Last Sunday, early Oct 2013, when I was in Yogyakarta, my cousin offered to visit Pindul Cave, at Bejiharjo Village in Karangmojo, Gunung Kidul. It's around 1,5-2 hours driving (50 km) from Yogyakarta. My cousin's husband hadn't been there, avoid getting lost, my cousin called the provider. They sent a person to meet us at the Wonosari gate by motorcycle, it's easy for us then, just following the motor cycle to the post. We arrived around 10:30, some options were offered for the tours, 2 of the options attracted us, e.g. exploring Pindul Cave (IDR 35.000,-) and rafting at Oyo river (IDR 40.000,-) which would take 45 minutes for each of the tour. It's included the equipment such as safety jacket, a set of tube also the guide and transportation to the place. As we didn't dare to bring camera as it'll be wet, we rented a photographer. It cost IDR 75.000,-/tour, you would get the photo recorded in the CD after the trip. The photographer said that he could take as many photo shoots as we wanted as long as the memory card had enough available space :-)
As I had to catch my flight back to my hometown at 16:00, we had to rush. The provider was dare to guarantee that we could arrive to the post by 13:00 following the 2 tours. They started loading the tubes to a pick-up car, after that all of us must went up to the car, standing beside the tubes holding the iron fence around the car. We passed white oil tree plantations, and rice fields. The road was very bumpy, we had to hold tight to the iron unless we be bounced from the car. We passed by beautiful green rice fields and white oil plantation.
Oyo river rafting was the first destination, five of us walking on the footpath carrying the big tubes, while the guide could bring the 3 big tubes together at once as one of our member was a 9 years old girl. The footpath sometimes was slippery so we had to be careful, near to the river, the footpath was steeper and rocky, until the kid fell down. We walked slowly and carefully hand in hand to help each other, we also had to pass a small river around 50 cm depth, the rocks were slippery.
Reaching Oyo river, we started sitting on the tube. The water was quite cold, it's refresh after quite a difficult walking journey. The photographer took our picture, he also sit on the tube, if he sat higher, he could take better picture for us. Starting going down the beautiful Oyo river, we really enjoyed its beautiful natural cliffs and karst rock. Drifting along the river, we could hold our friend's tube, there's a red band on the tube which enabled us to go together, the guide would swim to pull us. The kid would like to swim instead of sitting on the tube, but her parents were not allowed her.
A small waterfall was beautifully running down from the rice fields above the river. If we had enough time, we could stay longer here, some people jumped from the cliff to the river. It's quite safe as the river was quite deep. Some of them were swimming or just standing or sitting under the waterfall, feeling the sensation of the massage water :-)
Before end of the journey, we passed by a bridge, the guide was creative enough to take a beautiful picture of 5 of us from the bridge. He was very fast to go up and down of the beach although the cliff was quite steep. 5 of us looked like flower, lying on the tube with our feet connected to each other. Before end of the journey, the kid was allowed to swim, she was very happy.
Continuing walking to the second tour, the car was ready to take us. A small hut was available by the river, we could buy snack or drink. They know that people would be wet and no wallet or money available, the hut's owner already provided a small invoice to give to the guide to avoid from getting wet then submitted to the post later for us to pay. It's quite helpful. To safe time, the car has a privilege to bring us right in front of the cave's entrance while others had to walk on foot from the post.
When we had to go inside the cave, again we were floating on the tube. Enjoy many chambers that had many stalactite or stalagmite, the cave had 3 different areas. The entrance, the dark zone, and the light zone. There were some cluster of bats living in the cave, that's why they could not set up lights to show the natural beauty of the cave. The guide and photographer were only bringing flash to show the stalactite's shape or the bat. The bats could dig the cave creating some holes for their nest. Although there were some brown spot/dirt caused by the bat's pee on the cave's ceiling, it's not smelly at all.
In the dark zone, no sun light could go through, it's very scary if you had to go alone. In the middle of the cave, the guide hit the rock once, it produced voice similar to the "gong" sound. A magnificent white crystal stalactite was also available there, with the flash you could see clearly. Near the crystal, beautiful rocks to be enjoyed such as hanging curtain when you see it from your position lying on the tube.
Reaching the light zone, I started to swim. There is a hole on the roof of the cave, that's enable the sunlight went through. Unfortunately it's cloudy when I was there, unless you could see the sun beamed beautifully through the hole into the cave. The kid and me were swimming, we really enjoyed it, actually we would like to stay longer to enjoy the fresh water and interesting natural scenery, unfortunately we didn't have enough time.
This trip provided a different style of enjoying activity, lying on a set of tubes, drifting along the Oyo River and Pindul underground unique cave. It is perfect for those who love adventure traveling, be ready getting wet. The activity itself is relatively safe and can be enjoyed by anyone from any different age groups. Expert and experienced instructors are ready anytime to guide the participants through the journey. It was unusual interesting trip, we got a fresh sensation.
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