Exploring underwater wonders … Traveling into the dark depths of the jungle … Climbing to the top of a mountain …
What a way to escape the city. If only I had someone to go with.Never fear – if you love nature, you never have to be alone.
Nature Trekker Indonesia (NaTrekk) is a nature lovers’ group that was established by 10 close friends in July 2004 and now has 3,000 members who get together to go, well, nature trekking.
But this is not a group of hard-core environmentalists pooh-poohing anything less than a crack at conquering Everest.
The nature explorations that are arranged by NaTrekk are not onerous and can be undertaken by beginners and city people who have little experience of getting back to nature.
“The majority of NaTrekk’s members aren’t senior adventurers, but young executives who are at odds about the best way to spend their spare time at the weekend,” says Yeyen Nursjid, 32, one of the seven moderators managing NaTrekk’s mailing list.
During the week, Yeyen is the marketing manager for Kelola Jasa Artha Company.
“After spending my week busy with my job, at the weekend I need something different to recharge the energy that’s been drained out of me,” Yeyen said. “I enjoy the natural views and this helps me get rid of the stress.”
Since joining NaTrekk in August 2004, Yeyen has visited Ujung Kulon, Bunaken and Toraja, as well as less well-known locations, such as Sikuai Island in West Sumatra and Sempu Island in Central Java.
“It’s not just Bali,” Yeyen says. “There are many astonishing places in Indonesia that a lot of tourists don’t get to. NaTrekk’s trips focus on Indonesia, because one of NaTrekk’s missions is to promote national tourism.”
As the name suggests, a common activity for NaTrekk members is trekking. Several trips are planned every week – organized by the members – and the details are distributed through a mailing list.
So in one day, you might get five invitations circulating through the mailing list. One might propose a hike to Mount Gede, while others might want to see the turtles laying their eggs in Ujung Genteng, or go rafting on Citarik River, or explore Makassar, or go diving and snorkeling at Raja Ampat Island in Papuam, or (insert suggestion here).
Often the programs are proposed by members who already know each other, or by chance have an interest in going to the same place. “In such cases NaTrekk’s only role is to facilitate communication among the members,” Yeyen says.
NaTrekk also holds programs, called “NaTrekk Adventure Fun”, usually a mix of trekking, hiking and camping, every April and July.
“During the planning for trips we also provide information to members about useful things to know when they go traveling,” Yeyen says. “For example how to manage your luggage, choosing a backpack and arranging the trip. Sometimes we invite other environmental groups to take part in our activities.”
A few NaTrekk members invite their families on trips. Yeyen is one of these. “My father is in his 60s. When he was young he also explored the environment like I do. That’s why he enjoys taking part in NaTrekk activities.”
There are also plenty of social activities. “Because this is a nature lovers’ group, our social activities also are linked to the environment,” Yeyen says. “We usually hold these outside the cities.”
And not just social activities but charitable ones as well. When the landslide hit Mount Pancar, for example, the team from NaTrekk went straight to the site to help out. They did the same when the earthquake struck Yogyakarta and when the tsunami pounded Pangandaran Beach.
In appreciation of the work undertaken by its members, NaTrekk held a photo exhibition titled “Archipelago Wanderer” in 2007 at Omah Sendok café in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
“Many of NaTrekk’s members, who apart from their fondness for traveling, also have an interest in photography. With NaTrekk these two activities can be enjoyed together,” Yeyen says.
“If you go hunting for photos alone, it is expensive because the member has to rent a vehicle, find a homestay and do everything alone. But if it’s done as a collective the cost can be far lower.”
To take part in NaTrekk’s programs doesn’t call for an outlay of serious money. For as little as Rp 300,000 (US$28), you can go on a satisfying trek or hike.
“NaTrekk isn’t a profit-making organization,” Yeyen says. “None of the moderators who coordinate the journeys get paid or anything. Everything is done based on a system of sharing tasks.”
According to Yeyen, the effort put into managing the ever-growing membership is repaid through the beautiful natural scenery and meeting like-minded people.
“Nature has taught me to be more patient and not to be arrogant,” Yeyen says. “Before, I used to easily get angry and impatient. But after I started to explore nature, I have little by little let go of these traits.”
And also a better relationship with other people.
“It’s different if we go alone,” she adds. “When we go together in a group we can’t have an egoistic attitude. Everything has to be done together.”
Doing everything together is one of the special characteristics of nature lover groups everywhere, including NaTrekk: Members share the same interests and experiences, which helps develop close emotional relationships.
“Being so close means that many NaTrekk members feel their trekking colleagues are like their relatives,” Yeyen says. “Some even meet their soul mates here.”
source : http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/21/escape-heart-nature.html (26 Januari 2006)
