Nusakambangan, We're Coming!

Pendem Fortress And Mysterious Hallway

The gate of Turtle Bay attraction and Pendem Fortress welcomed the tour bus troupe of Nusantara High School. Arriving at the fork, the bus leads to the right towards Pendem Fort. The distance that must be taken is approximately two kilo meters from the writing of Turtle Bay. Take about 6 minutes.

Get off the bus, the sturdy gate of Pendem Fortress in red is ready to challenge the enemy. There are two entrances of white painted iron. The door on the left is closed. Visitors must pass through the door that opens to the right.

Pendem Fortress in the Dutch period named Kustbatterij op de Landtong te Tjilatjap, meaning Coastal Battery of the Cilacap Peninsula, or there are also those who interpret the fort on the ground and jutting into the sea like a tongue.

Then why change the name to Pendem Fort, because when found this fort covered with sand. Even today, there are still parts of the fortress that are still not fully explored. In addition, this fort was deliberately built hidden, to outwit the enemy.

Bima, Falah and three faithful girls followed down the road to the right. There is a park with a pool that sucks a writing ‘Lokawisata Benteng Pendem’ that has begun to moss. Some children appear to take pictures with the background of the writing.

The journey of Bima et al, continues to the Barak row. Just like Lawang Sewu which has many doors, the soldier barracks plastered on the right side of the road has at least 14 entrances and 28 windows, with no cover. When Bima looked at the barracks, he estimated the area of each space approximately 3x4 meters.

Satisfied with taking pictures, the five stepped again while occasionally looking to the left side in the form of a low hill mound with a variety of lush trees. Before long a signpost that says ‘Klinik’ Room gives an arrow to the left, then the tunnel archery to the right. The sign becomes a pointer to where the step will go.

“We go to the clinic first yuk, health check.” chirps Falah between serious and not serious.

“There is a clinic?” take Ara seriously. “Free or pay?”

“Free,” says Bima.

“Iya, who is checking out ngesot.” Ilana.

“Serious ih,” Ara suddenly goosebumps. “Don't go there then.”

But Bima and Falah had already stepped to the left. Ilana also breezed to leave Ara and Meidi who were glued in the middle of the fork.

Ara called Bima. There was no reaction, inevitably Ara then dragged Meidi into the road to the Clinic Room.

The clinic has two doors open. Between the two doors there is a barrel_place of water from clay like an urn that accommodates water droplets from above. It seems that the water is a source of clean water that continues to flow, proof that the droplets continue to fill the barrel until the water spills.

Curiosity of the Clinic Room is treated. Bima and Falah set a step back towards the T-junction. They are curious about the tunnel which is said to be one of them connecting Pendem Fort with Karang Bolong Fortress in Nusakambangan.

From the fork to the clinic they walk again approximately ten steps, then turn right through the lush bush plants on the right-left road. Arriving at the junction of the dead end, there is an archway that will take them into the river flow. All of them looked up at the river that hit the left side tunnel.

Before finding the tunnel, they passed through the Reconnaissance Room. There are several steps leading up to the reconnaissance terrace, with box-shaped holes. Bima realized one thing, the river they had just seen must have been a trench that had been deliberately made to inhibit the rate of enemy attacks.

Finally the tunnel that made Bima curious looked in front of his eyes. He rushed in. Falah and Ilana followed from behind. As usual, I chose to wait outside. Entering the tunnel as far as five meters on the left side there is a hallway lined with iron. The other passageway that was opposite direction turned out to bring into the reconnaissance hole.

“What might this passageway that leads to Nusakambangan?” bima said still staring at the dark passage ahead.

“Here many tunnels. If this leads to it, it is impossible to be left open.” reply Ilana. “I think more of an iron-covered tunnel, likely one of them heading there. Because it is dangerous to close.”

“If only we could trace it.” said Bima.

“Danger, right?” sambar Ilana's. “If there really is a tunnel to it must have been damaged submerged in water. He was hundreds of years old. The effect of sea water as well as strong current pressure can quickly tear down the connecting wall.”

Bima sighed before the three of them finally came out. Ara has put on a tangled look.

His fifth step led to the Prison Room. Ilana peeked at a room covered in thick iron bars. There is little horror when imagining a room covering an area of 1x1.5 meters containing humans who are still alive. It must have been the tightness, the dark and the cold biting on the prisoners' skin.

“But Na, the iron that covered the hall was not old, must have existed since the Dutch era. It must have been the hallway that led to the Fort Karang Bolong. The position also fits right into the northeast.”

“Beda Bim,” responded Ilana who still felt shudder felt a gripping aura in the prison room. “Thicker this iron,” Ilana taps the prison bars with her finger.

“This time I agree with you, Na.” said Falah published a wry smile from Bima's lips.

“Yuk, we'll walk again soon. It feels scary,” said Ara.

“Iya, I also have goosebumps.” added Meidi.

Next they combed the rows of barrack-like fortresses with small gaping windows. This is the Wall of Defense. Underneath the bridge is a stream of water. Share the fun with the little kids who are in the pool under the bridge. They swam in the pool to pick up money coins thrown by bridge crossers.

Bima throws a coin. While Falah tried to zoom the camera lens in order to see the moment of a small child diving chasing a coin. Ara also exclaimed loudly when one of the children managed to catch the coin.

Down from the bridge, all five enter the garden area with a lot of coloring gasebo. Subconsciously Bima et al, has surrounded the fortress area which has an area of about 6.5 ha.

As the name implies Pendem\ Fortress, which is immersed in the ground. Old Kid can imagine a pendem fortress like teletubies\ hill, which is home to tubies. Yes\, the house of Tinky Winky\, Dipsy\, Lala and Po_the name of the tubies\, is inside the mound of the hill. Falah who has seen the video footage using the flight_drone camera, can imagine the unique shape of the pendem fortress from above.

Without a chance to rest, Bima, Falah and three accompanying girls directly out of the gate of the fort to their respective buses. Though Falah and Ara kompakan want to enjoy the fresh young coconut water. But what can be done, loudspeakers have been boasting tour groups from Semarang must immediately dock to the gate.