Weekend Getaway To Harapan Island

After mid-term test, my friends and I went on a trip to Harapan Island. Which is one of hundreds of islands chattered across The 1,000 Islands archipelago, located near capital city, Jakarta.

We used a travel service agent (Sakura Travel) to arrange our 2D1N trip, it costed 360,000/person for 10 people in one group (includes everything from the round-trip boat, snorkeling gear, meals, homestay). We went on Saturday by boat in Muara Angke harbour in North Jakarta. 

the wooden boat that taking us to Harapan Island

The ambience wasn’t really good at the harbour, the road was tarnish from torrential rain last night, fishy smells from the traditional market, and crowds of people. Because that day was a national holiday, no wonder lots of people were also going to Thousand Island for vacation. 

The boat was over loaded with people I guess, because we didn’t get the seat nor the life vest. So we just sat on the floor near the captain’s room. And if you're wondering, there's an emergency toilet here (not the fancy one ofc) just in case...

Here we were just sit around

The captain's room

The boat was finally moving off after half an hour delay. (We're supposed to leave at 7:00 a.m). The journey to Harapan Island took about 3 hours. The weather was really nice and sunny. In the meantime I just enjoyed the view. The first hour I noticed plenty of rubbish floating on the ocean, so sad. But as the boat went further, the water got cleaner and more blue.

The wave wasn’t so big that time, so we were doing just fine. I also saw some other beautiful islands and some fishermens on their boat catching fish. There’s nothing I could do for the rest of the journey, other than chatting with friends, play with my phone or try to sleep (which I found hard because a kid next to me kept kicking my body for unknown reason).

3 hours later we arrived at the Harapan Island’s dock, as we went out, a lot of locals were taking pictures of us using their cellphone. Which I found a bit strange and awkward, but still smile anyway. After met with our guide from the travel agency, Pak Ari led us to our home stay.

The main gate. Don't get deceived, it wasn't this quiet actually

As soon as we arrived at the homestay, the lunch was delivered to our home. I didn't take any pictures of the meals, but it mostly seafoods (fish, squid, prawn) and also soup. They tasted really good and the amount of foods  served were exact as the number of us. 

The homestay itslef was pretty decent with 3 rooms equipped with air conditioner and 2 bathrooms on the outside with squat toilet. They’re clean, except the bed sheet was a bit sandy. Incidentally, there were 2 unfunctioned TVs, so they are only there as a display.

My room with two other friends

snapchat of our homestay

There were about 2,000 people visiting Harapan Island at the moment, our tour guide said. Which is amazing! 

The neighborhood was fine, there’s school, posyandu, village office, and also cemetery in the island. The locals are mostly working as fishermen, tour gide and the women are cooking meals for the tourists for allowances. Some of them also open a warung  (small shop) that sell snacks and any other essentials. And there's no ATM in this island, so make sure you bring enough cash.

Narrow road (alley) at Harapan Island

We got on a traditional boat and ready for snorkeling and island-hopping journey. Our first stop was Macan Island (Tiger Island). 

on the traditional boat, ready to go!

Had a great time snorkeling

The reef in there was pretty but I didn't encounter a lot of fishes like I expected, only a few fishes would passed near me. The water wasn’t that clear either. But it was so much fun because it was my first time ever to snorkel!

Then we moved to Gugus Perak, where the water is shallow (calf-deep). My feet was in so much pain to step on the dead reef.

The dead reef

The journey continued to Perak Island, not to snorkel but just to chill out. I spent time exploring the beach, I love beach so much! While my other friends were exploring some sort of jungle in that island and they found a very unique spot to take pictures.

Beach in Perak Island

My friends discovered this in the jungle

Our last destination that day was Bulat Island (Round island, because some people believe that the island looked round from above). We went there to see sunset, but I was so hungry so I have to queued in a one and only and crowded stall to order pop mie. Thus, I kinda missed the sunset.. But I still managed to capture one in my phone as I walked by. 

Beautiful sunset

I couldn’t explore Bulat Island because we only given little time there, which most of it I spent queueing in the stall and eating my noodle.

Around 6:00 p.m we came back to Harapan Island, it was almost dark and a bit scary because the wave was getting a lil bit bigger and it was so cold.

On a boat back to Harapan Island

We arrived home feeling really tired and just wanna go to bed, but still got one more activity which was Barbeque time! At 9:00 pm Pak Ari knocked at the door to pick us up, I dragged myself out to a big yard full of people, where the barbeque party was held. It’s either we were very tired or already full ‘cause we had dinner earlier, the barbeque which was consist of squid and a big fish, served with a bowl of ketchup, tasted just strange.. so we stop eating it and gave it to couple of cats. (FYI, There are plenty of cats around this Island).

In the morning, I woke up around 6:30 and we all missed the sunrise but had no problem with it at all. There’s this funny story when we kept demanding Pak Ari to give us our welcome drink. Well, it’s very reasonable request because the itinerary said that we’ll get the welcome drink as we arrived yesterday, and we paid for it already. But Pak Ari just kept mumbling and tried to change the subject. But we didn’t give up and kept reminding him about that ‘welcome drink’. I think he got a bit upset so in the morning he gave us a pot of warm sweet tea as our ‘welcome drink’. We laughed, because that’s not a typical of welcome drink at all, but still drink it anyway.. But we never get the proper welcome drink (I’m thinking about fresh coconut water, you know). Whatever.

After breakfast we got in a traditional boat again, ready to explore another island!

We headed to Genteng Island which apparently has these very beautiful coral reefs! We spent lots of time here to take pictures with different style. LOL.

Group pictures! missing one member, cz she took the photograph

This island was quiet, and there are some kind of abandoned resorts or inns or something. One thing to remember is to apply anti-mosquito lotions before going here. One of my friend got plenty of small bumps around her thigh, legs, and arms due to that bloody mosquitos bite.

We played with the hammocks and some sort of swings in there too, a friend of mine even climbed the tree for the sake of her photo being taken, which is cool.

The beach isn’t that spacious, but it’s very clean and just peaceful.

Calm beach, just love the atmosphere here

After that we sailed back to Harapan Island to see the marine biotas which is located near our homestay!

The entrance

What to see in here? You can see these super cute baby turtles or the adult one

You can also see their eggs, people here are taking care of them really well

Where they keep the trutles' eggs

And lastly you can see some fishes that are cultivated in here, you can even feed them

There’s also plenty of mangroves planted here, so nice..

We rushed to our home stay to cleaned up and packed because we’re ready to go home. Before get in to the same ship that took us here, I bought some cilung first. So cilung is a unique snack of Harapan Island.

It’s actually a mix of two quail eggs cooked and brushed with some kind of jelly and rolled with a stick (llike satay) and dipped into a can of abon before it’s ready. It tastes much like traditional snack from Betawi, kerak telor. But this one is more sticky and you eat it with a stick, not in a plate with spoon like you used to eat kerak telor. The seller asked me, would I like it spicy or savory. Which is a bit strange, because how come it’s not savory? So i ordered savory and spicy. The price is Rp 5,000/stick.

There’re other street foods here, the mainstream ones such as ice cream, cilok, toast, and coconut water.

When everyone had finished buying their snacks, we walked fast to the boat which was once again over loaded with people! It was totally full and that boat was the only one, so we really didn't have any other choices. 

We forced to get inside the boat and saw people already took their spot, some even lying asleep. So we had to awkwardly tip-toe walking and I was busy said "Sorry... excuse me..." to people who are staring at us all the way. I felt so uncomfortable that time. We looked around to find some spaces, but the fact that it was already full. So there's no chance for us to sit together, ten of us. So we were separated. I finally found a space with three of my friends on top of a machine i guess, covered with some kind of board. That machine made my butt was in pain, because i could feel the heat. 

We were so upset with a group of boys and girls that made a small circle and playing card, while some of my friends still looking for a space to sit. But those people really didn't care a bit, they're still playing card and laughing as in nothing happened and nobody was staring at them angrily. So my friend just forced to sit near them and push them subtly, but they still ignoring my friend. Errr. 

So, yeah the journey back home wasn't so nice, I tried to sleep but I couldn't because it was so hot, I sweat a lot and my butt hurt, and also some people were smoking and I hated it. But Thank God, the journey back to Muara Angke felt quicker than the departure. 

Arrived in Muara Angke we booked a bemo (I guess) to a road near BayWalk and we got in a Kopami 02 to Kota Station. From there I took TransJakarta to my home, while other friends were using train.

-The End-