From the torrential down pours to the monkeys gliding aimlessy from tree to tree above you, Bukit Lawang is certain to satisfy your search for a taste of the jungle. Located 45 miles west of Medan in North Sumatra, the jungles of Bukit Lawang are one of the last few places that you can still see orangutans, tigers, and elephants living together in their natural habitat, as well as heaps of other wildlife species. I was a little nervous traveling to Bukit Lawang, as I had never really done any traveling that wasn’t centered around surfing, or a beach for that matter. I went to an active volcano in Costa Rica with my family when I was fourteen, but that was just a stop on our way to score some waves. And that was planned by my mother. This was totally different. I had never booked a trip like this before. I was used to the good ole “search where the best waves are and show up,” kinda deal. This go round required a lot more effort of me.

Despite the slight lack of self confidence, I decided I was going to the jungle for five days. I rode in a car for four hours over the span of forty-five miles; you can only imagine how uniquely awful the roads were. The roads went through crazy cities with the worst imaginable traffic to empty back roads, only to be greeted by wild goats and cows. Driving through the main cities was absolutely treacherous. The traffic was heavy with every form of transportation from cabs, to motorbikes, to tuk tuks. I even watched a young schoolboy get hit by a tuk tuk. Afterwards, my cab driver assured me not to worry, as it happens all the time. I was beginning to regret my decision to leave peaceful Nias, assuming Bukit Lawang would be just as busy as the cities we were driving through.

I quickly changed my mind as we arrived to the massive river that was so rapidly flowing through the center of Bukit Lawang. Lining the perimeter of the river are adorable little inns and lodges you can stay at. I stayed at The Jungle Inn and can highly recommend it. The room is the nicest room I’ve seen in the past two moths. My mouth practically fell to the floor when he opened the door to my room. The biggest, comfiest bed waited me with soft, white blankets. Blankets! Ah, I dreamed of this moment every night in Nias, while I was curled up underneath my lousy excuse for a towel that I was using as a blanket. Not to mention the semi-decent sized waterfall that was only a step away from my door. I would be relaxing in that tomorrow, no doubt. I was pretty bummed to leaving my humble abode in Nias and the sound of waves crashing every night as I fell to sleep. I would say this is a pretty fair trade. I am totally gonna have to buy one of those sound machines when I get back home to the states. Or move next to the ocean or a waterfall. There’s no way I’ll be able to fall asleep in the silence. The staff at Jungle Inn was more than accommodating and made for the perfect stress-free stay in the jungle.

As I was walking along the river to my accommodation, I received an abundant amount of stares. I was used to this by now; I’ve gotten these stares for two months. Except this time, it wasn’t because I was the only blonde or because I was one of the few girls. It was because I was carrying my surfboard bag through the middle of the jungle. I’d be staring too; I looked like an absolute madwomen. In between the various lodges, are some souvenir shops containing only things I would be thrilled to bring home to my family. Not the tacky “ I heart Indonesia,” shirts and magnets that flood stores in most big cities. There are also several locations offering a variety of other things like canvas paintings and woodcarvings. Yet again, I was having my Disney movie feeling. Scanning all around me for cameras to pop out at any moment and a crew informing me of how I was in some jungle reality TV show.

In the forty minutes I have been away at this article, I have killed roughly 234 flying bugs. That’s just a guess, but it feels right. 236, now. There is actually a small bug graveyard next to me on the table; I am purposefully leaving them there as trophies. It is raining harder than I have ever seen rain fall out of the sky. I am in the jungle and it’s pretty damn apparent. This is exactly what I thought it was going to be like: nibbling bites of my sayur putih (Indoneisan dish with coconut sauce and fresh ginger, lemongrass, and lime leaves) while leaning over to jot a sentence or two down. Ah, this lifestyle never gets old. Living the damn dream. My damn dream.

Welcome to the jungle baby!