Boko Sunrise, Seeing Sunrise from the Top of Tugel Hill

Many people have visited the Palace of Queen Boko that used to be called Abhayagiri Vihara, a palace that based on the meaning lies on the hill full of peacefulness. Nonetheless, few of them experience the comfort of walking from the palace location and trekking through Boko hill in the morning time and enjoy the sun rising in the east. YogYES invites you to enjoy it to celebrate the coming of the new dawn in the beginning of the year.

In order for you to enjoy it, you can register yourself as participant of Boko Trekking in the Temple Tourism Park. Once you register, you get a tour package of walking around Queen Boko Palace, enjoying dawn scenery at Andrawina Plaza (one of the palace halls), staying night in the tent and trekking Boko hill to see the sunrise and the complex of Boko Queen. It must be an interesting tour package in the year-end.

The most interesting journey is trekking that usually starts at 03:00a.m. in order later to enjoy the view of sunrise. It will be the right time to start the journey to enjoy the dawn in the beginning of the year because you must be busy with blowing trumpets in the previous hours to signal the arrival of the New Year. Make sure that you are physically ready to take the journey after staying out the night.

The path leading to Bukit Tugel, where you will see one of the most beautiful dawns is not too difficult, so you do not have to worry. Besides, tour agencies provide you with guides that will ease your first adventure to climb the hill. Nonetheless, some personal equipment such as field clothes, helmet, mountain shoes, flashlight and medicines must be prepared.

During the journey to Bukit Tugel, you cannot see natural view at the surroundings since it is still dark, but you can listen to melodious natural music. If you are sensitive, you can even notice the change of the natural music when dawn comes; the voice of earth insects and night birds that previously dominated is replaced with the crowing of cocks, the chirp of church birds and a little noise from the activities of local people.

The tiring journey to Bukit Tugel will end by dawn so that you can take a rest for a while to wait the rising of the sun. Sitting, while sipping coffee or tea brought from the camp and talk with your friends will be enjoyable. Discussing the plan for a year ahead in each one's life and opening oneself to certain inputs must be very valuable.

The admiring sky panorama will look while waiting for dawn. The night black color will be replaced by gradation of yellow to red. Gradually, the yellow color becomes more dominant signaling the sun has raised high. If the sun has fully decorated the morning, then the color of the sky that previously was black is changed to blue and is decorated with white cloud. If you take your camera, it will be interesting to record each of the change.

When the sun shines fully in the east, you can begin watching beautiful natural view around Bukit Tugel. Looking to the north, you will see Merapi Mountain that stands firmly with some form of white fumes from the peak. Still in the north, you can see the grandeur of Prambanan Temple as the most beautiful Hindu temple.

In other direction, you can see the view of Yogyakarta city, rice field and villages around the hill, some temples located in the lower place, and other interesting sceneries. You are also free to explore each corner of Bukit Tugel. Afterwards, you will leave for the camping area while enjoying the sceneries on both sides of the trek.

Text: Yunanto Wiji Utomo
Artistic: Agung Sulistiono Mabruron
Copyright © 2006 YogYES.COM