TO INNER BADUY AND BACK (Part 2) ~ The Two Shelter

... The Journey Continues ...

DAY 2 : Saturday, 28 September 2013

(Ciboleger - Kaduketuk 1 - Kaduketuk 2 - Balimbing - Marengo - Gazebo - Cicakal - Cibungur - Border Bridge - Tanjakan Cinta - Cibeo)

The clock struck midnight when we arrived at Ciboleger. Ciboleger is the main gate to enter the Baduy Tribe Area. Ciboleger is a village in Leuwidamar District, Lebak Residence, Banten Province. Located about 37 km Southwest of Rangkasbitung, this area needs about 2 hours drive with Elf transportation from Rangkasbitung train station. As the main gate to Baduy Villages, this point already packed with facilities to support tourist or adventurer who wants to trek to Baduy Villages. It has many shops, small restaurants, even they have "Alfamart" store for god's sake!! hehehehe .. 

But the most important and the most wanted was .. TOILETS .. hehehehe. (Suddenly, the only Toilet that still open that night packed with Palapa Warriors who had to go and relieved what hold inside them for the last 4 hours ... wkwkwkwkwk).

So, when we arrived, everyone off the Elf and stretched the exhausted legs for a while. Pity we arrived in the middle of the night, so we didn't have a chance to see the "Ciboleger Welcome Statue" more closely. So, next time I will explain about this statue for you ...

Kang Sukma as our contact for this adventure, then took us to his house. Kang Sukma is a "Urang Kanekes Luar" or we can say as "Outer Baduy Tribe". This man had 3 houses to accommodate us! So, we split into 3 groups, 2 houses for the ladies, and 1 house for the gentlemen. 

But, that night, some of us gathered in front of the house, spread our mattress and just laid down and watched the starry night sky .. it was so peaceful, so, quite, so natural .. we hardly couldn't see the sky as bright as that night in Ciboleger. And me, myself, enjoyed the brightest "Orion" star constellation I've ever seen, my personal most favorite star! Accompanied by a cup of hot coffee, a bunch of joyful friends, and of course, a great motivator Mr. Herlin, we then spent that night discussed and talk about life. It was so memorable. But finally, the time beat us, and we still have to considered our strength and stamina for trekking in the morning. So, we slept the night off.

After breakfast before trekking
From right to left : Michael, Rendo, Angel, Ruth, Dipo,
Recklin & Kevin

I woke up 20 minutes after 5, I remember so cold that morning, and we were not in upper Outer Baduy Villages yet ... brrrrrrrr!! But, since my last shower was morning a day before (uppsss!!), I really need to get to the shower and clean my body. And so, I fought the ice-cold water in a deep clean shower that morning (truly speaking, I rather to fight 10 man instead of taking the shower that morning!!). When I go back to the house, the ladies were preparing our breakfast (thanks to Ms. Revi & Ms. Diba for their effort).

Togetherness in Palapa is the important aspect .. we showed that in our preparation that morning. The ladies preparing the breakfast, while the gentlemen cleaned-up the houses. 

10 minutes before 08.00 we gathered in front of the house and pray together followed by a short briefing lead by Mr. Herlin. Our Baduy friends also presented in this briefing. Kang Sukma, Kang Juli, Kang Armani and Kang Sapri will accompany us all the way until Cibeo.

And the trekking begun .....

Briefing before trekking

Group split into two small units .. "Fast" Unit lead by me, and "Not So Fast" Unit lead by Mr. Herlin .. this to accommodate the conditions of several Palapa Warriors who not feeling well that time. Our beloved Ms. Almira Devina was ill and have serious fever, so it affected the speed of our trekking. 

The first village that we pass was Kaduketuk .. while the terrain was getting harder and harder .. sometimes we have to climb in the tilt of 45 degree or more. As usual, every time I trek in Baduy, I always put-off my shoes, it felt so much better trekking with a bare-naked foot (I understand now how's the feeling of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee when they try to bring the ring into Mount Doom in Mordor bare-naked footed).

While we trekked, minute by minute our surrounding were changing .. landscape was turn into forest, hills and mountain. It was so beautiful .. the sky was crystal blue and the sun was not entirely showed-up. So, we enjoy our trekking, meter by meter, passing by Baduy people once in a while .. and suddenly we enter "Balimbing Village". Balimbing is one of the village located in Outer Baduy. The interesting thing that I see in this village is, the kids .. they're so cute, white and so shy to stranger .. we pass this village and make some stops to see the handcrafting of linen weaving in traditional way .. It kinda interesting, with those kind of traditional tools can produce a very nice linen .. maybe that's why the linen price is also kinda expensive ..

Paddy Barn at Marengo Village

We proceed our journey .. the terrain was getting harder and harder .. We pas small river, climb up to a hill and step down to a valley, over and over .. the distance between "Fast" Unit and "Not So Fast" Unit was sometimes far away, but we waited for them .. in result, our trekking took more time than it should. But we're okay .. coz we love this trip, we enjoyed it. 

After Balimbing Village, we trekked for several minutes and reached "Marengo Village". We passed some traditional paddy barn, that used as storage for Baduy Tribe plantation harvest. At first we thought it was a tomb or something to keep the human remain. 

Marengo Village is small village, we took a rest for a while in this Village, before we continue. There was something interesting happen in this spot. So, together we took a picture along with our Baduy friends, Juli and Armani.

Armani with the Victory Sign

In one of the post, Armani, 17 years old boy from Cibeo, posed with a victory sign with his finger .. that made us re-think about how the modernization touch our beloved friends from Outer Baduy Tribe. Never cross my mind that actually our friends from Cibeo know about this stuff .. A Victory sign when pose in a photo session .. hahahaha ... But, It's cool .. 

A long the way, Juli and Armani told about their visit to Jakarta .. (2 or 3 times a year they visit their friends in Jakarta - including me, last year they spent one night in my house on their journey). They told us that they literally WALK to Jakarta!! Without using any footwear!! Usually, they travelling to Jakarta between "Planting Season" and "Harvesting Season" .. they bring Genuine Forest Honey and some handicraft to sell in Jakarta. 

Soon after Marengo Village, we arrived at Gajeboh Village, marked with particular small bamboo bridge. If we take a look at this bridge, we will find that people of Baduy Tribe build the bridge by using only the non-metal material. To attached parts of the bridge they use ratan (rotan) or plants from the woods, and for the base of the bridge in every bridgehead, they use big trees and attached the bridge to the trees. Very smart traditional way.

In this village, we took a rest for a while. The "fast unit" was allowed to speed up, so we continued our trekking toward next point.

And, finally, after a while, we arrived in the second Bamboo Bridge that separate Outer and Inner Baduy. And just under the bridge, we found a very clean and natural Baduy River. We decided to take a rest in this spot. Some of the Palapa Warriors couldn't stand to go in the water and swim. We hardly can see river this clean in Jakarta. Moments later, the "not so fast" unit arrive, and (also) couldn't stand to get in the water .. so, that afternoon, we enjoy swimming and relaxing in the natural river of Baduy.

Bamboo Bridge in the border

In this spot, we celebrated the 15th birthday of Recklin .. one of Palapa Warrior, and according to Ms. Recklin, that was the best birthday she's ever had .. Happy Birthday Recklin .. !! Mr. Aldo and Mr. Albert came with a plain bread, stick a candle in it, and we all sing "Happy Birthday" to Ms. Recklin .. It was very simple and humble Birthday celebration, but I think that celebration will remain forever in our memory .. the togetherness, the submission to the mother nature that made it so very special, especially for Ms. Recklin ...

So, after an hour, we gathered again and brief by Mr. Juli as our guide. That was the last point where we can use our camera, because we have entered the territory of Inner Baduy. We then continued our journey. And ... the real challenge appeared ... 

In time that we thought that we've had the worst terrain, suddenly in front of us there was an uphill or incline, the hardest incline that we had so far. It go up high with almost 90 degree slope!! The soil was dry and slippery, with the sun exactly up our head .. It was a real test for us!! A killing zone..! And this makes me wonder, why they call it "Tanjakan Cinta" or "The Incline of Love". Weeks after, I came up with my own opinion why they call it "Tanjakan Cinta". Passing that incline exhaust our strenght and power. Only the love feeling for nature that make us possible to pass the test in that place. You have to show your love and respect to the mother nature to survive that incline! That's why we call it "Tanjakan Cinta" .... 

Finally, we arrived at our main destination. Cibeo Village in Inner Baduy Tribe. After 5 hours of struggle (we took too many stops ..), we finally can rest our mind and body. We then took to the houses we will spend the night out. Mr. Juli provided us with two houses, one was his house and the other one was Mr. Ardi's. Mr. Ardi is also my best friend, he is the father of Mr. Juli and Mr. Armani. I call it ... The Two Shelter ...

So, we spent the afternoon in around the Cibeo Village. Some of us go to the river in the backyard and swim. While some is rest in the house. We learned how to live in this remote area. Take a bath in the river using only river rocks to clean our body. We couldn't use soap or shampoo as like the rules in this village. 

Juli and his family prepared all of our needs in their village. Including the crunchy fried bananas ... ha! Our dinner also prepared with the help of Juli and his family.

At night, we all gathered in Mr. Ardi's house. We had a session and discussion with the host. Mr. Ardi himself who answered all the question from us. We asked about the Baduy Tribe, it's custom, it's way of life, try to understand them better. In process, we made a very close friendship with them .. for them, guest is honored with their simplicity of life. They are so kind, polite and familiar. We bounded them as our friend and family. Thanks, Juli and family for all the hospitality, we will never forget this experience. 

Mr. Ardi - Armani & Juli at my home in Jakarta

But, ... is it over? is this the end of our journey? Nope ..! Not just yet! In my next post, I will tell you the story about our journey back .. we have not complete our test yet ...

To be continue ......