Flashback to seven years ago—this is an old photo taken when I was still in college, around 2013. At the time, I was juggling evening classes with a full-time job. I managed to keep up this schedule for almost three years, until it all became overwhelming when the storm of SKRIPSHIT (a play on “thesis” in Indonesian student slang) struck.
Long story short, I was assigned by my boss to be a tour guide for corporate guests from Kalimantan on a trip around Jogja and its surroundings. If I remember correctly, our route was Borobudur Temple > Merapi Museum > Lava Tour > a Dragon Fruit Orchard in Sleman > Mangunan Fruit Garden Summit in Bantul > Parangtritis Beach.
Eventually, we reached the end of the tour, welcomed by a breathtaking red sunset on the western horizon of the beach. It was extraordinary!
Parangtritis is one of the most famous tourist spots in Yogyakarta. Besides it, there are also many other beach attractions like Samas, Baron, Kukup, Krakal, and Glagah. The entrance fee is still affordable, only IDR 5,000 per person.
With time and ongoing city government development, tourist visits—both local and international—have steadily increased, enhancing the local economy. Besides attracting more tourists, this development has also encouraged local residents to get creative and create job opportunities. For example, there are ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) rentals, paragliding, horseback riding, mini swimming pools, and sandboarding on the sand dunes. The sandboarding facilities are now well-managed by the Bantul Regency Government, including accommodation and Parangtritis-specific souvenir stalls, making Parangtritis Beach even more vibrant and colorful.
