Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Have you heard of ‘cave tubing’?

Well, we checked it out when we visited Jogjakarta, Central Java, recently!

Within about 2 hours drive from Jogjakarta, we reached this place called ‘Goa Pindul’ (Pindul Cave)

(Click HERE to read about our super fun Baron Beach experience. Also about 2 hours drive from Jogjakarta)

For just Rp. 35,000 per person (SG$3.70), you get to sit on a rubber tube and explore the inside of Goa Pindul (crystals, fruit bats and of course stalactites), with a tour guide, for about 45 minutes.

(Our tour guide’s name is ‘Mas Herry’, and I thought he did a good job!)

The cave itself is about 350m long, and 5m wide.

We’re told that the water is about 5 – 12m deep.

[As we’re about to enter the cave]

Btw, there’s no current in the cave, so Brie safely sat on my laps throughout the journey, while our 10yo Anya and 7.5yo Vai had their own tubes to sit on.

We’re told to hold on to the next person’s tube handle, so everyone stayed connected.

For small kids, their tubes are tied to the next one.

Oh btw, we’re not encouraged to bring any valuables, you know … just in case you drop them into the waters or something.

So we left our cameras and engaged one of their assigned photographers instead.

The fee is Rp100,000 (His name ‘Mas Wawan’).

He went along with us, and gave us a CD (with some 200+ images inside)

(Btw, it is common to tip the photographer and tour guide afterwards)

Now I thought this is the nicest part of the cave (pictured above), ie. Where there’s a huge opening right above us.

From afar, as we approached this area, we could see the sun rays coming through. It was really nice!

(But urgh, I didn’t have my camera with me!)

The photographer captured the above photo, of us right underneath the ‘hole’.

Ah anyway, after the whole ‘cave tubing’ is over, we hopped over to dry land, and went back to our ‘starting point’, on this ‘truck’, haha.

It was our first time ever, and it was a fun 5-minute ride back =)

…

Here’s more info and tips to share:

1) For Rp. 35,000 / person, you get:
– A tour guide
– Equipments, like : a tube, life vest, and rubber slippers if you want)
– ‘Insurance’ (though I have no idea how it works)

2) Do bring along extra clothes, liquid soap and towels. I’d recommend wearing rubber slippers / sandals, and comfortable shorts.

3) They have built quite a lot of wash areas and changing cubicles. But of course, as always, I must say that they’re very, very simple and ‘natural’.

(Read: Close one eye – or both! – if you are the type who always prefer proper and super clean toilets)

4) You can leave your bags at the ‘counter’. If you’re the more ‘paranoid’ type, lock up all your bags before leaving them with the staff (We didn’t, and everything was intact when we collected our items)

5) They provide free drinks (Ginger tea =)

And finally, would I recommend this place to others?

Yes, why not?

For such an affordable package price, you get a different kind of experience for the whole family.

Have fun cave tubing, everyone! =)