Parangkusumo Beach, The Kingdom of the Queen of the South Sea

The Parangtritis and Parangkusumo beaches are about 27km tp the south of Jogjakarta. These beaches are very close to one another but the first is much better known and more often visited. Geographically these beaches are but the border with the Indian ocean, but for the Javanese people they have a significantly more important role. Like Merapi, these beaches have a major symbolic and mistic role. The ocean, Kraton, Merapi from in fact a perfect line, from the south to the north, which undoubtedly ,marked the spirit of the men who inhabit the place.

The Parangtritis beach is very easily accessible by all kinds of transport from the city. To reach the littoral composing the described site3s you will jave to pay a contribution.

To discover Parangkusumo, go for 1km after the booths and turn right (south); a sign will announce the beach. From the main road youn can reach the beach on motorbike or on foot. In the immediate surroundings you can also see the Sentono and Pemancingan hills.

Parangkusumo is located to the west of Parangtritis. It is a beaches of black sand and dunes that change with the wind. This site is one of three sacred places in the region with the Kraton and Mount Merapi. For ceremonies on the first of the Javanese month Suro (the Javanese New Year) and quite regularly during the year, offerings from the Kraton fore Nyi Roro Kidul, Queen of the South Seas, are made here. Off holidays, it is common to see people meditating on the beach to ask a favor or simply to pay homage to the one living in the waves, Nyi Roro Kidul.

Source: Situs-Situs Marjinal Jogja (Sanctuaires Retrouvés/ Sites Out of Sight) - M. Rizky Sasono, Jean-Pascal Elbaz, Agung 'Leak' Kurniawan (Enrique indonesia, Yogyakarta: 1997).