Seeing My Hometown in A New Light
- Agnes Larasati
- Aug 11, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 4, 2020
ROMO PROJO teaches Tembang Macapat two to three days every week at Sekolah Macapat Kridha Mardhawa located near Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. He teaches with patience and passion, his voice echoed around the tiny classroom, with his signature voice he would recite each words and melodies while the students repeat each verse. He is in his seventies, with glasses and batik shirt he wears. His signature style and kindness shines through each time he teaches.
For years I was unaware of the people and this place, this how I found out about it…
I Became A Tourist in My Own Hometown
I think, each person has a unique relationship with his/her hometown. A place where you grew up gave you lots of memories but it is easy to grow bored of it as it became dull and you start dreaming of visiting new places overseas. But, there is a sense of new adventure once you start exploring the place you live in. Exploring new places and revisiting old favorites are a mix of nostalgia and fun.
A few months ago, on April, I wanted to explore the place I’ve been living for 11 years, Yogyakarta. Shortly thereafter I started surfing on the internet, asking my friends, relatives about places I should visit. At first, I thought I had enough knowledge about Yogyakarta but I was dead wrong. These are my experiences weaving a little wonder in traveling – and experience my hometown in a whole new way.
1. Museum Sonobudoyo
Sonobudoyo Museum is within easy reach from Yogyakarta Kingdom; it is located across the North Square of Yogyakarta. To get into it, you only have to pay the entrance ticket as much as IDR 3,000.
Buried amongst the heart of the city, lies a diamond in the rough: Museum Sonobudoyo. What’s unique about this museum? Well, nightly they held Wayang Kulit shadow puppet performance that is definitely worthwhile. Although this museum is not big, you can sense that the staffs treat you with great spirit, informative and helpful. Established by the Sultan of Yogyakarta in 1935, this museum holds genuine artifacts. Javanese art and culture displayed in this museum is not to be missed.
I closed my phone and opened my eyes to spot the remnants of the past. I asked the staff whether I could record video to put in my assignment, I had an assignment to promote local wisdom of Yogyakarta through social media and I thought Museum Sonobudoyo is a place to go. Especially if you love shadow puppet, be sure to make time to view its shadow puppet performance at 8-10 pm.
2. Sekolah Macapat Kridha Mardhawa
Yogya's enormous Kraton (palace) is the cultural and political heart of this fascinating city. Right behind it, there is a place where you could learn about Javanese arts and its language
In a classroom sized 4x3m², sound of singing could be heard from Pamulangan Sekar Macapat KHP Kridha Mardhawa. This is a place meant for those who wants to learn nembang (Javanese poetry recited in song form). The headmaster of this one-of-a-kind school is KMT Projosuwasono, an Abdi Dalem of Keraton Ngayogyakarta. Abdi dalem are royal servants who are devoting their lives to the Sultan.
The courses at this school are free. Tembang Macapat are taught from Monday to Friday. While on Saturdays, the students learn how to read and write aksara Jawa.
The classroom is lit by a single light in the middle of the room. Sunlight shining through from the back of the class makes for a melancholic moment. With several other students aged from 20’s to 60’s all are reciting verses from Tembang Macapat together makes an amazing experience for me.
One thing that stood out was how nice and friendly everyone was. I introduced myself and got to know each member of the class. One is a grandmother with 6 grandchildren, one is an alumnus of my university, one has his son drive him each day so he could join class and learn Tembang Macapat together. There was going to be a competition at the end of April, so some students worked extra hard to prepare for the Tembang Competition.
My heart was touched, they were all older than me by 10 to 40 years but they continued on learning, and I learnt a lot from them. I went to this class straight for a week because I wanted to be in that positive environment.
This is a sure course to take if you visit Yogyakarta!
Those are the two places I visited, but if you want to explore your hometown too. Here’s what you should do:
Tips on How to Explore Your Hometown
What you’ll need
Energy, a sense of wonder, sunscreen (be sure to not get sunburnt), hat, mineral water.
Instructions
1. Start by visiting places you rarely visit in your hometown, it could be museum, park, beach, or a place you find strange or unique.
2. Put your phone in airplane mode at least the first 15 minutes so you can have some time to immerse yourself in the moment, and explore the place you visit.
3. Bring a camera, or use the ones built in your smartphones, take photos to preserve the moment.
4. Have fun!
P.s. here is a bonus video about Tembang Macapat and Sekolah Macapat Kridha Mardhawa:
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