Parangtritis Beach

One of the most interesting places in Central Java, the beach named Parangtritis and also called Pantai Paris (Paris Beach) by local people. It is the local legend that has demanded the beach of Parangtritis like the location of the palace of Kanjeng Ratu Kidul, the rule of the invisible world of the southern ocean. Cost what the truth costs, the beach of Parangtritis is one of sites of the tourism that you must visit. Which is more, in the complex, is interesting object of the tourism, that is to say: Beach of Parangwedang, Parangkusumo, mountain of Gambirowati, cave of Langse, and burial of Syeh Belu-Belu.

It is located near 27 kilometers of Yogyakarta, Parangtritis can be reached of two ways, through the village of Kretek or a longest but established way more through the village of Imogiri and Siluk. Also there is another alternative route: Yogyakarta - Imogiri - Siluk - Parangtritis. This is 10 km longer than the common route. It offers, however, interesting sight, like a combination scene of rivers and coral reef hills.

The beach of Parangtritis is a charming beach with many phenomena of impression, naturally and supra naturally. The waves regularly bring in new wood and the land bamboo, washing themselves of another next beach probably. A little wood is chosen and cleared by locals that will be used for their own house. Parangtritis is a beach that inclines that it enchants combined with rocky hills, dunes, and a white sandy beach. In addition to being famous like recreacional point. Parangtritis is also a sacred place. Much people come to the beach to make the meditation. Until now, this area he is remaining worked as the place to make the traditional ceremony called labuhan. Many hotels and restaurants are available for the lovers of sunbathe.
Swimming throughout the coast is not allowed because it is waves is not too friendly. Not preocuparte, nevertheless, you can mount a horse or mount in a car of the horse that enjoys the water and horizon and putting of the sun and dunes and everything of sand that you wish a. Throughout the coast there are many shutdowns that offer fresh coconuts, young (that costs IDR 5000 by each one).

Not only the waves and the swishing wind that will satisfy you desire of relaxing, but the natural and supra natural tourism objects around Parangtritis beach will give you other satisfaction.

Gumbirowati Highland - Going along the Parangtritis road on the way to the Langse cave you can reach this place. Just from this highland, you may get pleasure from the beautiful horizon of Parangtritis beach. The Gapit Hill is another place around this highland, a spot for taking off of ones in gantole.

The Langse Cave - The Langse cave is located on the foot of Parangtritis slope. It is well known place for meditation more than similar places in this area, such as the Tapan cave, the Beji spring, and the Siluman cave. In his books, Dr. Hermanus Johannes de Graaf, a Dutch scientist specializing in Javanese review, states that the Langse cave is Kanjeng Ratu Kidul's cave where Mataram's kings often visit. Once, purportedly, Syekh Siti Jenar and Sunan Kalijaga meditated there.
Coming from the Parangtritis beach you have to go for about 3 km to the east. Don't be frightened when you are on the edge of an almost vertical slope of 400 m in height. It is a wonderful challenge. The path to the location is a combination of stairs (4 separated ones), roots, and stones.
Entering to the cave, you may take a bath in one of the rooms with the so cold water from the cave spring. It contains high level of calcium, which is good for eliminating fatigue. After bathing, you are welcome for meditating. The silence in the cave will help you concentrate. The splashing wave of the south ocean is the only sound you hear there.

Syeh Belu-Belu's funeral - This especially sacred funeral is located on a fishing hill. In particular days, there are various people making devotional visit there, especially on one night before Friday and Tuesday in Kliwon day (one of 5 Javanese days regarded as the most mystic day).

Gumuk (the only sand dunes in South East of Asia) - There is spreading sand dunes named gumuk. The gumuk in this area is a rare phenomenon in the humid tropical area; even it is the only one in the South East of Asia area. The other places with similar sand dunes are the Arabic Saudi and the Gobi desert (China).
The gumuk is a natural laboratory formed through thousands years. There are some rare gumuk shape types in Parangkusumo, namely barchans, parabolic, comb, and longitudinal dunes. Nowadays, the types are not as complete as before, but the barchans and longitudinal ones.

Parangwedang - Parangwedang is a hot spring that is rich of mineral (the mostly elements are Na, Cl, and Mg). Uniquely, the sulfur element, the most common content of spring, is not found there.

Attention: It is suggested that visitors should not be in green in Parangtritis beach to give respect to the local inhabitants belief. They are afraid of calamity befalling ones who are wearing green clothes.

Parangtritis' photos:
Peoples are enjoying the swishing wind...
A horse car...
Waiting for sunset...
Sunset at Parangtritis... Such as beautiful place is it?

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Ngobaran Beach

After went to Ngrenehan Beach and enjoyed the grilled fish, it wasn't complete if you didn't visit the next beach, Ngobaran Beach, that is located adjacent to it. The location of the beach with high cliff is around two kilometers from Ngrenehan Beach. It is not far, isn't it? Local people of Ngrenehan Beach even talk and visit Ngobaran Beach, why don't you?
Ngobaran is such an exotic beach. When sea water falls, you can see spread of both green and brown seaweed. Being looked from the top, the spread of the algae growing in between coral reef looks like spread of rice field in a densely populated area. Tens of sea animal species also present in between the coral reef, ranging from sea urchin, starfish, to various types of cockle shells.
What you will not find in other beaches is the cultural enchantment, ranging from the building to the local food. One interesting place is four praying places that stand side by side. Is it form of multiculturalism? Who knows.
The most prominent one is a building that looks like a temple with ornaments of god statues in white color. The building was built in 2003 to commemorate the arrival of Brawijaya V, one of Majapahit's king, in Ngobaran. The people who use the place are of Kejawan belief. The name 'Kejawan' originates from the nickname of Brawijaya V's son, namely Bondhan Kejawan. The person who built the building acknowledge to be the descendant of Brawijaya V and appointed one person in the community to keep this place.
Walking to the left side of the praying place, you will see Javanese building, Joglo, which is used by followers of Kejawen belief to say their prayer. The people tell that Kejawan belief is different from Kejawen one. However, they cannot pinpoint the differences.
If you continue your way in front of the joglo, you fill see a stone box with dry plant on it. The plant is confined with grey wood fence. The point where the dry plant grows was the place where Brawijaya V pretended to burn himself. He took this step because he was not willing to fight his son, Raden Patah (the first King of Demak).
The truth of this story about Brawijaya V is doubted by many historians. The reason is, if Raden Patah attacked Brawijaya V, it will give an image that Islam was spread in a violent way. Many historians suggest that the existing historical evidences do not sufficiently conclude that Raden Patah made an attack. You may search any information for further assurance about it.
Some meters of the box where the dry plant grows there is a temple for Hindu people to say prayer. No detail information of its foundation.
In front of the dry plant grows, there is a mosque with the size of around 3x4 meters. The mosque building is quite simple since the floor is of sands as if it unites with the beach. What is unique is its direction. Most of the mosques in Indonesia face westwards, but this mosque faces southwards. The front part where the religious leader leads the prayer is open so that it directly sees the ocean. But no one knows the reason, they even get surprised because the founder of the mosque is a well known kyai of Nahdatul Ulama who lived in Panggang, Gunung Kidul. For correct direction for those who want to pray in the mosque, local people make a sign on the wall using red pencil.
After being astonished with the religious site, you can get down to the beach. When you come early in the morning, you will see people take seaweed. They sell the seaweed at 1,000 to 1,500 Rupiah per kilogram. They use the earnings for their daily lives.
If you come in the afternoon, however, you will see people searching for sea urchin for their side dish at their dinner. The spines of the sea urchin must be cut first then it is pried using a sickle. The meat inside of the sea urchin is then taken out. When searching for the sea urchin, people usually bring bucket, coconut sieve, sickle, and hat to prevent them from the sun.The ingredients to cook sea urchin are salt and chilli. It is then fried. Not many people sell this menu. They say that the meat is quite delicious. If you really want to have a try, please ask them to cook specially for you. Maybe you have special recipe to cook sea urchin so that it can be served as favourite cuisine and increase society welfare.

[source: yogyes.com]

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Ngrenehan Beach

After showing Baron-Kukup-Sepanjang-Drini-Sundak-Krakal beach junction, now we go to a little westside from Baron Beach. You can see from the map

you will get the beach named Ngrenehan. It's hard to read that name, are you got that problem too? :-) Huh... Forget it, it doesn't matter... It's doesn't mean we can not go there...
Ngrenehan beach is located at Kanigoro village, Saptosari sub district, abput 30 km at the south of Wonosari city. This beach is gulf that guarded by limestone hill and amazing panorama with the sea waves struck white sand. Visitor's could see the fisherman's activities and get various fried/ grill fishes as souvenirs. In this area about 1 km west of this beach there are Ngobaran and Nguyahan beaches. Every month when the moon is full, Hindu people do Melasty ceremony at Ngobaran beach.
In Ngrenehan Beach visitor's could see the fisherman's activities and get various fried/grill fishes as souvenirs. Have a nice tour...

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