Stories from My Little Escape (Part 1)

It all started with a random idea to invite my friend to spend New Year's Eve in Malang. We ended up creating an itinerary for our time in Malang, keeping it simple with just a few viral spots we found in the city. It didn't take long for the list to be finalized, and we carefully and thoughtfully planned to bring it to reality.

Coming Back After 2 Years

On Wednesday night, I started my journey from Tugu Station in Yogyakarta, having just returned from an office trip to Pandeglang, Banten. It was difficult to sleep on the train because the seats were very upright and uncomfortable. To make matters even worse, the lights were not turned off even though it was already late at night, and it was already morning.

I arrived in Malang around 7 a.m. and was picked up by Marsya, my best friend since university in Malang, someone that I trust and can rely on. It always feels comfortable and nostalgic to return to Malang.

Seeing the Sights (Day 1)

Having pecel for breakfast

We tried pecel mbak pur in Malang. It felt like coming home to East Java, which is very rustic and down-to-earth. East Javanese pecel is very different from the pecel in Yogyakarta because it tastes sweet and strange to me. So having pecel for breakfast in Malang is never a disappointment because it always tastes better compared to the pecel in Yogyakarta.

Bruno by Agusto

After relaxing for a long time at Rumah Marsya, it was time to try a café in Malang after so long. The first destination was one of the most serene and pleasant chill spots in Dau, Malang, which is quite cool with a relaxing atmosphere. When we arrived, we found that this spot, consisting of two floors, was quite cozy for spending time with the important people in our lives.

The atmosphere was quite comfortable because it was located on a hill and surrounded by orange gardens. In addition, the menu is quite affordable and delicious. For those of you who want to drink alcohol, you can order it directly there because this place is designed to be a cozy place. As night fell, Bruno Agusto became more crowded with people who wanted to spend time there. It's a great place to spend time with friends.

Move to Sector 316

The journey continued in Sector 316 in the city because one of our friends wanted to join us for a drink. The place is located in an alley and is still relatively unknown, so the place is nice and the food is varied. We ordered drinks to relax and some potato cut or whatever it was. The place was nice, but unfortunately, there weren't many seats. The plus point was that there were rabbits in the yard in the middle of the cafe, so customers could play with the rabbits while chatting. For those of you who want to be healthier, there is also a juice menu that you can try.

Day 2

Jogging around Karang Ploso is always fun because it's surrounded by mountains and the cool air typical of Malang, which is close to Batu, like Karang Ploso. After running 5 km, I went back home to shower and get ready.

Roemah Kantja

At Rumah Kantja, I ordered a rice bowl that was quite tasty; even now, I can still remember the flavor of the fried onions, which were seasoned perfectly. Rumah Kantja is one of the cafes I’m quite familiar with, as Marsya has taken me here quite often. I even learned to drink from this place back then, haha.

The place is always comfortable with the crowd typical of Malang. At that time, there was an event going on, so next to me someone was doing tarot readings, which was quite interesting and attracted many people to try and see their fortune for 2026. As it neared evening, there was an online event with friends to open gifts for each other at the same time.

It was quite exciting and enjoyable to see friends who once struggled together in this city still healthy and happy with the lives they are living now. The difficult times in this city serve as a reminder that we were once that strong. All the conversations flowed with laughter, as if there would be no problems in the future. It was a wonderful time to create core memories in this city. We ended all our laughter-filled conversations at 12 o'clock because the rain reminded us to go home and rest.