Trekking Inside the Mangrove Forest in South Denpasar

I decided to get on a trip by myself into the mangrove forest. Maybe I'll get an inspiration to write, or at least I got fresh air.

Riding my motor cycle to where the mangrove was faster than driving a car. It's easier with the kind of traffic in my place. It is also easier to park and stop for few minutes anywhere by the side of the road. And I did stop at the road toward the forest.

A narrow road entering to the mangrove forest. A bus would not be able to pass.

Outside the mangrove, there was a ticket booth. Yes, to get inside to the forest, you need a ticket as this mangrove forest maintained by the local government. A man, in his late fourties, was playing with his smartphone behind the desk of the ticket booth.
"One ticket, please." I said.

It needed few seconds for him to respond, getting out from his small world on his palm. "Ten thousand rupiah." he replied. (80 cent USD)

There were some kind of maps that showed the trekking route near the ticket booth. The color of the map look pale because of age. There were other information about flowers that visitor may find along the trek.

A map showing the track route on the left, and the beginning of the track on the right.

I am not going to this toilet.

There were some kind of maps that showed the trekking route near the ticket booth. The color of the map look pale because of age. There were other information about flowers that visitor may find along the trek.

The trekking route was actually a wooden bridge built into the mangrove. This brigde goes in circle, and with has few branches. You begin in the starting point, and will end up at the same place but via different trek.

The beginning of the trek. There was a sign saying be careful of iguana crossing. And I saw one crossing in front of me.

These holes on the ground were dug by crabs.

The traps for crabs belong to a fisherman. I met a fisherman who was taking his traditional crab catcher on the way. He said he could not catch any sea crab. There was too much water from the rain that the sea crabs decided to go back the sea. He explained to me.

As I stepped on the wood bridge, I felt like I was entering another world. Five minutes before, I was in the middle of hustle and bustle of the city.

There were trees growing in each side of the bridge. I noticed on these trees that they had visible roots as they grew on water.

At the beginning of the trek, the trees had less leaves. It's more trunk and roots, but going further, the trees were more dense and have lots of leaves.

The beginning of trek, the trees have less leaves.
Branches of a tree growing on the water.
getting inside the forest, the trees were more dense.

And there was no land anymore, only water in each side of bridge.

The Little Egret Tower

The Little Egret Tower is a 10 meter high 3 floored-wooden building inside the forest. Its function is as a place to see the view of the forest. The building could accomodate maximum 20 people.

I went up through the stairs in the tower to reach the third floor. From this floor, I could view and have a better idea of the forest.

The little egret tower.
The staris to the top.
View of the bridge that will contineue to the end of the the trek.
Dense mangrove forest viewed from the top.

The End of The Trek

There was a little building at the end of the trek. This was the furthest point from where the starting point. This was also the closest point to the sea.

The building is designed as a viewing point. There was bench in the building for people to sit down. I imagine during holidays there would be many people sitting on this bench taking selfies.

But that day there was only me.

A small building (pavilion) overlooking the sea.
Across the pavilion is a 14 kilometers bridge on the sea.

Thanks for reading.