There's a beach in East Java, Indonesia, that's famous for its big waves - perfect for surfing practice. It's not just the waves that make it special, though. The view in the late afternoon is something else - the golden sunset casts a reddish shimmer over the sand, making the whole beach look like it's glowing.
I originally came here just to unwind, to clear my head and take in the scenery. No set plans, just a casual stroll near the coast. But then something unexpected happened.
Out of nowhere, my eyes locked with… a monkey. A big one. He was sitting calmly near a temple close to the beach - about 1.5 kilometers away from where I stood. Yeah, you read that right. That far, and still, somehow, we made eye contact.
Now don't get it twisted - this isn't one of those folktales about a monkey who's actually a cursed prince or a long-lost sultan. And this definitely isn't a fable, because hey, I'm very much human.
Anyway, back to the story. The second we locked eyes, the monkey bolted and disappeared into the temple.
Funny thing is, I hadn't even noticed there was a temple there until that moment. Suddenly, I was curious. I felt drawn to it, like something was calling me. As I got closer, I saw something that made me stop in my tracks.
On the temple's terrace, there were several women dancing - gracefully, in perfect sync. They wore green tube tops, batik skirts in earthy tones, and yellow sashes that flowed as they moved. Their heads were adorned with golden hairpieces, like sunlit pins tucked into elegant buns. The way the sunset hit those shimmering ornaments - absolutely mesmerizing.
I stood there, completely captivated. The closer I got to the temple, the stronger my curiosity grew. I was only about five steps away from entering the temple gate when - just like that - the dancers vanished.
Gone. No trace. Only the sound of chirping birds and the distant chatter of monkeys remained.
To be continued in Chapter 2…