RAWA PENING - Silence Morning Over Ketinting (boat)

RAWA PENING

Address: Jl. Raya Ambarawa - Muncul, Banyubiru, Semarang, Indonesia
GPS Coordinate: S7°17'7.45" E110°25'55.76" (view map)

Rawa Pening is a natural lake which is surrounded by Mount Telomoyo, Mount Kendil, Mount Merbabu, and Mount Ungaran. Going around Rawa Pening using ketinting on a quiet morning will be the opening activity of on a special day.

RAWA PENING
Silence Morning Over Ketinting (boat)

Exotic places rich in myth or legend are always interesting to visit. It has also pushed YogYES to visit Rawa Pening, a natural lake covering an area of 2.670 acres located at the lowest basin of Mount Merbabu, Mount Telomoyo, Mount Ungaran, and Mount Kendil. Group of mountains form a beautiful landscape and add the beauty of lake that cannot be separated from myth of Baruklinting, a huge snake which is believed to be a gatekeeper of Rawa Pening. Another version relates to the myth of Baruklinting is a boy who stuck a stick in the ground and challenged wicked villagers to pull it out. But no one has succeeded except Baruklinting. After the sticks were pulled out, from the bottom of the hole came out water constantly until it sank the village, and it turned into a lake known as Rawa Pening.

The morning was still young and cool, even the sun has not risen high when YogYes motor stopped in the parking lot of Bukit Cinta (Love Hill). Ambience was quiet, not a single tourist coming. The statue of a dragon which was open at the entrance that was welcoming emphasized the myth of Baruklinting as the guard of the lake. Apparently the dragon's mouth is the entrance into the room of collections of fish and reptiles that are kept in an aquarium. From the dragon gate, YogYES climbed up the steps to Bukit Cinta, a small hill at the edge of the Swamp Pening filled with pine trees and concrete chairs for chatting place, then went down to the pier. A fisherman has been waiting with his ketintingan (boat) and ready to bring YogYES around Rawa Pening.

Morning adventure on ketinting began. Slowly the boat went along the banks of the lake, parted thick water hyacinth, then, drove into the middle of the swamp. The boat engine sound that blended with water ripples apparently surprised the small kuntul birds that were seeking for food, then, the bird suddenly flew up and perched on the groves of water hyacinth. Dragonflies and butterflies were also seen floating on the water and around the the boat. In the middle of the lake, it seemed few fishermen were waiting keramba ampung, fishing, or picking the water hyacinth to be used for various handicrafts. The existence of Rawa Pening is a benefit for the citizens, because it is to support the tourism sector, the economy, agriculture, fisheries, and energy management.

Ketintingan that always moved every time YogYES moved from side to side for sitting kept going. The sun moved higher, its light that refracted on the lake creating a magnificent golden tinge. While the warm rays started touching on face, it drove out the fog that still stayed on the treetops and peaks of mountains that shield this giant water tank. Spending the morning on the a quiet lake with a background of firm mountains, watching the pulsing beat of life from every corner of the lake, and watching fishermen who kept going with container contains nets, all the series of opening a perfect day.

Ticket Prices:

• Weekdays: IDR 3,000
• Holidays: IDR 3,500
• Boat fare: IDR 30, 000 / 30 minutes maximum 8 people