Culture Of Solo

Solo - Central Java

This centre of Javanese culture has old colonial charm, the best of Southeast Asian warmth and the wide streets and well-planned squares of a small European town. Crumbly old-Dutch buildings and the two keratons of Kasunan and Mangkunegaran dominate the old town, surrounded by quaint streets lined with small houses with proudly manicured          gardens.

This is a town made for the open-air. Sit in a becak or hop on the back of anojek or motorbike taxi, stop for nasi liwet at a small side-street or sing your heart out at one of the obscure karaoke shacks and bars, open until dawn. 

Here are a few attractions that can be visited in solo:                                      

Triwindu Antiques Market

Nestled in a labyrinthian market selling ball-bearings and car parts, the gems at Triwindu antiques market, appear even more dramatic and blissfully cheap compared to anywhere in Bali or Jakarta. On the fringes, next to a small stall selling greasy knobs and bolts, sunlight streams through Morrocan ceiling lamps saturated with color. There are venetian mirrors and transistor radios. A stall sells reproduction antique, hefty stone Buddha heads and brushed brass ganeshas of all sizes, next to a small case containing three, silk 1930s clutch-purses with delicate crystal embellishment (except that now there are           two).        There are hip 1960s cocktail sets, straight from the pages of interior design magazines and about a tenth of the price of the same set in NYC or London. There are silver peacock-shaped door handles in painted wrought iron, gold vintage brooches and limestone elephants.

Because most of the goods from Triwindu are superior-quality, reproduction antiques and the rest genuine bric-a-brac from the last 60 years, prices are low. Sellers from all over come to Triwindu to sell their handiwork. It is worth a weekend trip to Solo just to furnish ones house with goods from Triwindu, or get a year's worth of gift-buying over in one morning. The sellers never harass and are open to bargaining.

Triwindu Antiques Market

Pasar Klewer

According to the tourism board, Pasar Klewer is the biggest batik and textile market in Indonesia. If you want to buy craft from solo or buy some batik dress or batic fabric or maybe if you want to buy anything you want in Klewer without worrying about some traditional food from solo for souvenirs you can buy it in Klewer market. Theres a lot of things you can buy in Klewer because they sell everything from bag, clothes, fabric, craft, traditional food and many more. And the price is not too expensive. You can haggling with the seller because the seller is so kind and friendly. Prices here are low. Expect to pay Rp 30.000 for a printed soft-cotton sarong or Rp 50.000 for a silk ready-made top.

Pasar Klewer (Klewer market)

Keraton Kasunanan

The most famous place in Solo is The Palace. At The Palace we can see history about Solo and the leader in The Palace from year to year.
Javanese culture, dance, and music permeate the lives of the timeless occupants of the palace, from the guards to the royal orchestra. there are few things to see here, save for a few random artefacts and a large canoe. The palace is far more haphazard than the smaller mangkunegaran. It's unconventional charm, however, calls for a romantic stroll with the sand in one's toes. Gamelan practice is from 9am - 2pm daily.

Keraton Kasunanan

At solo from one place to another place is so close so we just walk to go to another place or by pedicab (becak). The weather in Solo is so hot in the afternoon but in the night is so cold. The most famous food at Solo is Nasi Liwet. Nasi Liwet is made from the rice mix with vegetable squash with a little spicy, boiled egg, shredded chicken, kumut(made of coconut milk). And then it served with banana leaf. The taste is so yummy and tasteful.

Nasi Liwet