Maratua Paradise, We Love Turquoise Sea Floor

There are too much heaven in Indonesia. Pantai, laut, pemandangan spektakuler yang selalu membuat saya berdecak kagum dan tidak rela melepas semua itu untuk kembali ke Jakarta. 

There are too much heaven in Indonesia. The beach, sea, spectacular scenery that always makes me chuckle in awe and not willing to let that go just to get back to Jakarta.

Pulau Maratua

Salah satu pecahan surga ada di Kalimantan Timur, tepatnya di Kepulauan Derawan, dimana pasir putih memanjang dengan air laut yang sangat bening. Kemudian manusia membangun tempat nyaman untuk menikmati surga ini. A Paradise.

One piece of  heaven does exists in East Borneo, a part of Derawan Islands, where white sands stretching, along with the super clear sea water. And then human built a comfortable place to enjoy this heaven. A Paradise.

Look at how clear the sea water is!

Built on top of the sea water

Saya menuju Pulau Maratua dengan perjalanan speed boat sekitar 3 jam dari Berau, Kalimantan Timur. Kami merapat di dermaga Maratua Paradise Resort, penginapan yang sebagian dibangun di atas air laut yang menutupi pasir putih pantai yang membentang luas, membentuk warna turquoise yang indah saat matahari bersinar terang.

It took 3 hours boat trip from Berau, a city in East Borneo to go to Maratua Island. We docked at the pier of Maratua Paradise Resort, a lodge which mostly built on top of the sea water that covers the white sand beach, stretching wide, forming a beautiful turquoise color when the sun is shining brightly.

A relaxing place for all

Bagian depan Maratua Paradise berhadapan langsung dengan laut tiga warna, turqoise, biru kehijauan dan biru pekat karena kedalaman laut yang langsung berubah di jarak sekitar 60 meter dari bagian depan penginapan. Semua bagian penginapan ini dibangun dengan kayu, berpadu dengan laut.

The front part of Maratua Paradise is right in front of the three colors sea water, turquoise, greenish blue and dark blue as the ocean depths directly changed at a distance of about 60 meters from the front of the resort. All parts of this place was built with wood, forming a beautiful combination with the sea.

Nature's pool

Di depan terdapat semacam teras untuk bersantai menikmati laut, dan yang saya suka adalah di tengah antara teras dan restoran terdapat semacam kolam kecil yang menyambung ke laut, dimana banyak ikan berseliweran yang dapat kita lihat dari tempat duduk.

  

There is a sort of porch in front of the resort just to relax and enjoy the sea. Also what I like much about this place is that in the middle between the terrace and the restaurant there is such a small pond that connects to the sea, where a lot of fish milling about and we can see from the wooden chairs.

Water Villa

I'm so in love with the turquoise water

Bagian terbaik dari lokasi ini adalah Water Villa, beberapa unit penginapan yang dibangun di atas air laut warna turqoise. Meski dibangun di atas laut, supply air tawar dialirkan melalui pipa tersendiri. Namun sayang, pembuangan dari saluran bathtub dan shower masih langsung ke bawah, ke laut, membuat saya enggan menggunakan banyak shampoo dan sabun.

The best part of this place is the Water Villa, units that is built on top of the turquoise sea water. Even though its built on top of the sea, fresh water supply piped separately. But unfortunately, the disposal of the bathtub and shower drain is still straight down into the sea, makes me feels bad using shampoo and soap. 

View from the room, water villa

Bathroom with a view, water villa number 3

Di luar saluran air yang masih belum dibuat terpisah, Maratua Paradise adalah lokasi yang sempurna untuk menikmati laut di Kepulauan Derawan. Teras unit water villa dimana saya menginap langsung menghadap laut biru, meski berada di atas laut pun unit kamar dibuat sangat nyaman.

Despite that the drains are still not made separately, Maratua Paradise is a perfect location to enjoy the sea in Derawan Islands. The terrace of the water villa where I stay have a direct view to the blue sea. Also even it built on top of the sea water, the rooms are pretty comfortable.

Morning, during the low tide you can see the white sands

Sunset in Maratua Paradise, not the best sunset but it is still beautiful :)

Untuk menikmati water villa anda mesti menyiapkan sekitar 660 ribu rupiah per malam per orang, disini perhitungan tarif per orang karena harga sekian sudah termasuk makan tiga kali sehari karena tentunya tidak ada warung makan yang ada di jarak dekat dari resort ini. Jika mau sedikit menghemat ada bagian beach villa yang terletak di pesisir pantai, dengan harga 550 ribu rupiah per malam per orang. But in my opinion, sensasi menginap di water villa jauh berbeda dengan di beach villa, so you decide.

To enjoy the water villa you have to prepare about 66 dollars per person per night, its a per person rate calculation because so the price includes three meals a day. Well, you can't get any nearest food stalls that exist by walking in this place. If you want to save a little money, there are beach villas located on the coast, at a price of 55 dollars per night per person. But in my opinion, the sensation of staying in water villa is so much different with the beach villa, so you decide.

I'm in heaven

Ini adalah lokasi dimana anda ingin waktu berhenti, dan setiap matahari bersinar terik adalah waktu terbaik dimana air laut berubah warna menjadi sempurna, and you can't stop yourself from the urge of swimming like Dory. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming.. *singing*

This is the location where you just want the time stood still, and every time the sun is shining, there comes the best part when the sea water became so perfect and you can not stop yourself from the urge of swimming like Dory. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming .. * Singing *

@marischkaprue - planning her next ticket to paradise

All photos except (5) is taken using Samsung NX300

NOTES:

• Harga menginap di Maratua Paradise Resort: Rp. 660.000,- per orang per malam untuk Water Villa, dan Rp. 550.000,- per orang per malam untuk Beach Villa. Harga sudah termasuk makan tiga kali sehari. Cek harga terlebih dahulu karena dapat berubah di saat high season. Contact: +628215757169229 atau +6285246585368 (Ilsam)
• Price list for staying at Maratua Paradise Resort: Rp. 660.000, - (Indonesian rupiahs) per person per night for Water Villa, and Rp. 550.000, - per person per night for Beach Villa. Prices includes three meals a day. Check the price first because it can be changed during the high season. Contact: +628215757169229 or +6285246585368 (Ilsam)
• Untuk booking juga bisa melalui email ke  jworld@po.jaring.my ,website Maratua Paradise di http://www.maratua.com/index.php/rates-a-reservations
  
• For bookings, you can also contact through jworld@po.jaring.my or website here http://www.maratua.com/index.php/rates-a-reservations
• Pulau Maratua terletak di Kepulauan Derawan, Kalimantan Timur. Ada dua cara akses ke Derawan, pertama ke Balikpapan terlebih dahulu, kemudian mengambil penerbangan lanjutan ke Berau atau ke Tarakan. Kemudian dari Tarakan atau Berau ke Kepulauan Derawan dengan menggunakan speed boat. Tarif speed boat dari pelabuhan Tanjung Batu, Berau ke Pulau Maratua Rp. 1.500.000,- (one way, kapasitas 10 hingga 13 orang). Lebih baik sewa untuk PP (diantar dan dijemput kembali, dengan harga Rp. 3.000.000,-)
• Maratua located in Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan. There are two ways to access Derawan, first to Balikpapan first, then take connecting flight to Berau or Tarakan. Then from Tarakan or Berau to Derawan Islands by speed boat. Speed boat price from the port of Tanjung Batu, Berau to Maratua is Rp. 1.500.000, - (one way, the capacity of 10 to 13 people). Better rent two way trip (delivered and picked up again, with the price of Rp. 3.000.000, -)
• Dari bandara Tanjung Redep Berau ke Pelabuhan Tanjung Batu, jika beramai ramai bisa sewa mobil, PP (diantar dan dijemput saat kembali) tarif sekitar Rp. 800.000,- untuk mobil kapasitas 6 orang.
•  For transportation from Tanjung Redep Airport in Berau to Tanjung Batu Port, you can rent a car. Rate about Rp. 800.000,- for two way trip (car capacity about 6 person)
•  Waktu terbaik mengunjungi Maratua antara lain di bulan Maret hingga Mei, setelah bulan Agustus, awal bulan Oktober. Sementara di Akhir Oktober biasanya sudah memasuki masa sering turun hujan.
• The best time to visit Maratua: March to May, after August, the beginning of October. While in Late October is usually already in the period of frequent rain.
• Alternatif penginapan murah di Pulau Maratua: Ananda Hotel dengan rate: Rp. 200.000,- per kamar (tanpa AC) dan Rp. 300.000,- per kamar AC. Ananda Hotel terletak sekitar 15 menit perjalanan naik motor dari Maratua Paradise Resort. Tapi view di Ananda sangat berbeda dengan di Maratua Paradise. Saya sarankan setidaknya menginap satu hari saja di Maratua Paradise Resort.
• For alternative, there is a cheaper hotel in Maratua: Ananda Hotel with rate: Rp. 200.000, - per room per day (no air conditioning) and Rp. 300.000, - per room AC. Ananda Hotel is located approximately 15 minutes away by motor bike from Maratua Paradise Resort. But the view is very different with Maratua Paradise Resort. I recommend you stay at Maratua Paradise at least one day.

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