Tempurung Island

Yesterday we went to Tempurung Island, near Merak, with total 15 members. It's a small island which looks like a turtle shell. The name might came from it. :D We departed from Semanggi, meeting point at around 6. It was supposed to be 5, but due to some miss communication, it was delayed almost 1 hour. 

We arrived Merak Port at around 9 and immediately stepped on the speed boat to cross the sea to our destination after leaving some unnecessary stuffs in the home stay, such as clean clothes, bath stuff, etc.

Taken on the speedboat before arriving the island

Well, I was quite shocked actually when I saw the island's condition. So many trashes and empty bottles were seen. Well, not affected by it, all of us started to go snorkeling, including me. There were no one except us, so we felt like we owned the island, hehehe.. 

Since I don't have any fins, well even the mask and snorkel were borrowed from Wahyu, I had no guts to swim too far because the current was quite strong. There were so many fishes swimming back and forth. Wonderful! I was so amazed which made me unwilling to get up. Yet, after some time, I went back to the island because of feeling tired. I needed to use extra energy to swim due to the strong current. 

The others were also taking a rest

At last, Rika who also brought fins felt tired and stopped already. That's why I borrowed hers and went to the deeper and further sea. I have no words to describe how beautiful it is. There are really so many fish there. Wow, fantastic! So bad, my camera can't go underwater. Never mind, there's some who brought underwater camera. Hopefully I can get the pictures from them soon. 

After a long and tiring but satisfying effort to swim back to the island, we decided to have lunch. Some of them went back snorkeling later on and some went fishing, while I went going up the hill. :D 

Frau and Shari were playing inside the lagoon

Riska was going to the fishing spot with Frau, Shari and Wahyu

These were the small hill just beyond the fishing spot

 

The wave crashing the reef, near the fishing spot. Beautiful, isn't it? :)

This whirpool was seen near the hill beyond the fishing spot. Love it very much! 

When the others were snorkeling and fishing, Wahyu and me decided to go up the peak of the island's hill. Not as beautiful as the underwater I saw, but I'll upload some of the pictures taken from the hill. 

The forest before the hill

At the Summit, I saw a lighthouse. Of course, I climbed it, hohohoo.. 

Stepped only the first layer.. :(

I took more picture on the way back.. Wahyu made me a single model for the day, hahahaa.. 

Reef when climbing down the hill

Small hill

We decided to go back at around 3, and arrived the home stay at 4. After taking a bath, we went back to Jakarta at around 5.30. Wow, what a tiring journey yet pleasing. I don't regret going there. :) 


- Keep the Faith - 

  Nadia 

Ujung Kulon

Hey hey hey... 
I came back Jakarta from Ujung Kulon, which we prefer calling UK, Sunday midnight. 
We arrived Jakarta at around 12 p.m., starting at 11 a.m. from UK. What a long journey huh? 
Yet, it's really very worthy going there! Our GOD is really so wonderful, who can create such a beautiful and wonderful nature and scenery. 

We started our journey on Thursday midnight, July 12, 2012 12.00 p.m., consist of 13 people including me. The members are Miea, Maria, Wahyu, Friska, Afung, Wawan, Emil, Erni, Vita, Dudey, Meti, Yuni and me. The departure journey was quite quick, because there were no other cars except us. We went there using 2 cars. Well, I'm not sure how the journey was, because I fell asleep soon after the car started. I woke up not long before at last we reached Sumur to transit to Peucang Island by boat at around 7 o'clock in the morning. The journey by boat itself took around 3 hours. Phew, what a long journey! Yet, the fatigue was paid off when we reached our destination. Wow, I was so bewitched by the beauty of the beach. 

Welcome to Peucang Island!!!

What a beautiful scenery I have ever seen! The sand is so white and fine-grained, the sea is calm and clean. Thus, we can see the fish swimming right beneath the surface. Oh Jesus, I really fell in love at the first sight! :) 
Wow, I can't imagine how grateful I am being able to come and see one of GOD's marvelous creation. No pollution and waste dispossal or even trash were sighted. The air is also so fresh and the wind breezes slightly, made me feel as if I was in heaven.If there's another chance, I would like to come once more. ;) 

On the first day, we didn't travel much. We arrived there at around noon. After taking a short break for relieving our exhaust due the long journey, we had our lunch together.

Arrived at Cibom (Taken from Wahyu's) :D

Then, we took our trip to Tanjung Layar, from Cibom, which is famous for its scenery and light house. We went there by boat of course. It took around one hour tracking for us to reach the summit. Beforehand, we stopped by the lighthouse. Nobody dared to climb, yet I was eager to. At last, I climbed it myself with Miea joined afterwards. However, I stopped before reaching the first layer, It has seven layers in total, because the wind was quite strong. Phew, really I hoped would be able to climb until the peak of the lighthouse. :(

Well, never mind that! We continued until we reached the summit. Wow, once more I was fascinated by its view. Really I can't describe the beauty of the nature, because it will lack of words. No words are enough to illustrate it, the rocks, the reef, the sea, the waves, the tides, the horizon... 
We took many pictures, but most of them were taken by Miea's camera. I only had some taken by my Blackberry. Although the result is not as good as the picture from camera, especially SLR like Miea's, it's quite good I think. Better than nothing right? :D 
Well, before I continued my story, I would like to share some misery I experienced. I hurt myself several times and the first time happened here. I accidentally kicked a piece of leaf with some thorns at one side. Three thorns stabbed into my toes, one each, and were left there. Ouch, it's so painful. I was able to pull out two of them and of course it quickly started bleeding from it. I met difficulties in pulling the last one. Luckily one of the member had a fingernail cutter and I was able to pull the thorns by it. Wew, another luck, the bleed stopped at last. Phew... What a clumsy me! :D 
Hey, we met a very strange  tree, and I like the unique of it.

Next stop, Cidaon! What a waste, I didn't go there. I was lack of stamina and fell asleep at the boat. I really can't move! I was so sad I can't encounter the endangered animals there, such as peacock, rhinoceros, wild ox, etc. Ah, my bad! Might be due to the long journey, one by one fell. We decided to go back, take a bath, have dinner and have some talk among us. Most of them went to sleep at around 9. However, I was able to take a picture of a very beautiful sunset scenery.

Then... The next day schedule was full snorkeling! Tee-hee... I have been wondering and excited how it felt. Luckily Wahyu promised to get me the tool for snorkeling. My first experience? It's wonderful!! The underwater scenery is also as beautiful as the upper one! The corals, the fishes... *clapping hands* Once more I was very grateful to You, GOD! :) Yet, I can't upload any of these, because my Blackberry is not waterproofed. :(  

Yet, I'll upload the pictures taken from Dudey's. :D

There're more but I think these are enough... :D

Another one taken from Wahyu's athough given some editing.

Oh, another interesting story! We were not lack of any food, especially fish of course. Yuni and Meti, moreover Afung really like fishing. They got some buckets of fish. Not that interesting? Hahahaha.. Of course, the interesting one was... Afung succeeded in getting us a big fish for dinner by using his spear fishing gun during snorkeling! Super, isn't he? Here's his picture taken from Dudey's.

Quite a small picture though. It can't be helped. Dudey took it from the boat and it's quite far from Afung's position. 

We got ourselves three spots for snorkeling. I didn't enjoy much in the last spot, near Peucang Island, due to the jellyfish swimming around. It almost felt like being struck by lightning when we were touched by its tentacles. Phew, quite painful may I say. I got up soon, not more than five minutes I guessed. :D 

taken by Wahyu

If I were asked whether I was satisfied for stopping snorkeling, I would say "No". However, the time passed by quickly. :( Ah, never mind. Next... We went for another tracking to Karang Copong from our backyard lodge. Not many joined, as many of them only love snorkeling and dislike tracking which usually fond by mountain climber, including Miea, Wahyu and me. Therefore, the people that went tracking were Miea, Wahyu, Maria, Wawan, Vita and me. We past through some forest before arriving Karang Copong. Once again I met many strange, unique and beautiful trees.

We started the track in the evening, for pursuing sunset. Oh, I forgot telling you that I hurt myself the second time when snorkeling. I was so amazed and spell bounded by the underwater beauty and didn't realized my leg hit the corals. When I got up unto the boat, I felt pain in my leg. How I surprised that it's bleeding...
Ah, back to the story! We walked a little bit slower due to my wounds. Really appreciate them accompanying me behind. :)
Yet, we were unlucky. The sunset was covered by some clouds. Phew... We went home at almost night. Luckily I brought my flash. Thanks for Your reminder, Holy Spirit. :) 


After having dinner, we all had a nice quality talk. I felt much closer to them than before. Sadly, there were no bonfire. :D Due to the many activities, one by one, almost the women, felt tired already and went to sleep at around 10 or 11. Maria and I still had some talk with some of the men until 12 o'clock.

On the next day, we packed our stuffs early in the morning. We decided to go back Jakarta at around 10 a.m. from Peucang, to avoid any traffic jam that might happen. Yet, we departed at around 11 o'clock because Maria and Wahyu still had some payment to the lodging owner and boat rental. As expected, many cars were sighted on our way home and we were quite stuck somehow. The journey that was supposed to be only 9 hours took 12 hours. I arrived home at around 12 midnight. 

Wew, what a long journey! Yet, I didn't regret it! This is one of the best trip I've ever had. Thanks a lot to the committees. :D 
For those who want to have a trip there can contact me, I will give you the committee's number. (Somehow I end up promoting) 

By the way, Maria will be going to German on July 29, 2012. Is there any farewell for her? They said the trip was her farewell, but I don't think it works. I've told Wahyu, hopefully he can arrange some gathering before she flies to get married.

Well, that's all I can share for my trip. Hopefully I can get another trip as fascinating as the last one soon. 
Once again, thanks GOD for everything. :) 

       Nadia
- Keep the Faith -