The Legend of Slamet Montain

A long time ago, Mount Slamet was so tall that it reached the sky. It was said that from the summit, one could even touch the stars. However, no one dared to climb the mountain because they feared that the gods in heaven would be angry if anyone took the stars.

One day, a group of monkeys gathered beneath the towering mountain, gazing up at the glittering stars.

"Look at those stars," said the monkey king, his eyes shining with desire. "They are so beautiful! If we could bring some down, we would be the most admired creatures in the world!"

"But, Your Majesty," one of the monkeys hesitated, "what if the gods get angry? No one has ever dared to take the stars."

The monkey king waved his hand dismissively. "The gods won't notice a few missing stars. Besides, who else but us has the courage to climb Mount Slamet? Let's go!"

Led by their king, the monkeys bravely ascended Mount Slamet and took some of the stars. As a result, the night sky became dark, and the people were saddened. The gods, too, were furious!

In the heavens, Batara Guru called for an urgent meeting. "This theft cannot go unpunished! Those mischievous monkeys have stolen the stars and disrupted the balance of the world!"

Batara Narada nodded gravely. "You are right, Batara Guru. We must stop them before they do any more harm."

Batara Brama spoke up, "But how? The monkeys are cunning and quick. We need someone who knows the land and can deal with them."

Batara Narada had an idea. "Let us seek the help of Ki Semar. He is wise and powerful, and he lives on earth among the people. He will know what to do."

Ki Semar was an ancient god, even older than Batara Guru himself. Despite his divine nature, Ki Semar chose to live on earth with his three sons: Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong. When the gods approached him, he listened carefully.

"Ki Semar," Batara Guru said, "the monkeys have stolen the stars from the sky, and now the night is dark. We ask for your help in dealing with them."

Ki Semar nodded slowly. "I understand. The monkeys must be taught a lesson for their mischief. I will take care of it. My sons and I will set a trap for them."

Ki Semar devised a plan with his sons. First, he spoke to Gareng. "Gareng, you must go to the top of Mount Slamet and lure the monkeys down with a basket of bananas. They cannot resist such a treat."

Gareng smiled. "Leave it to me, Father. The monkeys will follow me down the mountain in no time."

Gareng climbed to the top of Mount Slamet with the basket of bananas. As soon as the monkeys saw the bananas, their eyes lit up.

"Look, bananas!" one of the monkeys exclaimed. "Let's follow him!"

The monkey king, forgetting all about the stars, eagerly led his troop down the mountain, following Gareng.

As soon as the monkeys left the summit, Ki Semar turned to his second son, Petruk. "Now, Petruk, you must be ready with the hot water. When the monkeys come near, pour it over them. That will teach them a lesson they won't forget."

Petruk nodded. "I'll be ready, Father. Those monkeys won't know what hit them!"

Meanwhile, Ki Semar used his incredible strength to cut off the top of the mountain. He hurled the largest piece to Cirebon, where it became Mount Ceremai, and the smaller pieces scattered to form other mountains like Mount Clirit, Mount Tapak, and others.

As Petruk waited further down the mountain with the cauldron of hot water, he grew impatient. "Where are those monkeys? They should have been here by now."

He waited and waited, but the monkeys never arrived. Unbeknownst to Petruk, the monkeys had encountered a giant dragon while chasing Gareng. A fierce battle ensued between the monkeys and the dragon, and tragically, both the monkeys and the dragon perished.

Growing tired of waiting and unaware of what had happened, Petruk eventually left the area, leaving the cauldron of hot water behind.

When he returned home, Bagong asked, "Where are the monkeys, Petruk? Did you pour the hot water on them?"

Petruk sighed. "No, they never showed up. I don't know what happened. I left the hot water behind in the forest."

Ki Semar chuckled. "It seems the monkeys got what they deserved elsewhere. As for the place where you left the hot water, Petruk, it will become something special."

The place where Petruk abandoned the hot water became known as Guci. Located about 50 kilometers from Tegal, Central Java, Guci is now famous for its hot springs, which continue to attract visitors to this day.