STORY FROM MEMBER OF NATURE (MoNa) - SURPRISE TRIP TO MOUNT PRAU
The journey started from Basecamp Dwarawati, in Krajan, Dieng Kulon, Banjarnegara, Central Java at around 4:15pm, as the sun faded in the western horizon. The participants went through the local plantation at a light pace, traversing a relatively gentle, rocky road. The fresh pogamoggan air was welcoming, energizing every step.
Entering the forest gate, the hiking trail began to show its challenges. After Post 1, the participants were increasingly immersed in the silence of the wilderness. The path to Post 2 became increasingly challenging, with slopes reaching up to 60 degrees. Every step felt heavy, but the surrounding scenery filled with towering pine trees, with roots spreading across the ground, seemed to inject new energy. These roots, known as "Roots of Love", not only support the giant trees but also symbolize the power of love in every journey. With love, even a heavy journey feels lighter.
Ahead of Post 3, the sun began to set, casting an orange tinge in the sky. Participants immediately set up their headlamps for light, while a cold fog enveloped the hiking trail. The path to the summit is relatively gentle as it crosses the edge of the hills, but approaching the summit of Prau, the path returns uphill with increasingly challenging rocky tracks. Despite the steepness, the participants kept going with vigor, knowing that the summit was getting closer.
After more than two hours of climbing, the participants finally arrived at the top. "It turns out that no matter how high, no matter how difficult, if we start slowly, we will achieve it too," said Mona's friend, Mita, with a smile full of satisfaction. From the summit, the journey continued to Sunrise Camp. Although the distance is about 1.5 km from the summit, the fatigue soon disappeared when they were greeted by the view of the night sky filled with stars.
After dinner, the warmth continued with a chat session. Each participant shared their stories and reasons why they chose to join this journey. MoNa's friend Lilian Lie was touched to see how everyone at Mona Kelana shared the same passion and love for nature. This made them feel connected and supportive of each other. The night ended with a hopeful look at the sky, waiting for the shooting stars to pass by.
As dawn approached, the chilly air was slowly warmed by the anticipated rays of the morning sun. After enjoying the beauty of the sunrise, the program continued with a meditation session. Participants sat on grass and dirt, feeling the warmth of the earth in a grounding session. With warm tea in hand, they closed their eyes, listening to the affirmations read by the facilitator, letting the positive energy seep into them. The sound of a meditation gong accompanies them, bringing a deeper sense of stillness, and helping participants reach a more conscious frequency. "We must always be positive, don't keep everything bottled up. We have to tell stories and share them with nature. Besides taking care of ourselves, we also have to take care of nature," said Mona's friend Rafif, closing the meditation session with a deep message.
The trek back down to Basecamp was done in the spirit of preserving nature while picking up trash encountered along the trail. Mona's friend Hennessy said, "I think we need more activities like this because it's always good to be back in nature. Sometimes there are open trips, but with this MoNa with WWF, we know the vision and mission, so it's good."