Gunungkidul, July 2025 — Lecturers from the Travel and Tourism Business Study Program at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) have developed a tourist guide for use by local guides on the “Grogol Kaloka Experience” Cultural Tour in Grogol Village, Paliyan District, Gunungkidul Regency. This guide serves as the primary resource for local guides accompanying participants in the 2025 Road to Jogja International Kite Festival (JIKF) during the two-hour cultural tour.
According to the authors, the tour guides are not merely conveying information; instead, they provide a comprehensive, educational, and inspiring cultural experience. Therefore, each section of the guide is written with an interpretive approach, connecting cultural facts with local values such as cooperation, simplicity, and local wisdom. The guides are trained to communicate effectively, incorporating stories and philosophies behind each activity, and using a combination of Indonesian, Javanese, and English to ensure a smooth understanding for both domestic and international tourists.
The Grogol Kaloka Experience Cultural Tour begins at the Grogol Village Hall, where participants are welcomed with a traditional dance. Participants are then invited to interact directly with the children of the Grogol Karawitan Studio, where they have the opportunity to try their hand at playing the gamelan and singing traditional songs that convey the joy and pride of local culture. Equally engaging, participants are also invited to play Egrang Batok Kelapa (Coconut Stilts), a traditional game using two coconut shells tied together with rope. The guides explain that this game has long been a part of the village children’s lives as a way to develop balance, courage, and coordination. Participants are also encouraged to try walking on stilts, creating laughter and camaraderie among guests and villagers.
Afterward, participants head to a local home where traditional tempeh is made. In the script, the guides explain in detail the tempeh-making process using natural ingredients and traditional techniques passed down through generations. The process begins with soaking the soybeans for 8–12 hours, peeling them, boiling them for 30–60 minutes, drying them until they are damp, sprinkling them with tempeh yeast (Rhizopus oligosporus), then wrapping them in banana leaves and fermenting them for 36–48 hours until the soybeans transform into a dense, fragrant white tempeh. The atmosphere is further enlivened by the music of Gejlog Lesung, a rhythmic performance of pounding rice using a mortar and pestle, performed by older women. The guide explains that this tradition, originally used to separate rice from its husk before the advent of rice milling machines, has now evolved into a lively folk performance reflecting cooperation, harmony, and gratitude for the harvest. The next stop takes participants to an activity of making rice nests, woven containers from young coconut leaves used in the Rasulan tradition, a symbol of gratitude for the harvest in the Grogol community. In the guidebook, the guide explains the steps for making rice nests, from preparing 8-10 strands of young coconut leaves to crossing them and forming a square base, folding the sides upwards, and finally joining the ends of the coconut leaves to create a bowl-shaped container. This activity not only trains precision and patience but also serves as an educational tool for understanding the philosophy of rural life, which values craftsmanship, nature, and togetherness.
The series of activities concludes with a communal lunch at the Grogol Village Hall, where participants enjoy a signature Grogol rice nest served in a handmade rice nest. While eating, participants are entertained by a traditional dance performance showcasing the harmony of movement and gamelan rhythms. The guide concludes the tour with a reflective message that every activity at the Grogol Kaloka Experience is not simply an attraction, but a representation of the noble values of the community that have been preserved for generations.
The development of this guide showcases the collaboration between UGM academics and the Grogol Village community in creating rural tourism that is rooted in local cultural preservation and community empowerment. The team of lecturers also provided training in guide communication, storytelling techniques, and tourism service ethics, enabling local guides to deliver meaningful and professional tourism experiences. This guidebook has been designated as the guide for local guides in the Grogol Kaloka Tourism Village.
Author:
Rina Widiastuti