Palak Siring Kemumu - A Scenic Natural Attraction

Palak Siring Kemumu natural attraction, a cool and good place to relax

Last updated: April 2nd, 2020
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Driving inland from the humidity of northern Bengkulu, you gradually leave the rice terraces behind and ascend into the cool, damp hill villages around Kemumu, Arma Jaya, North Bengkulu district. The village of Kemumu is known for its scenic natural attraction called Palak Siring, a lovely, cool and good area to relax and use as a base for hiking around the clean small river and surrounding green hills. If you don’t want to do hiking, you can do some short walk to see the cool panorama or swimming (near the Palak Siring waterfall site) and enjoy your lunch. You can stay there or easily day trip from the city of Bengkulu. A day at Palak Siring can be a wonderful experience.

Hiking along the river's edge and through hilly forest 

Palak Siring Kemumu lacks of tourists, though Sunday and public holidays are crowded with local visitors. Unfortunately this beautiful place lacks of adequate facilities and experiences a problem with litter. Admission per person is just Rp. 2,500 (about US$ 0.15), free parking on weekdays. 

Location: Palak Siring is located in Kemumu, Arma Jaya, Northern Bengkulu district, about 62 km (38.5 miles) / 1.5 hours from the city of Bengkulu, or about 15 minutes drive from Arga Makmur. Find the location of Palak Siring on Google Maps. 

Note: Always be very cautious when walking nearby the waterfall site. Some of the trails and rocks can be wet and slippery. 

More photos from Palak Siring Kemumu

The view from the top of the Palak Siring waterfall

Palak Siring creek

Cool swimming hole site near the Palak Siring waterfall

The cool and clean water stream nearby

The sweet breathing of Palak Siring nature

Photos by Adriansyah Putera & Peter Kimball  

Language and Understanding of the Culture

   

It’s easy to assume English words or sayings can be translated into Indonesian, however, Indonesian culture is much different from Western culture, so the meanings behind certain expressions are lost and often sound strange to an Indonesian.

U.S. students with local kids

Here are some examples:

• Indonesians don’t usually say, “nice to meet you,” a smile is enough.
• “How are you?” is mostly used when you haven’t seen someone in a while.
• Indonesians don’t like overuse the words “thank you.”

There are also sayings in Indonesia that might sound strange to a foreigner if directly translated into English:

• “Saya pulang dulu”/”Saya permisi dulu.” It’s considered impolite if one leaves without receiving “permission” first. A simple Western style goodbye is acceptable, but it’s not the norm.
• In Indonesia, it’s impolite and disrespectful to use the term “kamu” (you) when talking with older people or even calling them by name. Thus, Indonesians often have a hard time calling foreigners by their name and instead use words like “mister” or “miss” (often without even using one’s name) but will sometimes mix up the gender as age is more important than gender in Indonesia.
• “Makan dulu”/”Yuk makan!” In Indonesia it’s rude to eat in front of others without inviting them to join or at least acknowledging the fact that you are eating.
• “Please” isn’t used much in Indonesian (at least in Sumatra) and isn’t always necessary.

Our hope is that as you study Bahasa Indonesia you will not simply learn a new language, but that you will also gain an understanding of the culture.

3 Days with bule

Photos by Adriansyah Putera & Global Education Centers (GEC)

Suban Hot Springs

     

Public bathing pool at Suban hot springs

Last updated April 21st, 2021

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Suban has nice cool air with a nice view over the valley and surrounding tropical forests. It is a good place for bathing of the source of natural hot water. The hot springs are good for aching muscles after climbing hills. The hot springs bubble out at some simple public bathing pools and also in many other spots mixed with the cool water which comes from the stream. Within the Suban area there is a two-level waterfall which visitors can get close up to. The hot springs and waterfall at Suban are very popular with weekend picnickers.

Foreign tourists, especially white people that locally known as bule may be surrounded and stared at by locals at very open baths. Why??? Because of curiosity. Only few foreign tourists visit Suban and the surroundings areas, many people here have not seen foreigners with very different physical appearance and lifestyle. Foreigners could become instant celebrities. Alternatively, if you are not comfortable to be stared at by locals at very open bath, you can pay Rp 3,000 (US$ 0.22) extra for a more private bath room which also has warm water runs from the hot springs.  There are small range of food stalls with limited food and drink choices at some spots within the location. Unfortunately Suban still lacks adequate supporting facilities and struggles with a littering problem. From my experience, the ideal time to visit is during the dry season from March to September.

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Popular with weekend picnickers

Admission ticket is Rp. 10,000 (US$ 0.69) for adults and Rp. 5,000 (US$ 0.34) for children. Parking fee is Rp. 5,000 (US$ 0.34). 

Location: Suban is located in Rejang Lebong district around 90 km (56 miles) from the provincial capital of Bengkulu, it just takes around two and half hours drive by motorcycle or car, or 6 km (3.8 miles) from Curup.

More Photos from Suban

Public bathing pool at Suban

Suban Waterfall

Spending time in nature makes people feel more alive

Suban Waterfall

Photos by Peter Kimball, Adriansyah Putera & Sirly Utama Adriansyah

Mount Kaba, Hiker's Haven in Bengkulu Province

A view of the magnificent crater of Mt. Kaba

This article has been updated on June 26th 2021

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Kaba volcano (locally known as Bukit Kaba or Gunung Kaba), a beautiful and natural panorama with moderate temperature, offers some of very inspiring mountain experiences for those who love trekking or mountain climbing to catch the views of tropical jungle plus unique and spectacular sulfuric craters. The volcano is located within the Bukit Kaba Nature Conservation which covers an area of 13,490 hectares, and it is proposed for Bengkulu province tourism development. 

The climb offers adventure, excitement of hiking, and physical challenge through stunning green scenery. At the summit, there are three craters - Bukit Kaba (1,952 m / 6,404 ft), Bukit Itam (1,893 m / 6,211 ft) and Bukit Melintang (1,713 m / 5,620 ft), two of which are still active.  As you walk up the ridge to Bukit Kaba you can smell sulfur odor, evidence that the craters are still active. Enjoy the spectacular view around you. Vapors incessantly come out from 12 fissures in the earth, and hot water springs (they are not suitable for drinking) are found in the surrounding area.

"The mountains are calling, and I must go." - John  Muir

TRACK DESCRIPTION

It’s possible to climb Bukit Kaba from various directions, but the two most popular routes are the regular track which starts from the simple asphalt road across from the POKDARWIS station, and the jungle track which starts from behind the POKDARWIS entrance station. Visitors must fill in a visitor book at the POKDARWIS station before the climb begins. Entrance fee is Rp. 100,000 (about US$ 6.92) for foreign tourist and Rp. 11,500 (about US$ 0.80) for domestic tourist, plus Rp. 1,000 (US$ 0.069) for Amanah Githa single trip life insurance. For those who intend to camp around the summit for multiple days, they will be charged an additional fee. There are simple parking spaces in and around the POKDARWIS entrance station makes it convenient and easy for visitors to leave their motorbikes or cars for just a few hours or even for days. Daily parking fee is Rp. 5,000 (about US$ 0.35) for motorbike, and Rp. 20,000 (about US$ 1.38) for car. The best time to climb Bukit Kaba is in the dry season between June and September. 

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Regular Track Option 

Hiking time: 1 hr 45 min – 3 hr one way

If the climb begins at the POKDARWIS entrance station, it’s normally around 2 hours climb to the top via the regular track if you are feeling energetic. Just follow the asphalt road track, it makes its way up to the top. Your hiking time is relative to your hiking pace, the weather conditions, and how often you stop for rest and sightseeing. Time given for regular track section is approximate, as everyone walks at a different pace. It is greatly recommended to take the regular track if you want to hike in/after the rain. Allow longer time in rainy season conditions.

Jungle Track Option
Hiking time: 1 hr 30 min - 2 hr one way

You can take the jungle track to get  more beautiful surrounding jungle views and a more adventurous trip. Hiking through the jungle track also can save more your hiking time and energy than hiking through the regular track, but it’s very unwise to attempt the first climb via the jungle track alone, you can get lost in the thick jungle. Visitors are advised to take a guide or join a climber group. You can hire a guide at the POKDARWIS entrance station for Rp. 75,000 (about US$ 5.19). Take care on the slippery trails and the steep descent on loose stony terrain. Don't take the jungle track in/after the rain, better safe than sorry.  

Need a motorbike ride to the top?
You need a reasonable level of fitness to climb the Kaba mountain. If you are not sure that you are strong enough to hike, you can take an ojek (motorbike that takes passengers) take an ojek at the POKDARWIS entrance station for Rp. 60,000 (about US$ 4.15) one way. To avoid being ripped off by the ojeks don't get on the motorbike until the price is settled and don't pay until you've reached the top of mount Kaba. 

Sulfuric crater of Mt. Kaba

Additional Kaba Volcano Info:
Summit elevation: 1,952 m (6,404 ft)
Coordinates: 3.52 S, 102.62 E
Type: stratovolcano
Last eruption: August 26th – 27th, 2007

Location: Desa Sumber Urip, Rejang Lebong district, Bengkulu province. To find the Kaba volcano location on Google Maps click here!

General directions: Gunung Kaba is about 19 km (11.8 miles) from Curup the capital city of Rejang Lebong district or around 104 km (64.7 miles) from the city of Bengkulu. It takes around an hour drive from Curup, 20 minutes drive from Simpang Pasar/Simpang Bukit Kaba, or around 3,5 hours drive from Bengkulu to get to the POKDARWIS entrance station. 

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Catching a view of the spectacular sulfuric crater

Support Responsible Tourism!!

If you are going to spend the night at the summit of Kaba mountain (locally known as Bukit Kaba) take a stove so you don’t need to deplete the limited supply of firewood. Depending on open fires for cooking can cause rapid deforestation. If you must light a fire, use an existing fireplace. Use only minimal, dead, fallen wood. Make sure that you totally extinguish a fire after use. Don't forget to carry all trash out with you and make sure others in your party do the same. Let's support "Responsible Tourism"!!!

Let’s help each other!

Let’s make this post available in various languages! Translating this post can help more readers in your language to understand this post. If you would like to translate this post into your language or if you need help to translate some of your posts into Indonesian, or if you want to use a photo(s) from my blog please send an email to kurt_reyhans@yahoo.com

Related photos from Mt. Kaba:

Fun Mt. Kaba hike with family

The hike to the summit of Mt. Kaba

Steaming peak of  Mt. Kaba

Mt. Kaba offers some awe-inspiring treks

We are very close to the peak

Enjoying the awe-inspiring views of Mount Kaba

Foggy Peak of Mount Kaba

Green topography that dominates every extensive view

Mount Kaba is surrounded by an ocean of green topography

Mt. Kaba hike - together we can

Heed your adventurous side!

Contact: kurt_reyhans@yahoo.com

Photos by: Adriansyah Putera, Peter Kimball and Jeff Clairmont

Additional reference: John Seach. “Kaba Volcano”.  http://www.volcanolive.com/kaba.html