A Short Trip to Solo and How I Made It Magical

I believe in the beauty of little things and in romanticizing life in general. I like observing my surroundings (and I also like to believe that I possess the ability to catch details most people fail to notice).

Likewise, when I travel, I like to make the most of things. I usually treat a trip as more than just an escapade. Every moment and place is deeply cherished because I know there’s always something to widen my perspective—whether it’s a kind-hearted driver, a stunning cultural heritage, or even an easily irritated travel companion.

Everything eventually added up during my very first trip to Solo. I used to think that I loved traveling simply because I did. I don’t. I love it because it’s something I can make the most out of. Even when I visit the same place twice, I know I’ll experience it differently every time.

And I realized it during my first trip this year.

***

As always, early-morning trips excite me, so boarding a train before sunrise for my very first trip of the year felt comforting. My travel companions weren’t the same this time—they were my co-workers—but the familiarity of a still-black horizon, the cold air in the taxi, and the slight rush felt just like old times.

What wasn’t familiar was the fact that I almost—almost—lost my duffel bag.

Seriously. I don’t know how I could have been so careless. I’m usually the type who triple-checks everything. What the heck?

For context: after checking in, I opened my shoulder bag and handed each of my co-workers a Shu Shu mochi (my favorite mochi in the world). Guess what I did after that? I happily walked toward the train. No pressure. My steps were light as a feather.

And there sat my duffel bag, unattended on a random waiting-room seat.

I only realized my mistake when I was about to step onto the train. I looked back to make sure no one in the group had been left behind when I noticed one of my co-workers pulling her luggage.

“Wait… luggage? Where is my bag?!”

It felt like a life-defining moment. Scenes flashed before my eyes. I imagined a failed trip where my bag was gone forever.

Without thinking, I sprinted back to the crime scene.

It was still there. It was still there.

It was still there.

Kids, don’t do this at home.

I was so, so, so grateful that my bag had been left untouched despite the sea of passengers around it. After spending my entire life hearing how dangerous it is to leave a bag unattended in an airport or train station, I’ve always been extremely cautious. Looking back, my unofficial travel motto might as well be: never, ever take your eyes off your belongings.

It was alarming to realize how comfortable I had suddenly become with my surroundings. I had completely lowered my guard. I then became paranoid that someone had swapped my bag or slipped something suspicious into it.

Thankfully, my imagination remained just that—an imagination. I checked the bag from top to bottom, and everything was exactly where it should be.

At 5:40 a.m., our train departed. Our short getaway to Solo had officially begun.

The train ride itself was smooth and uneventful. I watched YouTube videos and read on my Kindle, which looked and felt incredibly romantic. Breakfast was nice too. I was hungry, so I ordered a cup of noodles. I then took a nap because waking up at 3:30 a.m. had finally caught up with me.

We arrived at Solo Station around 1:25 p.m.

And we were starving.

Off we went to our hotel to drop off our belongings before heading to a restaurant recommended by our taxi driver: Selat Solo Tenda Biru.

I ordered the selat daging (the closest English equivalent would probably be beefsteak), while we also shared a bowl of gempol pleret, a traditional Central Javanese dessert featuring chewy rice-flour dumplings.

I don’t normally enjoy sweet main courses, but the selat daging was surprisingly good. The meat wasn’t quite as tender as I had hoped, but the overall combination worked quite wonderfully.

Afterward, we returned to the hotel for a short break. I washed my face, did my makeup, and headed out again for ice cream at Es Krim Tentrem.

Established in 1952, the legendary ice cream shop was full of vintage charm. Most of us ordered the famous Tutty Fruity, which was essentially chocolate ice cream topped with fruit cocktail. While the ice cream itself didn’t completely blow me away, I loved what the place seemed to represent: ice cream from the good old days. Everything felt nostalgic in the best way possible.

The ice cream, however, made us even sleepier.

To wake ourselves up, we decided to stroll through the Ngarsopuro Night Market. Since we arrived before 6 p.m., most of the vendors were still setting up. My co-workers bought quite a few things. I didn’t.

As it turned out, the market wasn’t as large as we had imagined. We quickly reached the end of it and crossed the street to explore the famous Gatot Subroto street instead, where I bought matching crochet duck keychains for my boyfriend and me.

At around 8:30 p.m., we decided it was finally time for dinner.

We headed to Wang Li Heng, a noodle restaurant famous enough to attract a long queue. It took us nearly thirty minutes to get a table. Thankfully, the bakmi creamy short plate did not disappoint.

After dinner, we returned to the hotel and called it a night.

Or rather, we tried.

My roommate and I ended up talking for hours. We discussed our past experiences, our present lives, faith, and countless other things. The conversation flowed so naturally that I didn’t even reply to my boyfriend’s messages. It felt wonderful to connect with a co-worker on such a personal level.

And before we knew it, it was almost 2 a.m.

This time, we forced ourselves to sleep because we really, really had to.

***

I woke up around five the next morning, fell asleep again, and finally got out of bed around seven, waking to the sound of my co-workers returning from their morning run. (Notice how I didn’t join the morning run? Well, um, I’ll get to that part of my self-improvement journey later.)

Since our schedule had been pushed back slightly, we ordered breakfast online. I ended up with nasi uduk with fried chicken from a place called Warung Mbak Cemplok.

It was unexpectedly delicious.

After breakfast, we officially started the day at Pasar Gede Hardjonagoro.

The traditional market, however, wasn’t quite what I expected. Then again, I’m not entirely sure what I expected. It looked very much like the traditional markets back home—which was honestly a good thing. Traditional markets remind me of childhood. Pasar Gede, however, was significantly more crowded than any market I had visited before.

Navigating the crowd while guarding my oversized tote bag was a challenge. Still, it was worth it for one reason alone: Dawet Telasih Bu Dermi. It was refreshing, delicious, and only cost IDR 15,000.

As it turned out, I wasn’t the only one feeling overwhelmed by the crowd. All of my co-workers felt the same.

After finishing our drinks, we quickly moved on to Rasamadu Heritage.

Each of us bought the complete package, which included access to the outdoor area, the Cubic infinity room, and the transport museum.

Our favorite? Definitely the Cubic room. The immersive experience was absolutely worth it.

What nobody warned me about, however, was how hot Solo could be. The outdoor area was beautiful and rich in cultural heritage, but I barely had enough energy to pose for photos under the scorching sun.

Even so, I was grateful to experience it on such a lovely day.

By the time we left, we were hungry again. We booked another ride to Sate Kambing & Tengkleng Rica-Rica Pak Manto.

If you love goat meat and enjoy intensely meaty dishes, you’ll probably adore sate buntel. I, unfortunately, was not one of those people.

Everything smelled incredible, but goat meat has always been more of my boyfriend’s favorite than mine. Still, trying unfamiliar food is part of the fun of traveling, so I considered the meal a success.

The rest of the afternoon moved at a slower pace. We wandered through Kampung Batik Kauman, which was absolutely beautiful. While some of my co-workers focused on shopping, I found myself admiring the streetscape instead. The neighborhood blended Solo’s historical atmosphere with its traditional culture beautifully.

Later, we stopped by Toko Roti Orion for souvenirs before returning to the hotel to rest.

When dinner time arrived, I was more than ready to leave the room again. This time, we visited Timlo Sastro 2, a recommendation from my boyfriend.

The entire group loved it. The timlo was delicious and absolutely worth the price.

Afterward, nobody could decide where to go next. Since no one had any concrete ideas, I randomly suggested returning to Ngarsopuro Night Market.

To my delight, everyone agreed.

The Keprabon area was heavily congested that evening, but I didn’t mind. It’s not every day that I get to visit a night market, so I enthusiastically explored every booth I could find.

I went home with two personalized keychains for friends—and two more for myself. One carried my initial, the other carried my boyfriend’s.

Oh, how I love personalized things!

By the time we returned to the hotel, I wanted nothing more than a blanket and a bed.

***

On my final day in Solo, I felt only half as energized. Even though I had slept more the day before, it still wasn’t enough to satisfy my personal seven-hour sleep requirement.

Fortunately, breakfast made up for it.