Train tickets that have been booked finally I-refund because a friend took me on a motorcycle to Yogyakarta (Jogja).
The actual Blitar-Jogja distance is (only) approximately 300 km, and is estimated to be taken in 6-7 hours with 3 breaks. It's impossible to drive non-stop.
I agreed to the invitation because riding a Blitar-Jogja motorcycle is a rare momentum. I take the train, and almost always.
This time the trip to Jogja was done with Honda Beat which has paid off credit for 36 months. This is a challenge because the Honda Beat is small and not suitable for long trips with up and down terrain.
Before leaving I went to the workshop for full service, making sure that the components were "healthy" for a trip of hundreds of kilometers.
We depart via the Route Blitar-Tulungagung-Trenggalek-Ponorogo-Wonogiri-Sukoharjo-Klaten-Sleman.
Return via Route Yogyakarta-Gunung Kidul-Wonogiri-Pacitan (later will be written separately).
The journey from Blitar to Tulungagung is still quite easy, entering Trenggalek and the Trenggalek-Ponorogo border the road starts winding up and down, but don't worry because the asphalt is smooth.
We stopped at a stall near the Tugu Dam which was recently inaugurated by President Jokowi. Take a break to enjoy a glass of water and a bowl of Meatballs.
Continuing the journey, enter the Ponorogo area of the city around 11.00, we depart from Blitar around 08.00. So Blitar-Ponorogo about 3 hours, with an average speed of 60km/h.
After Ponorogo we will enter Wonogiri, at the border between provinces, already greeted with billboards Bambang Pacul nyaleg dapil Central Java 4 (Wonogiri, Sragen, Karanganyar).
Previously, around Purwantoro, my eyes were fixed on the small public transport buses that still operate here. A Kind Of "Bus Kuro". The Bus operates between provinces, especially the Ponorogo-Wonogiri area.
Entering Wonogiri, because "lemah duwur", Wonogiri streets up and down is quite extreme, especially not all the asphalt is smooth, just smooth after entering the city. Perhaps the most difficult terrain of this Blitar-Jogja trip is in Wonogiri.
However, Wonogiri feels cool, very contrasting with the atmosphere of Ponorogo, and things like this can only be felt by motorists.
The coolness began to decrease when entering the Wonogiri area of the city, felt the heatstroke. We stopped at the Pujasera/food court near Selogiri Square for lunch.
Butt feels hot and legs achy, that's the risk of riding a motorcycle, especially Honda Beat. It may be a little different if you ride a Honda Vario, CB, or Nmax.
After Wonogiri, our journey entered the Sukoharjo area. Next Is Klaten. There is no difficult terrain in this area, it only takes patience to enter the Klaten-Sleman main road to the Prambanan temple junction.
To the left is a large mosque. Usually a group of field trip buses from East Java to Jogja stop at this mosque for Shubuh prayers. Al Muttaqun Mosque.
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The next route Sleman-Kota Gede is relaxed, the road is wide and good, only the volume of vehicles increases, typical of big cities.
We stopped at Masjid Gede Kauman for Dhuhur+Ashar prayer (Jama' Qashar). Before heading to the inn in Mantrijeron, we circled the mainstream Malioboro area.
We arrived at Jogja around 14.30. Means about 6 hours 30 minutes. Google maps is 5 hours and 30 minutes. We were 1 hour late because of 3 stops to rest.
Riding a motorcycle is much more tired, than riding a car let alone taking a train. But it can be more observing the trip, can mblasuk-mblasuk small alley, and more efficient.
Tabik,
Ahmad Fahrizal Aziz