Drini beach is at least 40 kilometre of Yogyakarta city. It is located in Ngestirejo village, Kecamatan Tanjungsari, Gunung Kidul city. To reach Drini, you will pass many hills and winding roads, and you will enjoy beautiful scenery of the hills during your trip.

It is a remote beach, located on the flanks of two big hills and other small hills. The sitution makes Drini seem isolated from outside world. The scenery is beautiful and the air is cool. Drini beach actually has cool and the temperature of sea water is colder than other beaches since it is surrounded by big hill. The hill make hot sunlight never touch the water beach.

Another peculiarity of Drini beach is that there is a coral island where grows on it Drini tree. Local people believe that the wood of the tree can be used as an antidote of snake poison.

Bird observation sometime can become a quite pleasant tourism. Moreover, when the bird we are going to observe is rare and an endemic in the area. Without spending much money, we can enjoy this natural tour by visiting a small countryside at the south slope of mount Merapi, named Kinahrejo, Sleman sub-province, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The bird which becomes observation object is Javanese Eagle (Spizaetus Bartelzi).

Java eagle is a bird that inspire Indonesian official symbol. The eagle lives on one of Merapi peaks, called Garuda peak. There are only four Java eagles living on the peak. (Kutilang Indonesia, 1999).

Below is a story narrated by Kristianto Muladi, a student of forestry faculty, Gadjah Mada University. He is also a member of Kutilang Indonesia's Birdwatching Club:

Today watching bird is not only the activities of biologists. Above all, Java eagle has other attractive power. Perceiving this rare bird becomes a pride to all bird watcher.

We left Jogja city at seven p.m and we went directly to base camp in the countryside Kinahrejo. The air was very cold like ice. After we reached Kinahrejo, which located at the foot of Merapi, we lodged in the base camp. While we waited the morning coming, some of us were sleeping, and the others were talking about each other. The discussion sometimes came to a serious matter such as the government plan to make this area as Merapi Mount National Park

“The term of national park is just government’s statement. Fo all of us who live here, we feel it no difference,” said Mr. Udi, a Kinahrejo local people.

Searching for the Eagle

At six o’clock in the morning, we left the base camp. We walked through a footpath which went towards Pinus forest. Java hawk is usually appeared at the forest area looking for food. The bird that stated by the government in 1993 as a National Bird usually eats partridge, bat, fox, squirrel, mouse and even monkey child.

Although we had not yet seen the eagle as far as we were walking, we were happy enough because we along the path, we heard the voices of Kepodang bird (Oriolus Chinensis), Sepah Hutan (Pericrocotus flammeus), Kutilang (Pygnonotus Aurigaster), dan Tekukur (Streptopelia Chinensis).

We also enjoyed the warbles of Kacamata Gunung birds (Zosterops Montanus), Kacamata Biasa birds (Zosterops palbebrosus), kerak kerbau birds (Acridotheres javanicus), Sikatan Bodoh birds (Ficedula Hyperythra), Bentet birds (Lanius schach) dan Betet birds (Psitacula Alexandri). Their beautiful song forced us to halt and rest for a while. This joy makes us not tired in our long journey.

After two hours walk, suddenly we saw above us a black hawk (Ictinaetus malayensis) soaring over the sky. Its wing spread out with its ends like a finger. The big eagle often eats walet bird and other birds. Mackinnon (1995) noted that this bird likes eating other bird eggs.

The black eagle continued flying until it disappeared at the back of the hill in front of us. We also continued to climb the hill. The grass on the footpath we passed began rather thick when we arrived to the area where person rarely went there. Valleys at left and right of us, although steep, are thick with grass for resident livestock.

Suddenly there was a bird flying quickly, rotating and then alighting on a dry tree at hill on our left side. Immediately we directed all of our binoculars to the bird.

“Cauldron Hawk, man!” shouted Sidik loudly.

Its body seems strong, its underside has dull white color with black stripes at its chest. Soft lines adorns its stomach, thigh, and tail. The eagle’s upper body is dark and its cheek is chromatic black. Cauldron Hawk (Falco peregrinus) is known as quickest bird in the world. Its family which is life in North Asia often immigrates to big Sunda area (Sumatera, Java, Bali and Kalimantan, including Sabah, Serawak and Brunei Darussalam) at winter, during the month of October till February.

We had not yet satisfied in perceiving the eagle that its name is used as the name of one of American warplanes i.e F16 when suddenly flying above us an eagle with black-brown color adorns its upper body. She flew gracefully and silently, and then alighted at a branch of Dadap tree (Erythrina Variegata). I proudly said to all loudly, “Our fellow, we present here in front of you … Our Eagle, our country’s national symbol.” Actually it was Java Eagle, the bird we awaited its coming. Unfortunately, no one was interested with my joke. All of them likely impressed with the gallantry of the eagle.

Exhibiting its excellence, Java eagle erected its black crest, with white color on its end. Its head was deep brown, with dark crown, streaky at the end of its young brown feather. Its color nape was like gold when it hit by sunshine. Its eye looks sharp observing surrounding area. From its throat until stomach had white-brown color. Its throat till chest aslo adorns with bold oval spots and there was deep brown horizontal lines on its stomach. The eagle which is only existed in Java Indonesia reaching its period of adult in 5 to 6 years. And she has just one baby bird in every period.

Java eagle is like us. She depends mainly on natural forest. She needs forest area of 12 -30 km2s to get food and breed, whereas we need forest to absorb rain water in order not to become flood. The amount of Java Eagle is now predicted remain pairs of 141 till 204 (Van Ballen dkk,1999 in Resit Zozer dkk, 1999).

The dearth of Java eagle should become a warning for us to be more care of forest existence in Java island. Taking care of Java eagle existence in its habitat is similar with our effort to prevent us from disaster.

When we are entering Depok beach in Bantul province, we are really impressed by its cleanliness. There are no garbages scatter around on the shore. We are more impressed when we drink a glass of young coconut water. Its price is cheap. We just pays Rp. 2000,- a glass, comparing what we have got at other beaches in Bantul.

Cleanliness and cheap price is a brand image built by local people who is responsible to manage Depok beach. The building of brand image is agreed by young men group managing parking lot, sellers, and restaurant owners.

Cheap image is also felt by visitors. Parking tariff for motocycle is just Rp. 2000, and car is Rp. 4000. It is very different with parking tariff at Parangtritis beach which Rp. 3000 for motocylce and Rp. 10000 for cars. The price of restaurants are also normal.

Moreover, local people also prohibits street musician and beggar to step into Depok coast location. "We try to learn from other place. The existence of Street musician and beggar make tourists can not enjoy themselves. Unfortunatelly, they even force tourist to give them money," said Minah, one of restaurantr owner at Depok beach.

Depok beach serves a very beautiful panorama. The rolling of the wave seems unite with fishermen activities. There are around 30 active fishermans go out to sea. The existence of Fisherman makes this area have quite a lot of fishes supplies.

Not far from the coast, there is Fish Auction Building (In Indonesian: TPI = tempat pelelangan ikan) reserved for the activities of local fisherman business. usually, fish merchants buys fishes here and then sell them to the fish market not far from the auction building.

The abundant of fish supplies makes Depok beach crowded with food stalls and restaurants. So not only its beautiful beach, but also food that make Depok beach peculiar. You can taste freely all type of sea food such as prawn, crab, cokle and many kinds of fishes

Uniquely, many food stalls here just offer fish cooking service. The cookery materials can be bought at fish market or directly from fisherman. Fisherman at Depok beach also actively sell their capture directly from their boats. After you get your choice fishes, you can bring them to the food stalls to cook. Its fare depends on the kinds of cookery you choose. For example, the fare for frying is Rp. 5000 / kg.

PROP AREA

The government of Bantul sub-province intentionally designs Depok coast as a tourism object. "Depok will become the prop area of Parangtritis beach. Visitors in Parangtritis are expected halting to at Depok, especially when they want to eat. To facilitate transportation, we will immediately deliver connective transportation for both areas." said the head of Bantul Tourism Bureau, Suyoto.

Although Depok beach is just positioned as a prop area, its development is more incredible. Many tourism buses prefer halting at Depok to Parangtritis. So it is not exaggarated if Depok beach is the strong competitor of Parangtritis.

The location of Depok beach is not far from Parangtritis and is easy to reach by tourist. When visitors arrive at Parangtritis ticketing locket, they just turn their vehicle at right. It needs approximately half an hour to reach it if you leave from Jogja. So why do you not try to go there?
(Eny- Kompas)

Stiflingly hot feeling because of sunshine in the dry season vanished when we arrived the original cold of lakes in Gunung Kidul districts. The domination of Karst mountains causes Gunung Kidul regency have many dolin lakes. Some of the lakes do not have springs. They just receive absorbing water from karst mountains and rain water and never dry in the dry season.

The existence of the lakes is easily detected by looking at environment scattered at Karst mountains. Around Karst mountains, we will easily find small or large lakes. However, most of the lakes have been built by wall, trivialisation, and without trees. The sitution makes the lakes loose their beauty.

One of the lakes that still has this beauty, with the water that never dry, is Towet lake in Girisekar village, Panggang subdsitrict. By walking stone path as long as 500 m, from the main province street which connects subdistricts Saptosari and Panggang, we can enjoy coolness in the middle of dryness which is now entering the country.

In some distance, we faintly will hear laughter of village girls and children when we descend the path to the lake. The air coolness will touch us when we arrive below the huge Bulu tree which its thick leaves and big gnarlet. Whereas, the clock is at 13.00. the hot sunshine seems to be swallowed by the shadows of old trees which stands accross the lake bank.

The greenish water lake seems reflecting the sunshine. Some children plays in the water while they are watered their cows. Whereas their mothers is fascinately washing clothes and taking a bath with a dress still in their body. Some boys appear fishing using tree branches.

Laughter of village people and sound of water flowing in a small stream intones dance of peace. It is not astonishing why people feel like home, sitting around the lake and doing their activities hourly. I also feel peace and cool although I did nothing except sitting, forgeting my thirsty because of long journey.

The Towet lake will become a main source of water for washing and showering by people of K saptosari and Panggang subdsitricts. because in July, many lakes in Gunung Kidul will lost their water.

A villager from Girisekar, Wiryo Wijoyo (85) said that Towet lake never dries. All people realize they have to take care of the lake. They always keep cleaning it and the environment around it at least 4 times a month. The various trees standing on its banks are kept in order that they still can catch rain water.

Not far from Towet lake, we can visit Pakem lake which also locates in Girisekar. It also never dries in the summer. There are still some lakes that never dry in the summer such as Luwenglor lake in Girimulyo village and Sumurwuni lake in Giriwungu village. At certain times, the visitors can do mass fishing when fishes in the lake are ready to catch, by paying for each person Rp. 25.000 (2,5$)

According to survey held by Gadjah Mada University, there are 282 lakes throughout Gunung Kidul district. 217 of them dry in the summer. The dried lakes happens mostly because of the trees around it are vanished, or the bottom of the lakes get trivialisation. That is why they can not afford of preventing from evaporation caused by strong sunshine.

When you visit Gunung Kidul and you feel hot, you can visit for a while these origin lakes. Without paying anything, you can feel coolness and peacefulness of the lake that enable to cure your unhappy feeling. We also can enjoy the happiness of daily life of villagers that still can laugh at in the front of prolong dry season.
(mawar kusuma, kompas)