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A Long Weekend Getaway to Yogyakarta

Author: Agus Budi Harto, 2026-02-16 22:13:46


After receiving news that February 12-15, 2025 would be a long weekend, I confirmed that my son-in-law was on leave and his twin daughters were off from university. Without much deliberation, my daughter Julia and my wife Mariana immediately booked a beachfront hotel in Yogyakarta. It was agreed that the six of us—myself, my wife Mariana, my daughter Julia Salsabila Putri, her husband Aji Perdana, and his twin younger sisters Ayu Virna and Ayu Virni—would depart together in one car on Thursday, February 12, 2025.

The Journey Begins at Dawn

Thursday morning, around 2 AM, all participants were already awake. At exactly 3 AM, we started our journey. Enthusiastically, I volunteered to be the driver of our vehicle. During this pleasant journey, only my wife kept me company with conversation throughout the trip, while the others enjoyed their sleep. Around 5 AM, we stopped at a rest area to perform our Subuh prayer at the musholla. A few kilometers later, we stopped again at another rest area to stretch our bodies. We continued and stopped once more at the rest area at KM 456 to take selfies at this rest area famous for its pedestrian bridge connecting rest areas KM 456A and 456B.

The clock showed approximately noon when we exited the toll road in Yogyakarta. We headed straight to a rice field-themed restaurant called Oseng Ndeso for lunch. On this first day, we immediately enjoyed the atmosphere of Malioboro Street. As Maghrib approached, we made our way to the Queen of the South Hotel. We were slightly surprised because, without prior notice, the hotel located within the Parangtritis tourist area required us to pay an additional per-person retribution fee.


Beachfront Serenity at Queen of the South

The Queen of the South Hotel stands right on the edge of Parangtritis Beach. The distinctive beach atmosphere accompanied our night's rest with the sound of waves crashing from the southern ocean. Although the building and parking facilities were under development, it did not diminish the hotel's coastal ambiance.

The following morning, we descended steep footpath stairs to find a jeep rental to explore the beach. At Karang Mekas Beach, we took photos and the jeep owner allowed us to drive the vehicle ourselves for a while. After being satisfied with this activity, we were taken along the coast to the Sand Dunes. Once again, we took photos and selfies. At the end of the agenda, we were taken to a seafood restaurant in the Depok Beach tourism area before being returned to the hotel.


Exploring the Heart of Yogyakarta

On the third day, we headed to a gudeg-themed restaurant called Gudeg Sagan before moving to a hotel in the center of Yogyakarta called The Rich Hotel. This hotel seemed large and bustling with many guests. The breakfast was quite delicious and comprehensive. We only stayed one night here before returning home on February 15, 2025, but on that final morning we managed to visit Pasar Ngasem, famous for its traditional snacks.

This spontaneous long weekend trip to Yogyakarta proved to be a wonderful family bonding experience, filled with coastal adventures, cultural exploration, and culinary delights that made every moment memorable for all six of us.

Also please view the photos and videos.

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