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The whole of my body, particularly on my waist and back are painful. The remaining asphalt road which is steep and completely broken as if endless road. I was sitting on motorbike behind, and repeatedly saying dirty words in heart. Putra too, the photographer, who rode the motorbike since our last stop at Nagori Dolok one hour ago to Cagar Alam Tinggi Raja. But, information from our friend about the exoticism of Tinggi Raja has been intoxicated our mind. Like a proverb, “Work hard when you are young, and enjoy it in later time”. Nowadays we are still in pain. --------------------- A few minutes later, when feeling anger reached the culmination, finally we found parking place on left side of road as told by local people at the last stop. An empty plank made of steel was standing there. The middle part of the plank which contains information about hot spring has gone nowhere. On the left side of the plank was found a footpath leading to hot spring which was said having a highly educative value. A hut about 3 meters long was available for motorcycle park on the left side of a small field. Wild long grass around the field was drying. It seemed that this place was not taken care or not many people to visit it. This is the real condition of the entry gate to Hot Spring Tinggi Raja which is the most prominent object among many special ones in nature reserve. We were getting ready. After locking our motorcycle, and took out our camera, then the journey to the jungle through the footpath began. After 2 minutes walk, we were forced to stop due to fallen tree which blocked the track in front of us. From condition of tree, this has been happening for quite long time. Ugh, it seemed that this place has been long time “untouched”. Instead of taking a long way, finally we prefer to walk through the branches of the fallen tree in order to be on the right track. A ground lizard hide in the leafy old trees was disturbed and run away somewhere. Five minutes later, we arrived at crossroad. Again there was an empty plank was standing there. But this time we found the middle part of the plank lying on the ground. On it was written “Department of Forestry and BKSDA Sumut Wilayah II”. In the middle part was written information about regulations. Scenery of the empty plank and information board on the ground is tragic picture of reserve area with a variety of flora and fauna. The maintenance of this nature reserve is beyond expectation. Based upon information from the people, the lane on the right side was direction to the hot spring field. While lane on the left side was to the river which also had the hot spring. However, the splashing of the river in a hushed voice invited us to come, so we decided to walk through the left lane to the river. Micro and Macrogourdam A few minutes later, the water’s sound was roaring stronger. Descending trail showing us that green panorama lying in front of us. A trail changed into stairs with acclivity of 50 degree. A little hole spouted hot water was seen in one of stairs. We were approaching it. Not long afterwards, we arrived at the river’s bank. A spectacular view made us stand like a statue. A huge stone like an altar which was covered with green moss hanging on the of the river’s edge. On the stone was seen hot water flowing from the hot spring with constant volume. The running water to the white floor in front of the altar had created motif like plots of paddy field. There is small size, and there is big size too. Borrowing Speleology term (science about cave and its surrounding), this phenomena is a one of the process of making cave ornaments. Motif like small plots of paddy field is called microgourdam while the big plot is called macrogourdam. Uniquely, this macro and microgourdam are not located inside the cave but it is in out door. Following to our sight, water infiltration on the white floor kept on flowing down. The second part of the river’s edge was found a hanging ornament. Different from altar stone, this ornament was smaller but it presented very unique and wonderful to our sight. The stone is hanging like a canopy ornament of cave. Due to its smaller size than stone altar on the above, the water volume which flows down is bigger. The water that flows through the stone is running down to the end of canopy and drops on top of macrogourdam. Hot water that flows on top of macrogourdam drops down to the white floor below before entering the river. Hot water that drops down could be neutralized the chill water of river from the deep of jungle. After both of water sources meet, the temperature of river water is warm and comfortable, similar to sauna in modern spa house. After looking at to the top from the bottom of the river, we just realized that many ornaments like canopy hanging on the cliff of the river. Some on the top and some almost touch the surface of the river. Really, there is an exotic view. Feeling satisfied to see the phenomena around the river, we decided to go upstairs to the origin of the hot spring. Nature ornament is formed due to available lime deposit (limestone) in the stone around the volcanic area. Limestone which is very soft and able to absorb water and automatically the last shape of the stone is formed following the lane of hot stream. The process has been going hundreds of years, and slowly the formation of limestone is changing and forming unique and unusual shapes for our eyes. We were back to the crossroad then following the ascending footpath on the right side. In just three minutes, a huge platform appears in front of us. The climate was getting higher when we stepped on our feet on the platform. Combination of sunshine and hot temperature from the active volcanic spot below made the visitor felt heated with fire. This is the main source in Nature Reserve Tinggi Raja. Also from this area where the underground network system of the hot spring run out to edge of the river. There are some peaks on the platform. On the peaks, there are some craters with various sizes. The rumbling sounds from the bottom of the platform in the silence of jungle make the atmosphere tense. There are long cracks are found on some tops of the platform. Besides hot spring, layer of yellow sulfur in the crack of the soil has given color that influences the depth of our heart. All these platforms are the making process of young volcanic area. It is a proper place to be made as a research center for vulcanology. Visually, the whole areas represent a complicated system of volcanic mountains which is seldom found in other place. Hot spring in Tinggi Raja is like a volcanic park which keeps a mystery, and it needs further study by intelligent thinkers. I am sure that the volcanic system as seen on the surface of the earth will create new theories in world of science. Unquestionable in the past time, the world scientists from various disciplines who have been visiting North Sumatera, they take opportunity to visit this place. Isolated Potency Nature reserve of Dolok Tinggi Raja administratively situated at District of Silau Kaehan, Regency of Simalungun, North Sumatera. Apart from hot spring, a variety of flora and rare fauna species in this nature reserve are able to attract many tourists and researchers from abroad. In the era of 1980s until 1990s, this place was the main choice of destination for foreign tourists to North Sumatera. They came here with various reasons. Some were researchers and the rest only wanted to spend the night and enjoy the solemnity of jungle in nature reserve. The crowd visitors at those times, was supported by good access road from Negeri Dolok (last town). Nowadays, the first class asphalt road from Dutch colonial time is heavily damaged. Activity of trucks loaded with oil palm fruits gives big contribution to the damage of 10 km roads. Due to bad road, tour operators in Medan are reluctant to promote the nature reserve in their tour package. They are worried that road condition is not comfortable for tourists. Then Tinggi Raja is neglected. There are three main accesses to reach Tinggi Raja, namely Tebingtinggi, Pematangsiantar, and Lubukpakam. These three routes will end in Negeri Dolok. If you drive a private car from Medan, route from Lubukpakam is the best choice. Route about 97 km via Galang, Dolok Masihol, until you reach in Negeri Dolok. Road condition until Dolok Masihol is very good. But on arrival at the junction to Negeri Dolok, the good asphalt road changes to the broken road filled with big holes, because it is also the same road used by PTP III to transport the plantation produce. From Negeri Dolok, the trip to Tinggi Raja only 10 km away. Again, due to poor road condition, choice of transports for visitors is limited. Only truck and off road car are able to reach Nature Reserve Tunggi Raja. Total area of this nature reserve is about 167 hectares, and its establishment based on Letter of Decree Zelfbestuur Besluit ZB dated 18 April, 1924 NO. 24. Potency of hot spring area is about 35 hectares. Potency of rare flora grows in this area is dominated by meranti bunga (Shorea parvifolia), kenari (Canarium) and malu tua (Trista sp). For kinds of shrubs; rattan (Calamus Manau), orchid (Bulbophylum), pitcher plant (Nephenthes sp), and giant pandan (Pandanus sp) about 6 meters high. While potency of rare fauna is more than 45 wild animals, among of them have been protected such as Sumatera tiger, mouse deer, barking deer, deer, wild goat, gibbon, bear, and etc. After half an hour, we could not stay longer in the volcanic park. Finally we decided to go back home. We were satisfied to see the wonder and beautiful phenomena of Hot Spring in Tinggi Raja; it was only small part of the nature reserve. Hundreds of hectares of thick jungle still keep a mystery and various nature wealth there are still under the care of God.