Three female students from NCCU Taiwan went on a trip to Surabaya: Lina, Juleha and Bela. They set off from Yogyakarta on Friday, 31 July 2026, travelling on the Sancaka train. The journey took four hours, and what caught their attention most was the bustling station. They were amazed by the sheer number of food stalls inside the station.

During their train journey, they ordered packed lunches containing chicken, eggs and sweetcorn. “It tasted good, but it was a bit expensive,” said Lina. They also noticed how spotlessly clean the train carriages were.

When they arrived in Surabaya, Mrs Ani, their teacher who had previously taught at NCCU, came to collect them. She then took them on a tour of the city of Surabaya.

The first place they visited was the university, where Mrs Ani works. On the way, they noticed that the roads in Surabaya were wider than those in Yogyakarta, and there were fewer motorbikes. During the journey, they also saw a great many high-rise buildings and luxurious houses. When they arrived at Airlangga University, they were amazed by the beautiful scenery there. There was a large lake and trees, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

After wandering around for a few minutes, they went on to have lunch at Weby Heritage. They ordered nasi weby, the special mixed rice dish, and soto Betawi. The food at this restaurant was absolutely delicious and tended to be saltier than the food in Yogyakarta.

After that, they went to the zoo. There were lots of unique animals there, such as Komodo dragons, orangutans and Sumatran tigers. However, they only saw the Komodo dragons, which looked lazy and listless.

Author: Lina
Editor: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman

Yogyakarta, 10 July 2025 – Internship students from National Chengchi University (NCCU), Taiwan, participated in the Kamis Pon Berbudaya (Cultural Thursday) event, a regular celebration held by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). This activity is part of FIB UGM’s initiative to introduce international students to the values of Javanese culture particularly those rooted in the Special Region of Yogyakarta through participatory and educational approaches.

The NCCU students wore traditional batik attire and were accompanied by part-time staff members from FIB UGM’s Public Relations team, Alma and Candra. Through this event, they gained a deeper understanding of the meaning and philosophy of Kamis Pon in Javanese tradition, especially in the Yogyakarta context.

Alma and Candra explained that Kamis Pon refers to the convergence of Thursday (Kamis) and Pon, one of the five-day Javanese market cycles (pasaran). They also shared that previously, traditional dress days were observed on Kamis Pahing, commemorating the relocation of the Yogyakarta Palace from Ambarketawang to its current site. In 2024, however, the Yogyakarta Regional Government designated Kamis Pon as the official commemoration day of Yogyakarta’s founding, following Governor’s Circular No. 400.5.9.1/40 dated January 8, 2024.

This day carries strong symbolic meaning within Javanese society, particularly in the Kraton (palace) of Yogyakarta, where Kamis Pon is considered sacred. It is often used for spiritual activities, reflection, and cultural preservation as a form of respect for ancestors.

“This is something completely new for us—wearing batik on a specific day,” shared one of the NCCU students.

The active involvement of international students in this cultural activity aligns with FIB UGM’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), by promoting cross-cultural education and the safeguarding of intangible heritage.

By consistently organizing Kamis Pon Berbudaya, FIB UGM continues to foster an inclusive space for intercultural dialogue, allowing students from diverse backgrounds to learn from one another and build a broader understanding of cultural diversity.

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]