To Kie Matubu with ‘CR7’

Personal story hiking The Tidore’s highest mountain in 2011.

Kie Matubu, seen from Fort Tolukko in Ternate, 2011.

Tidore’s peak is perfectly triangle-shaped as locally called it Kiematubu. It’s visible around 10-km away from the hill of Mt.Gamalama, Ternate — the neighbourhood island-town, similar to its remarkable mountain. Some might says those are twins-island; only separated by Ternate-Tidore strait.

I cross that strait from Ternate’s port Bastiong. After 15-min trip, the public speedboat slows down its pace to land on Tidore’s historic port of Rum — legendary port where Portugal and Spain had Zaragoza agreement — with Spain colonized Ternate and Tidore by Portugal.

Tidore’s Rum is busier with several people flock offering ojeg (motorbike taxi). But, there aren’t any taxi (cabs) to hire. A biker said Desa Gurabunga can only reach by car because it takes 1,5-hour and through the steep hill; So he recommends me to hire an angkot (public-transportation minibus).

It was a dark cloud when I arrived in Gurabunga — the 800m-asl-elevation village in Kie Matubu foothill. It’s silent, calm, peace, differ to the port and a bit chilly as well. Maybe here is going to rain, no activity appears, nobody outdoor. My angkot stop at “town’s chief (Kepdes)” house, I should meet Mr. Kepdes for a business, but, unfortunately, only Mrs Kepdes is in the house.

I’m in a rush, I can’t wait for him, I must go to the summit without stay; to track the GPS and take a picture. Mrs Kepdes help me by looking for a local guide. There was a group of the youngster in football pitch close to her house. Then she asks one of them, his name is Jon. He takes an offer with agony to guide me, it because today is his football training day.

He has an agreement by just lead me to rumah gubuk — a hut in the last dweller plantation. “After that, the path is visible, though some covered by vegetation and without direction. But you won’t be missed,” he told me.

We start at 02.00 WITA behind the Kepdes house. Along the way, I try to make this journey bits relax by the striking light question about kie Matubu. His answer was just nodding and “I don’t know.” I know he isn’t in a good mood. Moreover, he said: “I’m going to play a tournament a week later.” So I keep quiet until we arrived at last plantation.

Rain falling just before we arrived in rumah gubuk and none of us brings a raincoat. We ‘re already wet and running to shelter in that hut. When we arrived, he wipes his face with a small towel, and friendlier chat begins:

”You like Ronaldo?” I remarked, towards his towel pictured Christiano ‘CR7’ Ronaldo in action.

”My idol!” he insisted.

And I look smile on his face like a sun coming through the rain. Conversation flow. He becomes chatty. Somehow he chooses to remain rather back to the village.

While sheltered, we talk about ‘CR7’ life, football tactic, and how good is he in Real Madrid and Portugal — a country with influence in Tidore’s history. In short, he admires ‘CR7’ skill, and how he loved his mother.

“Let’s go! Don’t wait for rain!” he commands me to prepare for the summit. I’m more motivated by now. I’m a football freak, once I talk football, it’s hard to stop. I read a lot of football mags, however, I’m not trying to be pedantic, I’m not his Mourinho, I’m not that “special one”, I try to talk equally.

We keep talking through the foggy hill, even I’m not really aware what path I passed, I just remembered there was a light storm sound like Madridista chanting.

I didn’t realize we talk that far as we closed to the peak.

“Look that white flag!” he pointed out. “We’re 15-meter to the peak now.”

I thought it was a Santiago Bernabeau flag, but not, this is the white flag that sacred by local.

Finally, I check my GPS, finally me and ‘CR7’ arrived at the peak of Kiematubu at 1730-m asl. From the peak, we see the City of Tidore, Mt.Maitara, and Mt. Gamalama. (*)

My Suunto (was sold for food) shows the elevation and temperature, 2011.

Me and the white flag on the top of Kie Matubu, 2011.

A monument on the top of Kie Matubu, 2011.

City view seen cloudy from the top of Kie Matubu, 2011.

Route to Kiematubu’s Peak via Gurabunga

▪ Port of Rum — Desa Gurabunga 1,5 h

▪ Desa Gurabunga — Last plantation 45 min.

▪ Last plantation — Rumah gubuk 1 h

▪ Rumah gubuk — Waterspring 1,5 h

▪ Waterspring — Peak 30 min.