Hikers Vs Vandals

By : Abdul moehid

Both of them are absolutely different. But they have the same place to do and work in. They have relation each other, even basically the meaning are different. Vandals are the person who likes to destroy and damage something, could be the public facilities and natural resources. That is what I think and guess. Hiker is someone who enjoys traveling and likes exploring new places, and they usually love Mother Nature. They usually explore the jungle, forest, river, hill, or mountain. But that is according to my friend who has activity as the hiker. Actually I’m a hiker too, but I’m not the real hiker because I didn’t join any education of navigation skill or survival training, except for Boy Scout extracurricular when I was at my high school. I just enjoy seeing the Mother Nature and appreciate what the God has created for us. I also ever climbed some mountains in Indonesia. I started camping when I was in junior high school, and I went hiking with my friends when I was in second grade of junior high. So what I want to share with you is the experiences of climbing some mountains. It isn’t about the story when I climbed the mountain, but it is about the environment around the mountain or forest among them. Maybe for you who is hiker will not interested in reading this journal, because you have seen what the mountain like. But I want to tell the readers who have never known about the mountain and what is it like.
Do you think it is nice to explore the forest or mountain? Yes, but if the mountain or forest is clean. I ever had an experience that gets on my nerves. I feel sad and shy as the hiker. I saw too much garbage in the mountain and forest. I was thinking that the doer is not the hiker, because like my friend said that hiker loves Mother Nature. They will keep cleaning and think green. It was shocking me when I visited Rinjani mount in Lombok. The High is about 3.726 mdpl. This mount usually visited by some foreigners from other countries. They are really interested in viewing the Sagara Anak Lake and the Top of Rinjani. But why the mount is still dirty. Don’t we feel shy to our guest that came to Indonesia? I ever made the conversation during my trip in Rinjani with one of the foreigner (Bule). I was with Mukhlas. Actually, Mukhlas and I just want to practice, and also to get new friend, but unfortunately I didn’t remember the name, but I remember what he said. Here is my talk with him
Me : Excuse me sir, how do you do?
The foreigner : Hey, hello how do you do.
Me : Hmm…I’m Moehid, what’s your name?
The foreigner : My name is……….
Me : This is my friend Mukhlas.
Mukhlas : Hay sirs…where are you from?
The Foreigner : Well, I’m from Scotland.
Me : Are you on vacation?
The foreigner : Yes we are, and we have been here about a week.
Me : wow that’s nice. Hmm…by the way have you summited the top?
The foreigner : yes we have, and we are going to stay in Sagara Anak now.
Me : what do you think about this mount? Is it beautiful?
The foreigner : yes, it is. But unfortunately it’s dirty. This is the dirtiest mount that I ever climbed!!! 
Me : (just said OH MY GOD…. then talk about other)

How sad and how poor we are. The Bule was saying that. It is embarrassing, isn’t it? Rinjani is the third highest mountain in Indonesia, but it’s dirty. So in my opinion vandals and hiker are almost the same. What I mean is that sometimes the adventurer or hiker can be a vandal, but vandals seldom to be adventurer or hiker. Why is that? I classify some types of hiker. I think hiker has the mask. Not all of hiker loves Mother Nature.
Here they are:
1. The hiker who appreciate the natural resources and always keep the Mother Nature (Excellent Hiker).
2. The hiker who enjoy exploring Mother Nature but don’t care about the environment (Explorer Hiker).
3. The hiker who doesn’t like to keep clean (Thrower Hiker).
4. The hiker who makes dirty in forest or mount (Stupid Hiker).
5. The hiker who likes to clean and do the greener in mountain (Helper hiker).
6. The hiker who sees too much garbage but let them only (Observer Hiker).
7. The hiker who just complains about the environment but does nothing (Lazy Hiker).
8. The hiker who supports the greener and participate to socialize (Supporter Hiker)
9. The hiker who likes to write about the environment (Writer Hiker) like me …
10. The hiker who has no experience about exploring the mountain (New Hiker).
Well, are those funny? I hope not. I wish it could motivate you to appreciate the environment. It looks simple to do so, but I think it needs strong intention to do it. Let’s STOP LITERING and ILLEGAL LOGGING. We should SAVE OUR FOREST and THINK GREEN. You do not need too much money to participate in it, just make habit to throw anything in the dustbin. If you don’t find any dustbin just save it on you pocket and bag. You will have fresh air and weather if you participate to do the green. On April 22nd is the Earth Day, so I think it is a nice moment to start Greener. Just start from ourselves then share it to other people. I hope this simple journal will realize you to do the best. Remember do something simple and make anything valuable.


April 18th 2009