Curug Cilember 23.10.2012

Bismillah
Assalamualaikum~

*mood bercerite*

Alhamdulillah dh selamat pergi dan balik ke/dari Curug Cilember smlm. *baru bangun dr pengsan* The day started a bit late since van yang kitorg tempah suddenly stuck in a massive jam. We waited for more than 2 hours. It shud've started earlier than that, 630am. But turned out we could only begin the journey at 9am. Xpe la, mungkin ade hikmah di situ. Kitorg sempat la makan2 utk breakfast. Sekadar mengisi perut and buat reservoir energy utk pendakian later. 

Perjalanan ke Curug Cilember...nothing too interesting. I think everybody's tired (from lack of sleep I suppose as we had to get ready VERY early). Most of them slept throughout the journey. I, on the other hand was confused whether to sleep or not. I keep waking up from unplanned naps and dreading each and every time coz nothing to do in that tight spot of the van. Couldnt really move that much. Sore. Bored. Indecisively sleepy maybe due to the scarcity of oxygen in the vehicle. Ahaha...

Around 11am, we reached the destination. Stretching our limbs loose as we got out of the van. A group of us already started climbing. Most of us stayed behind, only to ensure everybody's on their feet. *thats a lie* I'm with the second batch. Excited at the thought of hiking and enjoying the waterfall at the end of the trail (not really the end). Determined, I hiked and hiked. Ignoring the build up of lactic acid in my muscles. I'm like that, I pushed myself over my own limit. I don't know why. I only paid attention to the ground I'm stepping on. Only tilting my head up when there's Arabians (sejuk hati dgr dorg bagi salam kat kitorg, lembut je...huhu) descending from higher grounds. 

Pintu masuukk.

View from down below. Kerdilnye. Huuu...

In the beginning...the trail was ok. 

Our aim was to find our other friends who started climbing earlier. They've found a spot for us. But it was not easy finding the right path (there were a few trails). There was no sign, no nothing. We had to go with our guts. And apparently our guts were wrong. We ended up climbing far more than needed. The first batch was at Curug 3. We climbed almost to the top (Curug 1)! We hiked for more than an hour! It was exhausting. 

But then, we heard voices...a group of men we encountered earlier. They said we were nearing Curug 1 (I think everybody's jaw dropped to the floor at this statement). So, we followed the group of men down the slippery slopes. A few of us fell on our bottoms as we climbed down. I, amazingly...avoided falling flat on the grounds in spite of my clumsiness and frictionless shoes. Annddd....akhirnye dengar suare2 pompuan memanggil. Dh sampaiiii!! At last. 

I think I was too tired....my legs started shaking frantically once I stopped walking. I couldnt stop it. Somebody told me to sit but I couldnt even bend my knees. Clearly the porridge I ate earlier didnt provide me with enough energy for the hiking. I just wanted to get in the water and I did just that. I even ignored the food. Everybody else were eating, I was playing with the crystal clear water. Engrossed in the beauty I was witnessing in front of me. The flowing water. The ever majestic fall of the water from up above. The partially hindered sunlight in between the trees. Insects on the water. The sound of animals (but it's scary when I was alone, not knowing where everybody else was...sesat sorg2 jap). 

Waterfall~ At Curug 3!

I can see my hand in the water very clearlyy~ 

With a splash of colours. 

What I see with my eyes is far more beautiful than what is captured here. MasyaAllah. ^-^

Not long after that, ade a few mat Arab ni dtg spot kitorg. Along with their tour guide (tourguidekah?). I was facing them when they sat near the waterfall. And I realized they were eyeing us. Hmmmmm....awkwarddd! Dalam hati, I was like..."Eeeee, pak Arab ni...xnmpk ke pompuan2 kat sini? Bulih plak die mandi atas tu. Siap jeling2 lg. Go awaayyy!" I changed position. But still felt uneasy. I climbed up to our bags. Away from their eagle eyes. But I still feel uneasy. A few of us tried the staring game. Stare them until they go away. But I didnt think that would work. At least not fast enough. So, I mustered every courage I had, and ask the tour guide to guide them to higher waterfalls. I was surprised at first. I was never the one to take the initiative to start a conversation with a stranger. Let alone a man. Plus...it was not really a conversation. I was basically shuuu-ing them away. (it was rude but necessary)

Alhamdulillah, after the tour guide talked to the Arabians, they left. Success! ^-^ We climbed up to the waterfall and oooooohh the water was sooo freezing cold. My teeth chattering. My hands and legs are shivering. Involuntary response to keep my body warm, I suppose. Then, I stood under the waterfall. Let the water fall on me. It was colder there than everywhere else. The sound of the water cancelling the surrounding noises, voices and even blurred my vision. It was as if I was alone. Only the sound of the water was accompanying me. It was...peaceful. Oh how peaceful I felt down there. I love it. I didnt think of anything. Separated from my mind. I couldnt even think if I wanted to. 

Next, the climbing down. It was harder. Felt like the trails got more slippery. I almost fell a few times. It was a looongg way down. Again, my legs were shaking with every step I took. I was in dire need of food. Good thing climbing down didnt take much energy. Or else, my legs would turn jell-o. huhu....

Slippery slope. The trail we had to go thru from Curug 4 till Curug 1!

Nice view on the way back. 

What you shud see if you're lying flat on the ground.

And the journey ends as we reached home. Alhamdulillah for a wonderful yet tiring girls day out. :)