Sanguine Scientist

What is creativity?

If you ask me, creativity is a part of human way of thoughts, lurking deep inside them, waiting to emerge. What so special about creativity is they are unique, different by each person, and share the same common role: CREATE SOMETHING NEW. Also creativity plays an important role in human life

People nowadays have a tendency of being a follower rather than being creative. Blame the social staircase if you ask me. With that real boundary such as social staircase people are afraid of making something different from what others do. They afraid of being alone, with no one being with them, leaving them alone with their creative thoughts. A sad irony it is, but that’s what happens on society

Hello. It is been awhile since the last time I write and this is going to be my first travel journal, ever *crowd cheering*. Okay I am exaggerating a little but hey, seriously, this is my first travel journal I’m going to post on the net (since I don’t have courage to post any, lol).

In my very first travel journal, I’m going to tell you guys how I managed to survive in one of the most dangerous hiking track I've ever been, the Mt. Semeru’s hiking track (while my road to work being the most dangerous, with a lot of trucks roaming around). It was not a pleasure trip for me although my friends said to me that they enjoyed the extreme track. But I enjoyed it, a lot.

This story started with me read this book by Elle Luna. There are a lot of motivational words inside the book, lead you to be yourself. This book really helped me to find myself more and discover how I should behave towards myself and my dreams, always saying ‘yes’ to yourself and being honest to your dreams.

I didn't know if it is the universe or something else, but after I finished with the book, my friend told me that he want to go to Ranu Kumbolo, one of the worth-to-see sight in Mt. Semeru, and asked me if I want to accompanied him. Without any hesitation, just like the book taught me, I said yes to him and I decided to go to Ranu Kumbolo on the next day-off.

I thought I was wrong at first and made a reckless decision, knowing it was a hard track we were going to go to. People around me were make fun at my decision and made a bet that I couldn't survived the extreme weather there and whined all the time, begged to go home. Honestly, it broke my heart a little since they were judged me without knowing any efforts Ive done.

The preparations were quite complex. There were a lot of things to be prepared for our ransom during hiking to Ranu Kumbolo. There is one item that couldn't be left behind and essential for hikers: a SLEEPING BAG. At first I didn't know what kind of bag a sleeping bag is. It is a thin, warm, pod-like blanket made of coated nylon. That thing eat up quite a large space inside the carrier bag so I didn't bring so much ransom.

It took 2 hours to go to Malang from Surabaya by bus. We decided to go to Malang by bus because there will be someone sacrificed to be seated at driver seat if we go by car and it will be so unfair for them (and I knew it would be ME if we did). Win-win solution wasn't it.

Arrived at Arjosari Bus Station, Malang, we went to the meeting point in Tumpang by the local public transportation. We waited for the others (whom I don’t know at the moment) so there will be one big group, consist of 20 people, went from Tumpang to Ranu Pani, the first outpost beneath the Semeru’s hiking track. After some boring times waited for the others we departed to Ranu Pani and attended the short briefing soon after we arrived there.

There were 5 checkpoints (or what I say here, a goddamn rest area) throughout the track. Each checkpoint provided with a long bench made of raw wood for the hikers to place their butt for a while. The checkpoints come in handy for the hiker who are run out of breath to relieve their fatigue and go on after that. Don’t miss the watermelon the natives sell at the each of the checkpoint, it is a priceless delicacy.

We walked through the typical tropical rain forest, complete with the nature sound that giving a mysterious vibe. The scenery was such an eyeporn, with the trees along the road and the bird’s hums through the ears, such an indescribable beauty. The thin air intensifies as the altitude rose, made it hard to take a breath as we walk through the track. It gave me the feel of walked above the cloud -at least our usual cloud- just by saw the whole scenery around me.

It was a fun small walk until the rain fall and made the path become muddy (don’t forget to mention the super icy cold air). The muddy track made it hard for us to step on slope track. We became extra cautious because one false step means death for you. In case you haven’t known yet, there is a cliff by your left as you hike on slippery track. It reminds me of some movie scene where the actor struggling for his way through the summit while thinking about his family (except it is me who were struggling. Sorry I ruined your expectation guys).

After the super hard track hiking we've been through, we arrived at our destination, the Ranu Kumbolo Lake. Ranu Kumbolo is a vast lake with a large water body wrapped in grassy field and surrounded by hills. At the end of the lake there are two hills, side-by-side, makes a nice curve at the intersection part.  It locates at 2400 meters above the sea level. The temperature? Super-icy-cold. So don’t forget to bring your thick jacket and a pair of glove. There were camping ground just by the hills and we decided to made tent there and started to process our meal.

A night in Ranu Kumbolo was a nightmare. I could barely sleep due to the super cold air. My skin started to itch and my scruff started to feel heavy even inside the tent and I decided to end the day with hot chocolate and a small rub of hot balm in my tight and calf.

The next morning was another torturing phase. The air outside the tent was much-much-much colder than inside the tent at night. The air was damp and the thin mist still set. But what I saw was a view worth to die for. A sunrise, at the mountain, above the clouds. Something we don’t usually see.

I started to realize what makes your life meaningful. To have an opportunity to see this kind of sight while we are young, healthy, and have our senses working perfectly is a gift. Good things is not going to be realized when you are hesitating things. Do what you think best for yourself. Just do. Be spontaneous.

Don’t let anything make you uncertain of what’s coming next in your life. Something good going to happen when you trust in yourself, believe in what you can do, and shake any unnecessary comments that put you down.