 |
| Tugu Station |
Finally we reached that last day of the year again and we went to another city in Indonesia. This city is very famous and very touristy. Which sort of made me worry because I usually travel with my mom. And though she still able to walk, most of the time we always use wheelchair. But, my mom wanted to visit this city as she's never been in Jogjakarta.
This post is another experience of me and my mother during our short trip together in Jogjakarta. The other posts are in Indonesian but perhaps you want to check them out :
TIPS
Our train from Gambir Station to Tugu Station was: Argo Semeru. And from Tugu Station to Gambir Station: Taksaka.
A little bit of tips from me about choosing your seat; if you bought the ticket using KAI ACCESS (you can download it from App Store or Google Play):
Seats number
I always choose seats number : 13 C & 13 D. These seats are (ACTUALLY) for pregnant women, disable people & elderlies. Most importantly for me, these seats are near the door and restroom. So, both of me and my mom doesn't have to walk the long isle to go there. And these seats have a bigger area than the other seats. So, we can put more stuffs here such as wheelchair or even your suitcase.
However, if you prefer to sit alone, then seats number 13 A is for you. Plus, is near the window. Please kindly note, be ready when other passenger ask permission to put some of their stuffs near you.
Train Carriage
If you want to eat at the restoration carriage for a change of scenery, then you probably should pay attention to the train carriage's number too. The restoration carriage usually located at 4th of 5th so, you probably better choose to sit at 5th carriage or 4th, depends on the availability.
TUGU STATION
When we were about to enter Jogjakarta area, I spotted a train attendant and asked him. How long is the duration the Argo Semeru train going to stop? I mean, my mother can't walk in fast pace let alone running. He assured me that he would help us getting off the train. The train would be arriving approximately 12.45 so he asked to be ready.
Five minutes to the arriving time, the three of us already standing near the exit door. Train usually only stop for about 4 - 5 minutes, so I expecting the hectic situation for all of us, me, my mom, other passengers and the kind train attendant. As soon as the door open, he helped us offload our suitcase and wheelchair, while I still holding my mom. Then while other passengers rushing to get out, he came back and kindly assuring my mom that everything is good. She wouldn't get fall from the train.
And yes, the platform is near the door of the train's carriage. So, there is no stairs that we need to use or worse, jumping off the train to platform. The train attendant quickly called security guard on duty to help us. My mom was a bit of panic attack, thinking that there would be another stairs we have to pass. But those 2 security guards assuring that she would be safe, there are many accessible routes for her around Tugu Station. After making sure that we are in good hands, the kind train attendant (his name is: Gema) bid us farewell and he board the Argo Semeru again.
Reference article : HERE.
FIRST LUNCH
Since all the commotion and adrenalin rush, naturally we got hungry. But first, we ask for the guard assistance to show us restroom for wheelchair users. I was actually about to take my mom by myself, but he said that he doesn't mind accompanying us. So, he patiently waited outside the restroom then asked where we would like to go from there? We said, we would like to have lunch first then he took us to Loco Cafe.
The cafe still inside the station, so we could get a quick lunch. He informed us that if we need assistance from his colleagues, then just ask them. With that, we went separate ways.
We didn't spend too much time there, because the train station were crowded. And the sound of announcement about incoming and ongoing trains sort drives my mom irritated.
At first, I want to take a rest at the Train's Lounge. But again. there are those stairs and we decided Loco Cafe would be just fine.
SOUTH GATEWAY TUGU STATION
After having lunch, again I asked for assistance from another security guard. There are many of them standing by around the station, but I couldn't find the previous one (his name is: Adrian Putra). So, the one who is available, asked me whether someone will pick us up? Or we still need to find a taxi? I told him that nobody picking us up and I have no idea where we should go to find taxi. So, he suggested that we go straight to South Gateway and he quickly helped us with the wheelchair.
He then suggested us to book BlueBird's taxi; either using the apps or asked their operator here at Tugu's station. But when we asked the person in charge, he informed us that there is no available taxi at this moment. He advise me to try to book from the apps, though it might take a while.
And then there we were, amongst many frantic people, trying to get a cab or looking for the one who pick them up. I told the security guard to just leave us there, we were going to try to find a cab. He hesitated for a while, but after assuring him (though I wasn't really that sure) he then excused himself.
I looked around (try not to look so panic) and found several people offering local cab. I tried my luck, went to him, told him about our hotel he then open his cellphone. Perhaps looking at the GMaps, then he told me the fare. It was IDR 175.000,- I was like... what??? NO WAY! The distance between Tugu train station to Jambuluwuk Hotel is not that far. He made excuses that since new year celebration and therefore traffic jam already hit Malioboro street. I told him that I wasn't going to use his service and went back to my mom. I would rather spend that money by using Blue Bird.
But I still hesitated to use the apps to order Blue Bird. First, I have no idea how bad is the traffic? Second, how soon the taxi could get here? Then, I spotted the first security guard who help us earlier. I hurriedly approach him and again ask his assistance to get us a Blue Bird. He recognized us both and told me to wait, he then wave at the very first Blue Bird taxi entering the station. That's the first time we met with bapak Martin, the helpful Blue Bird driver. After thanking the security guard a few times, we then take off to our hotel. I asked his phone number and contacted him to drive us on 2nd of January 2026.
EAST GATE
THE FAMOUS ENTRANCE GATE. I have been dying to see the old part of the station along with the Christmas decoration. I even asked pak Martin's assistance to take photo of me along with my mother. And since the decoration is so cool, I even crazy enough to ask for other passenger to take a photo of me. Yup, I can be that crazy.
To enter the station, we have to ask assistance from station agents on duty. Since the camera for face recognition is a bit higher for my mom (she still sit on her wheelchair), so we have to enter through another gate. We gave them our e-ticket and they scanned the barcode. After that, another security guard come to help us. He said that the train is available but we have to wait for about 20 minutes before able to aboard the train. Thankfully, he assisted us to nearby seats. Even asked the other passengers to move a bit so I can sit near with my mom. Then we got help from local porter to bring our suitcase and help my mom boarding the train.
And that's the end of our short trip in the end 2025 and the beginning of 2026. Thanks to all nice and helpful people that we met along the way. Thank you so much.
TUGU STATION LOCATION:
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar
Thank you for reading and leaving nice and supportive comments.