#TRAVEL #LIFE: (Nearly) Solo Trip in SOLO, A Life Lesson to Remember

Journeys and Faces: A Tale of Travel and People

 “This whole process of self-actualization is hard,” I thought. Later, I figured it was a mere ego–self-pride thought of the busier I am, the worthier I’ll be (in fact, no LOL). 

I had so many things, plans, goals, activities to do. And all of the stressful events and thoughts accumulated and came to its peak on one Friday afternoon in November. It was really overwhelming.. I vented to my mom and she felt bad that I felt that way. At that time, she had some things to work on in Salatiga and I impulsively asked if I could join her. She rejected, and suggested Solo instead.

I booked the train ticket and hotel in a rush, indeed an impulsive decision. I even made the itinerary on the train LOL, and nothing planned in particular, really. I also brought some of the material for my undergraduate thesis HAHAHAH had a thought to have work from cafe in Solo… actually I thought, I just wanted a different environment, fresh air was all I needed. 

Mama drove me to Tugu Station

I arrived around 7 PM and went straight to the hotel. I just spent all night pondering about things weighing on my mind, so unproductive LOL. Later, I just fell asleep, drowned in my own thoughts. 

Around dawn I woke up and just rolled side to side of the bed. Suddenly I thought of renting a car (this wasn't planned before). I asked the rental company if the car could be ready at the hotel around 8 AM (after I had breakfast), but they said they’d just go straight away to give the car. Lucky me. 

After breakfast, I decided to go to the first stop. A must visit whenever I go to Solo, Es Dawet Telasih Bu Dermi. It is located at Pasar Gedhe. You could enter through the main door and walk a bit or just enter the back door and go straight for less than 50 meters (i think). 

I waited for some time because there was already a queue. Finally it was my turn, and I took a seat at a table with two women already there too. 

Out of the blue, a conversation happened between the two women and I. All of us came by ourselves to Pasar Gedhe. The woman beside me named Tisa, she traveled by train from Semarang, and the other one, sitting beside Tisa, traveled from Malang (if i'm not mistaken). Tisa and I also had more conversation about our own itinerary. I said I’d like to buy some kebaya and went to Pracima. She said she’d like to go there too, both of them are on her bucket list, and the conversation goes on. Only with that, we implicitly agreed that we would go to the next stop together…. Simple yet pretty odd. 

At Dawet Telasih Bu Dermi

Along the way to Pasar Triwindu, we had more convo. To be honest, I felt like I was bold enough to take a complete stranger in the same car LOL. But c'mon.. I think as a person we can have our judgment, right? If you want to do the same thing, just trust your gut and dont be in denial of any doubtful act that makes you hesitate to do so. DONT straightly befriend with a stranger that obviously seems strange. 

The day was packed, we went to Pracima after getting a set kebaya from Pasar Triwindu for each of us. We also went to Sadji Cafe and later met with Tisa’s friend, named Ame, who’s currently living in Solo. We had dinner at Kusuma Sari, quick cafe hopping to Loske Coffee, then impulsively went to Lokananta. Saturday ended with the three of us visiting Ngarsopuro Night Market. Not to mention, another impulsive decision of mine.. I invited them to spend the night at my hotel room HAHAHAHA. 

The next day, actually, in my original itinerary, I hadn't planned any specific agenda other than cafe hopping. But, everything has changed since this solo trip is no longer a solo trip LOL.. because I decided to join Tisa and Ame to go to the other side of Central Java, near Surakarta, that is Karanganyar Regency. We went there by car which was rented by them beforehand. Note, they already planned to go there way before we met each other. 

First stop is Candi Sukuh, I hadn't heard of it before until Ame told me that it is becoming popular these days in TikTok. It is known for the ((rated)) sculpture and the nuance of the temple is similar to the Mayan temple in Mexico. 

When we arrived, the place was shrouded in fog and it was drizzling. I was hopeless that we could see the temple clearly, until finally the rain stopped and the view was crystal clear. It was magnificent. The vibes very differs with the one hidden by the fog. 

Clock was ticking and we still had some places to go. We jumped back to the car and continued the trip. Next stop, Atsiri Jawa and Rumah Atsiri. But before that, we had lunch at Omah Kelinci. Psstt, this was the first time I tried to eat rabbit :D

We spend more time in Atsiri Jawa rather than Rumah Atsiri, actually at Rumah Atsiri we just stop for a while, asked a few questions regarding the procedure to enter the building, and decided not to waste our money on the similar things to what we visited before, Atsiri Jawa. 

Atsiri Jawa claimed itself as a Wellness Destination, which is cool.. It provides a certain workshop and there is also a restaurant and a corner of the available products sold. The system there, we should pay IDR 150K (if not mistaken) per person and it is converted as a voucher. We can use the voucher either to order food or choose products displayed. If the items we choose exceed the limit, we should pay the rest in the end. It was a nice experience and the place has a really relaxed atmosphere.

After we had ticked our bucket list in Karanganyar, we went back to Solo (I slept on the way back, was so tired..). Only when I realized, we were already at Solo and there was a storm….. A really heavy rain poured, the visibility was very poor. When the rain comes, what happens to most people? Of course hunger HAHAHAHA… We went to Sate Pak Manto. Tummies full, Happy soul isn't it? 

But the happiness lessened when Tisa had to go back to Semarang. I had my trip back later at night. Ame and I escorted Tisa to the station and later, Ame and I went to have some dessert, had a snack of kuotie, and lastly, a quick stop for caffeine booster. All three dishes were located in three different locations LOL. Late at night, it was my turn to go back. Ame escorted me to the station, and for the second time that day, we waved goodbye.

From this (nearly) solo trip I learned. It is true that at first, I was hoping for a solo trip, a chance to have a getaway. But turns out, it came to a twist. A beautiful one. 

And,  

Maybe that’s the same for life. We can plan as much as we want to, but in the end life is full of surprises. We just need to accept it and later we can see how beautiful it is.