Carmall.com - Travelling by car from Jakarta to Semarang would normally take 10 hours. However, that estimated time will be highly unlikely during the homecoming period. From our survey, the 500km journey from Jakarta to Semarang may very well take up to 24 hours during this period.

This year might even have it worse. Referring to a press statement made in late July by Suroyo Ali Muso as the Director General of Land Transportation, the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, the number of homecoming travellers by private car is predicted to increase 5.3%, or from 1,52 to 1,6 million.

If this prediction comes true, the estimated time to reach any hometown will be impossible to predict, not to mention the increased stress and fatigue to come as a result. Consequently, the fun through family-gathering and stress-relieving from daily routines as the aim of the travel may not reach its intended purpose.

Now, for the solution to any unpleasantness that may arise during the travel, the CarMall.com editorial team brings up these several interesting points along the northern route to Semarang.


Indramayu

If you have reached an intolerable level of fatigue at the Jatibarang - Indramayu traffic congestion point, several places of remedy could be of your choice.

For culinary lovers, the treats in this city are relatively the same with that of Cirebon, which is 54km away. To name a few are pedesan entog, burbacek (bubur rumbah cecek) and empal gentong.

Pedesan entog is a form of duck in spicy gravy. If you want try it, the most frequently-recommended place that serves this is Pedesan Entog Bang Combat, which has its address at Olahraga Karanganyar Street (in front of the Indramayu Sports Center). Opening hours is from 9AM to 8PM (Western Indonesian Time). A portion will cost you a fairly affordable Rp15 thousand.

For a taste of burbacek, one name that is frequently mentioned is Warung Yu Yani at Dharma Ayu Sindang Street (behind Pasar Caplek) that opens from 10AM to 3PM (Western Indonesian Time). This rice-porridge-based meal comes with shrimp, rumba (pecel sambal asam) and cecek (cow skin in grated coconut and red pepper). This is also quite affordable, no more than Rp10 thousand a portion.

However, if you're simply not interested in eating and prefer to take the tourism route, Tirtamaya beach is one you should consider, quite a favourite tourism spot in Indramayu. There, you'll be able to experience sunsets and sunrises on the shore while resting in one of the many stands around the area.

Oh, for its location, the Tirtamaya beach is located between Cirebon and Indramayu, approximately 16km after Indramayu and 38km before Cirebon. You can have a rest here without having to go far off the homecoming route.


Brebes

Based on the latest data from the Indonesian Police Traffic Corps, one of the traffic congestion points along the North Coast Road (Pantura) is in Brebes, West Java.

In this northern-most regency of Central Java, the most renowned product is salty eggs. However, we certainly wouldn't want you to just buy and be on your way. Culinary lovers could have a try of its Lengko or Sega Lengko, which is white rice with fried soybean patty, cucumber, toge stew, garlic chives, peanut sauce and sweet soy sauce. You can also add sate for variation.

In Brebes, you can visit Tape Ketan Ibu Ono at Gg. Darussalam 77 - Brebes. Here, in addition to salty eggs, you can also get the tape ketan daun jambu, or more familiarly known as tape ember, a traditional food made of assorted food-colour and preservative-free ketan.


Batang

Batang to Semarang is not that far away, less than 100km, but this region is also predicted to be one of the traffic congestion points along the North Coast Road (Pantura).

Considering this, we have also searched some choices of ideal and comfortable resting spots for you. Our first recommendation is Sigandu beach, which is only 5km away from downtown Batang. In addition to its scenery of beach adorned with shady trees, you can also take your loved ones to enjoy Taman Safari Indonesia's Batang Dolphin Center located at that beach.

For those planning to buy handicraft gifts for the relatives in your hometown, you can head to the shopping and handicrafts centre in the Matangan sub-district (approximately 1.5km from downtown Batang). Various uniquely-Batang products, such as matangan batik, leather belts and shoes are available at relatively affordable prices.

For some Batang food, one of the most often-recommended menu is sego or Megono rice. It's made of cut-up young jackfruit in grated young coconut and served with warm white rice and sambal to make a more delicious meal. No particular name recommended for this particular menu, as it's common in road-side stands throughout the city.

Finally, may these several places make your homecoming travels more memorable and exciting.