Karimunjawa – a Tropical Island Getaway near Central Java

By: Reza Daffi

Looking for a tropical retreat, but no time to fly to Bali or even further? The Karimunjawa Islands lie in the northern waters of Central Java Province, 120 km north of province capital Semarang. The nearest Javanese town, however, is Jepara, from which people usually depart for the islands. It takes a 6-hour ferry trip covering 83 kilometers, but it’s definitely worth it. Renowned for its picturesque beaches and rich biodiversity, it was established as a national marine park by the Indonesian government in 1999 and turned into a marine protected area two years later.

The name Karimunjawa can refer to either the cluster of islands or its biggest island, where tourists usually stay in hotels or in the cheaper option, locals’ houses. The second biggest island, separated by only a thin line of water with Karimunjawa on its south, is Kemujan. Together they are surrounded by as many as 25 smaller islets, not all open for recreational visits. The two mentioned before, along with Parang, Nyamuk, and Genting, are the only inhabited islands.

Pulau Pari @ Pulau Seribu: The Island of the Refugees

By: Putri Fitria

Pulau Pari is one of the islands of the Pulau Seribu archipelago, located a stone's throw away from Jakarta. Pulau Pari is one of the more quiet islands, which made it my first option for a visit. Although the kapal kayu (a wooden fisherman's boat) I rode on the way there was full, the amount of tourists on Pari Island seemed sparse compared to other more popular islands of Pulau Seribu.

Pari, the Island of the Refugees

The boat ride from Jakarta's Muara Angke harbor took an hour and a half. The boat dock at Pari Island, which was recently expanded, was nothing out of ordinary. But walking a little bit to the east, the white shore of Perawan Beach did look mesmerizing. This beach has only been a tourist destination for a year. It is called Perawan (meaning virgin), they say because the native people had to work very hard to open the route to get there. “The plants were high and sharp. It was so difficult to ‘get in’, thus the name Perawan,” shared a woman who sold coconuts, with a grin.

Yogya’s Southern Beaches: Grasping Business Opportunities while Taking Care of Nature

By: Sri Rahmawati & Vatsya Mallayana

Photos by: Dorothea Gecella Putri Lestari

8 a.m. and we started our trip to explore some beaches in Gunung Kidul, the most mountainous part of Yogyakarta. It took us over two hours by car to get there from Yogyakarta City, not only to take pleasure in its natural beauty, but also to talk business and to learn how people there take care of their beaches.

Our mouths could not stop gaping until a child surprised us with a splash on the surface of the turquoise water. Later, the heat of the sun that had totally burnt our faces could not stop us from creating footprints across the warm, white sand. Strips of giant rocks on the western end of this beach seemed to want to make us believe that we were the subjects of a famous painting.

Stranded on Liang Beach, Ambon & Never Want to go Home…

By: Tegar Putuhena

Once you set foot on Liang beach, chances are you never want to leave again. The curving beach is about 1 km and 300 meters wide and often very quiet. A small "banyan forest" that acts as a sand fence forms the border of this fantastic playground.

Malang: Hikes & Hidden Beaches

By: Kindeng Temminck-Simamora

Malang is the second largest city in East Java, Indonesia. It is traditionally known as a place to unwind and relax for people stressed out from big city life. Due to its elevation, Malang has a cool climate, although according to native Malang people (known as Arema, an abbreviation of Arek Malang), it has gradually gotten hotter in Malang.

Malang is not as crowded and busy as other cities on Java such as Jakarta or Surabaya, so the air feels cleaner and the atmosphere is more laidback. The city features some malls, good restaurants, a variety of hotels, tourist attractions, good schools/universities. All in all Malang is a friendly city, where every visitor will feel at home.

Natural Beauty in Malang

Malang doesn’t just have mountains, but also beaches and waterfalls.  Some of the waterfalls can be found in Batu, just 45 minutes from Malang.  The one which is the easiest to get is Coban Rondo (coban means waterfall).

Another waterfall in Batu is Coban Ondo, close to Cangar, the warm water spring.  This waterfall is not as well known, so it is less crowded there. The access to the waterfall is not as easy as getting to Coban Rondo. Ondo means stairs and to get there you have to climb a long stairway!

Bali’s Hidden Beaches: Some of Bali’s Least Visited, Most Stunning Beaches!

By: Prima Frambawati

Bali beaches are a playground for sunbathers, surfers and hawkers. Kuta beach offers quite the spectacle, but isn’t the most tranquil beach you’ll ever see. Massage ladies wait in the shadows for potential customers, people selling crossbows and other 'Balinese' souvenirs wander from one tourist to another. Pretending to sleep is a trick that only temporarily works. Open one eye and you will be covered in batik, bracelets, temporary tattoos and pineapples.

An escape into the water will surely cool you off, but watch out for the surfers of varying aptitude (Kuta beach is a favored spot for grommets trying to catch their first wave). Dodging surfers racing towards you is a sport in itself, but maybe not your cup of tea.

Luckily there are plenty of beaches on Bali. Beaches that are tranquil, offer spectacular vistas and have hardly any tourists on them. Here a list of Bali’s best hidden beaches:

Destination Port Dickson, Malaysia’s Seaside Retreat

By: Melissa Lin

Port Dickson is a favored seaside retreat for many Malaysians, located in the district Negeri Sembilan, 90 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur. It takes just over an hour by car to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Port Dickson along the North-South Expressway. Port Dickson can also easily be reached from Seramban, the capital of Negeri Sembilan, located only 32 kilometers from Port Dickson.

Stepping off the bus from Seremban and arriving in Port Dickson on a lazy Sunday Malaysian evening, I was greeted by the gentle and balmy breeze of the sea. I felt immediately relaxed and at ease in the atmosphere of the P.D twilight. My local bus mate struck up a conversation, wanting to know where I was headed, and was eager to dispense with some tips in navigating this lovely coastal town.