TEMBI, Jogja Traditional Nuances Village
Category : Alternative Tourism

It's so quiet village. Traditional nuance is still deeply felt, from the house until local people's daily activities. This village surrounded by paddy fields. Guess where am I? Yes , you're right! I stand up in the middle of Tembi Village. Tembi Village is one of village tourism at Jogjakarta, it's located southern of Jogja, about 10 kilometers from city center.

When you entered the village, you can find the house is still shaped with limasan and joglo, Javanese style architecture. Although there are some new building, but it's still nuance original Jogjakarta. Sometimes, some peoples are go around by bike. Once, they greet each other or nod when they met their neighbors.

You could be involved on their daily activities too. Because most of the local is farmer, you can join with them to cultivate the land with traditional technique, using some buffaloes to plow the field. Then, you can learn how to plant paddies. When you're visited on harvest season, they will accompany you to harvest the paddies. Is it seen interesting, right? But don't let yourself tired because you must go around the village by 'dokar', a traditional transportation drawn with a horse. There's a coachman and a guide will accompany you. At the first stop, you will visit Rumah Budaya Tembi ( Tembi House of Culture) where you can get a lot of information about Jogja. Take a look inside, sometimes at this place is held art performances both traditional or contemporary.

From Tembi House of Culture, you will be invited to visit House of Batik Tembi or Bamboo Pendopo. If some tourists come, native Tembi will play traditional musical instrument such like karawitan, gejog lesung and bangbung. Not only music playing, but also traditional dances like Merak and Gambyong dance. Some local peoples will teach you to learn batik and make ceramics.

If you're planned to stay for few days, this village prepare some inns. You can stay at D'Omah, near Bamboo Pendopo or stay together at local's resident. All of the buildings have the same limasan shape. If you want to get complete facilities you can choose at D'Omah but if you want to mingle with local people you better to choose at local's home.

Tembi Village history is started from Katemben, a place where the king's children of Majapahit age was playing. Accorded to the story, if a tourist staying at Tembi Village more than seven days he or she will success like the king's children. Not believe? Visit Tembi Village, enjoying the nature, touching the warmth of local peoples and prove the story.

Teks : Placidia Ratih
Photo : Stevan Mandagi

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