7 things about living in Yogyakarta Local House that you Should Know
Everything is going to be easy after the start-up company like airbnb educate people in this world to monetize their room and be a hotel owner wannabe. Even for me who don’t have any experience to serve a guest at all, not just like my friend who get a hospitality and hotel school in Europe which is cost over than USD150,000. In 2013 when I sign up on airbnb and got my first guest from Belgium I exactly don’t know how to do check in and receiving my money and once my guest arrived I just see my wife and look her do teh same thing to me cause we really confuse about it.
- Toilet paper is an un-normal thing that placed on the rest room – Here in Indonesia using a toilet paper is not a common things to do you using a jet sprayer and toilet flush is quite enough. Some airbnb host already put a toilet paper on their bathroom but in case you choose a “new” host in airbnb or couch serving just get ready for this essential thing and always put it in your backpack.
- Take a bath with a water in a bucket is the way of life – Our way to take a bath in by using a small bucket and put the water inside from the big water tub and splash it into your body. In my first 1 year experience of being an airbnb host I also don’t put a shower in my bathroom but after I know that using a shower is an international standard of having a bath so I change it right now. In case you stay in a local house that don’t provide a shower I suggest you to get used in very fast when get in to their bath room than try to take a bath like locals, use the bucket!
- Hearing an “Adzan” praying call voice is a normal – You should know that over than 50% of Indonesian population is a moslem so that’w why you will hear five times praying call directly from the mosque. The worst thing is if you stay in a house that located only few meter from the mosque and you hear this calling for the Subuh Pray cause it will be in 4.30 a.m. a really good time that I sure you still sleep like a baby after your tired schedule yesterday.
- An “always” wet bathroom is a common – Dry bathroom is not familiar in Indonesia’s house, don’t know why but over than 25 years I live in this beautiful country I always face that all bathroom is used to be wet. One reason that I belief is because that house is using by over than 2 person so when you get in to the bathroom so it always still wet.
- Drink a beer or any alcohol drink outside is impolite – Different than if you go to Bali which belong to touristic city, since here in Yogyakarta drinking an alcohol is not common things to do even they are not moslem (Chatolic or Christian) but drink an alcohol is like a personal habit so when you buy some beer just bring it inside the room (if the house owner allow) or drink it in a cafes or restaurant that provide it as well
- Be ready to become a “fake” celebrity wannabe – Only if you are a blonde hair person, be ready to be asked by someone to taking a photo together. You should know that this isn’t a racist act but some of use, I can tell you that we are proud to taking a photo shots together by “bule” a calling to foreigner which has a blonde hair. They gonna proud and show the photo to all friends and family that “Yeah we got a foreigner taking photo together”.
- Motor bike rider is a street king – Motor bike population is growing fast because some of motor company sell their motor with very cheap installment. When you rent a scooter to sightseeing around just aware with your surrounding and always see your mirror when you want to change your direction. Other case if you want to cross the street just sway your hand and ask teh motor bike to stop (even it don’t gonna be happen) but this the best way cause zebra cross may not safe your life.