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28 June 2012| last updated at 11:45PM

Dirt, dance and Javanese cuisine



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Participants of West Java Adventure Off Road competition get more than just a taste of Javanese culture

THERE’S probably not much difference between our off-road scene and that of neighbouring Indonesia’s. The tracks are muddy and unforgiving, while the weather is equally unpredictable with the scorching sun at midday and erratic rains in the afternoon.

So, what makes an off-road expedition in West Java stands out?

“Nasi timbel, Javanese dances, rolling padi fields and the warm kampung welcome,” says Narimah Samat of Red Adventure, a KL-based event company.

The gutsy woman and Mohd Khairul Bakri formed the sole Malaysia team in last month’s annual West Java Adventure Off Road.

There were 58 teams in 174 4WD vehicles. While Indonesians formed the bulk of the participants, there were four foreign teams, including one from Malaysia and another from Vietnam.

The four-day expedition covered 300km, from the shopping city of Bandung to Karawang, the capital of Karawang Regency, some 50km east of Jakarta.

The route passes through valleys, hills, beaches and padi fields and offered foreign participants the chance to savour Javanese culture, tradition and hospitality.

Day 4 Participants showing off their skills in three Special Stages obstacles at Kompleks Resinda Karawang Barat before the prize-giving ceremony

Day 3 Another hard day on the track. Obstacles and break-downs were the norm. Though it was a competition, camaraderie among participants shone through. Participants worked together to get the convoy going

Day 2 The second day continued as the convoy moved from Desa Cimayangsari to Base Camp 2 in Cipule. Pit stop was anywhere and Narima (left) and Mohd Khairul (far right) took a lunch break on the track

Day 1 From Obstacle 1, the convoy rolled into Warung Kai Segala Herang before it split into two groups — the light and easy and the hardcore

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