Jepara, Indonesia is on the same island as Jakarta but is somehow unknown by everyone outside the wooden furniture and logging world. Though Jepara’s woodwork is exquisite, I highly recommend its vast natural landscape and pastoral settings. A 40 minutes car/Grab/GoJEK ride (preferably by bike rather than car) can take you to Niagara Gorge Manten aka Air Terjun Jurang Manten. The hike to the waterfall involves intermediate difficulty. If it has recently rained, you may want to wait until the paths won’t be slippery and muddy. Many people go barefoot but I’d recommend rubber shoes if you want to get close to the waterfall.
13 Likes
Indonesia’s largest and most spectacular waterfall is Sipiso-piso on the island of Sumatra/Sumatera. I’m now in Jepara, Indonesia on the island of Java/Jawa. Jepara is a small city (by Indonesian standards) known for its woodwork, especially furniture, and has several waterfalls. I visited one of the waterfalls today, Air Terjun Songgo Langit. No hiking or walking is required. A motorcycle or car can take you directly to the waterfall.
3 Likes
Hi @MatthewRafat ,
Thanks for sharing this great hidden place. By discovering such places one can really feel that Heaven is a place on Earth. All the beauty is just around us, we just have to discover it.
While visiting Jepara, do you know if it is possible to go and swim by the waterfall?
This is the first time I hear about this place, it would be more than great if you could share some more details about the place and some tips that you discovered while being there.
Thanks for sharing, @MatthewRafat . It’s so wonderful that a such beautiful place has been kept so natural despite the easy hike. It’s not always easy.
Hi @TsekoV ,
You asked, “While visiting Jepara, do you know if it is possible to go and swim by the waterfall?”
Answer: yes. I didn’t include all my photos, but there were several people who were underneath the water flow. A few limber people even climbed on the “second level” of the waterfall, which made for a very “Instagrammable” shot.
The water is about knee to thigh deep for someone 6 feet tall.
2 Likes
Hi @IrrPavlova ,
The waterfall can be seen without a hike. A car or bike can drop you about 100 feet away from it. It’s a little sad because no viable walking path exists, and walking there would be dangerous because the infrastructure choice favored vehicles over hikers. At the same time, the path to the waterfall is very uneven (lots of ups and downs), so perhaps walking there would not have been fun or accessible for many people.
2 Likes
Hello @MatthewRafat,
So happy to hear you are in Sumatra, my hometown is actually in Medan, North Sumatra. Local tips! try to say “Horas” its a traditional greeting from Batak people, you will see people smiling wider when you say this word.
Talking about waterfall, I got a chance to visit one few months ago in Gianyar Bali. Did you manage to visit this place when you were in Bali?
I hope after this waterfall you got a chance to visit the gem of Sumatra Lake Toba.
Since this post have a similar content as your post about Jepara, Indonesia: a Hidden Gem I am merging it.
1 Like
Thank you for explaining @MatthewRafat . I can see the joy and happiness you had while visiting this place. Hopefully one day I visit it too.
@AngieYC , I’ve never been to Bali, and I don’t think I’ll ever go. Many other places in Indonesia offer far more variety and authenticity than Bali, such as Jepara (Java), Surabaya (near Madakaripura waterfall and Mt. Bromo on Java), and, as you point out, Medan (near Sipiso-piso and Lake Toba on Sumatra).
2 Likes
Hello @MatthewRafat ,
Are you currently still in Indonesia? I’m glad to see you having a good time and will be looking forward to hear more interesting adventure from you.
@AngieYC , to answer your question, yes, I am currently in Surabaya (Ngagel) but will go to Singapore in a few days.
1 Like
Hello @MatthewRafat ,
Great, have you tried bebek kaleyo in Surabaya?
I think you will love Singapore, by the way here are some restaurant recommendation from me that I shared on Connect 3 must-try restaurants in Singapore I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.
@AngieYC , that restaurant has an interesting story: https://www.moneysmart.id/jadi-salah-satu-resto-bebek-teramai-begini-kisah-sukses-bebek-kaleyo/
I liked the duck in Medan the best, but I got lucky and found an incredible restaurant there: Bebek Ubud, near ibis Pattimura.
1 Like
Hello @MatthewRafat ,
Yes, in Medan they have a lot of great dishes but if you didn’t try the duck in Surabaya you haven’t really visit the city yet, at least this is what the local said.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!