Jump!

by Margareth Setiawan (Indonesia)

A leap into the unknown Indonesia

“Where is it again, this Pindul Cave?” Niko looked at us while holding his phone. “I’m not sure. None of us are. Just follow the Google Maps, ok?” Lyli smiled to answer the question. Niko raised his eyebrows and nodded then start to ride, took five of us, all women just for the note, to this infamous and latest nature tourism (at that time) in Yogyakarta. My mind flew away during that hour-long trip. I didn’t even know where we’re going until we arrived. Some of my friends was chatting and sleeping while I noticing there were more trees we passed. We arrived at around 10 a.m. and were the only visitors there. After took care of administrative matters, we walked through footpath carrying tires that we would use to do cave tubing in Pindul Cave. The sky was so bright and the water felt cold on my skin. The warm sun shone on our faces while we were down the river and got into some caves. I was amazed by some very large stalactites which dripped water and were believed to make youthful. Niko's voice and laughter could be heard clearly blended with the sound of the water. Bats, river streams and green trees along the river made perfect collaborations with fresh fragrance from natural rocks that took my mind away. Imperceptibly we were almost at the end of the river and passed a highest cliff of the journey. The guide told us to try to jump from that 7 meters cliff to release all the burdens inside. All my friends jumped without thinking twice whilst I almost couldn’t breath just look down the cliff. “Hey, you okay?” Niko stood beside me smiling. I stared this man without expression. We were not close friends. We even barely spoke to each other in high school. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if I were you, I would gather all my anxieties and jump right away. You may not come here again anytime soon, rite?” he sat on a rock while looking sharply at me. Suddenly he stood up and waved his hand to my friends waiting below. “Look at these amazing things around: clear water, cool breeze, strong sunlight, and true friends. My ex wouldn’t believe I am here with you guys. Well, she never believes I would survive in Yogyakarta, anyway,” Niko glanced at me, “but I do”. I was speechless. He’s right, my fear only 7 meters away but my blessings are all around. All my problems might still be there whether I jumped or not but it would definitely boost my confidence. “Jump! Thank me later,” Niko patted my shoulder. I couldn’t remember anything else other than the wind and feeling of relief that welcomed me shortly after jumping. I saw Niko clapped his hands from top of cliff. I did it! I couldn’t believe that I would jump! My long-lost sense of self resurfaced suddenly. The remain fears from my last toxic relationship was no longer exist because I was able to fight my greatest fear in height. “Good job! You should proud of yourself!” Niko smiled as he passed me while we were walking towards the starting place. I thanked him and he just shrugged his shoulders. The sun's rays sting our skin. Unlike the entryway, the path leading to exit that we had to go was much longer and muddy. This trip was quite tiring, but we didn't stop laughing. Indeed, our laughter was far more loose when tracing this exit way. Some cheerful birds and butterflies passed us. Some weeds had to be cut down by our guide because they blocked the road. Our bodies, which were very wet, gradually dried up, replaced with sweat, but we were still excited because we knew that at the exit point, there was delicious food waiting for us. Pindul Cave, which we barely knew at first, surely has given us a sweet impression. As for me, this experience was really a leap into unknown, scary yet exciting like a future.