After a friend of mine told me about a mangrove park in Tuwed Village, west Bali, I was interested to visit it. Even when he told me that the park was not under a good care at the moment, I still went there riding my motor cycle.
Consulting the map, I managed to find the entrance point of the mangrove park. I looked at the sign indicating the park and realized the place was not well maintained. Well, hardly anybody visited this place during the Covid-19. It's probably the reason the place was seemed abandoned.
I rode my motor cycle inside the park, and found out the path was through a meadow which was also used as a foot ball yard by the locals. I passed the yards and found the the path divided into two.
I took the path to the left, because I thought that would lead me to the beach. The view should be nice near the water.
There were typical tropical and mangrove plants around the area such as Rhizophora, spinifex or the running grass, pandanus and acacia.
Rhizophora flowers
These three plants seems to be the dominant plantation around here as I explored further. The pandanus leaves, for example, were known for its sharp spikes. They are used a lot in Bali for many things from crafting mats, temple ceremony. In an east Bali village, there is a yearly festival called "pandan war." where two people duel with pandan leaves as weapon.
Then there was the acacia tree. It's not a typical mangrove plant, since it grow every where in my town.
There was also the spinifex, or the running grasses. They look like hundreds sun flowers, but they are spiky though.
I followed the path among the mangrove plantation until I ended up by a river. I thought it was the ocean, but it was a river by the sea. Standing by the river, I could see the other side of the river which was a small island. And beyond that island was the beach. I wondered if there was a way to reach the beach.
The river bank was sandy. It was black volcanic sand. I took my time walking along the river bank to find access to the beach.
I continued walking into a small forest which was full of mangrove plants. The ground was muddy, I had to proceed cautiously or I wound ended trapped in the mud.
I did not realize that I had spent about two hours. I felt a little bit tired and claustrophobic under these mangrove trees. Everywhere I went to, there were trees, muds, and roots. I wanted to get out but I desired to go to the beach. I thought I heard some people shouting in the beach. Maybe some fishermen.
The only way to go to the sea was to cross the river, so I tried to find a bridge or something on the river. I saw a raft earlier parked by river, but I crossed that option out.
I walked again through the mangrove forest for some time. And then I saw a bridge.
It was a bamboo bridge, with a handle on one side. When you walk, you can hold the handle to keep your balance.
I checked the bridge, and thought, there is no way I would walk on this bridge. I thought it's time to go back. And I was tired anyway.
I decided the to conclude the adventure today. It was a great adventure, even though I could not find the way to the beach. I could come back again later.
I rode back through the village road. Some how I felt happy to see the road again, as well as the rice farm and the sky.