*late post*
this trip has been in the works for quite some time now but given the limited time and availability of the group, it was only that March holiday, we have finally pushed through with the trip.
beach baby
Thomas and Friends
Princess a.k.a Chichay, organized the entire trip. She likewise made the itinerary and sent to our group for our reference.
here is the suggested itinerary made by our trip organizer. hehe.
Itinerary for tom: [March 30]
5:30 am - alis s house
6:00 am - sharp. Alis n speedboat
7:00 am - arrival
8:00 am - go to beach using bike.
8:30 am - start n ng fun. We decide kung anu like ntn unahin or gawin. We have guide. (snorkling, banana boat, picture taking, langoy aso)
12:00 lunch 1:00 pm - continue d fun or inuman etc.
3:00 pm - shower na and prepare for sunset photo session.
5:00pm - balik s beach for photo
7:00pm - dinner 8:00pm - inuman.and barbeque party
On monday, [March 31]
6:00 am - breakfast
9:00 to 11:00 - swim swim ulet
12:00 snacks lng
1:00 - departure
the suggested itinerary was not followed due to a lot of factors and we will point out those factors in a while. But this itinerary helped out to have an idea what are the activities on the island.
The Package
700,000 IDR (~60 US$) per person
this include:
- homestay for one night
- 1 lunch, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast, 1 snack
- speed ferry (Jakarta-Pulau Tidung-Jakarta)
- island activities
- barbeque (bon fire) party
- bike rental
- underwater photos
The Photos and Stories
after settling in our things at our homestay, we immediately went to the island's beach to check out the place. There is a connecting bridge from the big island of Pulau Tidung to the small island of Pulau Tidung.
the walk from the big island to the small island was quite long plus the scorching heat of the sun made it a more energy draining activity. So, we rested and hung out for a while in this small island.
because of the clear water (ugh, slight), we decided to have a quick photo ops before going back to the big island.
pit stop. too hot.
group pic!
so it was finally our turn to experience the banana boat riding. i was hesitant at first because i don't do water activities but eventually cajoled into joining them. infairness, it was fun.
after which, we rode a small boat to bring us to some spots around Pulau Tidung for some snorkeling adventure. I'm fussy when it comes to snorkeling so i was left in the boat, sunbathing. haha!
my most likeable part of the island hopping would be the stop over at Pulau Payung. Despite massive rubbish in the island, the water was still worth swimming.
after freshening up and dinner at our homestay, we prepared for the supposed highlight of the night, the barbeque party. The local tour guide placed mats under a big tree facing the beach and prepared the bonfire and grill.
the following morning, we went back to the beach via local's public transportation.
we have decided to eat breakfast at the beach area.
group photos are in order, obviously.
after which, we have decided to go to the other side of the island for some beach action which was also the only spot that had a consistent signal. whoopee for me.
while others were still preparing after swimming at the beach, some of us went souvenir shopping. we opted to walk around but went back to homestay after a few blocks because of the unbearable heat.
now, it was time for us to leave. i was excited to go back to Jakarta but the gratification was delayed as the speed ferry arrived almost 3 hours late. Stress.
it was a relief upon seeing the arriving speed ferry. Finally.
The Beach
There was no denying that the view upon arrival at the beach was mesmerizing. the crystal blue green water of the beach really piqued my interest.
However, it was disheartening to discover that rubbish and garbage were all over the place. Even the seawater itself were full of garbage. I have lost interest in swimming because of this scene. Clearly, waste disposal hasn't been a top priority in this island. Sad.
can you see the rubbish? sad. sad. sad.
and with that i leave you with this...
Final Thoughts About Pulau Tidung
Okaaay, let's start with the overall feedback of our overnight package tour. We were disappointed that the supposed rental of bike was not provided to us, stating it was not part of the package. Moreover, food was so - so. The homestay experience was just tolerable. Despite this experience, we were grateful to our tour guide for trying his best to provide us the service that we deserve. Plus, bonding with friends made the entire trip fun and light.
I have mentioned above my disappointment with the island's waste disposal system. I guess the local people still hasn't found a way to organize their rubbish, hence, It's making hard for a beach lover like me to actually like the island.
After experiencing Pulau Tidung, would I recommend it to anyone? I would say yes if (1) you want to stay disconnected to the world and do some soul searching even for at least a day because of the signal there is fleeting almost non - existent (2) you are tired of Jakarta and you want to see more places in Indonesia (3) you want bonding time with friends then this is a good way to do it. BUT (yes there is a BUT) i would only recommend staying at least one night in this island. Unless they figure out a way to keep the beach clean and garbage - free then go ahead, spend more days in this island.
I don't know if what i am blabbering about makes sense but personally, i don't see myself going back to this island soon. Harsh but that's the truth. peace out.
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