There’s Nothing More Fun than Being at The Top

Greeted at the end of the long holiday weekend, it's time to realize a new experience, yap its called Climb a mountain! Yes, I really never felt such pleasure in the highest peak and enjoy the beauty of nature, admiring the creation of the Almighty, the creator of the Universe . Then, it was decided, early April the Easter long weekend, I’ll realized this new experiences.

Then, team assembled, initially there were 15 people planned to participating, but on the D-Day, only 13 people who bravely encourage they self to conquer the peak of Ungaran Mountain. Preparations are made, all gears are prepared, and this time the team was led by my friend who is a Mapala(Mahasiswa Pecinta Alam) members, Arsono Sugiharto. Arsono, managed everything related to the what is need to do and need to prepared of.

Maghreeb time coming over, athan was greet, but we were still not set, the preparation has not been completed yet, we still lack the motornikes, as a vehicle to take us to the Pos Mawar, one of the starting point for climb the Ungaran Mountain. Finally after all is clear, we start the trail struggling with a jammed flow on the main road of Semarang-Jogja highway through the cold night, with one detination Pos Mawar, Tirto Umbul , Bandungan District. Unlucky at the start of the trip, one of his motorbikes tire is leaking, the motorbike is forced to be left in nearby resident house near there. Because of its happened on the middle of the trip, in the middle of woods and its in the nite, pretty dark there, damn it, well, is it a bad sign? Could be, but life must go on right? ;)

At 9.17 pm, we arrived in Pos Mawar and then suddenly we met another group, which is no others they were our own friends, Dani, together with another 4 mens . Yap, we are now consist of 18 people. After lil introduction, filling the data for administrative purposes, then continued to check the gear, and the last one, a little briefing from they who experienced climb the Ungaran Mountain, then yap! The journey begins!

Firstly we walking through the pine forest, and walked slowly towards the west, into the forest and the narrows roads. Very bright the moonlight that nite, and it is wonderful to look east, flickering lights of Semarang, Ungaran, Kendal, and Salatiga City in the distance seems so beautiful. After exploring the pine woods for nearly two and a half hours, we arrived at the coffee plantation, a sign that we have been close to the Dusun Promasan, a transit point before climbing the Ungaran Mountain. Here we separated with Dani and his company, who decided to immediately climb to the top without transit. Finally, at around 11.30 pm, we reached the Promasan, and stayed in the house of one of the resident there. After got our dinner and our Isha prayers, soon we’re asleep, because at exactly in the 3:00 am in the morning we'll have to start to climb, so we could enjoy the sunrise from the peak of Mountain.

The alarms rang! some of my friends who have been awakened, wake the others, this time only nine people who decided to climb. Approximately at 3:45 am, the trail is begin, back through the coffee plantations, and we arrived at the foothill of the Ungaran Mountain. in the middle of the trail, there’s a debate about the climbing lane, about whats supposed to be the right lane, since its still dark so its difficult to see clearly. High shrubs obstruct our view,more high, it’ll find the higher bushes and steeper road. There was visible a flashlight from a distant, it seems from other climbers, we must be on the right track, I though. But then, the flashlight was getting closer to us and finally we also met with them, unfortunately, they said that, this way is a wrong path, they decided to give up because it has been since 03:00 am, tracing this path and a ended with the dead end! We have no choice, we ought to go down again.

Some of team member started to be pessimistic, including me. At the bottom, at the starting point, we take a break, its already 5:31 am, the sun has been rise from the east horizon. Fortunately, we still have a team member who still energic , they encouraged the other, giving spirit that we couldn’t give up, because we already in this place. Then we continue our trail.

The lane still bushes, but this tme is not as many as in the first lane. Through the slippery and steppy lane accompanied by birdsong in the morning, this trail was so great, and of course this atmosphere added spirit to get to the peak, as soon as possible. There is a natural sign that indicates whether we are close to the peak or not, that is a giant rock. When we were passed that giant rock, we felt so happy because it means that the peak is already near. Finally, after going through an extensive savanna, we reached the peak of the Ungaran mountain. Praise and gratitude spoken, and soon the beautiful scenery greet us, in the height of 2050 amsl(above mean sea level) . So its right that, there’s nothing more fun than being at the top.

Het Trein Station te Toentang

Toentang Train Station from the North Sides in 1910-1915 (Source: Leiden University Library)

Tuntang is a small cities, belong to the Kabupaten Semarang administration. A small city that I visited when I took for a rest from my trip from Semarang to Salatiga several months ago. Then here we are, I took some photos from Toentang Station that have been deactived for more than 20 years. Toentang Station built together with the project of connecting Semarang and Yogyakarta trhough the railway system in 1873. This project were accomplished by Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NISM) and resulting the one of the unique track between Jamboe and Bedono, that is climbing track, only a few survived in the world nowadays, included this one. Talking about Toentang Station, the big restoration is already done in order to reactivate this station. The government want to extend the tourism of steam locomotive track into the north, reactivate again Ambarawa-Kedungjati lines, that once lies in the Semarang-Yogyakarta lines. So that the tourist could enjoying the beautiful sceneries of lake Rawa Pening, because the railroad is situated along the edge of the lake itself

Toentang Train Station rear terrace
as arrival and departure boards

Talking About this city ,Tuntang having an important role during the British Invasion of Java in 1811 as the part of Napoleonic War, in the beginning of 19th century. The Kingdom of Holland was annexed to the First French Empire in 1810, and Java became the part of French colony, though it continued to be administered and defended primarily by Dutch personnel. The Kingdom of Holland armies, together with French armies after the several months of battle, started in Batavia then retreated to Bogor until its defeated in Jatingaleh, Semarang. The remains were runs to the south and finally surrendered to the Britons. Through the treaty in this city named Toentang Capitulation on 1811, the Java Island were fall in Britons hand. It was become the beginning of the British rule of Indonesia, until the next four years until 1815.

Here in this station that now were no longer crowded by the passenger for waiting for the train coming by. I felt the power of interactions on that time between the people in countryside with those on the city. Once, the development of railroad network have its purpose to fulfilling the needs of the people about transportation, also as an efforts to the better economic growth. Along the area which passed by railroad network, the people used this “metal horses” as their daily transport.  Furthermore, in many small station or halte located, the people from the countryside often exploit it as their means to sold their product,  the traders came from the countryside offering their product, dominated by agricultural products, and those from the city are also came with their product, dominated by factory product like clothes, shoes, and so on. The station once  become the important place for the rural and urban people to interact.

Imagined about the condition, the crowd, the people aroud it, then maybe this postcard picture, taken from collectiontrade.nl could represented, hows it looks-like...

Diskriminasi Dalam Penataan Kota

Ruang Publik, sesuai definisinya yakni sebuah ruang yang terbuka dan terjangkau aksesibilitasnya setiap waktu, menurut situs wikipedia.org ,dan jika kita mempersepsikan ruang publik adalah gambaran dari jiwa warga kota, maka gambaran itu adalah keterasingan dan diskriminasi. Jelajahilah ruang-ruang publik di kota kita dan rasakanlah sekat-sekat yang akan memerangkap kita dalam kelas-kelas sosial.

Mari telusuri keberadaan ruang-ruang publik di kota kita tercinta, Semarang. Dari yang terdekat dari rumah saya yang berada dibilangan Sendangmulyo, Semarang Timur, masih terbilang lumayan baik karena masih terdapat lapangan-lapangan terbuka, namun yang memprihatinkan adalah semakin sedikit masyarakat menggunakannya untuk beraktifitas. Walhasil hanyalah sebuah tanah lapang yang dipandang para developer sebagai lahan kosong. Kompleks perumahanpun dibangun secara masif, dan telah mendesak gaya hidup menjadi kampung yang egaliter. Bahkan kini muncul konsep kluster, perumahan di dalam perumahan. Artinya penyekatan semakin mengecil. Masyarakat semakin nyaman hidup dalam keterasingan dengan dalih keamanan dan lingkungan pergaulan. Semakin banyak orang tua yang tak mengizinkan anak-anak mereka keluar rumah. Menyebabkan anak menjadi terpenjara. Dunia anak dan mungkin juga orangtuanya menjadi hanya sebatas pagar rumah masing-masing.

Dari ruang rumah yang memenjara, mari kita tengok ke sekolah. Kita tengok tren, sekali lagi di kota kita tercinta, Semarang, yakni semakin maraknya sekolah-sekolah internasional. Jaminan pendidikan yang berbasis internasional, jelas tersedia. Menjadikan anak-anak berwawasan global, itu sudah barang tentu, namun adakah rasa nasionalisme, kearfian lokal dan kepekaan sosial yang dipupuk didalamnya? Saya rasa tidak ada di sekolah yang notabene berbiaya selangit ini. Salah seorang kawan yang adiknya bersekolah di salah satu sekolah internasional terkemuka di Semarang menuturkan bahwa, tidak pernah diajarkan mata pelajaran Bahasa Jawa, dan pelaksanaan upacara bendera pun hanya setahun sekali, tepat saat peringatan kemerdekaan RI, pada tanggal 17 Agustus. Menyedihkan, sungguh.

Setelah sekolah, mari kita beranjak ke tempat yang acap kali menjadi ruang publik masyarakat Semarang, apalagi kalau bukan pusat perbelanjaan atau Mall. Semakin menjamurnya pusat perbelanjaan memang secara makro menjadi indikator pesatnya pertumbuhan ekonomi kota, namun juga menjadi sebuah fenomena, semakin terkotak-kotaknya kehidupan kaum berada dan kaum tidak mampu. Coba anda datangi pusat-pusat perbelanjaan terkemuka di kota ini , saya yakin, tidak akan dijumpai masyarakat dari kalangan menengah kebawah. Ini kan ruang publik baru? Aksesibilitasnya kan mudah? Oh jelas, namun pernahkah anda membayangkan bahwasannya mereka di ruang itu hanyalah sebagai saksi, tanpa bisa menikmati, geliat pertumbuhan ekonomi kota besar? Itulah yang terjadi, lama-lama mereka jenuh dan dengan sendirinya akan menghindari datang ke tempat dimana setiap orang merelakan dirinya untuk dimonopoli oleh brand-brand terkemuka, tanpa ada kemampuan sebagai price maker.

Ulasan di harian Kompas menyebutkan, ketiadaan ruang publik yang menjembatani pertemuan antarkelas sosial menyebabkan masyarakat tumbuh dalam dunia yang menyempit. Mereka hanya bersinggungan dengan dunia dari kelas berbeda melalui dunia maya, seperti melalui film atau tayangan televisi, atau paling banter melalui jendela kaca mobil saat menyaksikan anak-anak yang meminta-minta di lampu merah. Tentu saja, nuansa yang tertangkap akan sangat berbeda.

Mereka melihat kemiskinan dan kekumuhan hanya sebagai sesuatu yang patut dihilangkan, tetapi abai terhadap akar masalah kesenjangan, yaitu minimnya celah transformasi ekonomi dan sosial. Semua ini, bisa jadi, bermuara pada tiadanya ruang publik untuk berinteraksi secara manusiawi dengan sesamanya.

Masyarakat kota Semarang telah lama rindu memiliki pilihan ruang publik yang beragam. Masyarakat rindu memiliki taman Makam Dowo yang kini telah berubah menjadi kawasan perumahan elite dibilangan Siranda. Rindu menikmati panorama Semarang dari kawasan Gombel secara cuma-cuma, melalui taman yang ada disekitaran tugu Tabanas yang kini telah berubah menjadi tempat hiburan yang untuk menikmatinya kita harus merogoh kocek terlebih dahulu. Wahai Bapak Walikota, sungguh kami rindu.

Daripada Melawan, Alangkah Baiknya Menyesuaikan

Semarang itu “stuck”! Semarang itu “gak berkembang”! Semarang itu “ngene2 wae”!

Hampir seluruh “cah semarang” dari latar belakang berbeda yang berkumpul dan berdiskusi terkait keberlanjutan dari gerakanSemarang Obah atau yg biasa dikenal melalui tagar di twitter #SMGobah memiliki pandangan yang sama atas kota yang berjuluk kota ATLAS ini. Bermacam komunitas dan profesi mulai dari komunitas musik, komunitas online dan organisasi independen, berkumpul menjadi satu di Buket Koffee Jazz di bilangan Tembalang, Semarang, bersama-sama membulatkan tekad untuk berkontribusi pada kota Se Kota Semarang yang masih menghadapi problematika krisis identitas, menjadikan masyarakatnya apatis, bahkan cenderung tidak bangga menjadi seorang penduduk Semarang.

“Kota Semarang itu sejak pendiriannya telah di set sebagai kota niaga, mana ada orang asli Semarang, semuanya pendatang yang mengadu nasib di kota ini”, ujar Mas Gatot, aktivis penggiat musik Jazz kota Semarang. “Itulah akhirnya yang membuat budaya bahkan kuliner yang ada di kota ini itu merupakan bentuk akulturasi dari berbagai budaya”, sambung pria yang memiliki nama lengkap Gatot Hendraputra ini. Menjadi sebuah kota yang dilatarbelakangi motif niaga menjadikan masyarakat yang ada memiliki sikap segala aktivitas yang mereka lakukan atau mereka dukung haruslah memiliki keuntungan yang kembali kepada pribadi mereka masing-masing. Untungnya buat saya itu apa? Itulah salah satu sikap yang dimiliki oleh masyarakat dari kota niaga, yang umumnya berada di kawasan pesisir. Lain halnya dengan kota-kota di kawasan tengah yang berlatar agraris dengan konsep “mangan ora mangan penting kumpul” nya, mereka secara solidaritas kebudayaan lebih kuat.

Melawan kultur yang telah mengakar itu bukan perkara mudah. Mustahil bisa merubah sesuatu yang telah menjadi cirri khas/ watak. Maka dari itu melalui gerakan #SMGobah, diharapkan kultur yang memang selalu sibuk dengan urusannya masing-masing ini, yang kini implementasinya adalah bermunculannya beragam komunitas, hendaknya didasari oleh keinginan untuk mengangkat potensi yang dimiliki oleh Semarang. Saling mendukung dan meramaikan satu sama yang lain, merupakan suatu wujud nyata yang sederhana untuk membuat kota ini lebih berwarna. Namun, menurut Mas Yudi, salah satu penggiat komunitas online di kota Semarang, untuk melangkah diperlukan sebuah upaya yang simple namun terkadang berat sesuai dengan pernyataan, “diperlukan sebuah kerendahan hati, dan menyingkirkan prasangka-prasangka buruk yang ada”. Selamat melangkah dan bersinergi para pemuda!