suitable batik store. Cat suggested Hayuningrat Batik nearby, and there we happily picked up four pieces of clothing (a skirt and blouse for Cat, two shirts for me) for IDR1,033,100 (≈ MYR239/USD62/EUR52).

A Taxi Detour

We hailed a fixed‑fare Bluebird taxi for IDR29,000 (≈ MYR10/USD3/EUR2) to Ramayana Ballet Purawisata, hoping to buy tickets for the evening show. Unfortunately, it was closed. Our driver, Pak Sumardi, suggested a traditional batik‑making shop in Kraton, but the prices were a bit steep for us.

He then drove us back to ibis Styles Hotel for a final fare of IDR45,000 (≈ MYR20/USD5/EUR4). We collected our laundry and settled in for a quiet afternoon. Eventually, we bought our Ramayana Ballet tickets online for IDR350,000 (≈ MYR81/USD21/EUR18) each.

Coming Up Next

In our next video, we enjoyed a horse‑drawn carriage ride—another charming slice of Yogyakarta life.