Made grew up in Banjar Gitgit, north of Gianyar Town, Bali. The jungle, river and waterfall by Goa Rang Reng are his second home. As a nature’s child, he knows every stone and leaf.
Curious and attentive, we listened to his unique story of creating the new tourist attraction and the rituals that are still performed by the people of this village. One immediately senses that Made is an empathetic and spiritual person who is strongly connected to this place. Mother Nature is his teacher.
On the 20. of May 2015, when Made was meditating in the cave of Rang Reng next to the waterfall, he suddenly had the idea to do something crazy:
He wanted to split a huge stone and throw it into the river to block it.
So, he asked his friends in the village if they wanted to help him with that. Finally, he convinced many of them that if the main waterfall were to be blocked, it would create a pool, and then the waterfall would be flowing over more rocks. Therefore, it will be more beautiful than before.
How the name Rang Reng came about:
Another time, Made was right next to the cave, he met a young boy. This boy told him that the cave was ‘Rang Reng’, meaning astonishing beautiful but scary at the same time. Therefore, the name of the cave is Rang Reng.
Made said that he had never seen this boy before, and had never met him since.He asked his neighbors if they knew that little boy who came to him that day. But nobody seemed to know him.
Made believes truly that this mysterious boy was the spirit of the cave itself.
The People of Banjar Gitgit in Gianyar are going to the Cave of Goa Rang Reng if they have a terrible feeling or nightmare, to do the ritual cleansing, called ‘melukat’.
Goa Rang Reng is also unique because right before the cave, two rivers are coming together.
They symbolize the feminine and masculine energies. After this, the river goes into the cave that stands for the womb. These two rivers are witnesses to true love.
When a girl wants to be sure that her boyfriend loves her, she goes to this place with her boyfriend. A boy who only wants to have fun with the girl will never tell her in this place that he loves her if he does not mean it.
It is their Cycle of life.
But if a boy tells his girlfriend that he loves her, she knows that it is true, because no one will say the untruth in that place. No one!
Of course, in Balinese life, there are many important ceremonies. Still, for the people here, it’s vital that on the same spot where they admit their love, they will also end up after the cremation.
Our friend and Made is looking forward to show you his beautiful home. His deep connection to the natural beauty of Banjar Gitgit is truly inspiring.
His story takes us on a journey through the mystical heart of Bali, where the jungle, river, and waterfall of Goa Rang Reng serve as the backdrop to his remarkable tale. Made’s intimate knowledge of every stone and leaf in this enchanting place is a testament to his profound bond with Mother Nature.
For the people of Banjar Gitgit, the Cave of Goa Rang Reng is more than just a tourist attraction; it’s a sacred place for ritual cleansing, known as ‘melukat.’ Here, they seek solace from terrible feelings and nightmares.
The convergence of two rivers before the cave, symbolizing feminine and masculine energies, creates a powerful metaphor for love. Couples come here to affirm their love, knowing that this sacred ground leaves no room for falsehoods.
It’s a testament to the enduring bond between humanity and the enchanting beauty of Bali’s wilderness…
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