Mount Kembang hiking experience
Two days ago, to be specific on 29 december 2025, i hiked Mount Kembang with my friend. The two of us started hiking at 15.45. It was drizzling; we were considering whether we would hiked that day or waiting till tomorrow where the weather is more comfortable for us newbs. However, we decided to try to hike that day anyway, to feel the situation and if we felt that it were too hard for us, we could just went back to basecamp.
At first, we expected that it would not be too hard. We came prepare knowing that this mountain is lower in altitude and thus easier than Mount Prau, mountain that we have already experienced firsthand several months ago. But that couldn’t be further from the truth because of several reasons. First, due to rain the track was very slippery in some areas. We felt this especially in the track near the summit, where there was a significant risk of us would fall of a cliff if we were not careful. Second, We went knowing that it would take at least 5 hours for us to reach the summit, so we had to walked a significant portion of our track in darkness with headlamp as our only light source, something we never experienced before. Third, I myself did stupid mistake by bringing both carrier as well as a sling bag. The carrier was fine, but the sling bag, due to rain, felt heavier and since it is not meant for hiking, it hurt one of my shoulder; so much so that it caused me to feel dizzy at some point. I lost too much energy due to that stupid mistake.
Well, despite all of those difficulties, i really enjoyed hiking on that mountain. The one particular thing that stand out for me is the incredible view of dense mountainous forest. Trees everywhere, and it came in different kinds. i’m fairly sure that it has high floral density; the trees not only are diverse, but in between and on the trees, there are different kind of plants/epiphytes. I noticed plants resembling orchid too, and not in just one occurance, but many many times.
As for the animals, i only saw a kind of monkey, perhaps Leaf Monkey, as well as really beautiful very dark blue-purpleish colored Starling bird. Obviously, i did not know the specific species of each of those. but i never encountered them (leaf monkey and that dark-blue starling bird) in each of my hiking experience. Perhaps their existence is a proof that this area is still “natural” — not yet been disturbed too much by human.
Well, actually i saw other kind of animals as well, albeit more disgusting and i don’t want to remember it too much, and that is leeches. Many many many black finger-big long leeches. One of them managed to stick to my friend’s hand and he only noticed it after we reach the summit; due to that experience, he got somewhat traumatized (who can blame him lol). But, it was actually expected because they usually appear from the ground after rain because they move more easily in the wet condition and thus increase the chance for them to catch a host to be sucked on (poor my friend).
Overall it was a nice learning experience.
On Mount Kembang’s Weird Altitude
After everything was finished and i recovered from fatigue, i went researching some information about the mountain. It is really peculiar mountain because some old sources said that the peak altitiude of the mountain is 1600 meter above mean sea level (MSL). That is very different from what i got from GPS reading which show 2300 meter MSL and some newer sources on hiking websites. Due to this, some speculate that Mount Kembang actually rises in altitude due to the activity of Mount Sindoro which is located beside it. But, i cannot believe it. I mean, if it were truly that the Mount Kembang rising in altitude, could it possibly rose at such insanely high pace? And the other point that relate to this is the lack of information about this mountain. There are very very few scientific article that mentioned this mountain, let alone give an updated accurate description. Due to this point, it may be the case that the previous claim was false, and the appearance of rising in altitude was simply due to the lack of exploration and accurate measurement of this area.
Concluding Remark
Anyway, to conclude everything, all of the experience reminded me of that Robert Pirsig’s passage in his book titled Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, where he said the enjoyment of hiking came mostly not in reaching the summit, but rather the journey on the slope itself because though the peak is what defined the slope, it is ultimately the slope itself that contain most beauties.
“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you’re no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn’t just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s where things grow. But of course, without the top you can’t have any sides. It’s the top that defines the sides. So on we go—we have a long way—no hurry—just one step after the next—with a little Chautauqua for entertainment – .Mental reflection is so much more interesting than TV it’s a shame more people don’t switch over to it. They probably think what they hear is unimportant but it never is.” – Robert Pirsig on Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
It is actually a metaphor about life; purpose and destination matter because they define the kind of path we take, but they are not where life is lived. Growth happens in the journey itself—in the effort, the attention, the friction along the way. That is why hiking resonates so strongly with me: it reminds me not to focus only on the for of life, but to give proper attention to the while, because that is where life proceeds moment by moment. And that i think conclude my reflection on this hiking experience yesterday.
