perennialsteps

In a normal condition, I won't join Badui Dalam trip because the village doesn't have permanent bathroom. But since lately I'm not in a normal condition, I joined the trip. We were off from Outpack's basecamp at Warung Buncit around 10.30pm. There were 10 of us.

We arrived in Ciboleger village in the morning. The village is the last place that can be reached by vehicle. We met Badui Dalam villagers in a canteen which also provides four valuable permanent bathrooms.

It took us around four hours from Ciboleger to Badui Dalam vilage by walking. We can see lake, paddy/corn/else field, villagers working on the field along the trekking path. The view was so calming. It would have given more calming effect if we hadn't been fainting along the way. The tantalizing hills toward Badui Dalam village were challenging. Contradict with my other friends, I'd prefer the ascending than the descending part. The road is slippery and muddy. I also had this kind of road when trekking in Mount Halimun National Park. Same as the national park, I acrossed small river here. After getting refreshed by the cold river water, I was ready to get my feet dirty again due to the mud along the road.

Finally, we arrived at Badui Dalam village where there was no electricity, no furniture inside the house except for cooking appliance, no permanent bathroom only the river, nothing. There are some rules such as can't take pictures, can't use things with chemical content that can polute the river water, can't across the tribe chief's lawn, and else. Badui's people themselves are not allowed to travel by vehicles and their outfits color mostly are black and white. So they travel by foot, even when it takes days to go to a place. But, they have to be back in the village if there's a ceremony. We spend the afternoon by having conversation among us and with the villagers about their customs. The village is fill of nothing, very serene. But somehow that nothing has turned into something for me.

On our way back to Ciboleger village, we got three Badui Dalam's children companion: Narja (11 years), Kasnadi (7 years) and Nadi (3 years). Our way back took around five hours through the hills and river. I think I don't have to explain again about the ascending and descending parts. Still, I really enjoyed the trekking time since I could have amusing conversation with those children. Amusing here means I spoke in Bahasa while they spoke in Sundanesse and we don't understand each other language. Running on some parts of the road, playing the grass with a stick, crossing the river, getting burn by the sunlight were great moments for me.

It was a great trip. It's too bad that up until now, foreigners are only allowed to enter/stay in the outer side of Badui Dalam village which located six hours by walking from the village.

This trip was organized by http://outpack.multiply.com/.