or my last weekend in Jakarta before wrapping up in Bekasi and heading out on my tour of Indonesia, I spent some time in Tidung Island with the other Interns. It was beautiful and a necessary trip to have while in a tropical country! I can't believe 2 months have past since I've been here in the largest Archipelago in the world and I hadn't been swimming, let alone even close to the water! So for me, lover of water, this was fantastic!
The Thousand Islands, Palau Seribu, are a popular vacation spot for Jakartans, and I thought were very beautiful. We headed to the island Tidung, which was only recently developed for tourism. Yes thats right, there are lucky souls who actually live on this island!!
Our journey started early Saturday morning in a beyond stinky fish market/port in Jakarta...where the foul smell of fish and garbage and decay was nauseating. The boats would not meet safety regulations in most developed countries, but we got life jackets and all managed to go and return with our lives intact! 2.5 hours later, sea-sickness threatening the whole way we arrived!
Arriving at Tidung, I finally see what all the hype of tropical islands is about! I used to be skeptical, thinking they were very cliche, but oh how I was missing out! So blue and beautiful and the sun and the breeze and the happy relaxed people, everything about the atmosphere and temperature was perfect! We stayed in a homestay (i.e. someone's home that rents it out for the weekend and probably makes a lot of money doing so), and even though it was very crowded it was still very nice. For the equivalent of about 35-40 Canadian dollars, we got a boat ride to and from the island, our accomodations, 4 meals, a tour guide, bike rentals, a boat to take us scuba diving with the scuba gear!The biking through Tidung was a really cool experience. There are no cars, but the residential area was beautiful and crowded, with small streets, and when it opened up, the views were iconic!
Me and my bike, the Big Cat...the bikes were sketchy, no brakes or gears...but it was flat so they did the trick!
This picture is misplaced...but it is us after scuba chilling on the top of the boat! so fun:)
Back to the views biking!
Group shot...we were 16! Generally I prefer smaller groups, but we all had a fun time and were on an itinerary, so didnt have too much trouble making group decisions etc.
It was soooo blue!! Not a cloud in the sky!
Our trip leader
There was a boardwalk/bridge connecting a smaller island to the main one, and it was super sketchy!!
There was a lot of evidence of dying coral reefs, which was sad!
Its Patrick!! The pink sea coral friend...but, he has perished!!
We took a long walk along the beach to get to a nice swimming spot, and there were some very interesting plants along the way!
Here is a coconut and a basketball...though Tidung was very beautiful and seemed pristine, there was still a lot of garbage on its shores...which was very sad! There is a big problem with just dumping trash in the ocean.
We enjoyed some young coconuts and the conconut water! They are really delicious, its just like sweet water when they are young, and there is this coconut jelly on the inside that you can scarp out and eat with a spoon! So refreshing:)
Scuba diving was so fun! Its nice that I am able to swim, because I could tell from my many floundering friends that it is not so fun if you can't! It was really beautiful, not so colourful as I was expecting, but still lots of cool fish etc.
A good use of plastic bottles, little lanterns.
Inside our house
Outside our house
The boat ride back, was very windy and sunny, but less vomit-inducing than the first trip! and more enjoyable:)
This is for fishing, there were lots of these along the way
And I had to include a picture of the Jakarta port...so much garbage, and the water was black. There was more and more garbage as we approached the city. If I haven't already said it enough, its a huge problem for this city, and the country, and the world!!
Me and my bike, the Big Cat...the bikes were sketchy, no brakes or gears...but it was flat so they did the trick!
This picture is misplaced...but it is us after scuba chilling on the top of the boat! so fun:)
Back to the views biking!
Group shot...we were 16! Generally I prefer smaller groups, but we all had a fun time and were on an itinerary, so didnt have too much trouble making group decisions etc.
It was soooo blue!! Not a cloud in the sky!
Our trip leader
There was a boardwalk/bridge connecting a smaller island to the main one, and it was super sketchy!!
There was a lot of evidence of dying coral reefs, which was sad!
Its Patrick!! The pink sea coral friend...but, he has perished!!
We took a long walk along the beach to get to a nice swimming spot, and there were some very interesting plants along the way!
Here is a coconut and a basketball...though Tidung was very beautiful and seemed pristine, there was still a lot of garbage on its shores...which was very sad! There is a big problem with just dumping trash in the ocean.
We enjoyed some young coconuts and the conconut water! They are really delicious, its just like sweet water when they are young, and there is this coconut jelly on the inside that you can scarp out and eat with a spoon! So refreshing:)
Scuba diving was so fun! Its nice that I am able to swim, because I could tell from my many floundering friends that it is not so fun if you can't! It was really beautiful, not so colourful as I was expecting, but still lots of cool fish etc.
A good use of plastic bottles, little lanterns.
Inside our house
Outside our house
The boat ride back, was very windy and sunny, but less vomit-inducing than the first trip! and more enjoyable:)
This is for fishing, there were lots of these along the way
And I had to include a picture of the Jakarta port...so much garbage, and the water was black. There was more and more garbage as we approached the city. If I haven't already said it enough, its a huge problem for this city, and the country, and the world!!But, great trip, got some sun, got in some swimming, and am excited for my upcoming travel:)
Though, I am very sad to leave WHH, it has been an incredible experience!
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