Opening the
trip in the year of the Horse 2014, again my husband and I joined a bunch of
strangers from The Indonesian Roadtrip to experience the famous Green Canyon
for body rafting on 7-8 March 2014. We chose the provider because it regularly offers various
trips to various areas around Indonesia on the weekend. So, the good news, we don’t
have to skip from work. Next, the minimal budget is quite tempting. Travelling doesn’t
need to be expensive. With only Rp. 600,000.- we could discover another natural
beauty of Indonesia.
Despite body
rafting in Green Canyon, the trip also offered an excursion to Batu Karas and
Batu Hiu beach in Pangandaran, West Java. Yet, of the
three, I was mostly amazed by the grandeur of natural cavernous rocky walls
with scattered fresh springs alongside the Cijulang River where we
bodied-rafting.
Geen
Canyon is located in the Kertayasa Village, Ciamis, West Java, approximately 31
km from Pangandaran Beach. The name was introduced by tourists from France as
the color of the Cijulang river is very green. The locals call it Cukang
Taneuh, meaning a land bridge referring to a bridge connecting the two villages
of Kertayasa and Batukaras.
Boarding on
the tour bus, we departed from Plaza Semanggi at 8.30 p.m. There were 52 people
on board, mostly group of doctors from RSCM Hospital. It took approximately of
ten hours to reach Cukang Taneuh (with several stops). We arrived at the site
at 7.00 a.m.
With only an
hour to have breakfast and rest, we had to hurriedly prepare our gears; helmet,
kneecap, life vest, and mountain-sandal. At 9.00 a.m, we were ushered to four
open pickup trucks to take us to the entrance gate of the water adventure. Ehm…
we were a bit like a flock of sheep ready for slaughter.
The graveled road
was bumpy and winding ups and downs that we bounced back and forth. We clutched
tightly at the reel bar. Our stomach churned. Our heads bumped. The ordeal
lasted for half an hour. The coconut trees and other vegetations along the road
provided a refuge and distraction from the torturing trucks.
Once, we
stopped, we knew the ordeal was far from over. Gee, glad I have already used to
such travel. We continued on foot, trekking along the narrow path lined with
gnarled roots and wild shrubs. Due to the heavy rain the night before, the
narro
After half an
hour, I could hear the sound of water lapping up against the rocks at a distant.
The sound got louder as we trudged along. Through the leaves I could catch
glimpses of the river, its water shimmering faintly in the dim light. Thanks Heaven, the
color is green, unspoiled by the rain.
We all got so excited and pushed forward in a
speed. Yet, as we climbed down the river, the steeply slippery rocky beds posed
a greater challenge.
We had to maneuver our ways until we
arrived at this giant cave door. A pungent odor swiftly attacked my nostrils,
coming from inside the cave. Our guides said the offensive smell resulted from
the bats’ droppings and feces.
Curiosity took hold of me. Carefully, I
stepped inside the cave. The deeper I went, the stronger the odor attacked.
Darkness prevented me to see the cave roofs, thus the bats. I backed out as I
heard my husband’s frantic call to lure me out.
Stepping out of the cave, he gave me
his disapproving look, lol. I grinned ear to ear to tease him.
After a
group photo, the water adventure began. Reluctant to climb down further,
several people and I jumped off the cliff. Off course, our guides directed the
course as many rocks were barely visible below. It was sensational. A rush of
adrenaline sent a renewed energy. And I floated by downstream!!!
The
natural painting of the rocky cavernous walls is breathtaking. The river is
flanked by two hills adorned with dense vegetation. Along the river, a row
of rocky cliffs decorated by stalactites and stalagmites covered with algae.
Fabulous!
As my body drifted under those
reliefs, drops of fresh waters cascaded down, forming little rains in slow
motion. Closing my eyes, I could hear their rhythm pattern, joined by the melodious
sound of the rushing water.
The spring is also drinkable. I was
lucky to have gulp of it as I didn’t have mineral water with me. The cold fresh
water was sensational as with the surrounding panorama. It’s beautiful and
captivating.
Oftimes,
we had to hop from rock to rock, maneuvering our ways to avoid the strong
current that was deemed too dangerous for body rafting. The slippery rocks
combined with the slippery mud posed greater challenge for our small group. We
panted, slipped, fell and bruised.
However, the lust vegetation around the river and the majestic view of the river walls had captivated me. Luckily, I used to play and swim along the river back in my hometown so the challenge was easy to conquer.
However, the lust vegetation around the river and the majestic view of the river walls had captivated me. Luckily, I used to play and swim along the river back in my hometown so the challenge was easy to conquer.
I also had an adrenalin rush jumping from various cliffs down to the rushing waters. It was fantastic, feeling my blood pumped rapidly to the heart as my body flew down and hit the water from the height of five to eight meters. Water started to fill my mouth and nose as I plunged. Gaping, my head slowly bobbed up for an air.
It was
exhilarating as well as addicting that I jumped over and over again whenever I
got the chance. My husband frantically screamed at my daredevil. Ehm... Perhaps
he would give me a hard pull in my ears once we were on land...lol.
The experience is rewarding and refreshing. Not only Indonesia is rich with natural resources, but it also has many hidden natural beauties to discover.
Batu Hiu Beach
No comments:
Post a Comment