Three Souls, One Destination
At the top of the slopes of Mount Merbabu, there is life. From a distance, white spots lined up among the green trees are the roofs and colors of the residents' houses. The slopes are inhabited by two villages named Ngaduman and Nggedong. Approximately 80 families inhabit Ngaduman Village, while approximately 60 families inhabit Nggedong Village.
The distance between the two villages is close. This is a small village that travelers rarely visit. So, its representatives become an alternative destination. It is a place protected from the noise of some types of vehicles passing by non-stop. Sabato Kaliwuan accompanies Sally, Devi, and Irma to visit a location that gives a new experience that is more colorful in the lives of the three of them. For Sabato Kaliwuan, this is not the first trip to Ngaduman Village. Ngaduman Village is Sabato Kaliwuan's second home.
The three of them are travelers who are photography enthusiasts and are always seeking new places that tend not to be destinations for many people. In this era, cameras have become a part of life. So is the activity of capturing and freezing moments with a camera to bring out meaningful dimensions and to be able to show something extraordinary beyond what is only visible to the sense of sight.
Sally likes landscape objects, and buildings (architecture). Actually, it's not just those two objects. When seeing a new object, her spontaneity in using the camera produces interesting photos. While Devi who likes to 'play' with her camera often freezes humorous moments. It's different with Irma, she likes cameras with fixed lenses (prime lenses) with a single but permanent focal length. When they find an object, they never stop exploring until they get the results that they want.
The journey to Ngaduman Village departs from the Jogjakarta city station at around 05:30 WIB in the morning using a private vehicle. Leaving the station parking, the vehicle drives leisurely towards the main road connecting the Jogja-Magelang. The long journey that will cover a distance of approximately 80 km is colored by casual conversation about the breakfast menu.
Of course, they choose a local food menu so they can stop at a restaurant that serves a breakfast menu according to their wishes. This early morning is not difficult to find a typical local breakfast menu, such as ‘gudeg or bubur nasi kuwah pedas’. The side dishes vary and can be adjusted to taste.
After a few hours on the main road, our vehicle began to enter an alternative road connecting two cities, namely Salatiga City and Semarang City. We feel the fresh air from shady trees dividing the road with an up-and-down contour. Along the way the scenery changed green, depicting the atmosphere of a village at the foot of Mount Merbabu.
From the vehicle window, we could see rows of houses with various architectures, interspersed with views of vegetable fields like changing slide after slide of photos. And the conversation was still maintained.
Vehicles began to cut through the main road, entering a small road marked by a pine forest area. This road is the entrance to the villages located below Ngaduman Village. Start turning off the AC then opening the window inviting cool air into the car and replacing the artificial cold air throughout the journey from Jogja. Along this small road, we witnessed two, namely Mount Andong and Mount Telomoyo which were on the left.
Chats and stories are still heard between us in the car along the uphill road. Although occasionally got a gift in the form of a descent. We managed to pass one village. Towards the second village, colored with one of the surprises in the form of a sharp curved uphill road even though only a few meters. Bypassing the bend, we entered the second village, which was densely populated. The vehicle went slower than before with the windows still open. Traditional houses are side by side with modern buildings seen closely.
Seeing residents in front of their houses greeting each other by residents coming and going, we imagined how relaxed they were in living their lives. Slow vehicles and open car windows made it easy for us to greet the residents. This time the surprise came from one of the residents standing in front of the ‘widik’ where tobacco was dried. The vehicle stopped and asked permission to take the surprise gift.
For adventurers with a photography hobby, they do not expect tangible gifts or goods. In a short time, they managed to freeze an extraordinary moment which is a satisfying achievement. Gone is the boredom that arises only from hoping to arrive at the destination village soon. They show each other the results of their respective camera captures. Commenting on each other, suddenly change the vehicle room into a photography discussion room.
The atmosphere spontaneously changes to bursts of laughing as if competing with the hum of the wind. The conversation turns to each other excelling in each camera brand combined with photography techniques.
However, the curved road with a slope still awaited a few more meters ahead. The wheels of the vehicle continued to leave traces in several locations that we had passed. This smooth, small road was the only way for the residents of the most roofed villages, namely Ngaduman and Nggedong villages, to go back and forth. It was natural that the residents, from top to bottom knew each other.
Hour after hour, the car passes through small roads at the lowest speed, slowly, as if faster than the steps of the villagers' pedestrians. The three travelers, Sally, Devi, and Irma, can guess in their hearts what was in front of them other than what they had already experienced. Adventure is part of their hobby. Whatever the terrain, the surprises they are waiting for. The camera is like a championship medal hanging around their necks, always ready to capture the moment.
A few meters ahead, we saw a curved road that would soon be passed. The curve was greeted by a slightly tense incline for the three travelers. With travelers who could also drive, their worries seemed like they would not be able to pass the road ahead. The incline was passed and a few meters ahead there was a shady umbrella space with bamboo trees, as if provided for a resting place.
We pulled over and parked under the shade. Get out of the vehicle and walk around the parking for a minute to refresh our nervousness by looking at the green trees and enjoying the distant scenery below. They observed the distant scenery with their respective lens eyes. Suddenly, one of them gave a signal because they saw a moving object that would cross the same road and incline. This would be an interesting object for them. A Japanese horse (motorcycle) was seen toughly climbing the curved road and incline we had passed. Sally, Devi, and Irma prepared to welcome the moment. And the medals hanging around their necks spontaneously turned back into cameras.
Like a hunter watching his prey, they patiently wait to press the camera button to freeze the moment. The two people on the back of the Japanese horse looked relaxed, as if they were in a coffee shop, chatting while enjoying the hum of the motorbike on the uphill road.
Upon arrival at Ngaduman Village, there was no greeting or ceremony. Sabato Kaliwuan parked the car in the yard of one of the residents' houses. The parking seemed dedicated to parking for visitors.
Getting out of the car, we were greeted by the hum of the wind. The friendly greetings of the residents who were truly familiar to Sabato Kaliwuan, who was walking towards their plantation, seemed to break the sound of the wind. Have some conversation for a few minutes at the same time to introduce three female travelers, Sally, Devi, and Irma, to him.
Ngaduman village is designed as a hideout for travelers who like a quiet atmosphere and local lovers. We rushed to open the trunk of the car, took our suitcases, and walked to the house of one of the residents as a halfway house. From the parking, walk to the halfway house approximately 30-40 meters away. Passing wooden houses and modern buildings facing the pine forest landscape of the forestry area.
This huge building resulted in a renovation of an old house whose construction was made of wood. In the living room, wooden pillars are still maintained as supports. The kitchen is quite spacious; there is a pavilion and a cooking fireplace, and the authenticity of the wooden construction is still preserved. This house provides facilities in the form of traditional local accommodation.
We entered the house with curiosity. From here, life as part of the villagers will be knitting a new, more colorful story.
