Ranukumbolo, The Wonders of Unknown

by Ade Wijaya (Indonesia)

A leap into the unknown Indonesia

29st of March 2016 is a memorable date for my life. The date when I went to Ranukumbolo lake. The famous lake through 5cm film located in East Java in the Tumpang area in the edge of Mount Semeru. My journey began four years ago where I was in high school. It’s an idea to celebrate our graduation by hiking mountains. Before the day of departure, we have prepared all the items and equipment that will be taken, list the estimated budget that will be issued, and expect how long the track will take. The travel group numbered 16 people, and the estimated time was three days, but because there were some obstacles, our trip delayed for a day, so a total of 4 days trip, I will tell you. One of the conditions for hiking is preparing a medical certificate, and some of my friends forgot to make it. Consequently, we have to stop by the hospital first to get the letter. At that time, the hospital had a long queue, and we had to wait for the process. We arrived at the Mount Semeru registration post late afternoon and the registration is almost closed. The registration fee for local residents costs IDR 16,500 / day and for foreign tourists IDR 200,000 / day. Even though we have registered, the officer suggests that our ascent be postponed until tomorrow because the climbing regulations in Semeru are prohibited if it is late afternoon. Closing the hiking is not without reason, hiking to the lake takes 4 hours. By nightfall, the hiking trail is dangerous because many forest tigers roam. Then we were directed to a small lake called Ranu Regulo where the hikers were camping to spend the night there and do the hike the next morning. Tracking to Ranu Kumbolo is easy for hikers because the track is not extreme. Along the way, there will be many green forests it once in a while makes us stop for a moment and enjoy the atmosphere around. 4 hours hiking, the lake began to appear. Excitement as if the tiredness of the journey for hours immediately paid by seeing the beauty of Lake Ranukumbolo. In Ranukumbolo, the lake water is still clean and safe to drink, but even so, the water there should not be used carelessly, for example, for bathing. Arriving at the camping area, we immediately prepared to set up a tent and cook. The scenery around the lake is stunning, the water is calm, trees towering around the lake and surrounded by hills. The number of hikers who are camping is not too crowded, so the atmosphere is relaxed. By late afternoon, the atmosphere is getting better with a warm orange sky color. At dusk, we were accompanied by jokes and the warmth of Indomie, coffee, cigarettes, and folk music. At night we have a unique plan which to sit together in a circle and tell each other about their complaints during their three years at school, many stories and gossip delivered here. Until late at night then slowly one by one, we began to enter our tents and sleep. As usual, my friends and I stayed up late until dawn. The sun started to rise, and we captured a beautiful moment with my camera. In the morning, we planned to go down, but we were still lazing for packing and going down to the bottom post until it was delayed until noon. We just go down and arrive at the registration post in the afternoon. Feeling lazy to go home, we finally decided to stay again at Ranu Regulo for the night and go home in the next day. Yaps, me, and my friends love nature, and we are more comfortable living in a rural atmosphere like that than living in the hustle and bustle of the city crowd. Enjoying group chat, brewing coffee, sharing, and helping each other, it feels like we are not friends anymore, but brothers. The experience was an unforgettable experience for my friends and me. The sweetest memory of separation before graduating from school and busy pursuing each other's goals.