Solo is located in central Java province, indonesia, known as the capital of batik, and it is a place where the friendly people who still hold their strong Javanesse culture live in. Solo has a lot of tourism objects and attractions, such as Kasunanan Surakarta Palace, Night Market Ngarsopuro, Pura Mangkunegaran, famous culinary spot of Galabo, and Radya Pustaka Museum which is the first museum in Indonesia, etc. Culture festivals are held continually in this city also. There are Solo International Ethnic Music, Solo Keroncong Festival, Solo Batik Carnival, and many other national and international culture events.
Besides, you can also visit some exotic natural objects around this city.
Grojogan Sewu Waterfall
Grojogan Sewu is a beautiful waterfall located in the slope of Mount Lawu, Tawangmangu, Central Java, Indonesia. It is about 50km on the east of Solo.
Before going to the waterfall, you will be welcomed by long-tailed monkeys in the entrance. You may feed them with the nuts bought from the small shops around there. Having passed the entrance, the fresh air and beautiful sceneries of pines forest will be your companion down step to the waterfall.
Grojogan sewu has 80m of height and several smaller waterfalls around the biggest one. In the rainy season, the water dropped to the river is so big that make much water spray everywhere in the bottom of waterfall. You will feel a great sensation when they come and touch your face and body. The cold water and fresh air gain the sensation when you standing close to the waterfall.
Besides, you can enjoy the cold water in the river or mini rafting provided there. Not far from the river, you can do some activities such as swimming in the pool, playing some challenging outbounds or tasting some traditional food such us, soto ayam (Javanese chicken soup), sate ayam or sate kelinci (a kind of kebab with chicken or rabbit meat).
Mount Lawu
Located on the border of two provinces; Mount Lawu separates central java province and east java province. The highest of the mountain summits named Hargo Dumilah. It is on the 3.625 m above the sea level. This mount belongs to the inactive volcano mountain with 400km2 in large.
Mount lawu is one of attractive tourism resorts in Indonesia. The enchantment of this tourism resort is that we can enjoy the beautiful of the nature, like natural forest and beautiful nature scenery such as the sunrise and sunset view. This place is also used for ritual tourism because there are so many heritage of King Brawijaya V. The Javanese believe that King Brawijaya V moksa (died, but the whole body disappears together with the soul) in Hargo Dalem, and Hargo Dumiling is a place where Ki Sabdopalon, his loyal spiritual-advisor, did moksa.
There are some places used by the people of Javanese to have a meditation such as, Sendang and Goa Inten, Sendang Drajad, Sendang Panguripan, Sumur Jalatundha, Kawah Condrodimuka, Repat Cakrasurya and Pringgodani. At Sendang Drajad, you may pray or make a wish while being washed by cold pure mountain water.
Besides, there is a myth of black jalak bird. According to the belief of Javanese, this bird is the 'commander' of the mountain. When you climb up Mount Lawu and meet this bird, you are blessed and welcomed into the mountain. this bird will show you the way.
However, through all of the creepiness and mystery, this mountain is incredibly beautiful. The beauty is breathtaking although some places are eerie and dark (and usually people put offering in scary looking places), however once you reach the top, you don't want to leave.
Sarangan Lake
This lake is located on Magetan, Eas Java. It is also known as sand lake and laid on the east of Lawu Mountain slope. Sarangan lake has 30 hectare in large and 28 meters in depth. The beautiful landscape of hilly Lawu Mountain as the background and the small smog which sometime come down gain the exotic of the lake. The clear water is glistering as jewel when the sun shines it.
Sarangan belongs to the main tourism destination in Magetan and supported by many facilities which will make your vacation worth enough; such as hotels, restaurants, playing gardens and many others. We can also taste traditional food offered in the restaurant.
You can enjoy the lake in the way you want to. You can do some activities and spend the time during your vacation like riding horse to go around, enjoying the lake using boat or just sitting on the food stall or coffee shop spread around while enjoying the beauty of Sarangan. Then if you want to bring something for people in your home you can get many places that provide many kinds of souvenirs.
Goa gong is the most beautiful karst cave having stalactite and stalagmite around South East Asia. The name of this cave was taken from the name of Javanese traditional music instrument, “GONG”. It is due to the fact that you can make the sound which is similar to the sound of that music instrument by knocking on the stalactite or stalagmite. Goa Gong is a horizontal cave with 256 meters long.
PANCER BEACH
Pancer Beach is located on the east side of Teleng Ria beach. The beach is clean, natural, and beautiful. This beach also has two types of waves; river mouth break and beach break waves that are suitable for the amateur or professional surfer. May until October is the best time to have surfing
