New Smiles from Ciletuh Geopark

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Figo (22) paragliding pilot swaying in the Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark area, Ciemas Village, Sukabumi Regency, Thursday (4/8/2022).

The presence of the Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark in Sukabumi, West Java, opens a new chapter of life. Some residents in the surrounding area are now more empowered. After a gloomy start, the future is now slowly getting brighter.

The sky, the curve of the coastline and the blue sea seem to show off the beauty of Ciletuh Bay. Rice fields, mountains, forests, rivers and even waterfalls are the prima donna.

In fact, for Muhamad Risky Figo, 22, a paragliding pilot who has flown 300 times in Ciletuh, the area is never boring. “I have flown in 20 spots in Indonesia. The view of Ciletuh is the best," said this certified pilot.

On Thursday morning, Aug. 4, he was back in the air at Bukit Paragliding Ciletuh, 360 meters above sea level in Ciemas Village in Ciletuh. Seven minutes is enough to greet the exoticism of the region.

The experience of flying in Ciletuh is now not only for licensed pilots. Since 2018, by paying Rp 500,000, tourists can fly with commercial tandem pilots. “The two best periods are between April and June, and between September and November. We have flown 700 tourists aged 7 to 65 years old in tandem," said head of the Indonesian Hanging and Paragliding Association, Sukabumi Regency, Lukman.

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This enthusiasm makes the Ciletuh tourism even more exciting. The wheels of the economy are turning.

The peak of West Java's 77th anniversary was the "Cycling de West Java" event on Aug. 27 and 28. The West Java Provincial Government, Kompas Daily and BJB Bank explored the Geopark Ciletuh, Sukabumi by bicycle and went to Pangandaran.

The Governor of West Java, Ridwan Kamil, said that the Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark is a gift to the world from West Java. Its beauty and potential are of international standards through the status of the UNESCO Global Geopark.

"We will continue to provide support for promotions and improvements in infrastructure. The hope is that the people will prosper and the Ciletuh Geopark will be known on the world stage," he said.

Self-confident

Not far from the paragliding location, Deris Angga, 29, is happy to talk about the 50-meter-high Curug Cimarinjung waterfall in Ciwaru.

In Sundanese, ci means water, while marinjung or munjung means worship. Cimarinjung is a waterfall that is worshiped. The water irrigates hundreds of hectares of surrounding rice fields and gives livelihood to residents like Deris.

Before 2015, Deris' life was uncertain. He was unemployed and became a coolie in Jakarta. Located over 200 kilometers from Jakarta, it takes 6 to 7 hours to get to the village. Damaged roads slow down the journey.

Along with the development of Ciletuh Geopark tourism, there are job options. Deris then went home. Together with other youths, he learned to be a tour guide.

At that time, only Puncak Darma, about 230 meters above sea level, was known to visitors in Ciemas. Curug Cimarinjung was still unknown. Lodging was very rare.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

A tourist takes a photo with a 60-meter-high Cimarinjung waterfall in the Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark area in Ciwaru Village, Ciemas District, Sukabumi Regency, West Java, Thursday (4/8/2022).

After achieving the UNESCO Global Geopark status in 2018, the area is increasingly developing. The government repaired road access, including the road to the waterfall. Paved roads are now available there. Warungs to lodging or homestays began to grow to approximately 2,000 units.

Deris benefits from the Ciletuh development. As a guide, he can earn between Rp 200,000 and Rp 300,000 per day, or twice the wage of average workers in Jakarta. With this capital, he is more confident in managing his life.

“In the past, my wife and I didn't want to have children because we were worried about the high costs. Now, I can build my own house, which costs around Rp 100 million,” said the father of two.

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Local residents enjoy a better life with the arrival of tourists. From January to July this year, as many as 30,224 people were recorded to have visited Curug Cimarinjung, including 41 foreign nationals.

A number of commodities are sold by residents. Prices have increased. Young coconut, for example, which a decade ago sold for Rp 1,000 per fruit, now reaches Rp 10,000 per fruit. The price of a snapper rose from Rp 20,000 per kilogram to Rp 80,000 per kg after being grilled. "In the past, we were forced to migrate to the city, now city people are coming here," Deris said.

Hanjeli Village

In Waluran Mandiri Village, Waluran District, the residents are now empowered. They live with hanjeli (Coix lacryma–jobi) plants, which have a low glycemic content. This plant used to be neglected, but now it is a path to prosperity.

Waluran Mandiri is located east of the Ciletuh Geopark, about 40 km south of Palabuhanratu, where residents manage hanjeli in an area of 7 hectares.

The story began in 2015 when Asep Hidayat Mustopa, 34, saw the great potential of hanjeli. He invited the residents to plant them. It was difficult at first, but slowly they became interested. This interest prompted the formation of the Hanjeli Tourism Village two years later.

“I read a lot of information to discuss with experts. All for the sake of educational materials in tourist villages," he said.

Now, it has been five years since Hanjeli Village has been established. Many awards from home and abroad have been received. Tourists and foreign researchers come to learn about the superiority of hanjeli.

I read a lot of information to discuss with experts. All for the sake of educational materials in tourist villages.

Residents are slowly reaping prosperity. At least 30 residents have been involved, who now realize that their life is very valuable. Sumiyati, 50, sees improvement in his life. He had worked different jobs, from being a migrant worker to working as a stone crusher in a gold mine. Now, hanjeli makes him happy.

“I am running a homestay business. In the house there are two rooms for 4 to 5 people. My house has been rented by many guests who stay and study here. Hanjeli saved our lives. The risk is not as big as being a migrant worker. The income is greater than being a stone crusher," he said.

Some residents at the Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark in the south of West Java are now smiling happily. The earth’s legacy from millions of years ago is the future provision for a better life.

This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo.