Albert Herdianto Widjojo
The Pelabuhan Ratu Beach waves were calm when I arrived. The beach was deserted by visitors outside the day off. After more than a year, I came here again, for the umpteenth time.
I walked to the usual place I sat enjoying the beach. The place is a bit difficult to go to because it must pass through the sharp and narrow rocks at the edge of a towering stone wall. My favorite place is the crack of a hidden cliff wall, and not visible from the usual place people come to play.
A few meters before arriving at where I was headed, I heard the sound, “Krak!”, and a long, dry tree branch fell down from the cliff onto the rock about fifty meters from my current position.
Somehow I was moved by that regular event. I went to where the branch fell and passed my “secret slot”. It was rather odd that after I was near the fallen branch, I saw a small cave in a cliff wall about one meter in diameter over a depth of one and a half meters and there was a small dark cavity between the cracks. I decided to sit there, in a place I had never known before.
After staring at the calm sea for a moment, I then began to close my eyes and meditate as usual. I do not know how long I climbed peace, a few moments before opening my eyes felt there was a different wind gust from behind, then heard the sound of rocks that fall into the water, “plung!”. When I open my eyes, I see that the sea is still very calm. But there was a bit of difference before my eyes, on the branches of the dry branch, there stuck a green torn clothes. Hmmm…
Along the South Sea coast of Java Island and Bali there is a severe restriction for anyone who wants to visit so as not to wear green clothes, there is only one exception, only for the dancers of special dances in certain rituals related to Nyai Roro Kidul, Queen of South Sea Coast who is believed as the Ruler of The South Sea. Yogyakarta Palace and several hotels along the coast it even has a special room to honor this character. No one in Java and Bali calls this a myth or the occult, even if there is one, they will not dare to challenge with the forbidden green garb. Not that no one dared to play on the beach with green clothes, either local or foreign tourists who do not believe, but the loss of life will be difficult to avoid.
After feeling quite a long time out there, I went back to the beach area where the other friends gathered. The old mystic who accompanied me to the beach asked me as I approached. “Are you done?” I nodded with a smile and he nodded meaningfully.
“Three days ago there were four tourists drowning and one person has not been found on this beach. As usual, breaking taboos. “Another friend informed me. “That’s the woman who said.” He said as he pointed to the owner of a food stall on the beach. After talking for a while about the disappearance of tourists wearing the green jerseys, I asked two friends and a local coast guard to show what I’ve found after my meditation.
After struggling along the edge of the stone wall, this feels more difficult than before, we arrived at the destination and the green shirt was still in place, slightly fluttered by the wind. The lifeguard closes his eyes for a moment, muttering a mantra or praying, then picks up the shirt. Another thing that makes me smile is a fact that the little cave where I was sitting enjoying the ocean view just before was not there, as I have known for a long time.
Karanghawu Beach – Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi. West Java.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016.
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Illustration by Albert Herdie – Digital painting from part of Deep Within series – Message From The South Coast.
great
Thank you so much, Anaya
Wonderful story and photos
Thank you so much, Vidocka
You are so talented. Thanks for sharing this, Albert!
Thank you so much, Gina
Thank you for your appreciation, my friend
Wonderful illustrations overall: )
Thank you for your appreciation, my friend
My pleasure : ))
Nice and interesting
Nice comment, Lado. Thanks a lot!!!
Outstanding post
Thank you very much, LaJenna
Wonderful story! And cave? I thought maybe things have changed since the last time you were there, or is it something you think of?
That’s the thing that I can not answer with logic, Icy! I know very well that the cave did not exist before, so when I found the cave, of course a weirdness and also when the condition returns as before. It is difficult for me to explain further, including the explanation of the old mystic, my companion.
I believe there is some kind of natural force that guides us. And it punishes us cruelly when we transgress its laws. You’re talking about green clothes. But I tell you that I know very much when someone steals from a church always dies. The message from the south coast is the same – observe my laws.
Of course, I am talking about the power of nature, my friend. About the church, I was also raised there and active there, so I know what you mean. Is there a prohibition of using green clothes on your beach? Because on other beaches in my island nation, apart from the south coast there is no such taboo, that exceptions is what I mean, my dear friend Elenka.
There is not any here. I think I’m going out to shoot the full beach with people. It is very colorful with all the existing colors including green.
I agree with you, my friend. It would be nice if we could see the colorful crowds on the sights, especially if we love photography.
Nice post!
Thanks a lot, my friend
beautiful post
Thank you, my friend
An amazing journey you took us on. Our mind is a beautiful thing.
It is true, Carol, Mind, and consciousness is something of us that is very beautiful. The beauty that connects us with everything. Thank you, my dear friend, Carol.
I couldn’t say it better. Great post, Albert!
Yiiiihaaaaa… This kind angel praises me! What was my dream last night?
This is just one of the travel notes from my many trips and unique experiences with an old mystic who refuses to be called a teacher. “Eueh guruan eueh muridan” he said in Sundanese (tribe in West Java) which means “No teachers and no students”.
Wow. First off great photo, now the story. Wow, I am speechless and don’t know what to say, or write that is. The fact that the cloth was green and the authorities wanted to see it. I don’t understand the cave part. Was that a memory, a vision or the future?
This is just one of the travel notes, from my many trips and unique experiences with an old mystic who refuses to be called a teacher. “Eueh hunting eueh pupil” he said in Sundanese ( the tribe in West Java) which means “No teachers and students”. Thank you very much for your appreciation, Kim