Vie van Allegre

January

A happy kid who got to be back to her birth town in Ambon. Spent Christmas and new year with the whole family; a full house as her family would put it, and realize that to her, her family matters the most.

Suli Beach, at its sunniest day

February

Honestly could not remember what happened. Probably was lying half alive over research journals, hours of recorded interview tapes, and all sort of preparation for the theses defense.

March

Undergraduate theses defense -- Failed.

Sent home with teary eyes (it was her youngest brother's birthday. Which was so sucks, she did not want to ruin his day), but received a lot of support from the most unexpected people.

April

Mardi Wu, CEO of Nutrifood. Photo from here

Challenged herself and applied to the prestigious internship with Nutrifood for marketing communication instead of the usual path for Psychology student; HR (Human Resources) Development. Made it to the final round of interview, met the hot Mardi Wu. But rejected nonetheless.

May
Applied to EF Global Internship Program -- Rejected

Photo from here

And then a very important person in her life returned home to Jakarta. Spent one single day with this person and had a long talk about friendship, love and exploring hidden feelings. For the first time realizing she is at great disadvantage when asked to describe her emotions and feeling verbally. Self esteem on its lowest point because it seems everything she did was never good enough.

Undergraduate theses defense, the second time -- Nailed it like a pro. HA HA. Take that, reviewers. One does not simply walked into a juvenile detention centre and failed the second time.

June

Officially graduated from the School of Psychology. Presented the 100 pages of qualitative research on "Juvenile Sex Offenders and Their Attachment to Their Parents" Dedicated and owe each and every single one of those 100 pages to these people:

1. God, for giving me strength through these angels in disguise:
2. Direktorat Jenderal Pemasyarakatan, dan staff bidang Hubungan Masyarakat yang dengan ceria membuatkan surat izin dan mendukung saya agar “secepat kilat” menyelesaikan skripsi. Sebuah hal yang jarang saya temui ketika berurusan dengan birokrasi; sambutan dari Dirjen Pemasyarakatan menyisipkan semangat tersendiri dalam penyelesaian penulisan skripsi.
3. Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Anak Pria Klas IIA Tangerang, seluruh staff yang bersabar menemani, memberikan insight, menjawab semua pertanyaan, menyemangati dan menawarkan bantuan untuk menjadi penguji demi menghilangkan rasa gugup untuk menghadapi Sidang Sarjana. Terimakasih Ibu Yenita dan Pak Rizal karena menjadi rekan diskusi yang luar biasa. Terimakasih kepada ke-32 Anak Didik Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Anak Pria untuk waktu, inspirasi dan pelajaran hidup yang diberikan untuk saya. Terimakasih telah mengijinkan saya mengintip kehidupan pribadi kalian. Terimakasih juga untuk musik yang dimainkan dan tawa yang disuguhkan setiap kali saya datang. Ke depannya saya mendoakan segala yang terbaik untuk rekan-rekan.
4. Prof. Bernadette, PhD. Old saying says, that a good educator teaches for a while, but inspire forever. Dear Bu Ber, I am forever grateful for every single lesson I got from you. There are too many moments when I doubted myself, what I am capable of, or lost and could not remember why I chose this path. But you will always remind me, listening to me, and supporting my rather unusual dreams. You made my problem your problem and offering fresh eyes to see things. Thank you for believing in me, for frowning when I say these are “silly dreams” of mine because for you they are not silly at all, for being able to talk about research and all psychology-related thing in one minute and switch mode then talk about going to FL on the next minute. Thank you for always praying for me, for giving me space whenever I need it and basically, for understanding me. Thank you Bu, blessed your soul.
5. Drs. Nurcahyo, Psi. Pak Yoyok, kelas Psikologi Forensik adalah jenis kelas langka yang 1) selalu saya nanti-nantikan 2)akan saya ambil lagi dan lagi untuk mendapatkan ilmunya 3)diampu oleh dosen yang mengajar karena mencintai pekerjaannya sebagai pengajar. Terimakasih pak Yoyok, karena memberikan saya ruang untuk bertumbuh dan belajar, ‘menyentil’ seperlunya dan dengan bersemangat mendengarkan ide-ide saya, teori-teori dan juga apa yang saya temukan di lapangan. Terimakasih untuk mengingatkan bahwa perjalanan ini adalah perjalanan untuk dinikmati bukan untuk dikutuki. Terimakasih karena tidak hanya membiarkan saya bercerita ngalor ngidul tentang impian saya, tapi juga dengan serius menanggapinya dan memberikan berbagai masukan penting. Terimakasih untuk menjadi pembimbing paling gaul yang bisa diminta oleh seorang mahasiswa. Terimakasih pak, sudah diangkat menjadi ‘anak sendiri’. Sungguh, saya merasa disayang dan diajar.
6. Ibu Juliana M, Dr.phil., M.Si. Life is never flat, you are so right, Bu. Terimakasih Bu Murni, untuk kata-kata dukungan, pelukan dan bantuan dalam menemukan logika ketika emosi terlalu melimpah menguasai. Alles ist in Ordnug, Bu, finally. And we grow wiser. Thank you for reminding me about this. I am looking forward for another insightful discussions and sharing sessions about life and everything in it over coffee together.
7. Fakultas Psikologi Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya, dosen-dosen yang menjadikan perkuliahan sungguh adalah warna tersendiri dalam hidup. Staff sekretariat lantai 4 dengan pertanyaan “kapan?” yang didengungkan sekitar 6 bulan terakhir ini dan staff lainnya yang membentuk kesatuan Fakultas Psikologi. Saya belajar banyak selama bertahun-tahun menjadi mahasiswi FP UAJ, saya belajar kembali memaknai menjadi manusia dan pada akhirnya, saya bersyukur saya berada di sini.
8. Mami, Io dan Ido, terimakasih karena menerimaku yang kembali menjadi remaja moody, galak dan egois. Kalian-kalian yang selalu menjadi penyemangat, pendoa, sasaran kegalakan, dan tetap memanggilku anak / kakak setelahnya. Untuk menyaksikan perjalanan ini dari awal hingga akhir, untuk geregetan karena nampaknya lama sekali membuahkan hasil, untuk setiap pertanyaan dengan nada mencemaskan dan nada mengancam, untuk setiap lelucon dan waktu-waktu yang kita bagi bersama, terimakasih banyak.
9. Bernadetta, terimakasih untuk doa, semangat dan keyakinan. It is always amazing to see how little distance affect us. Thank you for thinking of this research as if it was your own, for those brainstorming sessions and for challenging me non-stop. To think about it, we did start our theses together, right? Remember those times at those family restaurants? Those were great moments of great minds and lots of ice cream and junk foods, I guess. For love and always a safe place to return to, dank well, Loince.
10. Terimakasih untuk Angelika yang mengerti dan selalu sudah lebih dulu “merasakan”. Terimakasih untuk menyederhanakan segala sesuatunya yang rumit, untuk jadi tim emergency yang mau datang bahkan di jam 10 malam dan menemani hingga subuh. For a friendship so deep, I am at loss describing it with words, thank you, Cindaynya.
11. Terimakasih, Brigita untuk tidak juga menyerah dalam mendengarkan ocehanku dan mengubahnya menjadi brainstorming penuh inspirasi. Untuk berbagi pengalaman dan ilmu, dan untuk menganggap setiap kontak tentang skripsi sebagai sesuatu yang serius, untuk selalu menyisipkan humor (yang kebanyakan tidak disengaja itu), untuk menjadi teman yang seperti bintang (tidak selalu terlihat tapi selalu ada di sana), terimakasih, Brigita.
12. Monica, terimakasih sudah bersamaku sejak dahulu kala, sejak nongkrongin kelas Statistik, bolos kelas Statistik, dan stuck lagi bersama Statistik. Terimakasih untuk merelakan waktu-waku santai untuk pusing bersama, untuk menyemangati, untuk mendengar atau untuk mengomeli. Terimakasih untuk mengingatkan bahwa normal adanya untuk sekali-sekali mengamuk, galau atau bahkan shut down sejenak, karena ini kan skripsi. Terimakasih untuk menjadi sahabat yang setia, lembut dan galak di saat yang perlu, untuk rekomendasi lagu-lagu, dan untuk rasa sayang, gomawo, tiya-ya. Saranghae!
13. Cynthia, for prayers, for cheering me up, for always providing a good laugh. Thank you for tagging along with me, when together we climb mountains, both the true mountains and other ‘mountains’ too. Thank you for staying here, for patience, for logics and for hugs. For standing by me, always, for the tenth thousand times, thank you, Cynthia.
14. C.J dan Iin, terimakasih untuk menemani, menyemangati, mengingatkan bahwa petualangan berikutnya selalu menanti. Terimakasih untuk musik, kopi, ramen dan pikiran-pikiran realistis ketika galau dan pembicaraan tentang mimpi ketika terlalu kaku. Karena bersama kalian, mimpi tidak pernah terlalu konyol, dan sejatinya hidup adalah untuk dinikmati.
15. W, for tons of inspiration and heartwarming actions that you don’t actually realize you gave me. For encouraging, and never giving up even when it doesn’t look like I’m going to finish anything anytime soon. For silently rooting on me, and for being a best friend that you are. Cheers for years and years of friendship!
16. Teman merantau bersama: Rin, Jen, Achien terimakasih banyak. Terimakasih karena tidak berhenti berbagi keping-keping momen kehidupan bersama-sama, bahkan sekembalinya kita semua ke Tanah Air. 本当にありがとう。こんなに仲良くになると、思わなかったの。君たちと出会って、よかった、よかった。これからも、よろしく！ 皆と一緒にまたもっと先へ！
17. Teman-teman K3J yang setia dengan bangku biru, dan rekan-rekan mahasiswa Jepang yang belajar Bahasa Indonesia dengan semangat di KANDA. Untuk selalu menularkan semangat belajar, dan bermain juga tentunya, terimakasih!
18. Last, but not least, Kazuki, thank you for inspiring, understanding and being such a friend in the battle with 卒論. Get yours done as soon as possible! で、早く世界一の教育家になってください！今まで色々、ありがとう。

July
Embarked on a 10 days trip to explore Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Bangkok and Phuket with her best friend/sworn travel mate (more posts on that later). Had a lot of fun -- thinking of the trip as an "escape" and coming home finally recognizing herself again.

Ta Prohm, Siem Reap

Lost Ellie the iPhone in Siem Reap. Apparently, it symbolized something deeper than just losing a phone. She almost forgot one important thing she learned these days: to let go. Ellie is very closely associated to her father. She was crushed but her best friend/travel mate pointed out softly that it's probably the time already to let go of her father's passing, sincerely.

August

Welcoming home one of her favorite girl from the land of a thousand lake and wept over the fact that she will only be around for some days. Begin to question the essence of reuniting when soon we'll just get separated all over again. Banish that evil thought at the very sight of her best friend slash/ sister because it doesnt matter if it was one day or one year. Every hour count as important and she was grateful for every minute the girls have for each other.

September
She turned 24 surrounded by family and friends with surprises, love, laughters, songs, wishes and hugs. Received beautiful greetings and special phone calls (received another phone calls the next day). Went to sleep feeling very very happy.

Had her final interview with a local newspaper for journalist position, at the same time C.J was having her final interview for LPDP Scholarship. Met up for coffee afterwards and ended up discussing life. Realized that although she supported C.J wholeheartedly, it was uncomfortable for her thinking that when her person left for the Netherlands, there will be no more emergency coffee session, movie day out, or ramen/sushi/bakerzin/anything delicious session for one long year.

Rejected by the local newspaper and was asked how about a job with them as an HR instead. Asked them if they were kidding. Very dry sense of humor.

Participated in a traveling competition (reward was 10 days all-expense-paid travel to Japan). Made it to the final round, but failed that, again.

Wondering just what is it with everything?

October

The graduation ceremony. The university mercilessly decided to hold it on weekdays. Which means no one would be available to come since they are all working. Feeling good for herself though, for finally finishing university. Grateful -- could not find any other word; for the people who were actually there, sharing her happiness and making sure she had her closest people to fiercely commented on her heavy make-up, but still succeeded in making her feel good anyway.

November
Started a selection process as a young journalist for the biggest english newspaper in the country. Surprisingly, also got invited to an interview with one of the coolest travel magazine in town as a travel writer. Received the call from the magazine while waiting for interview turn at the newspaper office. Such a perfect timing........

Iin was graduated. The three of us now officially finished university, and totally jobless. Had our rough time wondering why is it so hard to find a decent job, but enjoyed every bit of our last free time together.

December

Just. Too. Many. Things. Happened. In. This. Joyful. Month.

Accepted by the english newspaper. Scheduled for the medical examination process as the last requirements of the selection. Hating the fact of future trip to a hospital. No words/news whatsoever from the travel magazine.
Had a sudden fever, rescheduled the medical examination because there was no point in taking the examination when one had trouble standing firmly.
Fever was over, here comes the monthly period. Uterus controls the universe by again rescheduling the medical examination date like a boss.
Still no news from the travel magazine.
Finally took the medical examination.
The hospital cleared her of any contagious disease and/or use of drugs. Officially accepted by the english newspaper and offered a contract.
Still no news from the travel magazine.
Decided to sign the contract with the english newspaper.
A week away from signing the contract and folks from the travel magazine innocently called.
Accepted as a travel writer for the travel magazine.
Overwhelmed and felt dizzy for a moment.

A very important person in her life returned back one more time to Jakarta. Have all these mixed feelings over that news: happy, grateful, relieved, excited, happy again -- to have this person around for Christmas. Feeling really loved by God. Spent some awesome unforgettable days meeting up with this person and hanging out with this person's family. Just like that and she firmly believed she could not be more blessed.

Accepted the travel magazine's offer. Wrote a kick-ass email to the english newspaper explaining her withdrawal.

Received an email; a follow up of a super amazing, once in a lifetime kind of opportunity, after applying for that program last year (or was it the year before that?). Was literally jumping all around, could not believe how God rocks her life by opening even bigger doors when she thought He slammed shut all doors she could see right in front of her eyes.

Climbed Mount Papandayan (--Updated--). She climbs mountain not so the world can see her, but so she can see the world. Saw a beautiful and peaceful starry night's sky show, under the unforgiving wind of Pondok Selada. Wishing she could show this to everyone she loves (besides the ones who were with her that night). Because that is exactly how her loved ones make her feels: beautiful and peaceful. Made promise to herself to return home as a stronger person, realizing 2015 will bring massive changes and challenges but believing she is all set for the adventure.

Looking back at 2014, she knew better than anyone that God transform what she thought as a rejection into something bigger, bigger than her dreams, bigger than her wishes, bigger than herself. Because it was never all about her, life was always something more than just her.

Learned that one of the two biggest lessons in life is to let go. Sooner or later everyone will have to deal with it. The other lesson is that life is always about choices. One of her best friend said that arriving at the crossroads where we have to choose between different good choices is another sign of adulthood. Amen to that. From now on, nobody make decision for us. We choose our own path, and will be responsible for whatever comes out as the consequences of our choices.

Welcome, welcome, adulthood.

All in all, she'd say there were a lot of rejections this year, so many rejections she kind of getting used to it. But through it all there were always, always, hidden blessings -- blessings of some kind. So to those of you who are still struggling to find that hidden blessings, don't stop. Go on, take another step, have faith. We can not explore the ocean if we are too afraid of losing the sight of our own beautiful seashore.

Merry Christmas to you all, happy holidays and happy new year!

Dark Chocolate Espresso Mousse

recipe from the amazing blog of Heather Hands, with slight adjustments

1 tbsp good quality strong espresso

3 tbsp white granulated sugar

"Bagaimana mungkin kamu tidak rindu untuk terbang?" Gue rasa hal itu yang paling ingin ditanyakan sama KO Eckland, seorang penerbang, ilustrator dan pecinta musik jazz dari Cleveland, Ohio, melalui kata-katanya di atas. Menurut beliau kita ini memiliki residu komponen-komponen langit, sisa-sisa serat angkasa dan bubuk debu bintang di dalam diri masing-masing. Jadi, wajar jika langit memanggil kita untuk menjelajahinya. Manusia terlalu lama berpijak di tanah, lupa seluas tanah di bumi, seluas itu juga --bahkan mungkin lebih-- cakrawala di atas sana yang dapat dijelajahi.

Setelah pengalaman kabur ke Puncak hari Selasa lalu, rasa-rasanya gue paham sama omongannya si Eckland. Langit, kapanpun dilihat selalu menawarkan pemandangan yang berbeda. Pemandangan anggun matahari terbit atau terbenam, pemandangan langit biru yang cerah atau kelabu berawan, pemandangan langit malam yang kadang berbintang dan kadang tidak.

Gue sering mikir. Apa ya rasanya, bergerak di ruang terbuka itu, waktu kaki nggak menginjak tanah. Apa iya karena takdirnya di tanah, lalu manusia cuma bisa menatapi langit? Waktu masih polos, imajinasi gue sedikit lebih liar. Terinspirasi gula-gula kapas yang nyaris tiap tahun gue makan di PRJ (kalo nggak di PRJ nggak boleh makan gula-gula kapas. Aturan emak-bapak gue dari dulu emang aneh-aneh), gue jadi bertanya-tanya, awan juga bisa dikunyah nggak ya? Bentuknya sama.

Mulailah sindrom penasaran gue dan setelah browsing Internet kanan-kiri, gue menemukan beberapa hal berikut:


#1 Base Jumping

Foto dari Asosiasi Base Jumping Indonesia

Base Jumping disebut-sebut sebagai salah satu olahraga paling ekstrim. Jumper melompat dari base (yang bisa berupa gedung, tiang, patung atau bangunan lain) tanpa membuka parasut terlebih dahulu. Sebenernya mirip-mirip terjun payung, tapi waktu jatuh bebas (free fall) tanpa parasutnya lebih singkat. Di Indonesia ada Asosiasi Base Jumping dan anggotanya termasuk jumper pertama di Indonesia, Frangky Kowaas dan Petra Mendagi. Foto di atas adalah foto bung Frangky Kowaas yang melompat dari Menara Imperium Kuningan, Jakarta tahun 2009 silam.

#2 Skydiving / Skysurfing
Ini olahraga terjun bebas dari pesawat. Ada free fall dan parasut dibuka di ketinggian tertentu. Jadi untuk sekian menit kita melayang-layang di udara tanpa parasut. Awalnya gue mencari-cari tempat untuk melakukan skydiving. Ada yang mencatat wilayah Bogor dan Lido sebagai arena untuk melakukan skydiving, masalahnya kebanyakan yang melakukan kegiatan ini sudah berlisensi profesional. Gue agak kesulitan menemukan skydiving tandem (melompat bersama orang lain yang sudah ahli melakukan skydiving). Setelah mencari-cari opsi lain gue menemukan ini:

#3 Paragliding (Paralayang)
Beda dengan skydiving yang adrenalinnya diperoleh dari meloncat bebas tanpa parasut untuk waktu tertentu, paralayang menggunakan parasut yang sudah dikembangkan dari awal. Tinggal berlari dan melompat. Buat mencoba paragliding ini gue menghubungi tim MountNear di daerah Puncak. Kalau belum bisa sendiri, kita bisa memilih terbang tandem. Terbang tandem artinya akan ada master paragliding, atau pilotnya yang terbang bersama-sama kita. Kitanya sih duduk aja, anteng.

Beres-beres parasut sebelum terbang (JP)

Paralayang terkenal akan kepraktisan alat-alat yang digunakan. Parasut yang digunakan (parasut utama dan cadangan) dapat dimasukkan ke dalam sebuah ransel yang digendong di punggung. Jadi begitu selesai main, parasutnya bisa langsung dibungkus lagi ke dalam ransel.

Sambil terbang, si pilot tandem ngajakin gue ngobrol. Beliau menjelaskan tentang updraft (gerakan udara ke atas, arus vertikal) yang dibutuhkan saat paragliding agar parasutnya bisa membawa kita terbang ke atas. Waktu gue tanya soal apa si pilot pernah ikutan skydiving, dia langsung ketawa dan bilang kalo nggak berani. Gue yang sempet niat banget mau cobain skydiving pun bertanya, "kang, emang udah berapa lama main paragliding?" si pilot pun menjawab "Udah 14 tahun nih jadi pilot. Ini bulan depan mau ikut kompetisi di Phuket."

14 tahun. Kalau dia aja yang udah 14 tahun jadi pilot paragliding masih nggak berani terjun bebas buat skydiving..... mungkin udah saatnya gue cari tau lebih banyak tentang skydiving itu sendiri. Selagi gue tenggelam dengan pemikiran itu, pilot tandem mulai memutar-mutar parasut, gerakan parsut jadi circling perlahan. Beliau menjelaskan bahwa ini caranya untuk menambah ketinggian dan gue tentu saja semangat karena memang naik semakin tinggi.

Cuma 1 hal: makin naik ke atas makin sulit bernafas. Gue lupa pelajaran IPA zaman SMP yang menjelaskan bahwa di tempat tinggi molekul udara semakin tipis dan jantung akan dipaksa bekerja lebih keras, hasilnya jadi berdebar-debar. Lalu jadi merasa capek, padahal itungannya cuma jadi penumpang yang duduk diam menikmati langit.

Si akang pilot tandem tampaknya menyadari bahwa gue nggak biasa main paragliding, maka beliau pun menyarankan kami landing saja. Gue terbang kurang lebih selama 7 menit. Tadinya waktu dikasih tahu waktu di udara hanya 5-10 menit, gue sempet mikir: cih, sebentar banget dong ya. Ternyata itu semua ada alasannya saudara-saudari. Kalau tidak terbiasa terbang dengan ketinggian seperti itu, maksa untuk berlama-lama terbang justru akan membahayakan diri sendiri.

Terbang. Akhirnya. (JP)

Gue inget banget, angin sejuk Puncak, cuacanya yang berawan, petak-petak perkebunan teh di bawah gue, semuanya itu memberi sensasi tersendiri. Rasanya jelas berbeda dari sekedar mengamati pemandangan dari kaca jendela pesawat. Bagi gue, waktu terbang itu rasanya gue menyatu dengan langit. Meskipun beberapa orang secara spontan nanya, "Bahaya nggak tuh?" atau "Elu nggak takut?" ketika mendengar gue menyampaikan keinginan buat main paragliding, gue nggak bisa bilang ini olahraga memacu adrenalin. Apa mungkin karena gue terbang tandem dan sepenuhnya mempercayakan nyawa gue ke si pilot tandem ya?

Buat gue rasanya bebas dan tenang. Gue jadi sedikit paham keras kepalanya para pilot atau kenapa mereka-mereka yang disebut adrenaline junkie nggak juga berhenti melakukan kegiatan ini. Karena bukan sekedar menantang maut, masbro, mbaksist, ini perihal mendeklarasikan kebebasan dan ketenangan diri sendiri. Ini tentang mengekspresikan rasa ingin tahu dan menembus batas "biasa". Dan selalu, rasa syukur yang mengikuti itu berlimpah-limpah. Bumi Puncak kelihatan jauh lebih cantik dilihat dari atas. Rasanya gue nggak akan melihat Puncak dengan "biasa" lagi sejak diijinkan buat melihat penampakannya dari langit.


Paramotor & Paragliding Indonesia
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Tandem Flight:
Rp 350.000 / flight (+ Rp 100.000 untuk video + foto dengan kamera GoPro)
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DISCLAIMER:
Semua foto dan video diambil oleh manusia-manusia gembira dan berbakat: Angelika Cindy W / Jeddy Prionggo / Filipus Prionggo. Kepada mereka gue berhutang semua dokumentasi kegiatan paralayang ini, karena kamera GoPro tim Mountnear diboyong semua untuk kompetisi di Manado, dan gue terlalu nggak percaya dengan tangan sendiri untuk memegang handphone sambil terbang.
Kalau kata Filip (tentang gue ngambil selfie sambil terbang): "Udah dah. Byebye hape. byebye." Mengikuti saran semuanya, gue meninggalkan hape dan berserah sepenuhnya pada tiga orang ini untuk mengabadikan momen-momen selama paralayang di Puncak. Terimakasih banyak ya kalian!

Picture taken from here

We have different experience, opinions and different things to say about love. The definition and the way we experience 'love', especially romantic love typically changes as we grow older, added more experience to our life, and as we get to know ourselves better. The ideal frame would be growing out of infatuation and obsession we had over our teenager years, when nothing else in the world matter but that particular one person. We stopped seeing someone else just and only for the fun in it, to have someone whose hands we can hold for 2 hrs straight in the cinema or to have someone accompany us for a fancy dinner. Instead of making our partner as a show-off material, we started to see them as a potential life-long partner, and soon, getting to know each other within a good quality time together become more important than hitting the "it-hangout-spots" to show everyone you belong to each other. By this time, we started to see love and relationship as something deeper in value.

In the country where I came from, there seems to be an unspoken and unwritten rule -- the social rule about marriage. Women of early 20s received quite a massive amount of questions if around this time they haven't got a steady partner just yet. It is still a strange thing here, to see women around the age of 20 living single life and enjoying it immensely. It is strange to see these women pursuing their career, go back to university to study or travel to amazing places in the world -- practically being busy with themselves, instead of making the effort to be noticed by eligible young men around them and then to date them and get married as soon as possible.

Which means I am pretty much in a dreadful situation anytime big family meetings are up, because instead of asking how is it going with my numerous applications to international organization or where I would go travel next, my extended family will be starting the noble speech on how I really should put my energy on finding potential mating partner, even before the word "single" could escape my lips.

Recently my mom even told me that she would love to have a grandchild and looked at me and my brother with her puppy eyes. Yes, she gave me a puppy eyes look on this matter.

(I would blame that on the amount she spent browsing Facebook and the fact that almost all of her active Facebook friends' main activity is to post them-cuddling-their-grandchildren photos).

I could go rampant on talking about how much amount of responsibility, unselfish attitude and very deep thinking we should take before we even think about "having children". But let's not go there for a while. Let's stick up with the basic.

On Being Alone

It amazes me how people around me could insist so much on finding happiness by having a partner, whether as a boyfriend / girlfriend, or as husband / wife. I often wonder, that if these people's sole and ultimate goal in life is to achieve happiness by finding their "other-half". Either that, or the social system has dictated us so much it even told us that normally, people would become happy when they secured a steady partner. 

The fact that people were so sure they need others to make them happy is already disturbing from the first place. Because nobody is responsible for others' happiness. Your partner is not responsible of your happiness, or vice versa. If you can not be happy when you are alone, how is it possible that being with other person will fix thing and make you happier? Where does that ridiculous thought came from? One can't help but to wonder if all along we have been looking at this the wrong way. 

You need to be able to enjoy being alone, to be able to find the joy of life when you are alone. You need to be familiar with your alone-ness, let it sink to your soul, until you find yourself and able to appreciate it: appreciate yourself as a human being, as a whole person. You need to realize first how happy you are being just you, and that you enjoy your own soul's company and that you know what happiness is to you and you don't define it by what others can do for you (example: by loving you, accompanying you to whatever you mean by forever etc).

I think that only by then, you can also start to see others, as the person that they are. Otherwise, you would depend on them to be able to feel happy, whole and complete. You would reduce them into something else, you would want them to transform so they fit your ideal figure of a partner. You would want to possess them and practically addicted to their presence. It is the scariest thing because then you fail to see your partner / love interest / crush as completely another whole human being who has their own needs, wants and their own life just like you do. You will go downright to shrinking the nature of love; which is to appreciate the other, into possessive nature; in which you feel the urge to make them yours and yours only.

That is, being alone - and learn how to feel happy about it is in other word reaching for your own deepest core, realizing something really private in there (and realize other people possess this private element too) to the point that you understand however bonded you are with someone else, you are still your own self and there is a part of you untouchable by others, reserved to you and God himself. You understand this then: that love was never meant to be about possessing someone else. It is about going to the deepest part of a person and appreciating them as a free being of themselves.

On Falling In Love

One of my earliest memory of falling in love could be traced back to the period between 4th to 6th grade, approximately 12 years ago. He was my classmate, a leader by nature, I assumed quite smart, and he did not care about me at all.

I practically fell in love at the first sight with him, with all the glory a 4th grader could use in describing falling in love phenomena. The ignorance this boy displayed to me fueled my somewhat burning passion at that time. When he finally acknowledge me as fellow human being in his class and began talking to me, it evoked different fantasies everyday of how our conversation will go. I had this scenarios played in my mind and imagining him responding in certain ways. By falling in love at the first sight, I build this idea of who he was, my idea of him. I did not know him, barely had any significant conversation with him, did not know what he likes or what he dislikes, I just like him and happy with the idea of loving him.

I don't say that the feeling was not real. It was there, burning and intense. Now that I sit here and tried to recall that particular experience, I thought probably it was quite scary for little me to feel really strong about someone I barely knew. Then it took some more years, some more brokenhearted experiences, some serious discussion and brain-picking sessions with friends and previous lovers to arrive at the conclusion I have today. Falling in love at the first sight is impossible. You could have Adoring at the First Sight or Curious at the First Sight, but you can't have Falling in Love at the First Sight. I think even when moms and dads look at their baby for the first time they don't fall in love instantly. Because yes, that baby is their flesh-and-blood, but still, back to point number one, he or she is still a free being, a self, someone they do not know (yet).

Then through time, through emotional events and some dramas of daily life, there is a bond, an attachment formed and then you slowly fall in love. All in all I'd say it is a time consuming process, to fall in love with someone. Because you need to know who that person is, going through philosophical debates about life as well as simple everyday conversation, finding out their perspectives and outlook about this world and only then you give a chance for love to grow (de Botton, 2006)*.

I think the world we know as today is constructed from various different ideas. Certain things are collectively known to us humans, big thanks to our ancestors who left us with mythology, symbolism, legend and romantic tales as well. The idea of falling in love may as well rooted deeply from a very, very, very old practice. Most of you probably already familiar with the story Plato once told, or maybe its variation from different cultures. Plato told a story of how human was once born with two faces, four arms and four legs and because the ancient gods feared them, Zeus decided to split those humans and thus, we are forever cursed to wander the earth looking for our better half, our soulmate, destined being who will understand us like no other and that there is no greater joy than simply lying side by side with them.

Totally romantic. Totally fatal.

If what Plato proposed was true, then falling in love at the first sight will be the one possible explanation on how to find our soulmate, as we screen every single person come across our life. The lengthy time it took us to fall in love then, would not be on the time we spent to go to the deepest part of this person and realize we want to stay with them anyway, but rather on the time we spent to do a quick-screen on everyone to see if his or her arms and legs were once glued to ours. The fall, then, would be an instant process, happened just because the universe intended us to finally find each other. Now, I do not deny the magic of certain spark we felt to another person. But to declare that we have fallen in love with that person will require more than a spark and a 5 minutes encounter on a random event.

On Demanding, Depending and Committing to Other

That is why, you can always tell the difference of a mature and immature love through a series of characteristics. Mature love will in the end granted an absolute freedom to the person you love. Because you have loved them with no regret nor worries that you will be left completely miserable and unable to move on with your life in case the person chooses to leave. The same will apply to people who chose to be alone out of fear they will ruin their fragile life and poor old heart in case the loved one for example, died. But the mature love, the perfect one will cast out fears. Because you do not build your world on the other person, which by the way is the most selfish act one can commit to the other. Why would you put that kind of responsibility, of keeping your world whole and intact on another person's shoulder?

When you are able to love a person without any burden or fear, you would love them freely. This also applies to people who loves someone who doesn't love them back. It won't matter. Because a mature love will be a secure, free of jealousy (for example he/she in fact loves someone else) that doesn't demand or depend to other person to make you feel complete, or simply to love you back. You know that in the end, they are not the only reason of you existing in the world. You are not afraid of the possibility of them leaving you for other person (or loving other person from the first place), because you have a firm ground that even if they hold a significant role you would be as happy as you are before they were here. This is called "joy" and unlike happiness, which is naturally given to you by others, joy is not given, so it can not be taken either by them leaving you.

Here is the what may seems like a paradox: this does not originate in you not trying to make the relationship work, or letting go without any effort to maintain the love and the relationship you have. It may be looked like that, like you lack the passion to keep your loved ones, to ensure them you belong to each other or it probably looked like you don't care if that person leaves or stays. But on the contrary, this fearless attitude originated from the understanding you have that the other person, however you love them is still a free being on their own. You know you can't literally have a person, because they belong to themselves. And as much as you do, they are free to choose, they have their own needs and wants and loving them should not rob them of this basic right.

When you have a mature love, you would allow your loved ones to explore themselves to the fullest. You would want them to find their own soul and if that involves leaving you, you will appreciate it because loving them is not about forcing them to stay and make them yours anymore. Loving is about to appreciate your loved ones as a human being, a whole person you have no control over.

It does not mean you ceased to feel euphoric, less excited to see them or less crazy in love. You could -- should be madly in love but with an understanding that the most important thing is to get to know them to the deepest part they allowed you to and decide that you are still crazy about them after that. You are madly in love with them for who they really are, not for your idea of them.

Immature love on the other hand, will leave you insecure, constantly demanding, constantly depending on others to hold you together in one piece. People change and so do you. You will end up constantly asking your partner to adapt to your changes without acknowledging his own process of becoming himself. you will also left devastated when reality hit that it is never going to work between the two of you. Immature love will make what feels like more and more irrational demand and eventually will leave both parties exhausted. If the love you have is an immature one, you will easily get jealous over everything. You fear the day they discover that you are not the one they're looking for.

I think that in the end, mature love will most likely conclude in a marriage as a form of commitment. But different with couples that enter marriage with immature love, those with mature love consciously choose to be married to each other. The commitment they have has long passed the commitment to simply stay with each other or make it work. It is a commitment consciously taken without external pressure to share life with each other to its fullest. It also means that both parties committed to allow their partner to go as close as possible to each other's deepest part of self.

But of course, as always, this is my mere observation. As one of my best friend's (and an experienced lover, apparently) have multiple times said to me, I lacked the experience of being in love and being in a relationship, so what can I say? This is simply an apprentice point of view and as most of you have probably guessed, I am still crawling, learning, and obviously making mistakes in the term of falling in love. Between the racing thoughts, overlapping ideas and so many events unfolding with a top speed in my life, having pieces of thoughts like this hanging on the corner of my head actually reminds me that I am, still, a young adult processing and learning about life. That obvious but often forgotten fact astounded me and, of course, relieving somehow. See you around!
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*) De botton, A. (2006). Essays in love. London: Pan MacMillan.

Hal traveling itu semacam heroin: sifatnya mengikat lebih dari satu reseptor saraf di seluruh badan, membuat kita percaya sedang dibanjiri hormon endorphin -- membuat tenang, nyaman dan senang, lalu secara ekstrim membuat seseorang ketagihan.

Saya rasa, sedikit banyak persamaan pandangan tentang traveling itu merupakan satu dari banyak hal yang menyatukan saya, C.J dan Iin. Kami berteman sejak zaman SMA, ketika hiburan umumnya terpusat di mall (dan kucing-kucingan dengan satpam karena tidak boleh masuk mall dengan seragam) hingga kini ketika kami hanya akan nge-mall kalau terpaksa.

Melalui masa-masa itu kami sudah survive beberapa trip bersama, konser Sheila On 7 di lapangan sekolah, berjam-jam diskusi tentang kehidupan, berbagai galau nya cinta anak-anak manusia yang memasuki usia early adulthood, sesi makan ramen dan sushi yang sudah tidak terhitung lagi berapa banyaknya dan main Lara Croft: Tomb Raider demi menghibur C.J yang terkapar karena DBD (contoh kurang baik, orang sakit bukannya disuruh istirahat malah dibujuk buat main xD). Perjalanan kali ini artinya bisa berbeda-beda bagi kami. Bisa juga dibilang perayaan ulang tahun saya, bisa juga perjalanan farewell karena C.J akan segera berlayar ke negeri orang. Bisa juga sekedar memenuhi kecanduan jalan kami sih.

Semua berawal ketika saya dan C.J kegirangan melihat sebuah paket tur ke situs megalitikum tertua dan terbesar di Indonesia: Gunung Padang. Konon katanya, situs purbakala yang bentuknya menyerupai piramida ini bisa membuktikan keberadaan peradaban pra-sejarah, bahkan lebih tua dari peradaban Sumeria di Timur Tengah, yang saat ini dipahami sebagai peradaban tertua di dunia. Sebagai anak Sejarah sejati (C.J) dan bolang yang pada dasarnya curious dengan segala sesuatu (saya), kami menyeret Iin yang sebetulnya tidak percaya dengan ilmu Arkeologi sama sekali untuk pergi melihat situs purba ini dengan mata kepala sendiri.

Satu dan lain hal muncul dan membuat kami terlambat memesan paket tur yang dimaksud (cih). Namun akhirnya setelah browsing sana-sini, kami membulatkan tekad untuk pergi bertualang bertiga.

#1 Persiapan Petualangan

Situs Gunung Padang letaknya di Desa Karyamukti, Cianjur. Perjalanan dapat ditempuh menggunakan kendaraan pribadi dan angkutan umum. Saran saya sih, pakai angkutan umum saja. Kecuali kendaraan pribadi kalian tahan jalanan off-road. Dari Jakarta, cara paling mudah dan membahagiakan hidup adalah jelas dengan menggunakan kereta api. Pertama-tama, naik kereta Commuter Line jurusan Bogor lalu turun di stasiun terakhir: stasiun Bogor (Stasiun Jakarta Kota - Stasiun Bogor: Rp 5.000, waktu tempuh 1 jam 20 menit).

Selanjutnya, kita perlu berganti kereta dengan KA Pangrango jurusan Cianjur. Turun di Stasiun Lampegan, satu stasiun sebelum stasiun Cianjur. Harga tiketnya untuk kelas ekonomi Rp 40.000 dan untuk kelas eksekutif Rp 85.000. Perjalanan memakan waktu sekitar 3 jam.

Kami mempersiapkan dua alternatif untuk mencapai situs Gunung Padang. Alternatif pertama dengan menyewa angkot (katanya Rp 200.000) pulang-pergi. Kalkulasi kami uang itu tidak terlalu mahal jika dibagi bertiga. Alternatif kedua adalah menggunakan ojek dengan harga Rp 100.000 untuk perjalanan pulang pergi ke Lampegan - Gunung Padang - Cianjur, belum termasuk pergi ke Curug Cikondang. Untuk perjalanan pulang, rencananya kami akan naik bus dari Cianjur sampai ke Terminal Kampung Rambutan (Rp 25.000). Ide besar kami setelah melihat foto-foto Curug Cikondang adalah berpiknik di area itu, maka kami membagi tugas. C.J mempersiapkan sarapan, saya mempersiapkan bekal makan siang dan Iin sebagai spesialis cemilan akan menjarah isi kulkas rumahnya (lumpia, brownies Bandung dan pisang keju) untuk meramaikan piknik akbar kami.

#2 Bogor dan Hal-hal Kecil Diantaranya

Serius nih, ini hal paling penting yang perlu diketahui dalam abad ini. Kereta api Pangrango dan Siliwangi yang melayani jurusan Bogor-Cianjur itu kereta yang maiden voyage nya baru dilakukan satu bulan lalu. Singkat cerita, ini trayek kereta baru. Pada e-tiket kereta saya tertulis Bogor - Lampegan yang saat itu saya imani hanya punya satu arti: naik dari stasiun Bogor, turun di stasiun Lampegan. Apa daya, ternyata ada stasiun kecil yang disebut "halte" kereta api Bogor Paledang. Halte Paledang dibangun khusus karena stasiun Bogor sudah tidak memiliki tempat lagi untuk menampung KA Pangrango. Letak halte ini sekitar 200 meter dari stasiun Bogor, letaknya berseberangan dan patokan nya adalah KFC di depan stasiun bogor. Dari samping KFC tinggal berjalan lurus saja untuk mencapai halte Paledang.

Bukan masalah kalau kami tahu dari awal. Masalah besar kalau kami baru sampai di Bogor pukul 07.45, 10 menit sebelum waktu keberangkatan KA Pangrango. Saya, C.J dan Iin saling berpandangan cengo waktu petugas loket stasiun Bogor menjelaskan sambil lalu tentang keberadaan halte Paledang. Kami berlari-lari setelah itu, karena meskipun menyenangkan berada di kota sejuk macam Bogor, kurang lucu nih kalau akhirnya kami piknik di kebun raya. C.J sempat tersandung dan jatuh di dekat KFC, menyisakan battlescar perjalanan ke Gunung Padang.

KA Pangrango

Perjalanan sampai ke Lampegan ditempuh dalam waktu 3 jam. Kami sarapan (roti, telur dan bacon ala C.J, I love you girl), mengobrol dan (berusaha) memotret pemandangan karpet sawah hijau yang menggantikan jalan-jalan besar dan siluet-siluet gunung di kejauhan. Duo bocah ini juga memberikan CD Ed Sheeran dan Jason Mraz untuk ulang tahun saya, dengan kartu ucapan yang belum ditandatangani Iin (kebiasaan). Pemandangan yang disuguhkan di luar sangat menyegarkan mata, dan dengan diiringi suara awak kereta yang menawarkan nasi goreng, mie instan dan jus jambu, saya bersyukur. Bersyukur kami berkesempatan melakukan perjalanan ini, bersyukur dengan pemandangan hijau di luar sana yang langsung mengingatkan saya bahwa sesumpek-sumpeknya Jakarta, Indonesia masih memiliki daerah-daerah hijau, deretan rumah-rumah sederhana dan saung-saung bambu di tengah sawah.

#3 Lukisan Curug Cikondang dan Terowongan Tua Lampegan

Sepanjang yang bisa saya ingat, air terjun sering sekali jadi model lukisan-lukisan alam di rumah-rumah saudara atau teman yang pernah saya kunjungi. Tukang-tukang taman di pinggiran jalan juga sering memamerkan karya mereka yang berupa miniatur air terjun, siap dipasang di rumah-rumah pemesan. Melihat Curug Cikondang hari itu, rasanya kurang lebih saya jadi paham kenapa.

Sekitar pukul 11.00 kami sampai di stasiun Lampegan. Stasiun ini adalah salah satu stasiun tertua di tanah air. Salah satu hal yang membuat stasiun ini terkenal adalah terowongan Lampegan, terowongan pertama yang dibangun di Jawa Barat pada tahun 1879 - 1882. Seperti halnya objek-objek tua pada umumnya, stasiun ini memiliki "aura" antik tersendiri. Kang Dadang, seorang tukang ojek yang mangkal di sana bercerita bahwa belasan tahun silam, ia dan setidaknya seorang teman akan berjalan sambil berpegangan tangan dan menyusuri rel kereta di dalam terowongan gelap tersebut dalam perjalanan menuju sekolah. Terowongan dan stasiun Lampegan ditutup pada tahun 2001 karena dinilai tidak layak untuk dioperasikan. Baru pada tahun 2010 terowongan dan stasiun Lampegan difungsikan kembali.

Dari Lampegan, kami akhirnya memutuskan untuk naik ojek. Hal ini karena ternyata, Lampegan sepenuhnya adalah daerah pedesaan (baca: nggak ada angkot, jek.) Angkot bisa dicarter kalau kita turun di Cianjur, yang kurang lebih adalah kota yang ramai, dilalui berbagai jenis angkot dan bis. Sebaliknya, Lampegan didiami oleh para petani, pekerja kebun teh atau pekerja tambang emas. Ojek merupakan usaha sampingan yang akhir-akhir ini laris manis semenjak Dede Yusuf dan Pak SBY mengunjungi situs Gunung Padang. Tawar-menawar dengan 3 orang babang ojek, kami sepakat di harga Rp 160.000 per ojek untuk perjalanan Stasiun Lampegan - Curug Cikondang - Situs Gunung Padang - Cianjur. Babang ojek dengan setia akan menunggu, mengantar hingga memastikan kami para pelancong dari Jakarta naik bus yang tepat (bus Marita) dari Cianjur ke Jakarta. Mereka juga bisa menjadi local guide karena telah menghabiskan sebagian besar hari-hari mereka di tempat ini, paham apa yang terjadi pra dan pasca situs Gunung Padang menjadi tenar dan pada dasarnya senang diajak mengobrol.

Satu hal yang saya perhatikan, nyaris semua orang di Lampegan berasumsi bahwa orang Jakarta yang datang ke sana pasti mau pergi ke Gunung Padang. Setidaknya untuk saat ini hal itu tidak buruk, sih. Namun pada tahun-tahun yang akan datang kemungkinan besar stasiun ini akan ramai dengan ojek yang langsung memberondong orang-orang "berlogat Jakarta" dan yang tidak berbahasa Sunda dengan penawaran ojek ke situs megalitikum tersebut.

Mengendarai ojek, saya dihadiahi kombinasi pemandangan hijau dan angin segar di sepanjang jalur menuju Curug Cikondang. Kombinasi ini adalah sesuatu yang bagi saya jarang dapat saya lihat di kota besar macam Jakarta. Perkebunan teh, udara yang bersih, angin yang sejuk; belum sampai Curug Cikondang saja saya sudah senang sendiri dengan pemandangan yang ada. Namun hal tersebut tidak bertahan terlalu lama karena segera sesudah itu jalanan aspal yang kami lalui berubah wujud. Saya belum pernah melakukan kegiatan off-road sebelumnya, jadi jujur saja, lumayan jantungan dengan perjalanan ojek. Jalanan nya berbatu-batu besar dan meliuk-liuk, mengingat ini adalah daerah perkebunan teh. Untungnya, babang ojek saya, Kang Dadang, sepertinya sudah berpengalaman membawa penumpang melewati jalur ini, karena tampaknya beliau santai-santai saja dan cukup menikmati perjalanan, sambil bercerita tentang pertambangan emas, tentang jalan-jalan yang bertahun-tahun lalu belum diaspal, tentang rute berjalan kaki yang dilaluinya dari dan ke sekolah, juga tentang kekecewaannya akan perusakan lingkungan seperti ini.

Menurut Kang Dadang, berbagai usaha sedang dilakukan untuk mengembalikan kehijauan beberapa bagian perkebunan yang sudah gundul. Namun tetap menyedihkan melihat ada bagian tanah yang gundul diantara rumpun-rumpun hijau Desa Karyamukti. Setelah melakukan kegiatan offroad berkendara selama 45 menit, kami akhirnya tiba di pintu masuk Curug Cikondang. Ada biaya masuk Rp 5.000 rupiah yang harus dibayar di sini. Dari pintu masuk, saya, C.J dan Iin perlu melewati jalan kecil yang menurun menuju Curug. C.J terjatuh sekali lagi di sini (mbak..sehat, mbak? :P) dan sukses keseleo. Saya tidak terlalu kaget sih, habis keseleo itu memang trademark nya C.J. Iin berusaha memberi penghiburan dengan menyatakan mungkin C.J salah pakai sepatu (dia lagi pakai sepatu running), belum sempat saya mengatakan apa-apa, yang bersangkutan sudah menepis pernyataan Iin. "Gue emang selalu keseleo kapanpun dimanapun. Di mall aja bisa kesandung." 

Tawa dan pembicaraan kami terhenti karena saya menoleh ke sebelah kiri dan langsung berhenti bergerak. Ada pemandangan macam begini di sebelah saya.

*Mari mengambil waktu tenang sejenak untuk menikmati keindahan alam ini*

*Di otak langsung keputer lagu The Shire nya Lord Of The Rings*

Buat saya, rasanya seperti melihat lukisan jadi nyata. Karena hari biasa, Curug Cikondang betul-betul sepi. Pengunjungnya hanya kami bertiga, serasa curug milik sendiri. Saya, C.J dan Iin bermain air sebentar disini. Menikmati percikan air, banyak mengambil foto disana-sini (Iin: "Belom puas juga foto? Bawa pulang sekalian curugnya. Bawa pulang."), dan makan siang sama-sama di saung yang ada di deket curug.

#4 Gunung Padang: Peradaban Purba di Indonesia

Puas main di Curug Cikondang, kami langsung berangkat menuju tujuan utama hari itu: Situs Megalitikum Gunung Padang. Perjalanannya sekitar 30 menit dari Curug Cikondang. Begitu masuk langsung disambut deretan warung di dekat gerbang depan. Tiket masuknya Rp 2.000 untuk wisatawan Indonesia dan Rp 5.000 untuk wisatawan asing. 

Situs Gunung Padang disebut-sebut sebagai struktur makam raksasa yang bentuknya menyerupai piramida. Sekarang ini sedang ada penggalian bear-besaran di sana, untuk kepentingan penelitian dan membuktikan bahwa sudah ada peradaban maju yang lebih tua dari peradaban Sumeria, peradaban tertua yang diketahui dunia saat ini. Dibanding piramida, sebenarnya struktur situs ini lebih mirip punden berundak, yang memiliki teras-teras seperti halnya Machu Picchu di Peru.

Gampangnya, penampangnya kelihatan seperti ini nih:

Saya, C.J dan Iin memanjat struktur ini melalui jalur yang telah dibuat khusus untuk wisatawan. Kaki C.J yang keseleo nggak memungkinkan kami mengambil jalur alami yang batuannya lebih terjal, meskipun katanya sih, waktu tempuhnya lebih singkat. Kami naik sampai ke teras ketiga dan  begini pemandangannya:

Banyak batu-batu besar khas situs megalitikum dan diduga teras ini berfungsi sebagai tempat pelaksanaan upacara-upacara dan berbagai ritual. Situs Gunung Padang pertama kali ditemukan oleh N.J Krom, seorang berkebangsaan Belanda. Kata C.J, catetan tentang penemuan situs ini pasti ada somewhere di Belanda, tapi semacam sudah dilupakan orang. Setelah itu sempat ada laporan juga dari masyarakat umum tentang situs ini, namun baru akhir-akhir ini akhirnya pemerintah menaruh perhatian serius, melakukan penelitian sekaligus tetap membuka situs ini untuk masyarakat umum.