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Yogyakarta - A new found place for advetures! Part 2

We had a wonderful time exploring the temples at Jogjia and now it's time for fun and adventure.

 1. Tubing @ Pindul Cave
Trust me, if you are planning for a visit at this cave, come early as the crowd is lesser and you will have the whole cave to yourself. Pindul cave is formed by karst with underground river located concerning 7km south of the city center Wonosaru, Gunung Kidul. Wading throughout a river using Cano/Kayak is something common, yet if the stream is located inside a cave, of course it will be a satisfying yet difficult encounter. 



Upon entering the premise, the guide briefed us about the cave and the route. Soon we put on our life vest, grabbed a big tube and headed to the cave which is quite a distance from the main entrance. Luckily, the drive to the cave is included in the ticket price. 




Soon, we saw the crystal clear emerald lake and a tiny entrance to the cave. The water was cooling and soon we were drifting into darkness. Inside the cave, it was filled with bats, hanging upside down and sleeping soundly. The guide knew the way so well that even in darkness, he was able to point out the location of huge rock or protruding sharp edges to prevent us from bumping against it. 

Towards the end of the cave, we were allowed to climb onto a rock and jumped into the water. This was so fun and we spent quite sometime swimming in the lake cave. 

 2. The Pine Forest 

 Another attraction which is relatively unknown to foreign tourist is the pine tree forest, made famous with an art installation in the form of a giant hand against the backdrop of a panoramic view of the city of Yogyakarta. Random photo spots litter the pine tree forest, each conveying a deep massage from the artist behind the sculptures.  


However, the area is quite small and can be completed within 30 mins. It's best to go in the morning where the weather is cooling and misty. As we were there close to noon time, it was quite hot and we had to find a cooling spot to rest and have some coconut drinks which by the way is super cheap at $0.50 for a huge one. 



3. Jeeping @ Mt Merapi 

Mount Merapi is an active volcano in Yogyakarta which by the way erupted recently in May 2019. The last massive eruption was in Oct 2010 which killed over 300 people. People living around the volcano believe that Mount Merapi is a holy mountain and this resulted in several versions of myths.  
Anyway, the volcano has become quite a tourist attraction where traveler can enjoy a bumpy jeep ride to view this majestic mountain and toured the open-air museum of the remains of the villages destroyed during the eruption in 2010. 

 The ride was super bumpy. As the weather was clear and cloudless, Mount Merapi was in full view. Our first stop was the Kaiadem bunker where voluteers and villagers were trapped and died during the 2010 eruption. Although it is situated 3m underground and layered with 25cm thick iron, it couldn't withold the hot volcanic lava. 





Soon, we were driven through the forests and arrived at the village museum. This museum serves to inform visitors about the impacts of the 2010 Merapi eruption. We could see the extent of the destruction from the burnt and damaged items kept in the houses. Quite an insightful educational trip.

 To end off, we were then driven across river with water splashing all over us. Exhilarating! 

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