Mount Merapi a popular site at New Year
Mount Merapi a popular site at New Year
Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
Kaliadem district on the slopes of Mount Merapi is a favorite
place for Yogyakartans, especially the youngsters, to spend New
Year's Eve. Compared to other attractions in and around the city,
the spot is extremely affordable and offers a different
atmosphere for visitors.
The savanna-like resort of Kaliadem, called Bebeng by locals,
is gearing up to welcome the upcoming New Year celebrations. To
brighten up the festivities, the local administration is planning
all-night-long entertainment for its residents and quests.
Bebeng is located in the east of the noted tourist resort of
Kaliurang. It is easily accessible, by motorcycle or car, as it
is perched just off the well-maintained main road some 30-minutes
drive from Yogyakarta.
Since it is located at an altitude of 900 meters above sea
level, the weather is usually cold at night requiring visitors to
wear sweaters to keep warm. The vast slope which is suitable for
camping is equipped with decent toilets and shelters for the
visitors.
On new year's eve visitors usually spend the night feasting on
the breathtaking scenery. Mount Merapi, which seems so dark and
imposing under the clear night skies, sometimes coughs and spews
flaming lava and white smoke from its crater. As the stars
sparkle in the clear night sky, burning red lava streams down Mt
Merapi's slopes.
Visitors can refresh themselves at the foodstalls (warung)
scattered all around. Visitors really love to just hang out at
the foodstalls and chat despite the fact that the price is very
cheap. Usually they provide simple food and drinks like grilled
corn (jagung bakar), instant noodles, ginger boiled in hot water
with palm sugar (wedang jahe) and banana with hot water and palm
sugar (wedang pisang).
The New Year celebrations at Bebeng has been going on without
any coordinator. But many visitors have prepared themselves with
fireworks to celebrate the arrival of the new year. Hundreds of
fireworks create a very beautiful view with Mount Merapi as the
background.
Some visitors prefer to stay until dawn to witness the sun
rising in the east. From this height they will see the first
sunrise of 2002 appearing from behind Mount Lawu that is like a
giant slumbering on the horizon.
The joy in welcoming in the new year on the mountain slope is
not at all costly. Mount Merapi is away from the hustle and
bustle of a big city, away from blaring trumpets on the streets
and loud music in upmarket hotels. Watching the phenomena of this
mountain in serenity is like witnessing the greatness and might
of God.
Perhaps, the tranquility of the open may lead us to self-
introspection, pondering over what happened in 2001 and looking
to 2002. It is something that we will certainly miss in an
upmarket hotel.