102 Travel | Pacitan
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A small bus followed a road flanked by cliffs and a river . Several passengers had fallen sound asleep , while others began chatting to the conductor . The driver was focusing intently on the road while listening to dangdut songs over the loudspeakers .
For me , the journey to Pacitan via Ponorogo is always thrilling because the narrow road has so many sharp bends . On the bus I chose a seat next to the main door . There , the wind could blow in freely , while I relaxed and cast my eyes upon the view , enjoying the panorama throughout the journey .
Pacitan is a geological painting composed of spectacular caves and magnificent cliffs . Most of the area stands on karst hills and highlands that were formed as a result of volcanic and tectonic activity over millions of years . This geological richness has made Pacitan part of the Gunungsewu Geopark area , which spreads to Yogyakarta .
To understand the geological wealth of Pacitan , one can visit the Etalase Geopark Gunungsewu ( Gunungsewu Geopark
Showcase ) located three kilometres from the town centre . In this museum there is information about the various geosites that are spread across the area and examples of geological artefacts , ancient fossils and relics of the prehistoric era .
Of the 13 geosites in Pacitan , one of the most popular is Gua Gong ( Gong Cave ), which is well known for its unique formations of stalactites and stalagmites . To explore this underground cave that stretches for 600m , I hired a guide with a torch . I slowly followed behind my guide as we moved through the wet and damp cave tunnel .
My guide continued to walk while telling me about the history and mythology of Gua Gong in a low volume that was difficult to hear . Meanwhile , I was 10m behind him , still in awe at the many surprises in the cave and the amazing formations of stalactites and stalagmites . One protruded gracefully , like a curtain of water ; another looked soft like the flesh of molluscs ; and there was one mega formation that looked like a set of cathedral organ pipes . Several caverns in Gua Gong are extremely spacious with magnificently elaborate natural ornaments . Upon entering , I felt like a dwarf under the great dome of La Sagrada Família .
Pacitan is proud to be called the ‘ City of a Thousand and One Caves ’, because apart from Gua Gong , there are tens of other destinations that can be visited by tourists interested in geology and speleology , from Gua Tabuhan to Luweng Jaran . Travelling to these places is relatively straightforward because the local government appears