I Wasn’t Planning a Trip, But Then Semarang Happened

After my trip to Semarang last year, I didn’t expect to be back in this city so soon. To clarify, I hadn’t even planned on traveling anywhere far this year. I intended to save more—especially given the global economic situation—so vacationing became a luxury I had buried in the back of my mind.

But, as unexpected trips often do, this one reminded me just how fulfilling a good vacation can be. Under Semarang’s contrasting hot and cold weather, I was gifted new memories I now deeply cherish.

***

I started this year’s trip with a slow night—if such a thing exists. Since our train departed at 10:40 p.m., my boyfriend and I weren’t in a rush. After showering and packing after work, I met him for a quick bite at Ask for Patty.

It had been a while since I’d last had a burger, but I wasn’t disappointed. Following the waitress’s recommendation, I ordered the bestseller called Salt Lake City. It was incredibly flavorful. Just look at how mouth-watering it was:

Since we were sharing one burger, we decided to hunt for a more filling dinner afterward. We ended up eating something I didn’t particularly enjoy (though I won’t name names here).

Buuut… the night was still young, and we were buzzing with excitement for our trip.

After wandering around the mall a bit, we went to my place to get my luggage. My boyfriend tried to book a car ride to the train station, but it was surprisingly hard to find a driver. When one finally accepted our request, he informed us that traffic had been really bad just hours before. Lucky for us, it had cleared up. We made it to Gambir Station in under fifteen minutes.

A fast ride meant we had more time to kill at the station. To pass the time, my boyfriend downloaded a brain teaser game on his phone. However, the game made us… drowsy. We (read: he) became super sleepy. Stopping the game turned out to be the best decision. We decided to just talk until it was time to board.

It was finally 10:40 p.m. We were on our way—our very first trip together.

Me in comfy clothing because I was ready to sleep

Funny thing: the train ride was a bit longer than expected. We set an alarm for 2:50 a.m. so we wouldn’t oversleep, thinking we would arrive around three. We didn’t remember the second most important detail on the ticket: arrival time.

Just as it was written on the ticket, we reached our destination a little after four. The station was packed with homecoming travelers. Everything felt familiar—almost homey even. My boyfriend and I then headed straight to our hotel to rest.

And that was when I realized I was starving. Dinner hadn’t been satisfying, remember? I ordered rice and shrimp with salted egg sauce from room service. It was perfect! I was almost too full to sleep, but my body knew better. Within minutes, I was out cold.

***

Okay, we overslept.

My boyfriend and I had planned to wake up at 8 a.m.—I had even set alarms every five minutes. But maybe we were too exhausted from the journey. Or maybe his hand is just too skillful at stopping alarms. Either way, waking up at 9 wasn’t exactly on our itinerary.

(Well, then again, the entire day didn’t go according to plan. We just went with the flow. But that’s a story for later—let’s go back to my first morning in Semarang.)

Despite the delay, it was still a slow and lovely morning. We got ready quickly, but without rushing. Before heading to his parents’ house (which I had been dreading—obviously!), we stopped for breakfast at Soto Selan.

Well, the soto was amazing. It was my first time trying a sweet-tasting soto (so different from the saltier kind I was used to in Jakarta). I also tried the chicken satay—it was sweet and delicious.

After enjoying our meal, my boyfriend ordered a ride to his parents’ house. The short car ride felt both long and short: I was excited but nervous, curious but shy. When we arrived, his parents gave us a warm welcome that quickly put me at ease.

We talked for quite a while after that. I might have been a bit quiet, but the introvert in me was proud regardless. I had faced my fear and embraced the moment. It felt liberating, especially when the four of us went out for lunch together.

The car ride turned out to be unexpectedly fun. My boyfriend had actually planned to take us to a noodle place, but his dad suggested a pork-based spot while his mom had another place in mind. After a hilariously chaotic discussion, we ended up going with his mom’s pick: Sate Sapi Pak Klempeng 2 in Ungaran. It turned into a 30-minute scenic drive.

I learned from his parents that there were several branches of this place nearby. Since they were sure the second one was the cleanest and tastiest, we ended up there. It was pretty packed, so it was a good thing we were still able to find both an empty parking spot and a table.

In my opinion, the beef satay didn’t taste like my usual go-to satay. It was more like thick bakkwa, believe it or not. Paired with the peanut sauce, it was so delicious.

Still in the mood for dessert, we stopped at the famous Es Krim Karimata, located in a housing complex with the same name. I tried the strawberry-rum raisin-chocolate Neapolitan ice cream. I liked it, though the rum flavor was a bit too strong for me.

Later, we found out that the two places we had planned to visit were closed due to the public holiday. After an impromptu meeting, the family voted to have an early dinner at Ayam Mbok Berek. I happily went along.

Mbok Berek’s chicken was undoubtedly good, but it tasted almost exactly the same as the one I had repeatedly purchased in my hometown. I wasn’t mind-blown since it wasn’t my first time, but it’s the kind of chicken I’ll always love, so chef’s kiss.

After dinner, we dropped his parents off at home and continued exploring on our own.

It was only the two of us after that. My boyfriend then drove aimlessly to show me around his hometown, sharing childhood memories and old gossip. Getting a peek at his childhood situation somehow reminded me of mine. Where he lived and went to school as a child—the overall vibe felt so similar to my own primary school days nearly two decades ago. Everything used to be so constant and unhurried, such a contrast to my current situation that feels more dynamic.

What a full day it had been. My boyfriend was already tired from driving, so we rested a bit before heading to Toko Oen for dinner.

I had been to this place on my last trip to Semarang. Considering how much I had loved its pork-based dishes back then, I decided to try something new: bistik babi (pork steak). Sadly, I wasn’t a big fan. Still, I adored the place’s charm and ambiance.

After dinner number two, it’s safe to say we were completely drained. Deciding not to go out anymore, we called it a night.

***

And what a good night’s sleep it was.

I woke up early—still a little sleepy, but ready for more adventures. I had only finished showering when my boyfriend invited me to breakfast. We went to Soto Ayam Lamongan Cak Har, one of his favorite spots, serving dishes originally from East Java.

It was honestly pretty obvious from how different the soto tasted here. If yesterday’s was sweet, this one was much saltier. I thought it was just okay at first, but once I mixed in the koya and chili, it became so much better. I loved the condiments, too.

After breakfast, my boyfriend dropped me off at the hotel so I could do makeup and hair. He went home to spend the morning with his family. I had a little nice me-time session with Sabrina Carpenter’s music playing in the background (I just hope the walls were truly soundproof).

Lunchtime came a bit early that day. Around 11 a.m., my boyfriend and his mom picked me up. We went to a place called Kedai Babi Koh Tjong just across the hotel. I quite liked the pork-based dishes there.

Lunch was over as fast as it had begun, so we went to hunt for Leker Paimo. Just like yesterday, it had sold out. Again. To make up for it, my boyfriend stopped in front of a cart selling famous durian dawet. His mom got us each a cup (sans durian for him). It was so refreshing, although a bit too sweet.

Next, we went to Moachi Kentangan to buy some souvenirs before picking up my order of Super Bakcang for the four of us.

One of the most enormous bakcangs I have ever had—filled with pork and salted egg

Well, the rest of the day was slow and relaxing. We visited Awann Costa, a new tourist attraction by the coast. It was scorching hot, though, so we couldn’t stay long. The gelato shop my boyfriend had been eyeing was too packed, so we decided it wasn’t worth the wait.

Seeing the sea, even from afar, kind of made up for it, though. It had been a while since I last visited a beach (missing it, truly).

We realized we didn’t have many options given how hot the weather was. Semarang’s heat was as searing as I remembered. Hoping for some rest, the duo decided to go home (while I happily agreed). We talked for a while before winding down for the rest of the evening.

Evening came a little too fast. Just like the day before, the whole group (now complete with the presence of my boyfriend’s dad) went on another hilariously chaotic debate about where to eat. I said I was fine with anything. His mom wanted to show me her favorite restaurants, so Aroem it was. However, the place was almost fully booked, so the waiter ushered us to the ballroom. What a vibe.

Dinner was great, though his mom argued that it used to be much better. We then drove around Semarang, passing Simpang Lima and other well-known areas nearby. Everything looked lovely at night. I enjoyed seeing the city lights and being part of the night crowd from our car window.

When I finally landed in bed a few hours after that, I was so tired I didn’t even check my phone.

***

Waking up early felt somehow atmospheric. Under the dim, orange lighting, I woke up feeling pleasantly calm. But it was time to go back to Jakarta, so I couldn’t just idle, no matter the temptation.

After doing my skincare and checking that everything was packed, my boyfriend and I went to Tawang Station. We met his parents there to exchange breakfast (because apparently, we’re not the only ones who thought of buying breakfast for the other party). We brought OG Roti’O for them; they brought us two packs of fried rice and a packet of tissues (his mom noticed I always carry them).

Once we boarded the train, I looked around and thought about how fast these two days had gone by—and how fulfilling, too. Part of my heart was stolen here—by the people and the city’s slower rhythm. I believe it’s what a good vacation does. And this break from my mundane reality has been one close to heart.