[caption id="attachment_42214" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="pariwisataboyolali.webs.com"][/caption] Playing important socio-economic and spiritual roles for both Yogyakarta and Central Java, Mount Merapi presents thousand kinds of attraction for lovers of natural beauty. It is so attractive that even the volcanic activity lasting for almost two months on the second half of 2006 became an alternative tourism activity. Almost all plateau surrounding Merapi presenting scenic view toward the mountain and its valleys are built into tourism place. One of the best places to experience such great view is Selo. It is a district in Boyolali regency, Central Java. Selo is situated 20 kilometers west from the downtown of Boyolali on the northern slope of Mount merapi. It connects an alternative road network from Solo to Borobudur, Magelang. A plateau with altitude of 1,300 m asl, it is blessed with fresh weather ranges between 15-20 Celsius degree. With the program of Solo, Selo, Borobudur (SSB) alternative route, Selo has been developed into a tourism object in the form of a mountain resort since 2002. This program was in accordance to Selo's being appointed as the place to officially announce Indonesia's Ecotourism Year 2002. [caption id="attachment_42215" align="alignright" width="300" caption="pariwisataboyolali.info"][/caption] Today, this area grows into one of important tourism village in the border of Yogyakarta and Cental Java. The great view of Mount Merapi and Merbabu as well as vegetable agriculture on mountain slopes, refreshing weather, and traditional performances are the main tourism attractions in Selo. There are many activity and magnificent view visitors can enjoy here. Its inhabitants actively preserve the blissful but vulnerable environment for the survival of the ecology. Their active participation can be seen from its environmentally friendly agricultural system. This was started in 2006 when a group of volunteer introduced the new agricultural trend called organic agriculture. With amazingly fertile volcanic soil from Merapi, this zero chemical agriculture resulted in higher quantity and much better quality of harvest as well as continous soil productivity. [caption id="attachment_42217" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="pariwisataboyolali.webs.com"][/caption] The excitement and acceptance farmer's to the benefit of organic agriculture was fully supported by the government. Under invited expert, Selo's farmer learned all the process from fertilizing the soil, planting the commodity crop, post-crop soil maintenance, sorting the crop, to packaging. In just a year, the quality of farming product from the area are accepted in supermarkets all over Indonesia. Various traditional farming activity themselves are attraction for most visitors. Here can learn how to hoe, harvest the crops, or simply enjoying the fascinating view of the farm. Farmers are eager to share the story about his effort to preserve the environment by practicing organic agriculture. Most of all, visitor can taste the fresh and free-chemical vegetables from the crops. Beside traditional tourism, Selo is already equipped with good tourism facilities. A theater presenting documentary movies on Mount Merapi and volcanic activity was opened in 2004. All necessary information from Tourism Information Centre (TIC) and souvenirs original from the area can be obtained in Joglo I Selo Merapi. A large 'New Selo' functioned as the area's landmark is situated near by Joglo II Selo Merapi. Imitating that of Hollywood, the letters is visible from far away during a bright day with clear sky. A tower is available present 360 degree angle of view from elevated point toward Merapi, Merbabu, and Sumbing mountain range.
