Politics to Travel Solo

Reportage or a short trip report is written by a kompasioner (Kompasiana blog members) named Alex Win , a Jakarta resident who deliberately took time for 3 days to see the conditions and the atmosphere of the city under the leadership Jokowi Solo. He wants to prove directly whether what is often reported in the media over the years, the city of Solo increasingly advanced and well organized during chaired by Jokowi. All of this is done so that the people or the people of Jakarta are not wrong to choose the right figures who led the city. Following the full reportage without the slightest addition and subtraction:

Loji Gandrung, Home Office Solo Mayor

The word "Tourism Politics" may sound strange, but it is from before the first round of the election administration, I want to see evidence of achievement mayor Joko Widodo build the city of Solo. Is it true, as the media buzzed about achieving Jokowi?

Saturday afternoon (08/09/2012), my family and I arrived at the airport Adi Soemarmo, Solo.Impression of clean, neat and comfortable look in the airport area, although small compared to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Airports are laid out well is important because it will give the first impression that sticks.

Adi airport Soemarmo, Solo

Travelling from the airport to the hotel in the city center takes about 30 minutes by taxi. Not much to see as it was already late afternoon. Over time, I was fishing in talks with taxi drivers about the condition of the city of Solo.

"The city of Solo in a neat once held by Sir Jokowi" said the taxi driver who was about 3oan when hung on arrival at the hotel, in response to my comment about the regularity of the left and right of the highway.

Culinary Night

Galabo became the first stopover destination that night, after entering the suitcase to a hotel room. It's about 10 minutes taken by rickshaw. Galabo is a concrete manifestation of the effort to empower small traders. Solo Culinary presented in the style sidewalk, laid out along the road in front of the shopping center Beteng. The road was closed along 200 meters from the afternoon until the evening to accommodate the food vendors. There timlo, thenkleng, wrapping satay, chicken satay, fried rice, chicken Kremes, gudeg, wedang lined up all the way round.

Culinary Night Galabo

The concept looks like a culinary evening Galabo Sate Center, Lau Pa Sat in Singapore which is open evenings only by occupying a piece of road that is closed to motor vehicles. Only, Galabo occupy a much longer so it is more quiet, more needs to be added in this location.

Pedicab, Pedicab Try Bring Me .....

Although the street in downtown Solo is not too dense when compared to Jakarta, becak remains the ideal choice for visiting the tourist sites in the city. In addition to easy to slip in and out of the lane, the pedicab drivers can concurrently be a "tour guide", just call it what you want to see, shop and eat where.

Pedicab Solo

Sunday morning is a "car free day" at Jalan Slamet Riyadi. Residents Solo, bicycles, and tricycles sauntered down the road is closed to motor vehicles. Many of the activities held in the street such as sports, street art scene, or just a walk.

Performing Street Art

Tracing Jalan Slamet Riyadi with a rented rickshaw, arrived in Loji Gandrung, take photos from outside the fence and then walk again. Special day of the week, the official residence of the mayor closed to the public. On weekdays the public can stop by for pictures or just ask to see if there Jokowi important.

Next rented rickshaw was directed to Kampung Batik Kauman, look typical Solo batik. Notice, in fact it is written "The City of Batik" under the name Adi Soemarmo airport.

What They Say About Jokowi?

While waiting for his wife who was busy with a variety of batik in Kauman, I was chatting with the rickshaw pullers, and Mas Mas Marsono Yadi about life in Solo. Of course, not far from the profile Jokowi, the mayor. What do they say?

Author (Alex Win): "Man, how the city of Solo led Jokowi?"

Mas Yadi: "Oh good .... cleaner .... more regularly. Street vendors were given place, set all, not forced. "

Mas Marsono: "Yeah ... better, smaller ones are also considered. Mr Mayor closer to the people, ndak arrogant. "

Author: "In Jakarta, some say Pak Jokowi corruption in Solo ..."

Mas Yadi and Marsono: "Huahahhahaaaa ........ (Laugh together). "

Mas Yadi: "nope perhaps mas, Mr. Jokowi was honest, his salary was not taken ....... ndak possible corruption, all have responsibilities. If someone said that corruption, let me inter roving find out, free, nope not pay. Let's prove Mr. Jokowi corruption or not ..... "

Mas Marsono: "Iyo .... not accompanied ...... find out. It's said the same ndak like Mr. Mayor, origin say ..... "(celetuknya with a thick Javanese accent).

Author: "Yes, being crowded in Jakarta ahead of the second round ...."

Mas Yadi: "Hopefully Mr. Jokowi win, Solo residents certainly support ... be happy ..... proud ........ "When there was a gig at Sriwedari Sule, Mr. Mayor come mingle with people, sitting cross-legged with the people at the bottom, not in a special chair. Mr. Mayor is always close to the people, ndak arrogant ........ "

The conversation flowed about family, life in Solo, and what's going on lately, including a terrorist attack against the police.

Marsono Mas and Mas Yadi

Apparently second-mas mas include "pedicab" successful. Mas Yadi has four children, three sons has received his university's bench, two have graduated and working, the youngest still in high school. Mas Marsono also has four children, three sons and a younger daughter has worked still in junior high school.

Both pull rickshaws only "odd" only in middle age. Mas Yadi, a native of Solo, had his wife run a grocery store, while mas Marsono got rice in Klaten. Sure it's hard work in their youth.

Solo Batik City

Solo batik center has a lot of quality matches the price. I had stopped in Solo Wholesale Center, Beteng Trade Center, Kampung Batik Kauman and Klewer Market for batik class "people's market". While Danar Hadi Batik Batik is an "upscale". Variations in price far enough with thousands of choices. Solo, "City of Batik".

Batik Klewer Market

Hadi Batik Danar

Batik market is one of the economic backbone of the Solo. Creative industries based economy.

Culinary Streets

Solo is also famous for its culinary, especially for the "shop class". Call it rice Liwet Wongso Lemu, Pecel Ndeso, Sate wrapping, Soto Ayam, Wedang Ronde, Ice Dawet, Blitar Kremes Chicken, and many more.

Rice Liwet

Warung Nasi Liwet Wongso Lemu

Culinary night Galabo described above is an example of culinary potential development in Solo. It can not all be as successful as the rice shop liwet Wongso Lemu or Soto Ayam Ivory customer is always crowded, but it could be a small people mover economy.

Roadside hawker no less potential, take for example Ice Dawet and Gempol and Wedang being peddled round the cart.

Dawet hawkers and Gempol

Ice Dawet and Gempol

Let's look at what the roadside hawkers Wedang round about the mayor Jokowi:

"Mr. Jokowi attention of the people, honest and organizing of Solo so neat. We as people feel at ease. Yesterday's incident (police shooting) is not normal, there must be a peaceful Solo jealous ..... Pak Jokowi that's good. "

Hawker Wedang Ronde

Wedang Ronde

Can we see that the little people feel cared for by the mayor. The people in the street, hawker food carts also feel close to the figure Jokowi.

Modes of transportation in the city of Solo

Public transportation in the city of Solo as in other cities, there is a city bus, taxi, rickshaw.There are specially for travelers like Werkudara decker bus.

Bus Travel Rate Werkudara

There is a unique view of the city in the middle of certain hours, the railroad that crossed the old school sound "noisy" and accompanied by a motorcycle pacer. The train was named Bengawan train Wonogiri often called "feeder Winton train".

KA Jadul in Midtown (picture from Google, did not get photos)

Railway feeder (feeder) is the only user path between Purwosari Station to Station Winton.Every day this train only carry 1 or 2 hoppers, since the number of passengers was minimal.Solo railroad-crossing the protocol Wonogiri Jl. Slamet Riyadi, Solo. Since it became its own uniqueness because it runs alongside other vehicles. Every day these trains serve passengers departing from Purwosari Station. Train departure time is not fixed because it must wait for Senja Bengawan train from Jakarta. Old-fashioned railroad crossing a unique view for tourists.

In addition to old-fashioned railroad, there was another train in the middle of the city is "Railbus". I did not get to try the ride, only got to look at this train crossing. An interesting sights for tourists like me. Railbus "Batara Krishna" is serving the route-Sukaharjo Solo and Solo-Yogyakarta, in operation since August 5, 2012.

Railbus Batara Krishna (images from Google)

Viewing modes of public transport and the variation in Solo is the main attraction for tourists like me.

Kraton Surakarta.

In the palace courtyard

A visit to the Surakarta palace gives a distinct impression, even if only a part of the front of the palace. The tour guide and "courtiers" Sultan explained eloquently and historical figures Surakarta. Just unfortunately palace complex and historic objects that were presented to the public is not well maintained, many damaged or covered with dust and cobwebs.

Railway body Pakubowono X - Damaged Not Kept

(Here I deliberately only display one picture from the collection of relics Solo palace, because the picture too much. To see the whole picture palace relics Solo go directly to the source)

Historic objects inside the palace complex storing its own story, but unfortunately not being treated fairly. According to the tour guide, just the mayoralty Jokowi, Kraton Surakarta get help from the budget to care for the environment Solo City Palace, but the amount is still not enough. At least have tried to preserve the cultural heritage and history.

Soldiers Kraton Surakarta

In addition to providing financial assistance for the preservation of Kraton Surakarta, according to one of the "courtiers", Jokowi also helped settle a dispute in the court, so close enough relationship with the palace. Residents palace also provided support to Jokowi to participate in elections

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Community Frames Jokowi In Solo

Mas Jokowi (source: google)

Travel Politics for three days in the city of Solo gives an interesting political perspective Jokowi figure. Its proximity to the Solo of people every day drenched in sweat after a bite of rice by the roadside until the "blue blood" palace, reflects a leader who can embrace all parties.

Sincere compliments from pedicab drivers, roadside food vendors, until the palace courtiers is an asset to rake in the votes of more than 90% for a second term.

Is it Superman Jokowi? Obviously not, the mayor "only" doing what a leader is supposed to do and to be honest, and to empathize with people. The rest is the responsibility of each individual citizen to promote the city of Solo, family and environment.

We flashback a bit, whether Jokowi that "makes" Mas Mas Marsono Yadi and managed to provide higher education to their children? Of course not, it is the result of the struggle of each individual, but the attitude of the leaders of the mandate of providing "comfort" and confidence to the people on the street and in the market to do better. They all felt hopeless because of entrusting government to figure who is honest and willing to work hard for the good of society.

Let us look again, if Jokowi mempu do everything like a superhero? Of course not, as the number one in the government of Solo, also faces Jokowi "limitations". But his attitude to inspire the people that led to live and do better.

Is a misnomer if you want to judge the performance based solely on statistics, because statistics only figures "dead", depending on where we want to take him. Good, bad can it be "booked". What did the people on the street that needs to be heard, the language is simple, do not need a high level of interpretation and analysis.

How to explain the attitude of the leadership Jokowi briefly? "Honest and willing to work hard" said Mr. Hill, one of the security guards at Loji Gandrung.

Mr. Hill

Solo City has all the potential to move forward, the city government has the capability of providing the facility to develop the economic potential of its people. Just need a good leader to inspire and opportunities. True words of the wise, leaders lead with honest and ready to sacrifice, instead of sacrificing its people with lies.

Please rate yourself, whether Solo has earned a good leader?

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