Celebrating Eid In My Hometown, Kebumen, Central Java

Hello Hivers, it's been a long time since I wrote a story here, even though there are so many random stories that run around in my head every day.
First of all, I want to apologize physically and mentally. Happy Eid Al-Fitr for those of you who celebrate. May you rejoice and be blessed.

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Today I want to share my experience celebrating Eid in my hometown. In my introductory post, I already told you that I was born in a city called Kebumen, to be precise in Plumbon village, Krakal sub-district, Central Java. My mother and father's families are also from there. Their parents' house is only separated by a river whose water flows fast only during the rainy season. If it's dry, you can see more rocks than water. When I was in elementary school, then my parents took me back to my hometown, the river was often used as a bathing place by almost all the villagers. Because at that time, it was rare for residents to have a water well in their house. But now almost all villagers have their own bathroom. The sight of residents bathing in the river is rare. Only my mother's grandmother still likes to bathe in the river after gardening from the forest.

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The distinctive aroma that I miss the most from my hometown is the smell of firewood and cowshed. The combination of aromas that can instantly calm my mind. The smell of firewood in my grandmother's kitchen often invites hunger. I usually eat more in my hometown than when I'm at home. When I first arrived at my mother's grandmother's house, my eyes were immediately distracted by the strange grains that she was drying in front of the house. My grandmother said the grain was called "Kecantel", later it could be processed to be eaten. But unfortunately I didn't get to see how the grains were processed into food, because it took a long time to dry the Kecantel, while I only had three days there. Maybe later when I return to Kebumen, I will ask my grandmother to make food from Kecantel.

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Unfortunately, I can't stay long in my hometown because my sister is only given five days off by the office where she works, while our family goes by my sister's car. This year was my first experience celebrating Eid al-Fitr in my hometown. Truly, in my entire life, I have never celebrated Eid in Kebumen. After all, it's been almost seven years since I've been home to my grandparents. When I came home yesterday, it felt like a strange longing was residing in me. Almost all the villagers know me, but I don't recognize them. It's so weird. But I try to adapt so that it doesn't look awkward.

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On the last day before my return home--in South Tangerang--I visited my mother's brother's house. His house is on a hill in the village area of ​​Wadesmalang. It's a beautiful sight to be there. I really like being on the rooftop of my mother's sister's house. Leaning on the bench all day looking at the green hills, it feels like it can facilitate the circulation of beautiful sentences in my head. I was offered to spend the night at his house, but I refused because I didn't want to sleep alone in the upstairs room. In my hometown there are still a lot of mystical things, so I'm a little paranoid if I have to sleep alone there. When my mother was tell a story with my grandmother, she told me that when she was a child, she was shouted at by a ghost guarding the forest. It is said that when the call to prayer comes before the midday prayer, no one is allowed to roam in the forest. Because that is the time when the forest-dwelling spirits begin to come out.

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Before returning to South Tangerang, my family and I took the time to go to the beach. There are also many beaches in Kebumen, one of which is Petanahan beach. Because it is still in a holiday atmosphere, this beach is quite crowded with visitors. Although crowded, this beach is still quite beautiful to enjoy. Actually our plan was to go to Menganti beach, but we didn't have enough time because we left too late. It's okay, Petanahan beach has reassured my heart.

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thanks for reading
Best regards, Kaifin🍀

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