Back when I still lived in Jogja, I ofter spare my time to hang out with friends around the city, even out of town. Usually, we went to the beaches or to the mountain.

To reach the destination was far easier. We took a motorcycle and we can reach the destination as long as we didn\\\’t run out of gas.

But that\\\’s when I lived in Jogja. Thing is a bit different for now. I live and work in Jakarta. Everything feels so far away from here.

In the other side, the temptation to explore the surroundings still high. I grew up in Bekasi, which literally in West Java, sadly I never explored this region except when I went hiking to Mount Ciremai. It bothering me form time to time. Until I came up with an Idea. I have to go to Garut, famous with the tag line \\\’Swiss van Java\\\’.

Couchsurfing

After a couple of daydreaming sessions and spending a cup of coffee, I decided to go to Garut, the city known as the Swiss van Java. It was clear that there was no Alpine Mountain there but considering the location that was between the mount Guntur, Mount Galunggung and Mount Cikuray seemed quite similar. I was excited.

Given the distance from Jakarta, which is around 200 Km. Surely I have to stay for at least one night there. The right time to give a try to Couchsurfing,  a platform for sharing a place for staying for travelers or just hanging out with fellow travelers. I couldn\\\’t more excited. I took my day off from the office and leave my work for a moment. The dice is cast.

I started looking for information on local residents in the Garut area and sent requests to stay for 1 night. After I contacted several people, I still didn\\\’t get the answer I expected until the night before departure. I started to feel anxious.

If I didn\\\’t get a place to spend the night, I was forced to do Plan B, which is to go to Bandung, spend the night in Bandung city square and go to Kawah Putih, make a sketch there.

Good news comes the next day. The message I sent, received a response from Mas Abdul, one of the Couchsurfing users who answered my request. He was willing to provide a place for me to stay in Garut and offered to accompany me around and go to Telaga Bodas. Received confirmation, I immediately went to the bus terminal.

Garut

The trip to Garut from Jakarta takes around 5 hours. At 9 pm I arrived in the Sasak Besi area, Kab. Garut. I will be picked up by Abdul Mas.

I didn\\\’t wait long, I met Mas Abdul. He asked me if I was not afraid of being robbed considering that there could have been a criminal act because at that time I waited in a rather quiet area. Asked like that I just laughed because I didn\\\’t even think that far.

Honestly, I\\\’m a little worried because we haven\\\’t known each other before. But because of my expectation of being adventurous, it was worth trying, so I didn\\\’t think too much about it.

The temperature that night was quite cold, we rode a motorbike to Mas Abdul\\\’s house. When we arrived at his house, we talked a little about the Couchsurfing platform, an interesting location in Garut and daily activities. After that, I rested. The next day we planned to go to Telaga Bodas.

The trip to Telaga Bodas by motorbike takes about 45 minutes from Mas Abdul\\\’s house. My guess is true, as far as the eye can see stretches that form a natural fortress wall surrounding the Garut area. Now I understand why Garut is nicknamed the Swiss van Java.

Not many visitors there, you could say that only us and some people at that time. Enjoying the view for a moment we went straight to the natural hot spring pool. My first experience was taking a natural hot shower, relaxing the bones.

After enjoying the hot spring, we returned home. On the road, we decided to stop at a coffee shop to enjoy coffee with a view of Sadahurip Mountain which is said to be a hidden pyramid and Garut City below us.

Look at the distance. Everything looks small and calm.

Actually, my initial plan was to continue my journey to the downtown and immediately return to Jakarta by bus. Mas Abdul advised me to stay over for a night and invited me to go fishing in the pond that afternoon. I changed my plan a little.

The next morning, using public transportation, I headed to the Garut City Center and planned to sketch there. I also stopped at Garut Square. After enjoying coffee on the side of the square, I immediately looked for spots to sketch. What interests me at the time was the Great Garut Mosque.

After that, I went straight to the bus terminal and returned to Jakarta.

Thank you, Mas Abdul, who has hosted and accompanied me while in Garut. Pleasant experience.