The Overthinker’s Scorecard: crossing the suspension bridges of Bukit Lawang
When I booked our stay in Bukit Lawang, I knew we’d be trekking through the jungle in search of orangutans. What I hadn’t appreciated was that I’d also be tackling four suspension bridges.
The first one appeared before we’d even reached our lodge. Wooden planks, no handrails, a fast-flowing river below and a level of wobbling that felt entirely unnecessary.
Marc stepped onto it without hesitation. I stepped onto it wondering whether turning back was still an option. Then somebody else walked onto the bridge. Then a motorbike came towards us.
By the time we’d crossed it, I assumed I’d got the worst over with. I was wrong. There were three more.
The second and third were made of metal instead of wood, but they bounced around just as enthusiastically. By the fourth bridge, I was convinced the engineer had looked at it and thought, “Good enough.” It leaned slightly to the left, stretched much further than the others and moved every time anyone breathed. It looked like it could be a supporting character in an Indiana Jones film. For all I know, it is.
And yet… At no point did I plummet to my death. In fact, somewhere between bridge number one and bridge number four, something unexpected happened. I got used to it. Not completely – I was still holding onto the cables for dear life – but enough to stop halfway across and take photos of the jungle.
Apparently that’s what personal growth looks like.
The Overthinker’s Scorecard
Fear beforehand
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
First impressions
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Wooden planks. No handrails. Lots of wobbling.
Amount of wobble
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Every step. Every person. Every motorbike.
Overthinking level
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My imagination was far more dangerous than the bridge.
Actual danger
⭐☆☆☆☆
The bridges are built to move and are used all day, every day.
Confidence by bridge #4
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Stopped halfway. Took photos. Still held onto the cables.
Would I do it again?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Absolutely. I’d just spend a lot less time worrying beforehand.
FINAL VERDICT
Expected outcome:
A dramatic plunge into the river.
Actual outcome:
Four suspension bridges, no injuries and a phone full of jungle photos.
Overthinker’s Verdict:
Much scarier in my imagination than in real life. But if you really are scared: if you stay in the Bukit Lawang Ecolodge you’ll have to cross a bridge every time you want to go to or outside the village. All the other lodges are on the other side of the river and you’ll only have to cross a bridge twice: once when going into the Gunung Leuser National Park and once when coming back from your jungle trek.
Still travelling with me?
Here are a few more adventures that kept my overthinking brain occupied:
- Camel rides in the Moroccan Sahara – graceful in theory, slightly less so in practice.
- The sneaker waves at Reynisfjara – stay off the beach when the lights are flashing. Seriously.
- Madakaripura Waterfall, East Java – an amazing, albeit unexpected adventure
- Bukit Lawang jungle trek – orangutans, slippery paths and a tubing adventure.
Travel with an overthinker
Travel planning with a healthy dose of overthinking? That’s what you’ll find here. If you’d like new posts in your inbox, you’re very welcome to subscribe.
