Indonesia’s diverse geography provides abundant opportunities for outdoor leisure, especially among adolescents who increasingly share their experiences through social media. In recent years, short‑form video platforms have become a primary outlet for youth to showcase “real‑life” moments that blend the ordinary (e.g., bathing) with the extraordinary (e.g., waterfalls). The video examined in this paper depicts a —a town located in the highlands of West Java—taking a quick wash under a local waterfall. While the act of bathing is routine, the setting transforms it into a stylised lifestyle vignette, resonating with contemporary Indonesian “explorer‑vlogger” aesthetics.
Historically, many rural Indonesian communities have used natural water sources—rivers, springs, and waterfalls—as places for . In West Java, especially in the highland areas surrounding Batu Jajar, the tradition of “mandi di curug” (bathing in a waterfall) persists, particularly during school holidays when families venture out for picnics and trekking. While the act of bathing is routine, the