POSTCARD FROM UNDER THE SEA: Fantasy Wall, Derawan

This is one of the diving spots in Derawan, East Kalimantan. It has coral reefs, clear water and some of the critters around the area. Fantasy Wall is one of the options for more relaxed dive (since Channel have a really strong currents).

This is one of the diving spots in Derawan, East Kalimantan. It has coral reefs, clear water and some of the critters around the area. Fantasy Wall is one of the options for more relaxed dive (since Channel have a really strong currents).

So, enjoy the photos!

@marischkaprue - dive is one of her relaxation moment

NOTES:

• Untuk penyelaman di area Derawan dapat melalui Maratua Paradise Dive Center, info dan harga melalui +6285246585368
• To dive in Derawan area you can contact Maratua Paradise Dive Center, info and prices through +6285246585368
   

Thanks to

Terios 7 Wonders, the team explore Borneo with Daihatsu Terios to show you amazing nature, culture and places in Borneo. Derawan is the final spot of Terios 7 Wonders 2015: Borneo Wild Adventure

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Taman Bawah Laut Maratua Reef

Derawan bukan hanya penyu, manta dan barracuda. Bagi saya yang sampai sekarang masih mencintai indahnya warna warni koral dan topografi yang tertutup "taman" bawah laut, ini adalah tempatnya.

Derawan is not only about sea turtles, manta rays and barracudas. For people like me who still love the beauty of colorful corals and the underwater world covered with "garden," this is the place.

Plunge into the blue water

Beautiful reefs in maratua

Maratua reef, sesuai namanya, terletak dekat dengan Pulau Maratua di Kepulauan Derawan, Kalimantan Timur. Hanya perlu naik kapal sekitar 7 menit untuk sampai ke lokasi dimana anda dapat menceburkan diri ke birunya laut dan menikmati taman surgawi bawah laut.

Just like the name itself, maratua reef is a diving spot located near Maratua Island in Derawan Islands, East Borneo. It only took 7 minutes boat ride to get into the spot where you can plunge yourself into the blue sea and enjoy the heavenly underwater garden.

So many pyramid butterflyfish around the corals

Bleeker's parrotfish

Paddletail snapper

A couple of fire dartfish

Dengan kedalaman maksimal penyelaman hingga 18 meter, topografi koral terbaik berada di sekitar 10 meter dan area yang lebih dekat dengan permukaan. Disini cahaya matahari masuk dan membuat semua warna koral terlihat jelas, menyinari ikan laut yang berwarna warni dan membuat saya tersenyum senang mengambil semua foto ini.

With maximum depth of dive up to 59 feet,  you'll find best view around 32 feet or even near the surface. Here's the sunlight gets inside the blue water and brings out the best color of corals and marine animals. Fishes with bright colors and corals makes me smile while taking all these photos.

It's getting more and more crowded near the surface

Really love seeing group of purple anthias everywhere

Arus di maratua reef cenderung tenang, namun anda harus menyelam di waktu yang tepat, sesuai musim. Saat arus bersahabat dan matahari bersinar, inilah saat menikmati taman di maratua reef. So, enjoy it!

The currents in maratua reef tend to be calm as long as you dive at the right time which will depend on the season.  When the sea is calm and the sun is bright, it's time to enjoy the beautiful garden in maratua reef. So, enjoy it!

@marischkaprue - enjoy moments in the underwater garden

RELATED STORIES:

• Turtle Spawning in Sangalaki Island, Derawan
• Maratua Paradise Resort
• Gua Sembat, Cave With Human Face
• How To Survive Barracuda Point
• Melihat Penyu Bertelur di Pulau Sangalaki
• Payung Payung Village 

DIVING SPOTS IN DERAWAN ISLANDS:

• Barracuda point
• Turtle Traffic
• Maratua Reef

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How To Make Fun Photos at Kakaban Lake

Saya ingat beberapa tahun yang lalu teman saya yang baru pulang dari Derawan memperlihatkan foto ia berada di tengah tengah danau penuh ubur ubur. Danau di Kakaban adalah tempat dimana anda dapat bercengkerama dengan binatang ini tanpa takut tersengat karena ubur ubur di Kakaban telah berevolusi menjadi jenis yang tidak menyengat. 

I remember a few years ago a friend of mine who had just returned from Derawan showed some photos of him in the middle of jellyfish in Kakaban. Kakaban lake is a place where you can mingle with these animals without being afraid of getting some scars because of the sting as the jellyfish in Kakaban have evolved into a "friendly" species.
 

 

Sejak melihat foto teman saya itu, Kakaban adalah salah satu destinasi impian saya dan saat mengunjungi Derawan bulan Agustus 2013, mimpi saya terwujud dan saya bisa merasa seperti Spongebob yang bermain bersama ubur ubur.

Since I  saw those photos, Kakaban is one of my dream destinations and when I visited Derawan on August 2013, my dream came true and I could feel like Spongebob playing with jellyfish.

Rupanya Tuhan terlalu baik dan hanya selisih dua bulan saya kembali ada di Kakaban, kembali melihat ubur ubur lucu ini. Selain bermain main dengan ubur ubur unik yang tidak menyengat ini, saya juga senang berfoto foto dengan mereka, karena kapan lagi anda bisa berinteraksi begitu dekat dengan ubur ubur? :)

Apparently God being too kind. Two months after I visited Kakaban again. Seeing this cute jellyfishes again. Beside playing with these unique jellyfish, I also get a lot of fun photos with the jellyfish, since where else would you get to interact so close with the jellyfish ? :)

So here's some tips for fun photos with the jellies!

Jellyfish are everywhere, super fun!

• Coba jangan menggunakan masker, muka akan terlihat jelas (masker berwarna gelap cenderung menutupi sebagian besar muka kita) dan foto akan jauh lebih menyenangkan.
• Try not using a google or mask, the face will be more visible (dark colored mask tends to cover most of our face), the photos will be much more fun 

Took this photo just beside the pier

• Untuk yang belum terbiasa membuka mata di air, coba dengan duduk di tangga dermaga, celupkan muka ke dalam air sambil menutup mata dan buka saat di dalam, tidak perih kok :)
• For those not used to open eyes underwater, try to sit on the steps of the pier, dip down into the water while closing your eyes, when inside the water try open your eyes. Don't worry it's not painfull at all :) 

Direct them gently

• Setelah terbiasa membuka mata cari ubur ubur yang ukurannya cukup besar, ambil dengan cara diarahkan pelan pelan, jangan ditarik dengan kasar. Coba dengan dua tangan membentuk mangkuk untuk mengarahkan ubur ubur ini ke dekat anda.
• After you get used open your eyes underwater, look for the jellyfish which large enough. Take them gently, don't pull the jellyfish roughly. Try it with two hands forming a bowl to direct the jellyfish close to you .
• Agar badan berada di dalam air, buang napas sehingga badan otomatis turun dan foto jauh lebih seru. Jika sulit untuk menenggelamkan diri, berpegangan di tangga dermaga sambil menurunkan badan ke air.
• In order to get your body down in the water try exhaling so the body will automatically descend. If it's hard to drown, hold the stairs in the dock while lowering your body into the water 
• Jika tidak bisa berenang, gunakan pelampung tapi coba tanpa masker.
• If you can't swim , use a life vest but try without the mask.

• Saat berada di dalam air mulut tidak perlu dipaksa menutup karena akan terlihat menahan napas, mulut terbuka pun jika kita tidak menghirup maka air tidak akan tertelan.
• Once inside the water, you don't have to forced your mouth to close tight because it will make your expression shows that you're holding breath. Even when mouth open, if we don't inhale, you won't swallow the water.

• Jangan terlalu banyak menggerakkan kaki jika mengambil foto di area dekat dermaga karena akan menyebabkan partikel lumpur di bawah terangkat ke atas dan membuat air danau keruh.
• Do not move your legs too much when taking photos in the area near the dock because it will lift up the mud particles below and make the it became turbid.
•  Jangan lupa bawa kamera tahan air, pilihannya beragam, mulai dari kamera yang dapat dibawa ke dalam air tanpa housing, kamera dengan housing, Go Pro, atau bahkan smartphone dengan case plastik tahan air yang banyak dijual.
• Do not forget to bring a waterproof camera, there are a lot of choices, ranging from cameras that can be brought into the water without housing, camera with housing, Go Pro, or even a smartphone with waterproof plastic case.

Have fun taking photos with the jellyfish!

You can kiss them too <3

 @marischkaprue - Love kissing the jellyfish

NOTES:

• Danau Kakaban terletak di Kepulauan Derawan, Kalimantan Timur. 
• Kakaban Lake located in Derawan Islands, East Borneo.
• Untuk pilihan penginapan lihat disini di bagian "NOTES"
• For hotels or homestay options, see here on the "NOTES" part. 

MORE DETAILS ABOUT KAKABAN LAKE, SEE HERE

RELATED STORIES: 

• Maratua Paradise Resort
• Gua Sembat, Cave With Human Face
• How To Survive Barracuda Point
• Melihat Penyu Bertelur di Pulau Sangalaki
• Payung Payung Village 
• Diving in Maratua Reef

ALSO ABOUT JELLYFISH:

• Bermain Bersama Ubur Ubur di Pulau Seribu 

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Sunset di Tumbit Dayak

Tumbit Dayak adalah kampung kecil di Kecamatan Sambaliung, Kabupaten Berau, Kalimantan Timur.

Tumbit Dayak is a small village in Sambaliung District, Berau regency, East Borneo.

The blue sky

Crossing the river

Sekitar dua jam berkendara dari pusat Kota Berau dan menyeberangi sungai dengan perahu kayu kecil maka anda sudah tiba di salah satu tempat bermukim masyarakat Dayak Gaai. 

About two hours drive from the center of Berau then crossing the river with a small wooden boat then you'll arrived at one of the Dayak Gaai living communities.

beautiful clouds

 

Siang hari langit disini sangat biru, kontras dengan putihnya awan, dan saat matahari pamit pergi sejenak, awan kembali bermain dengan warna. The magic moment, sunset.

During daytime the is sky so blue here, in contrast with white clouds, and when the sun will leave for a while everyday, the clouds starting to play with colors. The magic moment, sunset. 

Enjoy..

@marischkaprue - sunset wanderer

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• Journey, always worth the effort!  

SUNSET:

• Sunset di Bohe Silian
• Sunset di Natsepa, Ambon
• Sunset di Dermaga Galau
• Glass Sunset, Arugasi Beach, Jailolo
• Sunset di Manado
• Cozy Sunset at Woobar, Seminyak
• My Best Sunset!
• Magic Light

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Payung Payung Village, Between Turtle and Tourist

Saya menaiki dermaga yang dikelilingi air laut yang biru, sebagian berwarna turquoise. Kepiting kecil berjalan di salah satu sisi kayu dermaga. Tiba tiba saya dipanggil untuk melihat ke sisi kanan, seekor penyu muncul sesaat sebelum kembali menyelam di area perairan Maratua ini.

 
I stepped into the dock surrounded by blue sea water, some in turquoise color. A small crab walking on one side of the wooden pier. Suddenly I hear someone calling, telling me to look to the right side, then a turtle appears a while before going back into the blue water in Maratua.

Mr. Crab

Look at the colors!

Melihat penyu di dermaga Payung Payung bukan hal eksklusif. Sangking banyaknya penyu yang berseliweran di area ini, saya sudah berhenti menghitung saat angka penyu yang timbul di area dermaga sudah lebih dari dua puluh. "Payung payung ini surganya penyu, snorkeling di dekat dermaga saja sudah bisa lihat banyak penyu," ujar Bang Mamat yang menemani kami di Derawan.

 
Seeing turtles in the dock of Payung Payung Village is not a luxury. There are lots and lots of sea turtles milling in this area. I myself stopped counting when it already more than 20 sea turtles appeared. "Payung Payung is a paradise for turtles, you just have to snorkel a bit and you'll see a lot of sea turtles everywhere around here," said Mamat who accompanied us in Derawan.

Too blue to be true

Dermaga surga para penyu ini adalah pintu masuk ke area Desa Payung Payung di Pulau Maratua, Kepulauan Derawan, Kalimantan Timur. Ada empat desa yang dihuni di Pulau Maratua, termasuk desa Payung Payung yang berdekatan dengan Maratua Paradise Resort dan sering dihampiri turis untuk sekedar snorkeling atau diving di area ini.

This turtle's paradise dock is the entrance to the Payung Payung Village in Maratua Island, Derawan Islands, East Borneo. There are four inhabited villages in Maratua, including Payung Payung Village which located not far from Maratua Paradise Resort and often visited by tourists for snorkeling or diving in this area.

Namun meski berdekatan dengan resort besar yang jadi langganan turis asing, Desa Payung Payung tidak berkembang layaknya area wisata. Saya tidak melihat warung warung makanan untuk turis, ataupun toko yang berjualan souvenir. Sepertinya hampir tidak ada kemajuan ekonomi dari pariwisata yang dirasakan Desa Payung Payung.

However, although Payung Payung located near the famous resort, the village seems not developing as well as the tourist area should develop. I didn't see any food stalls or small shops selling souvenirs. Seems like almost no economic progress came from tourism which can contribute to the villagers.

Saya mungkin hanya melihat sekilas saja, saat ini memang sudah ada homestay di rumah warga desa yang dapat digunakan dengan harga sekitar 200 ribu rupiah per harinya, namun informasi ini terbatas sekali, tidak ada di internet dan sulit jika tidak punya kenalan di area Maratua atau Derawan.

I might just see in a glimpse of it. There is a homestay in the village which can be used by paying about 200 thousand rupiahs per day, but the information about it is very limited, it's hard to look for it on the internet and the best way to book for those homestay is when you have a direct contact with people here in Maratua or Derawan.

Ducks strolling around the beach

Happy faces

Padahal Payung Payung adalah desa yang menyenangkan. Rumah rumah warga di pesisir, bebek bebek yang berjalan rapi di area pantai ataupun jalanan pasir, hingga tawa renyah anak anak kecil Desa Payung Payung. Warga disini sangat ramah, ideal untuk jadi tempat berkembangnya pariwisata.

Despite the lack of facilities, Payung Payung Village is a very nice place. Traditional houses in the coastal areas, ducks walking in sand beach or the sandy streets, the laugh and smile from the children in Payung Payung are a few things that will make you smile. Also, people in Payung Payung are very friendly, ideal for tourist destination.

Slept here and I got a nice nap

Got a friend here

Saya numpang tidur siang di rumah salah satu warga, menatap dinding rumah kayu mereka dan membayangkan homestay kecil yang menyenangkan, yang bisa jadi pilihan backpacker saat bertandang ke surga di Derawan ini. 

I took  a nap in one local house near the coastline. Staring at the wooden walls, I imagine a nice homestay, will be a great options for backpacker who wish to visit this heaven in Derawan.

@marischkaprue - one of her dream is to have an eco resort in paradise

NOTES:

• 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.

 RELATED STORIES:

• Maratua Paradise Resort
• Gua Sembat, Cave With Human Face
• How To Survive Barracuda Point
• Melihat Penyu Bertelur di Pulau Sangalaki
• Feeling Spongebob at Kakaban Stingless Jellyfish Lake  
• Diving in Maratua reef 

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