The plan to go here could be said to be very spontaneous. That morning, at the inn, my wife said while sipping coffee, "Let's find a place that makes us feel old." I thought she was joking, but it turned out she immediately invited me to the Gemplong Antique Museum. She said she had seen the place and was really curious.
We immediately rented a motorbike and left the hotel, enjoying the cool morning air typical of Jogja. Meanwhile, my wife's best friend, Tina, left Klaten with her boyfriend and his parents by car. We agreed to meet directly at the location.
As soon as we arrived, the atmosphere immediately felt different. The place is not big, but it has a unique charm that is difficult to explain, wooden buildings, a clean yard, and a classic aura that immediately greets us from the first step.
We parked, met Tina and her group, then entered the museum section. Interestingly, Tina's boyfriend's parents did not enter the museum area — they chose to ride a mini train around the outside area. Meanwhile, we young people were curious to explore the contents of the museum.
As soon as we entered... the atmosphere immediately felt like a childhood home that had not been visited for a long time. There was an old typewriter on the wooden table — a model that made your hands itch to press the buttons. On the other side, a foot sewing machine with iron wheels and a wooden base still stood proudly, as if ready to sew up a forgotten old story.
My wife was busy looking at the collection of old magazines and radios, while occasionally calling me, "Hey, this looks like my grandmother used to have!" Tina and her boyfriend were busy exploring the corners of the room while occasionally laughing when they found items that reminded them of their childhood.
---
One of the most exciting spots was a classic bicycle and an old telephone. After we were satisfied exploring, we sat on a wooden chair near the window. The afternoon sun slowly entered the room, shining on the old bookshelf and several old picture frames that hung neatly. We didn't talk much. Silence... But it was a warm silence. Full of feeling.
There are various other antiques such as billiard tables, pianos, firearms and sharp weapons, sofas, prisons with gym equipment inside, old computers and many more.
Before going home, we had time to chat with the museum manager. He said that most of the collections there were collected from old houses and flea markets, some were even donated by local residents. “Every item has its own story. We just help so the story doesn’t get lost,” he said with a smile.
This holiday feels more meaningful. We didn’t just spend time, but also filled our hearts. If you’re in Jogja or its surroundings, and need a place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, try stopping by the Gemplong Antique Museum. Simple, quiet, and full of feeling.
Thank you for stopping by to read my story.
If you have a favorite nostalgic place too, write it in the comments column. Who knows, it might be our next destination 😊
Agung Prasetyo
Agung prasetyo is a freelancer, now he is more focused on exploring creating content, from a life journey that has moved jobs to add experience and insight, from there agung prasetyo is determined to open jobs for others, because from his experience how difficult it is to find work. For him, making people around him smile happily is his greatest happiness. Thank you for reading, hopefully it will be useful.