Gua Tabuhan Is a Lively Unique Cave
In the cave, Nyi (Mrs) Kamiyem and Ki (Mr) Padmo sit on a big stone. Nyi Kamiyem will sing a song and Ki Padmo will beat the drum. Joining them are people called wiyogo which are drummers and other gamelan musicians.
What makes this unique is that they mix gamelan with the sounds of nature. The visitors dance, forgetting all problems.
Many tourists go to this cave. Maybe you are interested in going there too but you don't know where it is. Gua Tabuhan is located near Pacitan in East Java. It is situated in a lime hill called Tapan, in Tabuhan, Wareng village. The route is easy. Along the road there is beautiful tropical scenery to enjoy rice fields, coconut palms and birds.
East of the cave peddlers sell souvenirs. The drink and food peddlers are on the north side. People sell agates on the cave terraces. Somehow, it is like a fair.
It is said that the cave is the only place where nature produces sounds like the music of gamelan. Nyi Kamiyem, a well-known pesinden (traditional Javanese singer) from the village of Gabuhan, who often sings in the cave, does not doubt anything.
Gua Tabuhan did not use to welcome visitors. According to Kartowiryo (90), village elder, Gua Tabuhan used to be a hiding place for robbers. It was believed to be a sacred place. No one dared go inside. However, Wedana (chief of a district) Kertodiprojo, went to the cave to find out what was wrong. He found out that the cave was inhabited by the annoying evil spirits. The people chased the spirits away.
The cave is dark, so people need lights, and a local guide will lead the way. Sometimes visitors bump their heads against the sharp rocks on the ceiling.
Inside the cave there is a plain big stone which is believed to be the prayer mat of Pangeran Diponegoro, one of the Indonesian heroes who fought against the Dutch. It is said that Pangeran Diponegoro used to seclude himself in the cave. Some people now use the place for meditation.
There is a stream in the cave, in the east corner, which can only be seen outside. However, it can be heard from inside.
Besides the cave, Watukarang, a beach nearby, is good to visit. By the way, do you want different souvenirs? You can find them in Donorodjo village where agate craftsman work. So, have a nice journey.
Taken from Hello English Magazine, January, 1996
QUESTIONS
1. What do you call people who join Nyi Kamiyem and Ki Padmo in the cave?
People who join Nyi Kamiyem and Ki Padmo in the cave is called wiyogo.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang sebutan untuk orang-orang yang ikut serta bersama Nyi Kamiyem and Ki Padmo. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph pertama kalimat terakhir (Joining them are people called wiyogo which are drummers and other gamelan musicians.)
2. Where is Gua Tabuhan located?
Gua Tabuhan is located near Pacitan in East Java, in a lime hill called Tapan, in Tabuhan, Wareng village.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang lokasi Gua Tabuhan. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph ketiga kalimat ketiga dan keempat (Gua Tabuhan is located near Pacitan in East Java. It is situated in a lime hill called Tapan, in Tabuhan, Wareng village.)
3. What can you see along the road to Gua Tabuhan?
Along the road to Gua Tabuhan we can see beautiful tropical scenery to enjoy rice fields, coconut palms and birds.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang apa yang dapat dilihat sepanjang perjalanan Gua Tabuhan. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph ketiga kalimat keenam (Along the road there is beautiful tropical scenery to enjoy rice fields, coconut palms and birds.)
4. Where can you find peddlers selling souvenirs?
We can find peddlers selling souvenirs on East of the cave.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang dimana dapat menemukan pedagang keliling (peddler) menjual souvenir. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph keempat kalimat pertama (East of the cave peddlers sell souvenirs.)
5. What is Nyi Kamiyem?
Nyi Kamiyem is a pesinden.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang apa (profesi) Nyi Kamiyem. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph kelima kalimat kedua (Nyi Kamiyem, a well-known pesinden (traditional Javanese singer)…..)
6. How old is Ki Kartowiryo?
He is 90 years old.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang umur Ki Kartowiryo. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph keenam kalimat kedua (According to Kartowiryo (90),…..)
7. What did Kertodiprojo find out inside the cave?
He found out that the cave was inhabited by the annoying evil spirits.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang apa yang ditemukan Kertodiprojo di dalam gua. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph keenam kalimat keenam (He found out that the cave was inhabited by the annoying evil spirits. The people chased the spirits away.)
8. What do people need when they enter the cave?
When they enter the cave, they need lights.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang apa yang dibutuhkan orang-orang ketika mereka memasuki gua. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph ketujuh kalimat pertama (The cave is dark, so people need lights,…..)
9. What did Pangeran Diponegoro use as a prayer mat to perform prayer in the cave?
Pangeran Diponegoro used a plain big stone as a prayer mat to perform prayer in the cave.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang apa yang digunakan Pangeran Diponegoro sebagai alas sembahyang di gua. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph kedelapan kalimat pertama (the cave there is a plain big stone which is believed to be the prayer mat of Pangeran Diponegoro,…..)
10. Can you see the stream inside the cave?
No, we can’t see the stream inside the cave.
Penjelasan: Pertanyaan diatas menanyakan tentang apakah dapat melihat aliran sungai kecil di dalam gua. Informasi ini dapat kita peroleh di paragraph kesembilan kalimat pertama (There is a stream in the cave, in the east corner, which can only be seen outside.) yang artinya ada sebuah aliran sungai di dalam gua yang hanya dapat dilihat dari luar.
