Yogyakarta and Indonesia, in Trice

This post is not a scientific review of the city. Also not the commentary from the experts. Sorry for make the unpleasant opening, but at least, i still can offer you something interesting, because this post will tell you about a honest opinion of nowadays real-time actual student of Yogyakarta about the city, and i think it is one of a valid sample to some research about how make the observation of the city of Yogyakarta.

The Steam Engine Monument, one of things that reminds me about Yogyakarta in the first sight. (source: wikipedia)

Yogyakarta, well known as city of student because there is a lot of academic institution here and it has significant difference number of these institution comparing to another district area. Another things that well known about this city is its beautifulness of the nature and Javanese culture, then some people think that it is also a city of tourism. I agree about this two big point, and will give you some description that can at least strengthen the opinion.

The Steam Engine Monument becoming one of the most iconic things for my journey in this city. It always reminds me about Yogyakarta in the first sight, precisely in August 2014. This monument just come to my eyes when i just leaving the Tugu Station, where my trains put me off from Tangerang (my hometown).

What my point in the Steam Engine Monument then? Here we come to the first big point: Yogyakarta as the city of student. Steam Engine Monument will not only be an iconic view for me, but also about 80% (not valid number but describing a lot) of other students. It means (just not as a public secret) that about 80% (again not a valid number) of Yogyakarta's college student are not Yogyakarta civilian. Then demographically Yogyakarta will be so dynamic (i just explain one of its common phenomenon in Period of Students Holiday). (The more valid data about the domination of urban immigrant in some of Yogyakarta colleges can seen in other post that soon i write, this post just purposely describe Yogyakarta in students viewpoint generally).

How it feel to being students and also immigrant in this city. Of coarse it will be so interesting, because i am not alone, i just part of the "big phenomenon". I can find a lot of students that come from a lot difference places in Indonesia (also sometime outside Indonesia). Some people then also say this city as the "mini Indonesia" where you can find the richest of diversity just by in here. Specifically in this 2 years, i have a lot of friends from Purwokerto (Middle-Java) and Padang (West-Sumatra) in my class, a lot of Medan (West-Sumatra) peoples in my Christian community, Jakarta people in some places (as usual, and some people also think Tangerang as Jakarta), and less but not too lack also friends from Kalimantan (like Bontang and Pontianak city), Sulawesi (Manado, Gorontalo, etc.) and 'in contrast' Papua.


Then according to my life (as a good source information for the 'students lifestyle observation' in Yogyakarta), i spend my time a lot in campus for make friends, join the student organization, and just following some interesting events. A lot of top Indonesian universities in low-price (but high in standard), we can find a lot of interesting events freely (some do it as a marketing strategy, but some then nicely do for just some social purpose). Here, one interesting things is the governor do some effort to keep the life-cost as friendly for students in every social class, so they will keep press it as 'cheap' as possible. Then, worth to say Yogyakarta as the city of students.

How about city of tourism? It strongly correlate to Yogyakarta Javanese culture. The wisdom in these value just being life in daily life of every people here.

to be continue in Part 2