It’s the 4th day of the ECODDR summer course, and today was a special day for us. After a series of the so-called ‘theoretical’ classes for the past days, today was the day where we’re having our ‘practical’ classes. Practical as in, to see, to feel and to believe with our own senses, of what we had learned before during the classes. But I’d rather call it a happy sightseeing trip. We wore the t-shirt that we received yesterday, and yes it looked a bit oversized on me, but that didn’t matter. For what matters was the ‘oversized’ experience that I am about to feel, experience and enjoy.
We started a little bit early than the usual, as we rode on the bus, and being taken to many places. As we passed through many places, I took the opportunity to snap few pics, while at the same time enjoying the sightseeing. By the way, today was a special day for the Indonesians, as they’re celebrating their independence day with joy and happiness. But for me, I was more than happy to be relieved and ‘independent’ from the lecture’s hall. A fieldtrip like this is exactly what I need after days of classes that tires me both physically and mentally.
Our first stop was the Puton village, which is a well-known area for its earthquake activities. The earthquake activity is still on-going in here and people could still feel the tremor once in a while. We were brought around to see how it caused tremendous damage towards the living areas. Many houses were destroyed and collapsed, and victims of the disasters have to stay in the provided shelters until the government gives them a new place to stay. We also were shown at the housing areas built for the victims, and outside of each house is a unique instrument called Kentungan, which will be knocked upon sensing disaster dangers to alert others.
Afterwards we were brought to a tempe making house. Tempe is a well-known food around the area, and we were given the opportunity to do the making ourselves. I made one which I felt like close to how the actual product looks like, and I felt like I’m good enough in making this already haha. The session didn’t take long, as we’re on tight schedule the whole day. So we left the area and moving towards the next village, on bike.
We headed towards the next stop in Puton and took a short break here and had a short introduction by the head of the village, followed by a short but sweet introduction session, while eating the sweet snacks and refreshing tea that they had prepared for us. It wasn’t long until the long-awaited moment arrived – the lunch break.
There’s no need for me to describe how wonderful the food was. What made it sweeter was that, all the foods were prepared by the villagers for us, and every last one of it was truly finger licking good. To add the sweetness more, we were presented with special instrument play, and traditional songs singing by the villagers themselves.
For the evening session, we were brought to a labotorium in Parangtiris, which is a geo-maritime science park. We were given a short lecture about the coastal areas in here, followed by a short trip around the gallery. Most of the displays in here were about the coastal areas in Bantul, and how they protected the coast area as geospatial heritage area. We were even given the opportunity to try the sand board on the sand dunes, it looks fun but I totally skipped it because it wasn’t just my type of game.
Speaking about coast area, the one that I truly looked forward to was to see the beach area around it, and we were given the opportunities to venture around the beach. Of course it wasn’t just a sight-seeing around the beach. We were split into groups, and played games on the beach until the sun sets down. The sundown’s view was beautiful and mesmerizing.
With bodies covered with sands, we finally closed the activities and headed back home. Tiredness and fatigues started to take control over me, and as I pondered on tomorrow’s schedule, I wished that I could recover back as much energy as I can tonight on my comfy bed.
As I typed this journal, I felt like I don’t think I could last any longer, not when I’m sitting on my comfy bed right now. All in all, it was a great experience and enjoyable moments for me. What I learned through the past day’s classes presented itself in the form of beautiful areas which my eyes could see, my body could felt and my heart could experience. Despite all these harsh experiences that the surrounding people had to overcome through, all I could see from them was stronger will to live. These people have survived, and turned what could possibly be one’s nightmare into an opportunity to live. Such spirit from them that somewhat touched me from deep within, that motivated me to be strong, spiritually mentally and physically. I was glad that I joined the trip, to experience all these with my own eyes. It was truly a golden moment for me, and I wish there will be such opportunity again for me to visit these areas one day.
I’m out now. Thanks for reading.