You must have heard about Hanung Bramantyo’s
movie called “Bumi Manusia” (“This Earth of Mankind”) in which the
infamous “Dilan” (Iqbaal Ramadhan) starred as the male lead. This film
adaptation of Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s literary work with the same title, Bumi
Manusia, was released last year and became an instant success in the league
of the Indonesian film industry for it occupied the position of the
most-watched movie in Indonesia for 2 consecutive weeks before “Gundala” finally
took over.
Bumi Manusia (Source: Wikipedia)
If you happen to be a fan of the movie and thus
being curious of the filmmaking process, I would gladly show you the film set where
such a phenomenal flick is originated—it is at “Studio Alam Gamplong.”
Getting to Know the Site
Situated at a vast area at Gamplong 1 village,
Moyudan sub-district, Sleman regency, this open “studio” is built amidst the
locals’ residences. Nonetheless, Studio Alam Gamplong successfully attracts
a lot of daily visitors coming from different parts of the region due to the
popularity of the movie affiliated with it. At first, this film set was not
meant for a tourist attraction—it was originally a set in which Hanung
Bramantyo’s early work, “Sultan Agung: The Untold Love Story”, was produced. However,
after Bumi Manusia was completed, the set which is used to be temporary
was instead handed to the Sleman regent, Sri Purnomo, and later in 2018 was
officially launched as the local attraction by Joko Widodo.[1]
At the site, visitors can feast their eyes on
the peculiar buildings constructed as the theatrical properties as well as the
pleasing scenery surrounding them. The first buildings you may encounter once
you get inside the area are the Javanese traditional houses which are located
in the south. As a typical kampong, there are some props which come with the wooden
houses, such as harvested paddies and haystacks, mortars and pestles, woven
baskets, etc. You can also find “Wedang Kopi Darsam”, a café which
serves various kinds of local coffee, amongst those houses and take a sip.
Traditional Javanese Kampong
Next to this complex, there is a classic mansion painted in baby blue which turns out to be a museum showcasing the props used in the filmmaking. This building is located in a separate area surrounded by high walls and gates. To get inside, you have to buy a ticket at the price of Rp 10.000,00—this is different with the parking and entrance fee as there is no specified pricing to these. However, spending some extra money definitely will not hurt for you will be mesmerised by the collections while taking a tour in this building.
Bumi Manusia Museum
The Gate of Bumi Manusia Museum
Moving on to the western area, you will immediately
notice a fortress with its thick stone walls and a small bridge stretching
above a river. There are also some old European martial houses inside the towering
and seemingly unassailable walls. This set of buildings turns out to be the
replica of the Batavia castle whose existence is unknown nowadays.
The Bridge
Batavia Castle
Inside the Batavia Castle
Opposite to the castle, just around the river
there is a tram which will take you to its nearby stop at “Kota Lama”. As
you follow the railway and head north, the scenery of what seemingly to be a
historic downtown will be spotted right away. Various kinds of shops and
kiosks, accommodation—both hotels and motels—, a Chinatown, and some classic, old-fashioned
two-story housings line up at the central area of the town. This area seems to
be the most popular compared to the others as crowds of visitors constantly
fill the space. This is why you may come across real shops and kiosks which
sell various kinds of snacks and drinks there. There are even some angkringans
(traditional Javanese food stalls) situated between the buildings.
The Tram
The Access to Kota Lama
Kota Lama
Buildings inside the Kota Lama complex
In the eastern area of Kota Lama,
visitors can step into “Perkampungan Kumuh” or slums full of houses made
of rusted zinc boards.
The Scenery of Perkampungan Kumuh
Houses in the Perkampungan Kumuh complex
Currently, a new complex of “Keraton Mataram”
(Mataram Palace) facing to the south is being built together with the
walls and gates surrounding the building.
The Gate of Keraton Mataram
Additional Information and
Tips
Even if Studio Alam Gamplong is situated
in the middle of local residences, there is a large parking lot opposite to the
site, so you do not need to worry where to park your car. To enter the studio, there is no specified
entrance fee; we can give however much we want. However, entering the museum
requires an entrance ticket.
The Ticketing Area
You would likely to pass through a ridiculously
large field once you entered the studio. Before crossing the bridge to get to
another part of the film set, you can buy some fish food for a cheap deal and spread
them to the fishes in the river. This is especially amusing if you bring along
your kids as it is such a fun activity to do for their age. Furthermore, the
tram near the river is also available, so you can try to take it even if it
will not be a long trip as it is just a form of props. As you stroll along the
streets in Kota Lama, you may want to buy some local food and snacks at
the shops. Most importantly, you have to prepare your best camera for there are
countless spots great for taking amazing shots at Studio Alam Gamplong.
One of the Kiosks Selling Food and Beverages
This tourist attraction opens from 9 a.m. to 6
p.m. on Mondays until Friday and longer at the weekend—from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. It
is best to visit the site in the late afternoon to get some beautiful sunset
shots as the background for dramatic results; however, if you try to avoid the
crowds of visitors and want to take pictures of the site alone, it is better to
get there much earlier. Additionally, there are also some standard facilities
provided for the visitors, such as restrooms and a praying room.
Reference:
_____. 2019. Studio Alam Gamplong di
Yogyakarta, Tempat Berburu Foto Instagramable. Retrieved on Monday,
February 24th 2020 from https://travel.kompas.com/read/2019/12/29/182000127/studio-alam-gamplong-di-yogyakarta-tempat-berburu-foto-instagramable?page=all.
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