An Odyssey to a Village Perched at the Base of Majestic Mountains | December 16, 2024

The sun hadn’t even peeked over the horizon yet, but my wife and two kids were ready for a long drive. We hadn’t planned it, but before bed, we decided to visit some relatives in a remote village in the Pidie Jaya district.

Paya Pisang Klat is one of those super remote villages in the district. There are so many stories I’ve left from last year, but they still haunt me. It’s a beautiful, cool village that lives right next to nature.

We left at 5 am in my private car with my little family. The Medan - Banda Aceh highway was pretty quiet, with only a few public transportation cars carrying agricultural products to the city. But I wasn’t here for the scenery; I was here for the happiness.

I drove at 60 km/h, feeling the wind in my hair and the sun on my face. It was a moment of pure bliss, after so long being stuck in the busy world.

We stopped at a mosque in Bireuen Regency to pray at dawn, then kept going, looking for a place to grab breakfast.

Finally, we arrived at our destination. Check out the picture below - green trees and rocks lined up towards a small ditch. That’s where the local people live, farming and using water from the mountains for drinking.

It was a truly magical place.

The water flows endlessly through the ditch (small river) lined with small rocks, creating a soothing ambience. The chirping of birds adds to the tranquillity of this peaceful spot.

I stepped into the ditch to wash my face, and the refreshing water made me want to stay longer. My son, who loves this place, was thrilled to be here today. It’s one of his favorite spots, and he’s been asking to go for a year now.

The local community relies on this water source for their daily needs, both in the morning and evening. Kids come here to clean themselves, as do other residents, including teenagers and even the elderly.

I followed several water sources and found several points where the springs of this small river come from. Water gushed out of the ground non-stop, like a water pump machine. But in reality, it’s not, this water source comes from the mountains closest to this village.

My son was over the moon when he was here! He couldn’t resist taking off his clothes and jumping into that ditch. He and his brother were so happy, it was like they’d been waiting for this moment forever.

For me, seeing them so happy was the best gift ever. You don’t have to spend a fortune on fancy trips to give them joy. Visiting places like this has brought them the greatest happiness of their lives.

And the best part? These baths are totally safe for kids. I don’t have to worry about anything bad happening, like drowning or a poisonous animal biting them.

The water flow is gentle, and the river current is calm. It’s like floating on a cloud. I just sit back, relax, and watch them above. And let me tell you, the view is breathtaking! Rice fields stretch out as far as the eye can see, and mountains line up between the rice fields. It’s like being in a postcard.

I’ll miss this place dearly not only because of its natural beauty but also because I can spend quality time with my loved ones in a clean and peaceful village. It’s a place where memories are made and hearts are filled with joy.

Indonesian, December 20, 2024

Posted by
@irawandedy