Last Friday, instead of going to work, I took a tour of the area with a couple guys (Sony & Ferry) from work. We started off round 9.30a and rode up through winding roads. The winding roads reminded me of Nepal but without all the potholes and landslides to cross. It was also my first long ride out of the city.
The first stop was sulfuric water holes. The sulfur bubbles out from under the water. All this was coming from the nearby volcano. The smell was, of course, awful but the area was a little bit nice (see photos). We took a little walk round the area, took some photos, and headed back up to the road where I paid 2,500 rupiah entrance fee. The two guys I was with didn’t need to pay; I asked them why and the relpy, “I local.� Good enough. On our way.
About 100 meters past this place was a police checkpoint. They were randomly checking the vehicle papers. I had mine in order but didn’t understand what the officer said to me. My compadres answered for me and we were told to go on. The next little stop was a beautiful lake that also emanated sulfur. We walked around here while I watched my companions stick their hands in bubbling water to check the temperature. I could only laugh when they told me it was hot. Sony was getting hungry. We went on.
We went on and on and on until we passed a sculpture of a peanut. The peanut was at least 3 meters. I am a little sorry I didn’t take a picture. I needed batteries for my camera and we all needed some coffee and a snack. Coffee came with biapong, a roll stuffed with egg and pork. It wasn’t exactly a roll though because biapong is steamed and not baked. The appearances are deceiving with this gem because it looks doughy on the outside but is really cooked on the inside. We eat and drink and go.
Next stop: Bukit Kasih – Hill of Thanks. In concept, these places are very admirable but they tend to be more like a religious theme park. This particular one acknowledged the religions of Indonesia as co-existing. There is an enormous cross (unfinished) at the top and 12 or so scenes of Jesus’ crucifixion on the way down. The whole area was built around sulfur jets and a small thermal pool. I think I’ve captured it quite well in the photos. I can’t tell you exactly what all this was about. There were several other sculptures that Sony & Ferry didn’t know about. There was also 2 very nice tennis courts and a thermal pool for bathing. There are also four buildings for the four major religions of Indonesia near the top. The Hindu mandir was empty but completed with a contribution box. The Buddhist temple was nearly complete and a sign in front said that contributions were not to be made. Still there was a contribution box in front of it. The box did not have any slit in which to put money. The Christian/Protestant church was being used at the time. A lot of singing and clapping was going on. On we go.
At the bottom, there were several small eateries made from bamboo and palm. We arrived and sat down under an awning and a man offered us corn on the cob. The corn was boiled in the bubbling pool of water nearby. Eggs were also available.
We left the Hill of Thanks and went to lunch. The restaurant we stopped at serves all the local delicacies and I watched Sony & Ferry go through two bowls of forest rat while I had a big ol’ pork satay and quaffed three bottles of water. The ride back wasn’t unpleasant but I was definitely feeling dehydrated.
See photos of the ride.