Exploring Cianjur, West Java: Ancient Mysteries, Waterfalls & Adventure

There are places that challenge everything we think we know about history. Hidden amongst the hills of West Java stands Gunung Padang, a site that some believe could be older than the world's earliest known civilizations. So I set course for Tianjur to meet the archaeologist Ali Akbar, who has dedicated nearly three decades to studying this mysterious place. But I didn't just go to Tianjur for the history, but also for the adrenaline rush, as they have an experience there that will force you out of your comfort zone. And in the end, we will visit the local legend Abajajang, a man whose simple house by the waterfall became an internet sensation. This is Tianjur. It is almost nine o'clock and I am on my way to an area called Tianjur in West Java. I've never been there before, so I'm super excited to go. So right now I'm actually on my way to Puncak. It's on the way to Tianjur and I have not been at Puncak for almost six years now. And it was the very first trip I had on my very first motorcycle when I started traveling here in Indonesia on my Yamaha MT25 at the time. So I wanted to make a quick stop there and see how it looks there now. My team has already arrived. They went by car and the highway. In case you don't know, you cannot go on the highway in Indonesia on a motorcycle. So I'm taking the long way. But right now, as you can tell, the very scenic way. So yeah, it's going to be a great adventure. I'm happy to be back on the road. And yeah, let's go to Tianjur. Yes, let's go, Garuda. And after the highway, I met up with the team to refill before we continue. I know some of you have asked why I still use Bartamax, especially with the fuel prices becoming more expensive over the years. But for me, the answer is pretty simple. Garuda isn't just a motorcycle. It's my partner for exploring Indonesia. We've ridden through mountains, villages, rough roads, and thousands of kilometers across the country. So when it comes to refueling, I prefer to prioritize what I believe is best for Garuda. That's why I continue to use Bartamax for long journeys like this. And as we continued, I unfortunately witnessed something I luckily don't see every day. Oh, look at this. There it is. Oh, this is terrible. So a local here is using a monkey in color and human clothes to entertain the school kids here. Oh, look at this. I'm gonna have to smile, but this is just terrible. From someone who has seen a lot of monkeys out in the wild, that is terrible. Unfortunately, this is still something that's done quite a lot in various villages around Indonesia. If you see something like this and you want to report it, you can contact Jakarta Animal Network. I'll leave a link in the description. So what I have done is I've actually pinpointed the exact point where I stopped the first time I went to Puncak. And I'm almost there now. And one thing I can tell you that I've changed here in Puncak since six years ago is the road is so much better now. It's brand new. And you don't have like a thousand of these small food stalls wandering along the side of the road, which was blocking the traffic so much last time I was here. So yeah, it's definitely a lot more smooth to drive to Puncak now than it was when I was here the last time. That's nice. We had made it to Puncak Pass. It's located right on the border between the Bogor and the Cianjur region seas. For decades, it's been one of West Java's most popular mountain escapes. Every weekend, thousands make the journey from Jakarta for the cool and fresh mountain air. Okay, guys, back at Puncak. And this is the exact location I was six years ago. I remember I was standing right over here and I wanted to take a photo. I asked some guys if they could take a photo for me and they really wanted to join. So we took it together. So now I just took a new photo, but this time with my team. Yeah, it's crazy how time flies, you know? Yeah, last time it was with a Yamaha 250cc that I bought on OLX. Now it's together with the 1100cc Africa Twin that Fifth Group have supported me with. And yeah, so much has happened in six years. The view is more or less the same. It's a weekday, so it's not too rame. That's nice. It's cool to be back. It's what we here in Indonesia call a good nongkrong spot. A good place to hang out. Local photographers will take your photo. Couples and families come here to enjoy the view. And since last time, I now had a crew to hang out and enjoy the view with too. We then continued into Cianjur. And as it was lunchtime, my team recommended that we stop by a restaurant called Alam Sunda. And there my bodyguard, Egar, helped introduce me to the local Sundanese cuisine. So, first time eating at a proper Sundanese restaurant. And it's a cool concept, actually. You walk in and there's a ton of different options. They have kambing, they have chicken, they have shrimp, they have fish, of course. Then you can choose all the sides. You have the perkedel, which is like a mashed potato put together. You have, of course, rice, sambal, sayuran, tempeh, tofu, everything. And now, Egar, what do we have here? Mas Chris, there's fried tofu, fried tempeh, then there's tanggiri fish, there's cah kangkung over there, great. There's fried fish and its friends, and terong balado. And the last one is satay. This is the coconut, Sundanese people always have coconut to eat with makkah. Oh yeah? Yeah, so it's like that. And I'm starving, so let's test it out. And come on, guys, let's eat together. Here they have a small station where you can actually make your own sambal, which my team insisted I tried. You can mix tomatoes, chilies, onions, sugar, salt, and shrimp paste, but somehow my sambal looked a bit different than I had imagined. This is the worst looking sambal I have ever seen. Okay, let's try my homemade sambal. So if it's your first time, I'd highly recommend you ask the kitchen to make the sambal for you. The food there was an easy 10 out of 10, and we all ate way too much. With the total bill for this massive feast coming down to 100,000 rupiah, around five and a half US dollars per person. Oh, we got some good mountain roads here on the way to the homestay. And these views, oh my god. Tea plantation everywhere. Wow, so nice. Java is indeed beautiful. Okay, guys, it is five o'clock, and we have made it to our destination here in Cianjur. We are very close to Gunung Padang that we will be exploring tomorrow. So now we just need to find the right homestay, and we need to get some food, get some rest, get a shower, because I smell like gerbau. And yeah, Situs Syagar Gunung Padang seems to be in the right spot. It's been a good day. We have made it. Okay, we have arrived, and Garuda is wearing a shirt now, so Garuda doesn't get cold at night. Locked, of course, and yeah, let's go and find the homestay. I need a shower. We then met with Ibu Lia, the owner of Lia's homestay, where we would be spending the next few nights. We had booked all of the rooms she had underneath her house for 700,000 rupiah, around 40 US dollars. We have our own little house in here. Master bedroom, let me show you. Yes, please step inside. Very nice. Yeah, fabric, cashmere, Egyptian cashmere, and window here, so we can open up and see the forest in the morning. Oh, I see a lot of nyamuk. And, of course, my little pony blanket, so I will sleep like a little pony. Okay, oh, I'm so tired. Bonus. What? European toilet. Someone from the team cannot poop unless it's European toilet. I'm not gonna be mentioning any names. I'm not a pig. No, no. It's around 17 degrees here in the mountains, and with no hot water, it's cold showers. But after a long day of traveling, it was quite refreshing. And it was then time to get some rest, because the following morning, we would be visiting one of the most mystical sites on Java Island. Selamat pagi, guys. It is 6.15, and wow, slept fantastic in this cold mountain air. The sun is now slowly coming up, and it's gonna be a beautiful day. So, we have gotten up early, because we're gonna go to the top of Gunung Padang. It's not gonna be a massive hiking expedition like some of my last videos. It's only 370 steps, but what awaits us at the top is fascinating. I've been told I have to go here, because this mountain is probably one of Indonesia's biggest archaeological mysteries. So, I'm so excited to go up and see what's up there. So, ayo, let's go. Every year, thousands of people make the journey here to see one of Indonesia's greatest mysteries. We had already seen countless photos online, but as we climbed the final steps to the top, it quickly became clear that no photo could ever have prepared us for this. Even looking in the screen here in my action camera, it looks incredible. Walking through the site, one thing quickly became clear. These weren't just a few scattered rocks on top of a hill. It was suddenly easy to understand why this place has sparked so much curiosity and debate. And to make sense of it all, I had invited a special guest to join us. The foremost expert on Gunung Padang, Pak Ali, who has studied this place since his first semester in university in 1998. And one thing that I couldn't wait to ask him was, what is this place? Usually, in Indonesia, we call it Punden Berundak. Punden means sacred place. Berundak means terrace, terrace structure. In archaeology, we call it pyramid. When I first came, we only think that the site is only at the top of the mountain. But now we know that this is 30,000 square meters. So it is bigger than Borobudur. Most archaeologists believe it dates back to 45 BC. But because Pak Ali has taken samples even deeper, he has a different theory. We made several excavations in this site. In this surface, we made more than 50 excavation boxes. And we put the sample to the laboratory. It is from 2,500 years ago. Actually making it older than the pyramids in Giza then? Yes, but this is the top of the site. When we make an excavation deeper and deeper, 2 meters, 4 meters, 8 meters, until 12 meters, we found the oldest one. 14,000 years ago. So this site is before the Ice Age. So everybody is surprised. Of course, I am surprised also. The oldest known monumental structures were long believed to be around 11,000 years old. But some researchers believe Konung Padang could be much older. What makes them think that? This is what we call a columnar joint. In geology, it is a natural stone. Usually, it is very long. But in this site, it is only 1.5 meters. So they must be cut and then they bring it to here. We already made a research, around 300 kilos. And then we made an experiment. We need six people to bring one stone. So this is potentially the oldest man-made site in the world? Yes. That sounds so crazy when you say it. Well, I hope you are right, Pali, because then I can brag to all of my friends about it. Thank you very much. Best of luck with your continued research. Yeah, thank you very much. Pali's dedication is inspiring. It has been nearly three decades of his life that he is devoted to understanding Konung Padang. Whether it confirms what we know or challenges what we think we know about history, places like this remind us that there is still so much left to discover. Though one mystery remained. Why didn't he get my dad jokes? I don't know if it's true, but I've heard that most of the archaeologists in the world, they are women. Yeah. Yeah, supposedly it's because they have like such a good talent for digging up things from the past. That night, we were fortunate enough to witness something few visitors will ever get to see. A few times a year, a traditional ceremony is held on top of the mountain. And the locals welcomed us to film it. This is how they honor their ancestors. Burning incense serves as a medium of connection and flowers are offered as a sign of gratitude. The torches symbolize light and guidance for those in darkness. Together, they pray and share the message of the ancestors like their fathers did before them. A reminder the traditions and ideas may grow old with time, but their wisdom should continue to be preserved and passed on to future generations. That morning, we got up early, packed our bags and said goodbye to Mount Palem. Because one of the highlights of our entire Tianjur journey still awaited us. This day would challenge us, test our courage and eventually lead us to a place we had all been dreaming of visiting. And what better way to start it than with a rush of adrenaline? This must be the place. Where is it? It's over there. Oh, okay. Maybe because it's heavy. It's always like this with experiences on my trip. We plan for it. I'm thinking, yeah, sure, it'll be fine or good. I've never tried that before. No problem. Then I get here and I realize, okay, now I actually have to do the thing. Selamat pagi. Pagi, pagi, pagi. Sorry, I can't speak Sundanese. Okay, but I think we have to do a small briefing first. Canyoneering is an outdoor sport that involves exploring canyons and waterfalls by navigating a combination of hiking, climbing, swimming and rappelling. I had never tried rappelling before. So the guys first walked me through all the do's and don'ts. And you don't need to bring any equipment as they provide everything for you. But even with all the gear, I was still nervous. Can rappelling down a 35 meter waterfall be dangerous? Absolutely. Statistically, riding my motorcycle is far more dangerous. Still, as the waterfall roared beneath me, that wasn't exactly what I was thinking about. And Ibu Henne, if something bad happens, then I'm sorry in advance. The safety guides hook you in and you're then told to lean back, which feels absurd. But luckily, someone stands at the bottom, ready to catch me if I fall. I of course asked my team if they wanted to try as well. And my two awesome videographers, Faris and Lutfi, did not hesitate for a second. Just another incredible day in wonderful Indonesia. All right, guys, that's it here from Curug Cikondang. First time trying canyoneering and it was so much fun. I've got to be honest and say it was a little bit scary, especially the first time when you're strapped in and you're ready to go down. You look down and you're standing at the edge of a waterfall. It's like everything in my mind is just telling me, don't do it, don't do it. But yeah, Aman, they do this. They've done this for many years. There are so many people that are coming through here on the weekends. I would recommend if you want to try it, come on a weekday where it's less busy. But is it worth it? Definitely. So much fun. So don't forget to try canyoneering here at Curug Cikondang. Yes. And now, makan siang time. We'll get some food and then it's back on the road because we still have one more stop for today. So, gas, let's go. All right, guys, it is 1.30 and we are now heading to our homestay for the night, a place called Aba Jajang's house. Apparently, this guy has made a homestay a couple of years ago that got incredibly famous because it is in a very beautiful location right next to a waterfall. So now he's become like a local legend. So yeah, we're going to go and visit Aba Jajang and see what this famous homestay is about. We got around three hours on the road. Sun has come out. I've told my team to go ahead, drive in front, so I can just, yeah, drive at my own pace. So let's go to Aba Jajang. We only had around 100 kilometers, around two and a half hours of riding to go. The ride going there was just amazing with some breathtaking views over beautiful West Java. I even met some of my subscribers along the way. Wow, look at that waterfall. Holy smokes. I think we have arrived at our destination. Jeez Louise. Wow. I think that might be the tallest waterfall I've ever seen. And there is a team. Oh my God. We have made it to Ruma Aba Jajang. Or not fully, but almost. Wow, okay. We are going to see that waterfall tomorrow. That's for sure. Can the car get through? Yes. Egar, he is the best driver. Can Garuda? Bizarro. Okay. Safe to say this is what I would call off the beaten path. Can you Nike here? Are we sure this is the way? Okay. Let's see if I can get up there. Hello. Okay. Almost arrived at Ruma Aba Jajang. Is this the place? Wow, it looks very different from the photos. Where is the green? The waterfall. It looks crazy. Garuda, can we fit here? Check this out. This view is crazy. I don't know how well you can see it in the camera here. But we'll make some better clips. The team has arrived. Visitors from near and far come to visit Aba Jajang. Some they stay the night, while others simply stop by to rest. A group of fellow riders were leaving just as we had arrived. And shortly after, we had the place all to ourselves. It was so peaceful, surrounded by greenery. We all seemed to slow down and breathe a little deeper. And we were eager to explore the waterfall and meet the local legend himself. But... Good morning, guys. My watch is saying good morning. It's six minutes past six. It's very early here at Ruma Aba Jajang. And we are all up to capture the sunrise. I woke up and it's cold and it's dark. You can hear the water from the waterfall. Amazing. I then sat down for a morning chat with the former traveling businessman. Who now enjoys the calm life of a host. And roughly three packs of cigarettes per day. Why did you become a viral on TV, YouTube, TikTok, and so on? So now you have guests coming here every day? A lot. And if you're always busy with guests, don't you get bored with them? So you really like to talk, to be with them, and so on? Oh, they bring cigarettes? Yeah. So if you come here and you want to make Aba Jajang happy, just bring him some cigarettes. It'll make his day. So you built this house yourself? So you used to live there with your parents? Yeah. And then you moved there? Yeah. And in 2015, you built this house? Yeah. But I heard that there are a lot of people who want to buy Aba Jajang's house, right? Yeah, there are. There are. But they don't want to sell it? No. The money for building the house is running out. A lot of my relatives are running out. It's running out. How much money do they want? Trillions. How much do they want to pay for this house? Two and a half million. Two and a half million? Yeah, from here to there. Two and a half million. They still don't want to sell it? No. Breakfast, right? Breakfast first. Yeah. Guys, it's breakfast time. Such a kind guy. He's laughing in between every second sentence. He's smiling all the time. I wonder if that's the recipe to becoming that happy and relaxed. It's to live in a place like this and meet with new people every day who comes to see your home. It's moments like these that make me so grateful. Not to experience them alone, but to share them with an incredible team. And then it was finally time to get a closer look at the breathtaking waterfall we had been admiring from afar. Towering nearly 130 meters above the valley floor, Chitambur waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in West Java. The water crashes down the cliff, creating a mist that can be felt long before you reach it. Standing there, it was easy to understand why so many people make the journey to Chitambur. It is truly a majestic view. Welcome guys to Tijanjur. And as the day came to an end, it was time to wrap up an unforgettable chapter of the Sabang to Morocco adventure. Okay guys, it is six o'clock. It's dinner time here in... We're still in Tijanjur, yeah? Still. In Tijanjur. It's been an amazing day. It's been another amazing trip. We will see you in the next video. Thank you for watching. Ta-da! Bye! Makan! And good job Paris on this trip! And good job Lutfi! And good job Ega! And good job Wika! And good job Chris! To end the night, the local barista, Imam, stopped by to brew us some amazing locally grown Arabica coffee. Because that evening, we will be releasing the premiere of my latest video from Ujung Kolon, giving us the perfect excuse to sit down and watch it together. Because I've watched countless premieres over the years, usually alone in a small hotel room somewhere in a remote corner of Indonesia. But tonight was different. For the first time, I got to experience it alongside the people who had helped bring the video to life. And seeing how proud they were of what we had created together, was a powerful reminder that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. In the next episode of the Sabang to Morocco journey, we continue into the mountains of Bandung, where I meet up with my good friend and fellow adventurer, Arsal. And in the city, local creators Kimi and Alaska show me a different side of Bandung. From its rich history to its vibrant culture, there's a lot more to Bandung than meets the eye. Stay tuned.