Trip to Pangandaran (part 2): Scarce Friends Quality Time

Tukik conservation and adrenaline adventure

Tukik at the Conservation Center, Batu Hiu, West Java

            Batu Hiu touched down! We visited turtle conservation and breeding center. We could see a few turtles from different species. Do you know how many sea turtles left in this world? Not many.  Do you know where the most turtle could be found in breeding season? Most buried their eggs in Indonesian coasts. Ironic, nowadays Indonesian people and fishers catch sea turtles for commercialism without knowing the threat of its existence. The meats, shields and eggs are traded. A man who runs that conservation center explained no fundraising from government to save Tukik (baby turtle). They get donation majorly from visitors and donators.

Penyu Sisik, termasuk  salah satu penyu langka yang populasinya terancam

            Moment of releasing Tukik back to the sea will be held in possible opportunity. Only Tukik aged 2 month allowed to be released in assumption they are strong enough for the wild world. Some of them made it, some are just get back or trapped in fishermen’s fishnet. Unfortunately, we arrived there in the middle of the day and releasing Tukik is only held in the evening or night because of the stream and waves.

            There’s no charge visiting this sober place. By the entrance they provide guest book that we have to write in and a little box for donation you would like to give. If you won’t give any, that’s okay too. But just think about it, don’t you have a heart? We could take pictures with all Turtles there. We might to touch them. After that you’ll have smelly tank hands. Don’t worry, the smell will disappear after four times washing.

            So we continued our trip to Citumang. It was 02.30 pm and we didn’t buy any lunch yet. We decided to take a rest for a while and lunch at local villager’s Warung near Citumang site. After lunch we walked along the path to the entrance. We cashed 5.000 IDR for each person for entrance and 15.000 IDR for renting life vest and other safety equipment if you wanna do body rafting. The funny thing is the price for domestic tourists is far lower than foreign tourists. However, Indonesian biggest income came from foreign tourists.

            The rest of our day, in the afternoon and the sun was friendlier than before, we walked on winding path to be at the starting point. Citumang is water springs that flows through the cave and river. Green planktons make the river’s color green. Near the cave, the water turns into grey. It surrounded by high cliffs. The sun couldn’t warm the water which is so freaking cold. There are some facilities such as mosque (mushola), gazebo, toilet, dressing chambers and showers.

            After wearing the safety vest, knees and elbows protector, my friends were challenged to jump out from the top of the cave. That was insane but must try! I guessed it is over than 9 meters high. I didn’t dare to do that, too dangerous and risk. I saw Ay and Tika jump from the cave top into the river, splashed! But I can see them came up to the surface. They are okay but still I was afraid of.

            The water was cold, the stream was hard and the river wasn’t too deep. Rocks on the riverbed scratched foot. We floated flow in the stream. Sometimes our butts bumped rocks. Sometimes we just stand up and walk on the shallow river and then we went again in the flow. Our body has to be relaxed and just follow the flow. Otherwise we could have stiff.

            It was evening, almost 06.00 pm when we finished body rafting at Citumang. Our rented house is not far from Citumang. Kicked our butts to Angkot and 15 minutes later we arrived. We took a bath, clean up and ready to have dinner.

By the entrance of Citumang

Jumped 10 meter high, those guys are freaking crazy!

Body Rafting, almost done.

The Last Night

            At 07.00 pm we were leaving heading to Pangandaran. We decided to have dinner with our new friends we met at Citumang, Celine and Christopher from France. At pangandaran, there’s a fish market where we can choose fresh fishes and sea food by our self and then the chef cooked them as we wished. The price is a little bit more than buying fishes directly from fishers or traditional market in Jakarta. So we bought Bawals, shrimps, squid and sautéed spinach and we had full bellies afterwards.

            Pangandaran in the night is alive suburban. It’s crowded; tourists, traffic, merchants, souvenirs stalls, hotels, restaurants, entertainment of cafes and bars, local music concert. Souvenirs shops sale everything that sounds “beach”; shells, clothes, hats, art crafts, etc. And I don’t know why couldn’t stop and went in one of those shops.  

Dinner at Pangandaran: SEAFOOD!! =9

            Finishing the dinner and we went back to our cottage. Our new friends, who brought their new friends, Indians, asked us if we would like to join them spending the night in a local bar not far from their street. They were curious about Indonesian music and night life. But we were so tired because of the long day we had. So we refuse to join and kicked our asses back in Angkot. Then I imagined about that local bar; house remix Dangdut, red lamps, beer, smokes, marijuana, and maybe sluts? I have no idea. Never been there. Even if I would just to satisfy my inquiry, I guess I won’t be there more than 5 minutes.

            On the way back, I requested to find minimarket. I need to buy mosquito repellant because those bugs are really cruel as evil. So we drove through the road and found Alfamart somewhere. There is one Alfamart. Across the street, there is Indomaret. Next Indomaret, I saw one more alfamart. What the hell happened there? Those minimarkets took place side by side which made me thinking of obvious competency. Whatever I saw, my feet guide me to Alfamart. But just telling the truth… if you shop there, please check the price and the recite. I bought some snacks there. Let say the price on the label 4000 IDR. But when I saw at the recite, it printed 4500 IDR. It happened to all items I bought. I didn’t know what they were doing with that trick. So just make sure you see the price right while you shop there.

            Sunday came and rain was pouring the morning. We woke up at 05.00 am and planned to see sunrise at Batu Hiu Beach. After that, we’ll heading to Pangandaran for snorkeling. Even it was still raining, we kept optimist; the rain will stop and we will snorkeling today. So we didn’t take any bath, just make cups of hot tea, coffee and milk. Jajang’s mother has cooked breakfast for us, so nice. Then we packed and threw the bags in Angkot.

            What happened that day was unpredictable. We went out of plan. One of my friends couldn’t awake easily even if we wake her up. When we were ready to see sunrise, we should still wait her in the bathroom, changing clothes, put make up and packing. At the end, we missed the show and just changing plan.

Meanwhile, it was 07.15 am with lite raining. One friend said that’s impossible to enjoy beach with this weather. I kept optimist that rain soon will be over. But it seemed not at all. We had discussion then in Angkot. On Sunday, there are two buses departing back to Jakarta; at 08.00 am and 01.00 pm. At the first we decide to take the bus at 01.00 pm so we still have more time to go to pangandaran. But then we realize, yes we began lack of budget and tomorrow we’re going back at work. So, on the way to Pangandaran, we turned around and ask the driver to take us to the bus pool. Half of the way, I looked sad because I really want to see Batu Hiu Beach, the rain stopped already. So my friends ask the driver to turned back to Batu Hiu beach and we agreed just spend 5 minutes there for taking pictures. 

            We cashed 15000 IDR for car at the entrance and 3000 IDR per person. Batu Hiu beach is so quiet and peace. The sand is grey and wet of the rain. Near the beach there’s a big shark statue with its open mouth and sharp teeth. Our tour guide said that the view is prettier if see from up there (he pointed to a path which can bring us to up the cliff). Nope, we had no time. So we spend our 4 minutes left taking pictures and then go. Not satisfy enough, I know. I hope next time could go there once again. At 07.45 am we were at the bus pool and ready to go. So we said goodbye to Jajang and the driver for their kindness during our visiting there. We paid 500.000 IDR for Angkot renting. 

Morn at Batu Hiu, West Java. 

            It was a quick express day for us. We only were able to visit one place in very short time. No, we aren’t satisfied yet. So we think we will plan another trip, but that one should be a mature plan. The good point is we had our high quality time together, we get closer. We are becoming good friends and family. We are having our stories to share and live in our memories. And that’s how Sunday memory lane over. We arrived in Kampung Rambutan at 05.00 pm and went home.

Here we are, the complete team! s(^-^)v