strangers doesn't bite.

by Teresa Nangameka (Indonesia)

I didn't expect to find Indonesia

I can live without an internet connection, but not for travel without friends. I always dare myself to go alone somewhere I am not familiar with, but it does not happen. If I go somewhere alone, it's only for a really short time trip or it's an open trip with strangers. Yeah, it's better than I have to go alone. So, I would like to tell you about my first trip with 100% of strangers, but without telling my virtual friends to where I was traveling. Something that changes my mind about strangers. It started with the line of advertising that pops up on my laptop. "Collect moments, not things.", I forget about the name of the product, but that line really touched my heart. Because of that line, I started to make a list of places I want to visit every year when I get my job, the moment when I earn my own money. 2015, I did my first traveling, a year after I got my job. That was not only my first of being out of routine, that was also my first time to climb a mountain. Yes, from a little girl who had no experience in hiking or even scouting, I was too confident about it. However, I supported myself and joined the open trip. I did not bring or asked my friends because no one in my circle wanted to go climb the mountain. They prefer to go to the beach or do a city tour because it is really 'instagrammable' than making a pose with tired face and no makeup, holding a stick climb and bring carrier bag in the back. I knew there would be an open trip to go to Gede Mountain, the mount I climbed, from an Indonesian Backpacking Community website. They set the date on a public holiday, so an officer like me could join. It was 1.00 am my first meeting with the group. I alone took a bus before about 3 hours from my place to the meeting point. And guess what, I was the only lady in this boy's squad. It's a little awkward with them in the beginning, but after a kind of coffee cup conversation, they were totally freak and crazy too. I enjoyed my trip with those strangers. Surrounded by original nature and kindhearted boys I've met a couple of hours ago, even though my body did not support me enough to climb, I had this positive vibe to motivate me. They held my hands and sometimes pulled me if I had no power to continue the hiking. Sometimes they asked me if I need help to bring my bag, but I refused it. We climbed in very slow-moving, just to make sure I did not get tired. So that I could continue the trip. They taught me how to build a tent and also to cook in a scouting way. A quote ever said, if you want to know how your friend is, bring him/her to climb a mountain. They proved to me about this quote. The happiest moment is not when we finally could catch the sun rises in the peak of Gede Mountain, but because my 24 hours in there was not fulfilled by visiting browser page or posting anything on Instagram, Twitter, or any social media that I have. Maybe I lost my internet connection, on the other hand, I found my real connection also in there. The thing I learned about my first trip is I will go wherever I want and I do not need to afraid of strangers. Because I believe my friends now is started with a stranger one.