JOGJA GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - BU TINI FRIED CHICKEN

We visited another restaurant for lunch, and this time it was "Ayam Goreng Bu Tini" [translate: Bu Tini Fried Chicken]. It was not like Kentucky Fried Chicken which sells mostly chicken-based food products. It was like an ordinary restaurant and the fried chicken here could be its specialty.

For one thing, we ate fried chicken almost every day. However the chicken in Jogjakarta was bigger and meatier than any other place in Indonesia that I had been to, namely Jakarta, Bandung, Lombok, Bali, Batam and Tanjung Pinang.

In Indonesia, I personally feel that the "sambal" [mashed chilies] would definitely be the most important factor in determining whether the food on the table was good or not.

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VISITING A KRATON IN JOGJAKARTA

10th February 2016 ~ We then went to visit the Kraton ~ the palace. We were told that the present King still live here and if you are lucky, you could meet him walking in the palace compound. The other buildings in the palace complex had been converted into museums that housed all kinds of collectibles of the royalties.

We had a lady guide who took us for the palace tour and she is actually related to the line of royalty. The people who work here receive a meagre income but they still serve the King nonchalantly.

We also had the chance to drink tea prepared by the real royal servants from the real royal kitchen. We were told that we could ask for the blessings from the cooks so I just ask them to pray for our good health.

This visit basically wrapped up our academic visit to the city of Jogjakarta. It had been a wonderful journey as we learned a lot of new things about this city in Indonesia - the city of culture and history.

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ULLEN SENTALU ~ THE MUSEUM UP IN THE MOUNTAIN

10th February 2016 ~ Ullen Sentalu is recognized as the best museum in Indonesia. The location of the museum itself is unique. Unlike other museums that usually sit in the city centre, this one is situated high in the mountain and hidden behind lush green trees. It is 25 kilometers away from Jogjakarta city but it was worth the long journey taken.

A guide took us for a tour around the museum - which was a beautifully designed building everyone fell in love with the second he/she stepped inside. The museum stored the history of the royals of Jogjakarta and Solo, the lives of the past kings, queens, princes and princesses.  

Unfortunately recording was not allowed in the museum area so we took photos at a few places where permission was given before going out.

We were served with a glass of "jamu" each and surprisingly, the concoction tasted too good to be true. I know "jamu" [a traditional herbal drink] should be bitter and unpleasant, and even the smell was strong. This was one was sweet and had pandanus leaf fragrance, and I knew it was already modified.

For one thing, there was no mention of the ancient kingdom which was related to all the temples and the practice of Hindu and Buddha before the arrival of Islam. Even there was no mention of the earlier government in Monjali, the first museum we went to. I wonder why.

NEXT: seeing the (supposed) life of the present royalties in a real palace complex.

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JOGJA GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - MY FIRST TIME EATING DUCK AT "CAK KOTING" RESTAURANT

There will always be a first time.

And I had my first duck, fried, in Jogjakarta.

We were taken to this restaurant called Cak Koting, which specialized in fried duck. My verdict: it tasted just like chicken but the meat was tougher and the texture a bit rougher.

Other than that, the restaurant also served a special vegetable dish which was young papaya leaves which did not have the bitter after-taste.

I guess I will not eat duck meat again for a long, long time after this. Duck is not a popular menu among the Malay community here.

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