Exploring The Hidden Beauty : Meru Betiri

by Chatarina Petra Salim (Indonesia)

A leap into the unknown Indonesia

Meru Betiri National Park – a place that had fulfilled my dream holiday destination with its hidden beauty. Located in the east of Java, Indonesia, it was heaven for travellers with adventurous soul and big curiosity. Fresh air, clear blue ocean, birds chirping and playful monkey greeted me and my group from Kamuka Parwata – a student association for environmental and adventures activity – right after we entered the entrance. With no signal and battery, absolutely resulted in no use of cellphone, we were chatting and laughing excitedly while two trucks carrying the total of 46 people – not including the logistics bag – passing the rocky, muddy road and small streams. After we arrived, we cooked some meals and built the tents. Some cheerful monkeys approached us and took away a plastic of tofus – they seemed hungry and like to take some plastic things. Late that night, a 30-minutes tracking had been taken to reach the shore. We’re going to watch the process of the turtles laying eggs. The rangers gave us instructions and one of it is to not turn on any lights. With complete darkness in the open shores, we were amazed by the sky scattered with bright stars – so beautiful. Some were laying in the sands, enjoying the view while waiting for the rangers searching for the turtles. “I’ve never see the sky this beautiful before. I don’t care even if we can’t see the turtles laying egg this night, because I’ve already satisfied with the sky!” said one of my friend, I don’t remember exactly who it was because it’s completely dark. Not long after we enjoyed the sky, the rangers told us to head west. Silently, we walked there and amazed for the second time, because the turtle was so big, approximately 16 feet in length. It laid 150 eggs and soon after the egg fell down to the hole in the sand, the rangers collected it and move them into the hatchery. But the turtle didn’t realize that its eggs have gone, so with motherly instinct, it kept burrying the hole with sand, thinking that the eggs were still there. In the morning, about 50 baby turtles – in Indonesian it is called ‘Tukik’ – from the hatchery were ready to be set up free in the ocean. Every person held one until two baby turtles in its body, and in the count of three, all people put the baby turtles in the sand, and watched them walking into the sea. The struggling of the babies to walk in the sand and reach the ocean triggered us to help them, but we can’t, because they must reach the ocean naturally with their own strength. The fact that even none of them will survive made me burst in tears. Until the next night, sitting next to the camp fire while grilling some barbeques, the conversation about the baby turtles still be the trending topic. We were wondering whether they were still alive out there, swimming to the south and avoiding the predators. The next day we moved our camp next to the home of the locals. They greeted us warmly, gave us knowledges about traditional rubber factory and served us some fresh coconuts. We visited their houses, asked about their daily life routines and have a light talk. A day well spent with a warm and friendly atmosphere by the locals. Teluk Hijau – a name for a beautiful white soft sandy beach with elegant cliff that was located inside the national park where we spent our last day. Some were relaxing on the soft sand, swimming in the ocean or climbing the cliff and jumping into the sea, others were taking photographs, and some were guarding our logistics from the hungry monkeys. Every people enjoyed their time in their own way, but there’s a group of people that stated that it was not that fun if you were not wet enough. So it turns out to be about five to seven people chasing one by one person, captured them, and plunged them into the ocean until all members were wet and full of sand. Five days were not enough, but we must return home. It was an unique and unforgettable trip.