Morning in Sragen
January 27th, in Sragen. I decided to stay one more night. After waking up, I planned to get breakfast at a nearby stall. On the way, I met a man who had studied in Japan back in 2000. He kindly invited me to his home.
Inside his house, I saw a doll dressed in a kimono he had bought during his stay in Japan. He told me, “Every time I look at this, I remember my time there.” It was touching to see how much that memory still meant to him.
Another surprise came when I noticed many birds inside his home. Curious, I asked about the price. His answer shocked me—24 million rupiah, about 230,000 yen. I had no idea birds could be so valuable.
While I was waiting at his house, the young man I had met yesterday arrived. Together, we headed to his recommended food stall.
Tastes of Sragen
We enjoyed satay, skewers grilled in a style similar to Japanese yakitori. Alongside it, we had krupuk, a crunchy snack that seems to be everywhere in Indonesia. Sharing food together felt natural and warm.
After that, we set off toward Mount Lawu. I rarely travel by motorbike, so this day felt special. We climbed higher and higher, and from the road, I could see villages spread out at the foot of the mountain. Searching for these hidden corners of the world always excites me.
At Mount Lawu
Near Mount Lawu, we stopped to rest. As usual, I enjoyed a sweet glass of susu, the local milk drink. There was also a temple nearby. The entrance fee was 15,000 rupiah for locals and 50,000 for foreigners, but since I was with local friends, they let me in for the local price.
Before entering, visitors wrapped a black-and-white cloth around their waist, as a sign of respect for the mountain. From the entrance, the view was completely covered in mist. Still, we entered.
Inside, the temple stretched long and narrow, with just enough room for one person to walk through. As we explored, two special areas appeared—both requiring an additional fee to enter. Despite my tired body, I was grateful my friend had brought me here.
One of the areas was dedicated to a statue of a woman. It is said that if your heart is pure, you may see a vision of your future partner. I saw nothing—perhaps my heart still has work to do. Nearby, another area honored male energy, with a ritual of tossing coins and washing hands. It reminded me of Japanese practices at shrines.
The souvenir area was full of surprises. Some prices seemed high, especially to locals, but to me, everything felt new and fascinating. If I were heading straight back to Japan after this trip, I would have bought plenty.
Rain and Kindness
When we started heading back, the weather turned against us. Heavy rain made it hard to move forward, and the cold quickly sank into my body. At a rest stop, I was shivering when my friend lent me his motorbike raincoat. He must have been cold too, yet he gave it to me. I was deeply grateful for that act of kindness.
While waiting, I tried a local cup noodle. Expecting ramen, I was surprised to find something closer to yakisoba. Even these small surprises add fun to travel.
Evening with Friends
On the way back, we stopped at the house of his old friend. Hunting rifles lay scattered around, a reminder of a lifestyle very different from mine. After an hour, we returned to town.
That evening, we went out for dinner again. This time, his wife joined us since she was free from work. It was only my second day knowing them, yet it already felt like we were close friends.
Sragen, thank you. I will return someday.
