Parangkusumo Bantul Sand Dune
Seeing Middle Eastern films can certainly bring our curiosity to desert, right? Deserts are depicted with a very wide area and as far as the eye can see there is only sand. Talking about the weather, the desert includes extreme weather, that is very hot during the day and cold stabs at night. Deserts are usually only found in areas of Africa or the Middle East. Unexpectedly, it turns out that the tropical region with high rainfall like Indonesia also has deserts. It is located in Parangtritis, Yogyakarta. In this place, the visitors can satisfy their curiosity of the desert.
Sand dune (Gumuk), this is how people are said. Gumuk (dune) comes from Java language that means gundukan. Therefore, the Gumuk Pasir (sand dune) is a sand dune that spread out wide. Sand dune is located on the west side in Parangtritis Beach, Bantul, Yogyakarta. In the world, there are 2 sand dune phenomena, in Indonesia and Mexico.
To form a stretch of sand so wide it takes a millions years. Sand dune in Jogja is the result of volcanic material from Mount Merapi which was carried by the current of the Progo river and the Opak River then settled. The sediment was continuously hit by the waves. At that time, the sand grains carried by the wind and crashed and formed the sand dune which are now known as Gumuk Pasir.
The weather has no different from the weather conditions in other deserts in general. The temperature difference between day and night is obvious, especially during the day. This extreme temperature difference makes this place rarely used for camping. Sometimes, this also used by people who are going to hajj. This place as a means for Hajj ritual until they are already in Saudi Arabia, their bodies can adjust.
Uniquely, this sand dune becomes a paradise for photographers. Aside from being a place for selfies, sand dunes are also the target of couples who want to take pictures for pre-wedding. There are also photographers and professional models that make this place for setting their photo sessions. More than that, it is also often used as a place for making video clips and film shooting. Interestingly, the video clip of Agnes Monica (Godai Aku Lagi) and HiVi (Orang Ketiga) was worked there.
Getting to the Gumuk Pasir is quite easy because of its location near to Parangtritis Beach. The visitors can take a one-way route with Parangtritis from Yogyakarta. Arriving at Parangtritis Beach, they will find a T-junction of the Hotel Gandung and take west to the Depok beach.
