I am currently back in the states and back at work. I will post about the return journey later, but I promised myself I would complete this trip blog! We did so many things that I want to save the memories while they are still fresh!

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

This day was going to be another adventure I was sure. All I remembered about this trip was that we were going to be going into some caves and that there was tubing involved, so I was going to need to pack a change of clothes for getting wet.

We were supposed to be picked up at 6 am, but the driver messaged us that he would pick us up at 7 instead, which meant that we were able to have the great breakfast buffet and then get ready to go. It supposedly takes about 90 minutes to get to the location. I say supposedly because I never know since I often sleep very soon after we start any trip in a car, can, bus, train, or plane.

As you can see though, this time, I did manage to take some pictures on our way to the Jomblang Cave site.

Once we arrived, we were given boots to wear, and I made my biggest mistake of the day. When our driver told us that we didn’t need our change of clothes for this part of the trip, I left my bag in the car. That bag also had my water bottle. More on that later.

I was more worried about the fact that Kiana reminded me that I had not thought of bug spray. Luckily our driver/tour guy had some cream that we quickly used. Both Kiana and I are really susceptible to bug bites. They get huge on us, and bugs love us. I remember being at a Fourth of July Fireworks concert and watching the mosquitos completely ignore my ex-husband and my other daughter and head directly towards us!

There were several groups of people from different tours waiting to be taking to the cave. We were group 3. There was coffee and tea to drink while waiting. Once the time came and everyone was geared up, we went to the cliff which was the entrance to the cave to get ready.

As you can see in the last picture, there is a large hole full of vegetation over that cliff behind. When we were waiting to go, my daughter asked our guide if he had ever come with his family, and he shook his head. I just assumed that he liked to keep his job separate from family time. But then he also mentioned something to us about other people he had brought here who lost their nerve right at the end. I wasn’t really sure what he was talking about until I got to the cliff. This is what happens when you do not really research locations.

It wasn’t until we were starting to get our gear on that he revealed to us that he has never done it himself because he is too scared! I wasn’t really nervous until the part where we had to step onto the edge to be connected to the pulley that was going to lower us in. It’s not a big ledge on which to stand. Then they tell you to sit into the harness. You have to really trust that harness.

In the video below, you can see us being lowered into the cavern. The voice you hear is our guide laughing and teasing us as he leaned over the edge (in his own harness) to take the video! I actually think what he was doing was less safe than what were were doing!

Once you get started going down, it isn’t scary at all, and you just start feeling a lot of wonder at the surrounding space.

I was happy to have time to sit and rest while waiting for the others to be lowered down. Since only two people can be lowered at a time, it took awhile. Everyone was cheering everyone else on because most people were either nervous or downright scared. I’m not going to lie. My legs were shaking after I stepped out of that harness.

Once a large group of us were down, the guides at the bottom started taking us through the woods on an up and down path towards the cave opening. I always wonder about places like this. Who found it? Was it by accident? How many people perished because they just stepped off cliff in the dark? Who decided to explore it first?

I was really hot. I know I have said this before about the trip, and I will likely say it again. However, this was the hottest I felt in the whole trip. Even Kiana said it was hot. I am used to caves being cold, but not this one. It was extremely humid in that large hole and hotter with no breeze whatsoever, and that didn’t change in the cave.

I was starting to feel dehydrated probably because I was sweating so much, and that hampered my enjoyment. No one’s fault but mine. There was a moment where I really debated about just hanging out in one of the rest spots in the dark and not going to the end because I wasn’t feeling really steady on my feet, but I’m glad I pushed through to see the site at the end for myself since the pictures really don’t convey the beauty.

I struggled a bit on the brief hike back, but one of the guides gave me some water when I finally asked, and I perked up immediately. Amazing what a little bit of water can do for your body!

We all started going back in groups since it was going to take a bit to lift us all up two-by-two. No one really minded the wait since people were tired and muddy.

Afterwards, we took off our muddy boots, rinsed off, and had lunch before heading out.

After lunch and rest, people started going off to their next adventurse. Ours was more caving, but in a different spot. Our driver took us to Goa Pindul.

After the heat and the walking (more slipping and falling in mud and climbing for me) of the Jomblang Cave, this was a great alternative. Cool and restful. Our day guide/driver (see him in top left pic) left us with the tubing guide, and he took us to the cave and basically pulled us along, showing us the swallow nests (some with babies!) and the colonies of small fruit bats in the cave. He had to pull us really because the water doesn’t move that fast in the cave. When we came out the other side, there were people fishing in the pond that the water opened onto.

We then climbed out and got in the truck again and then walked through some fields to the river. Our guide pointed out when we were walking past eucalyptus plants, which I had never seen and definitely never smelled fresh. What a great smell.

Going down the river was so relaxing and cool and fun.

And lest I forget, I did get to jump into the river. I don’t know what I thought I was doing by initially trying to hold my nose!

Afterwards, we went back to the original drop off point and changed into dry clothes, and that was the end of the day.

We had talked about going to the spa at the hotel that night, but we were both so relaxed after the tubing (and tired) that we just ordered in and stayed in our room.

Dinner was chicken and goat satay with the remaining mangosteens. I really loved the sauce, and I like the taste of goat, but it’s just too tough for me. This is the third time I’ve tasted goat and have said the same thing. I’m wondering if I cooked it the way I do my slow-cooked pot roast if it would get tender. Has anyone made goat that way?

This was the last night in our hotel. The next day, we got on train back to Jakarta.