Green Canyon, The Lost World (part 3 of 3)

0

Entrance to Green Canyon

Welcome to The Real Lost World

We now entering the river with stone walls on each sides. Some small waterfalls welcomed us, as if we're entering a fairy tale realm. Not too far from our location, other boats are waiting their passengers to return. It was the gate to the Green Canyon. It looks more like a cave with stalactites all over its ceiling. Some places with water drops, as if it was raining. Though it is like that all year around, they call it "Hujan Abadi"  or "The Evergreen Rain". We had to climb up the big rocks bordering the outside and the inner side of the Green Canyon.

The gate of the Green Canyon is actually a natural bridge for the people to cross the river. The scale that make it look like a cave, and local people call it "Tjukang Taneuh", literally means the land bridge. It is also the original name for the Green Canyon. Once we are on top of the rock, a jaw dropping scene is right in front of us. Thousand years rocks that has been crafted by river stream creating a big canyon. Its stone wall on both sides are very high, with the river stream in emerald green color. 

I couldn't wait to swim the river. One by one, we jumped of to the water. It is a deep water for the first hundred meters, my feet could not touch the bottom of the river. Then we reach the shallow point where we can walk through. The walls show us sedimentation lines, proof of the erosion process that happens from thousand years ago. Right on top of the walls a lush vegetation appeared creating canopy to some parts of the area.

There are two pathways, first is by swimming and the other one is by walking on the stone on the walls. If the water is shallow, we could just walk through the river. The shape of the rocks are unique. The water that flows from uphill creates patterns resembles a fine art. Some places even have a fairy tale looks with evergreen rain and small waterfalls that falls to piled of rounded rocks.

Fairy Tale Land The Lost World of Green Canyon

The Evergreen Rain

There is one rock in particular, shape like giant mushroom. It is called Batu Payung or the umbrella stone. The five meter high stone have become the spot to jump by visitors, including me. Though it was scary from up there, it felt so good during the jump. Some other visitors did the same, though the girls took a long time to jump, and people started to shout at them.

We were the only group lead by the guide to the furthest point of the Green Canyon. The last point was the big rock, big enough for six people to get on it and took some epic pictures. The evergreen rain here is heavier that the one we saw earlier. The tour guide said that the water comes from the root of trees grow on top of the stone walls. The water will still drops in dry season, such a magical place.

Truly an incredible journey exploring the Green Canyon. It is a different world, the scene is so peculiar unlike places I've seen so far. Everything there is jaw dropping. I think it is good to have Green Canyon as adventure movie setting, or movies with monsters like the Anaconda movie.

I hope that the visitors can preserve the existence of the place, I saw some damages on the rock formation, as the result of continuous foot steps. This has to stop immediately before major damage happen. Some rules and regulations has to be set for the visitors. Green Canyon is part of natural wonder that has to be preserved well. If not, God knows what will be there in the future.

First glimpse of Green Canyon

The Canyon

Rock formation

Bog rock in the middle of river stream

The new gang

Posing at the highest rock

Complete Story »

Green Canyon, The Lost World (part 2 of 3)

0

Green River going to Green Canyon

The Dilemma Continues

At the hotel, he just laid down on bed as the effect of the motion sickness, plus he got his mobile phone hang in the sudden. I could not possibly mourn for his problem, not that I didn't care about him. I ask him to go out to find diner, but he refused. So I walk out myself to find one and to see what the beach has to offer. 

Pangandaran beach is somehow a touristic place, many hotels has been built there across the beach line. From the budget hotel to the expensive resort hotel like Hotel Garuda etc. There are, however, two beaches, one on the east and the other one on the west. Bordered by small peninsula that serves as nature conservation area. 

In the morning, I prepared myself for an adventure. Pangandaran is merely a transit point for me. My truly destination is the Green Canyon in Cijulang. An hour drive from Pangandaran Beach. My friend had not yet recovered from his condition and phone problem. And again he refused my invitation to join me on an adventure. I felt sorry for him, but I couldn't just sit here waiting for him to get better. I had limited time, and we've come so far to this point. Staying at the hotel is not an option.

The Adventure is Now

So then I left, public transport called Lyn and Ojek became my only choices. The information from the internet says if the river upstream is raining, then the water goes dark not green, and it was raining. I forgot the word upstream, the location of Green Canyon is actually downstream. I thought it was gonna be ugly brown water as the result of the mixing between the water and the mud carried by the river stream. I was wrong, the water is crystal clear green just like in the pictures I found on internet. I was so happy.

I arrived at the point where the boat for Green Canyon awaits for its passengers. That time, the boat ticket price was IDR 175k. I had a limited budget, so I had to find group of people to join as the boat is fit for six person at a time. I looked for the group I could possibly join, there were families, foreigners group and many other. Until I found five young boys and girls talking to each other. Without wasting more time, I just introduce myself to them and told them my intention of joining the group. Luckily, they agreed.

It was, actually, my waterproof camera that make them agree to my proposal. Anyway, we became friends for instance. After queuing for the boat ticket, we departed to the Green Canyon, not to forget to take pictures before departing.

We enjoyed the scenery very much, the emerald green water is so enchanting. Both sides are rich with lush vegetation. Everything looks green, and the clear sky just made it more adorable. We found wildlife too, some birds and even a giant monitor lizard was seen crawling on the river edge hunting some smaller animals.

With the Girls

New Friends

Beautiful Scenery

On the Boat

Me seven years ago

Complete Story »

Green Canyon, The Lost World (part 1 of 3)

0

Entrance to Green Canyon

The Decision Making

Back in 2010, when I was still amateur in doing travel. There was no waze app or instagram at the time. Facebook was the only applicable social media to share our pictures or stories and I had to read some blogs on the internet in order to find information about the places I want to visit.

It was confusing back then, when my office mate proposed me to go to Dieng Plateau, yet Green Canyon was the one place in my mind. Another friend proposed Yogyakarta City. It was the one short meeting to decide where to go during the upcoming holidays. I couldn't decide myself, since it was gonna be a group trip. So then we decided to go to Dieng Plateau, considering the cost is much cheaper as we would stay over at my friend's family house nearby Dieng Plateau.

As the decision is made, we agreed to meet at the Bus Station right after the working hour. The problem occurred when the one guy who proposed Dieng Plateau didn't show up in the next two hours. Desperately waiting, my other friend decided to leave him and we changed our Destination to Yogyakarta City.

So three of us departed without him. It was the night of New Year Eve in 2010. We were unprepared for the accommodation in Yogyakarta City. There is this one guy whom actually had self agenda, so he split up and going to another way once we reached Yogyakarta City.

I think we arrived sooner then expected, it was three am in the morning. We ride a Becak in search for a hotel to stay for one night, and guest what? there wasn't a single room available for us in Yogyakarta City. I understood why, we were in the new year eve and the city is a main tourism city in Java.

We went around in the city for like three hours until the Becak rider gave up and put us to a Mosque for a rest and morning prayer. Half an hour sleep is more than enough to gain our strength. So then we continue our trip, this time, as the result of disappointment from the city, we decided to go to Pangandaran Beach in West Java. And the becak rider took us to the Lempuyangan Train Station.

My friend said that the person had given us a very good service and decide to give IDR 100k. I agreed about the good service but IDR 100k? Don't you think it's too much? I said. He, in the end, succeed to convince me to give IDR 50k for the share cost.

The Real Journey Begins

So we took an economy class train going to Banjar City in West Java. The nearest point to go to Pangandaran Beach. Unlike the economy class train today, where we get seat number and air conditioners are available on each carriages. It was the most inhuman train service ever. Though the ticket price was much cheaper that time, don't even think of comfort once you're on the train. There was no guarantee of having seat coz the train were very crowd with passengers.

You would be traveling with those whom bring a living chickens or some other animals like ducks or whatsoever. Don't forget to mention other market stuff with them that gives the aroma of, a traditional market itself. I, at the first time, had to stand in between the chairs for about two hours. As many other passengers did. The most uncomfortable thing is that whenever the train stopped in some train stations. Some food sellers will walk through us in a non-imaginable human density.

The third hour, I finally got a seat. Though it was only half of my butt, and the other half remained float in the air. As the train stopped at several stations, the passengers density becomes lower and lower, so that we could breathe freely. The only problem left was that the fan will only run when the train moved. Once it stopped, I got sweat all over my body. Such a typical developing country might like.

We arrived at Banjar City West Java after six hours being on a shitty train. So then we continue to the Pangandaran Beach by Bus. It was another two hours journey until we reached the destination. There was only the two of us now. I didn't know that my friend had a motion sickness during the bus trip. So by the time we arrived at the destination, he suddenly threw up in front of the bus. I didn't know what to do back then, I was in between whether to laugh or to worry, so I laugh.

Complete Story »