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This story is about a happy family trip from Turin, Italy, Gianfranco, Yoh, and their teenage daughter, Sofie. It all started with an email sent by Gianfranco to me, stating that he and his family needed private transportation on August 8-12, 2025. Without much consideration, they immediately booked a car and driver with me, with a previously agreed travel schedule. Coincidentally, at that time, my schedule was to be their private driver. Because in my place, the driver’s schedule had been mutually agreed upon.
On August 8, 2025, I picked up this happy family from Turin, Italy at Yogyakarta airport around 8 pm. Because they were tired, we went straight to the hotel where they were staying in Yogyakarta. Coincidentally, the hotel they were staying in had a beautiful view and a swimming pool on a cliff, so they could see the atmosphere of Yogyakarta city.
Family from Turin Italy visiting Borobudur, Prambanan and Ramayana ballet
On the second day in Yogyakarta, they planned to visit Borobudur, Prambanan temple, and the Ramayana ballet in the afternoon. Coincidentally, they got tickets for Borobudur temple in session 4, which was at 11:30 am. At 8:30 am, we left the hotel for Borobudur temple, which took about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Along the way, they talked a lot about their travels before going to Yogyakarta.
It turned out they had come to Indonesia three times. I was surprised and asked why they had come to Indonesia three times. They answered that they really love Indonesia’s nature, its people, and its food. They had been to Bali, Sulawesi, Belitung, and Lombok. I was proud to hear the stories they told me. Before I knew it, we had arrived at Borobudur temple.
After parking the car, I showed them the ticket location and the entrance to Borobudur temple. I waited for them for about 2 hours and finally they came out with happy faces. They were very amazed to be able to see Borobudur Temple directly. We then continued our journey to Prambanan Temple which took about 1.5 hours from Borobudur Temple via a shortcut.
Because they already had Prambanan Temple tickets, they could immediately enter the temple complex which consists of 4 temples in 1 complex. These temples include Prambanan Temple, Lumbung Temple, Bubrah Temple and Sewu Temple. Around 5:15 PM they left the Prambanan Temple complex and immediately headed to the Ramayana dance performance venue which was located to the west of Prambanan Temple.
Watch the Ramayana dance performance
At 5:30 PM the Ramayana performance began and they enjoyed the performance. Actually, there are 2 sessions of the Ramayana ballet performance here, at 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM. For the 5:30 pm performance, the performance only lasted for 1 hour, so at 6:30 pm they had already left the Ramayana performance venue. Before returning to the hotel, they invited me to dinner.
While enjoying dinner, we also talked about the journey we had gone through together that day. We also discussed plans for the 3rd day in Yogyakarta. In August, in many areas in Indonesia, there are many children’s competitions to commemorate the independence day of the Republic of Indonesia. I also offered them a bicycle tour in my village while watching the children’s competition. They were happy to accept my offer.
Explore the beauty of Yogyakarta and bicycle tour
On the third day, our program was to visit the Yogyakarta Palace, Taman Sri, and a bicycle tour in my village. According to the agreement, I picked them up at 8 am at the hotel and immediately headed to the Yogyakarta Palace and continued to Taman Sari.
That morning we went straight to the palace to see the cultural center in Yogyakarta and also the classical Javanese dance that is held almost every day. After finishing the tour at the palace and Taman Sari, we went to my house to go on a bicycle tour and watch the children’s race to commemorate Indonesian independence.
A happy family from Turin, Italy, apparently really likes the game and they also participated in the competition. Then we continued to the local residents who make tempeh and tofu in the traditional way. About 2 hours around the village by bicycle and participated in the independence day competition, we went back to my house to enjoy my local coffee. And the tour ended after a late lunch, eating Soto daging sapi from Bantul Yogyakarta.
Enjoy the jeep adventure in Merapi Volcano
On the fourth day, we will take part in a jeep adventure on Mount Merapi. We departed from the hotel at 8 am and went straight to the jeep operator in Cangkringan, Sleman, Yogyakarta. After arriving there, they immediately followed the off-road jeep guided by an experienced driver. After about two hours of jeep tours on Merapi, we immediately headed to Yogyakarta city to take part in a batik painting class.
Here, we can learn how to make batik and paint directly, and we can take the results home. From the process of drawing patterns, coloring, to attaching wax to the fabric that we will color. The process of making batik takes a long time, but here we only use small media. So it doesn’t take long to make a painting. After finishing, we returned to the hotel.
On the fifth day, the last day, I took them to the airport to travel to another place, they planned to visit Belitung Island. This is more or less my trip with the happy family from Turin, Italy, I hope you all always have health and happiness. Have a nice holiday and see you next time.
