Early 2025, I received an invitation to attend the 10th anniversary of The Sidji Hotel Pekalongan. For gentlemen, dress code for the party was Batik Pekalongan (for ladies:batik encim). Not just a batik, but specifically the Pekalongan batik. One may think that all batik are the same, but they are not! I know this because I visited Museum Batik Pekalongan once. I was taught that batik Pekalongan has certain characteristics that make it different compared to other batik. However, I completely forgot on what are the differences. Therefore, I did some research on that. My sources were from the internet and not everything on the internet is true, hence take the explanation here with a grain of salt.
Research on Batik
From its color, Pekalongan batik uses bright colors, whereas other batik usually comes in safer colors like brown or dark blue.
From what’s drawn on it, Pekalongan batik uses pictures of animals and plants instead of simple patterns. Just like shown in the following picture.

Then there is the Jlamprang pattern, which has the philosophy of connecting the two worlds: the gods and the humans. This pattern is used frequently by the officials to represent the town, as it can be seen in the walls of a newly renovated market and the toll gate of this town.

The Liong motive, that shows Chinese dragons are also commonly used.

There are many more variants of Pekalongan batik, such as the Buketan, as popularized by a Dutch Eliza van Zuylen; or Hokokai, which named after Japan-formed association that influenced the pattern.
I looked for a batik that matches the above descriptions in Bandung, and my choice fell to a batik shirt that’s symmetrical, containing dominantly light blue and brown color, and the parang (coral) pattern. May or may not be the Pekalongan batik style, but it looks nice.

Pekalongan Trip
Then, came the day for driving to Bandung. In the morning, I spent some time at the local SAMSAT, to pay my 5-yearly vehicle tax. It was very crowded because the government just had this campaign of annulling the penalty for not paying the tax from earlier years. I spent half an hour just to queue for photocopying the documents, then decided just to resume on later days as I needed to get ready for the trip. Of course, as a person who always pay the tax on time, I got very upset about this.

I filled up my gas tank and took a break at home, while waiting the kids to finish their school. At around 13.00, we departed from home. It was raining cats and dogs en route, and we stopped for lunch midway. We arrived at the hotel somewhere around 17.30
Most of the invited guests were already there, and many of us brought snacks. I ate many of them. Y wanted to give proper nutrition to the kids so we ordered meals from Nostalgia restaurant. The kids didn’t really like the food so I finished them. Around 8 PM, the kids started swimming but I was too tired to accompany them. Y kindly took care of them while I went back to my room to sleep.
In the morning, F took us for a walk around the town. Many interesting spots when we walked.



After walking, we did the aerobic dance led by local instructor. Then, proper breakfast at the hotel. In the afternoon, Y and her mom wandered the town for oleh-oleh (gifts) while I sat by the pool while the kids were swimming. We then took a rest in the hotel room.
Around 17.00, the celebration event started. Everyone were in their batik, and we took pictures at various places in the hotel.


The event started with a surprise visit from a loyal guest from abroad M, which successfully made the master of ceremony (Sidji staff) cry a little. M, who planned to stay in Sidji for only two weeks in October 2024, extended her stay for up to four months, thanks to the warm welcome and friendship with the Sidji staffs. Then, remarks from the management, followed by video presentation of the hotel history and testimonies from various guests. There were also a moment to remember one contributor to Sidji who passed away during COVID-19, as well as appreciation to loyal staffs, including who joined Sidji from when the hotel building was still under construction.

What admired me is that, during the celebration, Sidji staffs were prompt to serve the guests, even though that it’s their birthday. What a true professionalism! Later that night, when the guests were fully fed, they had their own celebrations by singing Laskar Pelangi song, having pictures at the photo booth, and dancing to the dangdut music.
I then went back to my room to rest, as the next day I and my son D had to wake up early for Palm Sunday mass. D was feeling unwell, probably too tired of the fun he had that day.
Palm Sunday
The next day, I has a simple breakfast in the morning, and drove to nearby St. Peter Church. I was actually too lazy to go, but it was compulsory for my son D to attend the holy week masses, as he was taking the first communion class. The mass was supposed to start 7.00, but it was preceded with a parade from Pius school nearby, hence delayed for half an hour. Palm Sunday is actually a remembrance of Jesus riding a donkey and paraded through the street of Jerusalem. We waited at the church yard, before the parade arrived.

After the mass, there were remarks from vice mayor of Pekalongan, urging the resident to start separating their trashes into three groups: organic, recyclable, and non-recyclable (or something along that line). This was due to the trash crisis, where the government were having difficulties in processing the existing trashes. D looked for the priest for his signature (as a proof that he attended the mass).
When we came back to the hotel, breakfast was almost closed, but we managed to get one. Around 11.00, we cleared our room, checked out, said goodbye, and drove back to Bandung for another 3,5 hours.
