Enjoy Fun Trips on the Trans-Java toll Road

The Trans-Java Toll Road brings various stories and experiences for people who pass through it. They can not only save the travel time but also enjoy memorable travel experiences.

KOMPAS/ERWIN EDHI PRASETYA

A number of vehicles crossed the Trans-Java toll road section Salatiga-Solo-Sragen in the Boyolali area, Central Java, Saturday (4/5/2019).

The trans-Java toll road has been a thrill for travelers. Homecomers, tourists, on-duty government employees and businessmen use toll roads not only to reduce travel time but also for the sake of effective and efficient traveling.

The year-end holiday in 2019 was unforgettable for the family of Lilo Legowo, 47, a resident of Kelapa Dua Wetan, East Jakarta. When Yuni, his wife, had to accompany her parents to visit her sister in the Netherlands, Lilo took his two children, Agni, who was 11 years old at the time, and Naiya, 9, and his niece, Aya, 12, on vacation to Batu, East Java . Instead of using a plane, he chose to travel by private car through the trans-Java toll road.

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On the way, he stopped to enjoy the culinary delights of Surakarta, visit Sukuh temple, experience tubing at the Kali Pucung River in Karanganyar and feel the coolness of the mountain air by staying in Karanganyar. The journey continued with a tour to Jatim Park 2 and 3 in Batu.

"Road trips using private cars are definitely more economical and we can stop by at a number of places," said Lilo on Saturday (12/18/2021).

In 2015, when the trans-Java toll road was not yet open to the public, he and his family went on vacation to Bali. He spent around only Rp 2 million (US$139.09) to reach Bali by car.

After two years of not traveling due to the pandemic, he planned to take his family back on vacation to Bali by car.

"Next year, when all the children have been vaccinated, I want to go on vacation to Bali again by car," he said.

On his way to visit his family in Semarang, Central Java, he stopped in Cirebon to enjoy the delicacy of H Apud's empal gentong (beef served from a clay barrel).

Rizki, 32, a resident of Bandung, West Java, also felt the thrill of driving on the trans-Java toll road. On his way to visit his family in Semarang, Central Java, he stopped in Cirebon to enjoy the delicacy of H Apud's empal gentong (beef served from a clay barrel).

Not only that, he also explored the area’s typical culinary delights until he found sate blengong (duck satay) in Brebes. In Brebes, blengong meat is made into satay with various spices.

KOMPAS/IWAN SANTOSA

Trans-Java Toll Road, Jakarta-Semarang toll road.

Not only that, he also explored the area’s typical culinary delights until he found sate blengong (duck satay) in Brebes. In Brebes, blengong meat is made into satay with various spices.

"If you are not in a hurry, you can exit the toll road and find culinary delights in the nearest area. This makes the journey more fun," he said.

Stopping to enjoy regional specialties and tourist destinations can also be done without having to exit the toll road. The resting area in Banjaratma on the 260-kilometer point of the Pejagan-PeMalang toll road is an option

The 10.4 hectare resting place is located on the former Banjaratma sugar factory, which was built during the colonial period. Sugarcane milling machines, former large brick stoves and train locomotives that were once used to transport sugarcane are still preserved there.

”In a year, we stopped at the rest area at least twice. The last time was in last August, when my younger siblings went to university in Semarang," Wahyu Wibisana, 31, a resident of Cirebon regency said on Thursday (16/12).

The originality of the resting place has attracted many travelers on the trans-Java toll road. In fact, it is also a popular tourist destination for local residents. They are even willing to "enter the toll road" just to visit Banjaratma.

"At least once every two months I take my family here because I like to visit historical tourist spots," Firman, 9, a resident of Talang district, Tegal regency, said when visiting the rest area.

Official travel

Many government officials also use the trans-Java toll road when on duty outside the city. One of them is Siti Wahyuningsih, 58, the head of the Surakarta Health Agency. With her current position, she is often invited to meetings in Jakarta.

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Trans-Java toll road kilometer 147.

The 10.4 hectare resting place is located on the former Banjaratma sugar factory, which was built during the colonial period. Sugarcane milling machines, former large brick stoves and train locomotives that were once used to transport sugarcane are still preserved there.

”In a year, we stopped at the rest area at least twice. The last time was in last August, when my younger siblings went to university in Semarang," Wahyu Wibisana, 31, a resident of Cirebon regency said on Thursday (16/12).

The originality of the resting place has attracted many travelers on the trans-Java toll road. In fact, it is also a popular tourist destination for local residents. They are even willing to "enter the toll road" just to visit Banjaratma.

"At least once every two months I take my family here because I like to visit historical tourist spots," Firman, 9, a resident of Talang district, Tegal regency, said when visiting the rest area.

Official travel

Many government officials also use the trans-Java toll road when on duty outside the city. One of them is Siti Wahyuningsih, 58, the head of the Surakarta Health Agency. With her current position, she is often invited to meetings in Jakarta.

If she used a plane or train, she often had difficulty arranging her schedule.

Since the trans-Java toll road opened, she uses it more frequently with her office car. If she used a plane or train, she often had difficulty arranging her schedule.

"With the toll road, I don't have to wait when I have to leave," said Siti.

Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka also often uses the toll road to travel to the capital city. Moreover, the number of domestic flights has been significantly reduced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It's also hard to find flights now. Finding air tickets is also difficult. It is better to travel by land. This toll road is the answer. In addition, some of my guests who come to Surakarta also often use toll roads with private cars instead of taking public transportation," said Gibran.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the East Java Entrepreneurs Association (Forkas) Communication Forum, Eddy Widjanarko, has also frequently used the trans-Java toll road in the past two years. He chose to use the toll road every time he visits a footwear factory in Semarang or when he has to attend an association meeting.

“Travel via toll roads is more comfortable, safe, efficient and effective. In addition, it’s cheaper than taking an airplane," said Eddy.

Eddy, also the chairman of the Indonesian Footwear Association, said that by using the toll road, he could arrive at meetings on time. For example, a trip from Surabaya to Semarang via toll road can take three to four hours. The travel time is even more certain than taking a plane, which often experiences a delay of between one to two hours.

KOMPAS/FAJAR RAMADHAN

Situasi Simpang Susun Brebes Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jumat (31/5/2019) pukul 13.00, yang sepi dari kendaraan yang melintas.

The trans-Java toll road brings various stories and experiences for people who pass through it. They can not only save travel time but also enjoy memorable travel experiences. (WHY/TAM/IKI/XTI/ NIK/ETA/NCA)

(The article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).