This is the second and my new entry for blog contest by @VisitJawaTengah and @BlogJateng2015. My former post was about Yogyakarta (which shouldn't be part of Central Java because it is a Special District of Yogyakarta, but to us Jakartans they just 'feel' the same). My last visit to Solo was in September 2013, and I just realized I didn't post about it due to my hectic timing then.

it was past midnight when we arrived in Solo Balapan station

So let me tell you about my journey there. We went by train from Gambir, Jakarta, to Solo's Balapan. It was another few hours trip by car to Pogog village, a very secluded barren hill and the people live by farming papaya and durian (along with other fruits and vegetables), although the land there is way too dry and arid! In that trip we met Mas Jiwo 'Pogog' whose project is to bring the village's standard of living higher and farther.

talking with local people and Mas Jiwo 'Pogog'

the very barren land of Pogog

the only mosque in the village

baby papaya tree

the fruits to be sold in big cities

It is amazing how a very barren land could still produce fruits and vegetables for its inhabitants. I had such a privilege to have visited the humble 'out of nowhere' place like that and witness that act of kindness from a person who had nothing to do with the village at first but then fall in love and dedicated his life for the people on his community service program in college.

the seeds were named after the man who cultivate this kind of durian sunan

and this one, Simus Raja for Indonesian 'king of fruits'

I also noticed, during the hours of road trip, how perfectly the hills and mountains are shaping the form of pyramids with precise tilting angle in all sides. Too bad I had only my phone camera by then so it was blurry to take objects when we were moving in the car. But one thing I should add in this journey is my amazement of how a barren land with very dry earth and almost no rainfall all year could produce fruits and vegetables, and make a living to the people of Pogog.

the view was very beautiful, the air cool and fresh up there in Pogog

As the old Koes Ploes's song "Kolam Susu" had once mentioned, "orang bilang tanah kita tanah surga; tongkah kayu dan batu jadi tanaman," which translates as: "they say our land is (like) paradise; (even) a piece of wood and rock (can) become a plant"--this song can literally manifested to the village of Pogog. Or perhaps Koes Plus made the song here from Pogog? ;D

Isn't it wonderful, how rich and miraculous the land of Java is?
I know, that's why I love Indonesia so much, our Nuswantara Jaya. (;