The more you travel, the more curious you are of the world. And my mind has always been more in awe when I travel within the beauty that is Indonesia.
I am writing this post from the small city of Liwa, located in western Lampung, tucked away in the Bukit Barisan hills in the midst of a thick jungle. It took us 10 hours of leisure driving to get here from Bandar Lampung through the scenic southern road.
As we progressed further away from the capital city, Lampung landmark opened its chest of beauty. From Pringsewu, we were served along the road with Indonesian typical landscape: ripening ricefields stretched to the horizon. As we left Talangpadang, the road became mountainous up to the point where we drove down a hill overlooking the magnificent Indian ocean just before we reached Kota Agung. Having a special love affair with the oceans, that glimpse of vast water excited me for the journey ahead. The coastal city-on-a-cliff was not long to get through, sooner than I’d like it to be, we were back among the agricultural area of Wonosobo, where dwellers earned their income from dried-up cocoa beans. Economy seems an overstatement here, many houses are only made of woodboard and bamboo. I saw many children heading home from school bare-footed, their shoes tied up to their school bags. Little boys were crouching street-side, taking off their shoes. It seems that they are saving the shoes for long good use as shoes are luxury in this area since their parents minimum income may not be able to afford new ones.
Heading to Bengkunat, the road becomes steeper and winding. We then entered the conservation area of Bukit Barisan National Park through a newly-asphalted road that lay between the green forest. Trees canopied the road and we drove under the shade. Some trees are very tall, including damar trees which can reach up to 100 meter high. Notches were carved all the way up the tree trunks making it easy for people to harvest its sap. Damar can be use for many purposes, especially for producing resin and paints. When we reached the village of Pintau, the forest has thinned and the land drier. Since it is time for lunch, we stopped here to rest and reload. As three bowls of noodle were being prepared for us, I ventured out in the neighborhood to stretch my leg. I came across two mats of cocoa beans being dried up under the sun. Have never seen it up close before, I took a picture. And old lady then approached me saying hi. Trying to be friendly, I asked a permission to take a look at her cocoa beans and asked her several questions.
She was Rukmini, a native from Blitar of East Java who moved here to Pintau eleven years ago to follow her husband who earn a living as a cocoa bean farmer. If it is harvest time, she can harvest twice a month with selling price is 18 thousand rupiah per kilogram. Not much. She also cultivated nutmegs and coffee beans. All her children are in Jakarta and she lives in Pintau with her spouse, mother and one orphaned child that she helps taking care. Rukmini’s face are darkened and lined with hardwork but I feel a sense of serenity from her, that she doesn’t have much but it is enough for her. Something that we don’t come by very often in Jakarta.
The road becomes dustier when we were driving downhill and I am starving for a sight of the ocean. Not very long in Krui my wish was granted. A white-sandy beach with big blue swells that frothed white as they crashed the shores. Truly amazing! No wonder surfers flock here to experience those waves, I thought as I saw several foreigners here. We stopped by at a spot to take pictures, the ocean drift is too strong for a dip. I was lullabied with the sounds of breaking waves, the wind that played my hair and the sun that warmed my heart. We spent only an hour there as we still have some distance to finish before we reach or destination.
Ricefields waved on the side of the road as we passed the towncenter of Krui. We took a right turn when the road forked up, the other road going further up north to Bengkulu. We entered another part of the Bukit Barisan National Park but the jungles are thicker and the air are milder. Sounds of the jungle emanate as afternoons are activity time for some animals. Tall trees loomed ahead with thick undergrowth. Several dwelling house seemed abandoned, their owners moving to other part of the jungle to harvest produce. The dawn came approaching and the fog appeared, making the forest more mysteriously enchanting. An hour driving across the National Park, we finally reached Liwa, a rural city which I called city amongst the treetops. Since we arrived at night, I didn’t see much of the city but I will tomorrow I believe.
Can’t wait to see what lies ahead tomorrow!
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