Gua Langse

Gua Langse is situated further east of the Queen of the South Hotel on the cliff facing the Java coast at Parangtritis Beach.  We went there in the morning, bright and early.  After about more than 30 minutes of very rough road passed the sign saying Gua Langse, we finally made it to the huts where the keeper will take your entry money and a young man was going to be our guide down the cliff to the cave.  We passed thru more local timber's plantation where we could see monkeys and then right up to the cliff.  We started our descend and our driver was too old for the trip and he waited up there for our safe return.  So the 3 of us, the young guide, me and my friend Jack climbed down.  There were bamboo or wooden ladders on the vertical cliff and then other places were steps formed from the hollow of tree roots.  It was indeed very dangerous.  One false move, you will be down there faster than you want.  Our legs were shaking half way down as it was very exhausting and physically tough to get down.  But we finally made it to the bottom of the cliff.  It has been a 160m descend.  We took some pictures on the sea rock and then walked up to the pavilion to view Parangtritis beach from far.  Then we entered the Gua.  The cave is dark but wide with limestone formations and then the inner part has very low ceiling.  People come to meditate here for 3 days.  The air was still and not cool.  I felt a bit scared trapped in that space.  Outside I mediated facing the ocean, and performed the ritual to Nyai Ratu Roro Kidul (Queen of the South Sea).  I have brought her a perfume and tied up with a breast cloth of green (her favourite colour) and my name card.
The way up was relatively easy, and we were treated to fresh coconut water to regain energy.  It had been a very mystical trip.