Morning in a Treehouse
February 10th, Jember. I woke up in a place that felt like a dream. The treehouse I stayed in was built with such creativity—designed so that trees seemed to pass right through the structure itself. It was a home that lived together with nature, not against it.
When I stepped outside, some of the cyclists I had met the day before were already there. Their bicycles, decorated with playful colors—even purple as a main theme—were lined up like artworks. Just seeing them in the morning light made me feel happy.
On the table, there were light morning snacks made from cassava. In Indonesia, cassava seems to be everywhere. Fried, steamed, turned into chips—it feels as though cassava is the foundation of daily life here.
The cyclists kept arriving. Morning is always their active time.
As I wandered through the spacious garden, I found a chicken coop. Fresh eggs were being collected that very morning. Nearby, I saw a plant I couldn’t name—its leaves were as large as my torso. I was told it was common across Malaysia, but seeing its size in person was astonishing.
A Breakfast to Remember
Soon, breakfast was served. I will never forget the surprise I felt. The evening before, someone had asked me what Indonesian food I liked. I had casually replied, “Capcay is delicious.”
This morning, Capcay was waiting for me. They remembered. Alongside it came a dessert made from sweet potatoes, beans, and fruits, rich in texture and taste. It was too much to simply call “breakfast”—it was a gift of flavor and kindness.
Later, some YouTubers joined us. I felt a strange sense of familiarity, maybe because we shared a similar lifestyle of recording and sharing our journeys.
The entire day flowed in a relaxed rhythm. For the first time in a while, the tension of constant travel eased, and when it did, I felt the tiredness spread through my whole body. Sometimes rest is as overwhelming as the journey itself.
Evening at the Free School
By evening, around seven o’clock, children began to gather. This place was not only a home but also a free school. Every day, except holidays, more than fifty children come here to study subjects like religion, mathematics, and languages.
Tonight, the open space was filled with voices and laughter.
I was deeply moved. In Japan, schools tend to keep students within the same age groups. But here, older and younger students gathered together, exchanging ideas freely. It was not only a place of study but a place of human connection. I felt grateful to be welcomed into such an inspiring space.
A Bicycle That Sparks Dreams
After the free school session ended, I was invited to another house belonging to a friend of Zul, the man who had given me the chance to stay in the treehouse. There, I was shown a bicycle unlike any I had ever seen.
It was handmade, equipped with solar panels and eight batteries, weighing nearly 50 kilograms. Long-distance travel on it must be difficult, but the sight of it thrilled me. It was as if someone had taken my own imagination—my dream of “one day building something like this”—and made it real.
Nearby, adults were climbing trees to harvest coconuts. Here, I was told, “The coconuts along the road are usually free to take and eat.”
Watching, I couldn’t help but smile. This place felt like a playground for grown-ups, filled with creativity, freedom, and joy. The entire day, from morning in the treehouse to the evening spent among children and inventors, left me excited and deeply grateful.
It was not a day of travel on the road, but a day of discovery all the same.
