Assignment #11

YOGYAKARTA’S SPOTLIGHT

Malioboro is one of Yogyakarta’s many landmarks. You can say that it is the most famous street in this city. Ask any first-time visitor to Yogyakarta, and you will most probably find the street on their must-visit list. It is as if visiting this city wouldn’t be complete without coming here. Among the things to discover street vendors selling souvenirs, batik, and food; artists doing sreet perfomances; and old buildings.

Until now, this place still survives as the trade center and be one of Yogyakarta icons. Regarding to its unique naming, there are two history versions about Malioboro’s name. The first is taken from the name of an English gentleman, namely Marlborough, a resident of the United Kingdom in the city of Yogyakarta in 1811 AD to 1816 AD. The second one is taken from Sanskrit which means "bouquet", since this place used to be filled with a bouquet of flowers when the Palace held celebration. 

Near the southern end of the street is one of its oldest buildings: the Beringharjo Market.In this city’s largest traditional market, you will see a wide range of items at a reasonable price. Take a whiff of herbs, foodstuff, and local dishes at some corners, and get tempted by traditional handicrafts on display at others. Becak, or pedicab, and andong, or horse-drawn carriage, are two means of traditional transportation worth riding while you are in the city.

To know deeper about Malioboro history made us ​​end up to ask directly the one person who has worked for about forty years, named Pak Siswo, 66 year-old, a cabman who's devoted himself since the 70's on Sultan Hamengkubuwono X (HB X) period. He told us slightly about its story while sitting on his andong remembering the old Malioboro. He said, in the past andong can only parked in front of Beringharjo Market, so the street in front of it had become overcrowded with no sidewalks and no many street vendors around due to the road was used only for pedestrians. Since most vehicles were still dominated by pedicab and andong, he admitted that it was easier to earn money. Regarding the urban development, there were no attics and so many hotels, yet many large trees on the roadside still stand up for pollution avoiding. However,one-way street was already prevailed, even wider. 

In contrast to Malioboro now, we can see there are already sidewalks, so andong and pedicab are allowed to park around. More interesting, andong and pedicab are under the supervision of Sultan HB X, including licensing in putting attributes on it, or the provision of uniforms of those who want to promote the certain products. It aims to maintain the public order and also security. This makes Sultan HB X easy to control and invite the cabman to participate in the palace celebrations.

Urban development around the street depends on Mayor who reigned, for example: previous Mayor wants to plant pots along the way, but now, the mayor wants sidewalk is planted with grass, so no more plant pots for giving a better view. Mostly large trees have also been cut down for safety and there're a lot of street vendors selling batik or souvenirs.

Life goes on, and the seasons kept changing. Now, Pak Siswo considers his work not only as a way to earn money, but also as an entertainment, remember the increasing of the number of competitors such as Trans Jogja bus, taxi, etc., although he admitted that it's difficult in earning money as a cabman today.

As a city with many landmarks, Yogyakarta also has another famous place namely Pasar Kembang, known as Sarkem. People said it is an interesting place for nocturnal activity, located in the center of city, Sosrowijayan. Now, it has changed, either a matter of system or the way the prostitutes behave and dress up. For private reason, they are only given the HIV/AIDS vaccination twice a month. Skill building was even completely removed from agenda on 2010 so some of them were taken and the rest were stayed. However, they still go to school and get lessons at least until Senior High School. In time, they are fully devoted themselves to be a prostitute and no longer rely on the attendant to earn money and freely attract the visitors who are normally coming from pupils and students. By doing so, they tend to wear miniskirt and tank-top. 

So in short they seek for men, in other words, the more visitors they served the more money they got. Our interviewee is an old woman who has settled in Sosromenduran for almost 65 years. Her name is Mariyani, a widower who become the elder at Sosrowijayan Kulon RT 17 RW 03. She has five children who are working as a tailor and hairdresser. She gave us a very clear explanation that Sarkem is no more than just a name of Street around Malioboro, not place where the prostitution takes place, but Sosrowijayan back then, which has three hundreds or something inhabitans, became a boarding house complex due to University of Proklamasi established and inns for sellers mostly from Bandung and Jakarta besides as the residence of the prostitutes or place for them to get money. Mainly, they came from Jepara, East Java and Cilacap so this place also gave lodging for temporary staying. Then, they should register to Bunga Seroja and will be announced to others on the meeting later. That's how procedure is running.

The prostitutes were raised to get education like others by the local citizens and build their skill in cooking and sewing. They got regular vaccination every week to avoid HIV/AIDS. How they dress up formerly like commoners and more polite –wearing a jeans or midi-skirt combine with shirt or blouse-. They went to school in the morning and go working at night until predawn. This prostitution was already exist since colonial period. The visitors came from Indochinese people and artists. When they want to, let’s call it, be ‘served’, they must ask attendant first so the prostitute just stayed at inns and waited for the visitors. Around the 60’s, some of the prostitutes were moved to place around Kotagede but then they returned due to the government’s plan to build Giwangan Station. The situation was uncontrolled and disorganized -so many drunken got into fight and mini nightclubs were opened nonstop-.