HEAVENLY CORAL REEFS in PULO CINTA

So I went back again to Pulo Cinta, a breath taking above seawater villas, with stunning view everyday (you can see my blogpost about Pulo Cinta here).

Ready to dip in the water!

Pulo Cinta from above, photo by M. Ikhsan

Float in this beautiful sea before we dip in

Pulo Cinta tidak hanya cantik dari atas (the aerial photos are just super stunning), ataupun di atas permukaan laut saat matahari bersinar cerah. The coral reefs around this island is super healthy.
 

Pulo Cinta is not only beautiful from above (the aerial photos are just super stunning), or above the water's surface when the sun is shining brightly. The coral reefs around this island are super healthy.

Area snorkeling favorit kami hanya berjarak sekitar 5 menit saja naik boat, dari unit villa pun kita dapat berenang ke banyak lokasi untuk snorkeling namun mesti mengitari sisi yang lebih dalam karena banyak koral di area dangkal agar tidak mengenai koral saat berenang.

Our favorite snorkeling area is only about 5 minutes away by boat, from villas we were able to swim to a lot of locations for snorkeling but we should swim around the outer deep side which since many corals are in shallow areas, so that won't touch the corals while swimming.

The wall

Gugusan karang yang cantik ini berada di area dangkal sekitar 2 hingga 5 meter saja sehingga sangat menyenangkan untuk mengitari dan menikmati warna-warni karang yang padat ini. Dari area dangkal langsung terdapat wall (kontur yang langsung menurun, dalam, sehingga tampak seperti dinding) yang dari atas terlihat berwarna biru tua.

These beautiful coral clusters are located in the shallow area of about 2 to 5 meters so it is fun to go around and enjoy the colorful corals of this dense. From the shallow area there is already a wall (contour straight downhill, in, so it looked like a wall) that from the top looks dark blue.

Kami bermain-main di area dangkal dan perbatasan wall, kadang menyelam turun di area wall yang dihiasi karang-karang indah. Ini juga trip pertama saya menggunakan monofin (I've learn a few times in the pool before and been wanting to learn using monofin since long time ago), so we took several photos here, hope you like it :)

We play in the shallow area and the border wall, sometimes diving down in the area of wall decorated with beautiful coral reefs. This is also my first trip using a monofin (I've learn a few times in the pool before and been wanting to learn using monofin since long time ago), so we took several photos here, hope you like it :)

@marischkaprue - wishes she can breathe underwater

Photos by Ferry Rusli

NOTES

PULO CINTA

Boalemo, Gorontalo
Sulawesi, Indonesia

GETTING THERE

From Jakarta to Gorontalo (Terdapat banyak penerbangan menuju Gorontalo dengan short transit time di Makassar, harga tiket Jakarta - Gorontalo saat normal season sekitar Rp. 1,6 juta - Rp. 2,5 juta PP), untuk harga tiket dari kota lain dapat dicek di website berbagai maskapai yang ada.
From Gorontalo: 2 jam naik mobil dari Bandara Jalaluddin di Gorontalo, dilanjutkan dengan naik boat (15 menit) dari Pantai Bolihutuo menuju Pulo Cinta.

From Jakarta to Gorontalo (There are many flights to Gorontalo with short transit time in Makassar, ticket prices Jakarta - Gorontalo during normal season around Rp. 1.6 million - Rp. 2.5 million PP), for a ticket from another city can be checked on the website there are a variety of airlines.

From Gorontalo: 2 hours by car from Gorontalo Jalaluddin Airport, followed by a boat ride (15 minutes) from the Bolihutuo Beach towards Pulo Cinta.

 

RATES

Check out this blogpost toknow full information about the rates & facilities in Pulo Cinta

TO KNOW WHEN SNORKELING

Jangan menginjak karang, upayakan posisi badan lurus (horizontal) saat di area dangkal yang memungkinkan kita tidak sengaja mengenai koral

Do not step on corals, try having straight body position (horizontal) while in the shallow areas since it possibly makes us accidentally touch on corals

Jika tidak bisa berenang, gunakan life vest, for safety reasons of course

If you cannot swim, use a life vest, for safety reasons of course

Untuk mendapatkan foto underwater, again, jangan memegang karang untuk menahan posisi badan di air, cukup berenang turun (hanya bisa sebentar pun tidak masalah), gunakan mode timelapse (dengan setting kamera mengambil foto setiap detik, sehingga kita tinggal memilih foto yang bagus), kebiasaan memegang karang untuk menahan posisi di bawah air juga akan membuat kita tidak belajar untuk turun dengan baik, dan akhirnya berenangnya juga ga semakin baik, rugi kan :)

To get the underwater photos, again, do not hold the coral reefs to hold the position of the body in the water, simply swim down (if you can only do it in several minutes, it is not a problem), use timelapse mode (by setting the camera takes photos every second, so we could just choose a nice photo) the habit of holding on to the coral to hold an underwater position will also make us learn not to go down well, and lastly your swimming skill is also not getting better, such a loss :)

Jangan iseng memegang binatang laut atau koral, banyak bintang laut dan koral yang beracun (atau membuat gatal seminggu lebih, gak mau kan garuk-garuk sepanjang trip atau bahkan masuk rumah sakit?)

Do not idly holding marine animals or coral, lots of starfish and coral are toxic (or makes you itchy or allergic for about a week, you do not want the scratching during trip or even go to the hospital, right?)  
 
Just calm, and enjoy!

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Places to Snorkel in Alor

You cannot swim? Can’t dive? Afraid of water? Well, I always tell one thing, just enjoy! Here in Alor, the sea are amazing, the blue greenish tuquoise that pulls you in everytime you look at it. At least that's how I felt and I'm sure you have to, I repeat, you have to dip in and just enjoy the water here in Alor.

The clear water around Pura Island, Alor

Alor might sound unfamiliar. Only a few know this place, even though it might be quite famous for divers. But if you're not a friend of BCD (Bouyancy Control Device - the tools for diving) don't let it stop you from visiting this heavenly blue.

Located in the Eastern of Nusa Tenggara, an hour flight from Kupang, Alor is not hard to reach. You don't have to spend hours and hours boat trip, just sit inside the plane (well, right now flight from Kupang to Alor is only provided by Transnusa) and wait until you see islands of blue and white sands and torquoise.

A must do thing in Alor is dipping into water. As you see on the first sentence, your un-ability of swimming mustn't keep you away from the water. Here snorkeling is a must, it's even better if you can do a bit of free diving to see the beautiful and healthy corals in the crystal clear water.

There are at least three places you can consider dipping in in Alor:

Banjaran

A few selfie won't harm you. I'm using Go Pro & Go Pole to get this selfie shot.

This one is not a consideration. I call it a must since the corals are so rich and beautiful here. One advantage of snorkeling in Banjaran is how easy to reach this place. You can rent an ojek, or took an angkot and just stop beside the street and walk. Banjaran is only 5 minutes walking distance from the road and if you use a rental car, you can park just beside the beach.

Here's freedom is real, taken by Agus Hong

Entry from the beach and in a moment you'll find the colorful corals with fishes. There were a lot of coral plantations in Banjaran and it already reaches its healty point. Don't stop reminding yourself not to touch and step on the corals though. It took a very long time to grow.

Pura

Located near Pura Island, there are a lot of spots to snorkel here. The boat might anchored in the shallow point, only 3 meters deep, you only have to swim a bit to see deeper point where the schooling little fishes are mostly appear.

Here the water is also crystal clear, just a perfect spot to snorkel and have a good blue day either it alone or with your wet friends!

Biatabang

One of the things you'll see a lot in Alor during snorkeling is the cylinder structure made of bamboo. It usually lies near the corals and the local people called it "bubu"

Bubu is a fish trap, the hole at the sides will attract fishes to come in then the path will make the fish unable to go out, simple way to get fishes without fishing rod or fishnet.

Anyway here in Biatabang you'll also see some bubu at the seafloor. There are also deep wall in Biatabang near the shallow area, well if you're a free diver you can explore deeper area, but anyway those 4 and 5 meters deep are also beautiful anyway.

Selfie with Agus Hong & Sam

So, are you sure you don't want to get wet in Alor?

@marischkaprue - Sometimes she snorkel, sometimes she dive and she wish that she'll be a great free diver someday

NOTES:

• Alor is located in East Nusa Tenggara, to reach Alor you can take a flight to Kupang (Jakarta - Kupang return flight is about Rp. 3.000.000,-), then continue with Kupang - Alor (via Transnusa return flight is about Rp. 1.200.000,-)
• The budget for 5 Days in Alor is around Rp. 3.000.000,- all in (exclude plane ticket), to get this price with proper facilities, you can join open trip so the boat and car rent is cheaper. Contact Tukang Jalan for the trip to Alor: tuk4ng.jalan@gmail.com or phone +62 813158 09191
• Don't forget to bring your own mask and snorkel, also the fins (or you can rental from Jakarta), they provide the snorkeling gears here in Alor but it always more comfortable using your own tool or rental a perfect size gears first.
• Bring an underwater camera, there are a lot of options, from Go Pro to Sony XperiaZ2 (this one you have to wash with freshwater afterwards) 

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Snorkeling Tanpa ke Laut

Saya selalu meracuni siapapun yang saya temui untuk menyelam, mencoba menikmati keindahan laut yang biru dan beragam keindahan makhluk laut yang ada di dalamnya.

I always persuade anyone I met to start diving, to enjoy the beauty of the blue sea and the diversity of sea creatures on it.

Diving memang bukan perkara mudah, anda perlu belajar terlebih dahulu, mengenal alat untuk mengakomodir olah raga ini, serta mendapatkan sertifikasi untuk dapat menyelam di berbagai lokasi penyelaman. Selain itu, diving dipandang cukup mahal selain karena memerlukan berbagai perangkat, sewa kapal dan bahkan tiket menuju lokasi penyelaman yang cukup jauh dari ibukota Jakarta di Indonesia.

Diving is not easy, you need to learn first, making yourself familiar with the gears to accommodate this water sports and also getting diving license to be able to dive in various diving spots.t dive sites. Beside that, diving is also considered as an expensive sports since it requires gears, boat rental and even plane tickets to get into great dive sites which is quite far from Jakarta in Indonesia.

Snorkeling is so easy!

Cara pertama membuat seseorang cinta laut adalah dengan melihat keindahannya, menikmati beragamnya warna di lautan dan paling mudah adalah dengan snorkeling karena anda tidak perlu bisa berenang, anda tidak perlu dapat menahan napas, anda tidak perlu mengeluarkan banyak tenaga. Cukup memakai masker, snorkel dan fin maka tinggal membenamkan muka ke dalam air, bernapas melalui snorkel sambil menikmati keindahan ragam koral dan satwa laut yang berada dekat dengan permukaan.

The first way of making someone love the sea is by let them see how beautiful it is, by letting them witness how rich the colors in the ocean and the easiest way is by snorkeling since you don't have to be able to swim or holding your breath and also it doesn't require a lot of energy. Just wear the mask, snorkel and fins, let your face burrowed down in the water, breath through the snorkel and enjoy the beauty of corals and fishes near the surface.

Rainbow Reef pond full of fishes

Namun rupanya keindahan yang tadinya mesti didapatkan hanya di laut kini dapat dinikmati di daratan. Ya, saya sebut daratan karena sensasi snorkeling disini tidak perlu pergi ke laut meski terletak di area pesisir pantai.

But apparently the beauty which must be obtained only at the sea can now be enjoyed without going to the sea. Yes, the sensation of snorkeling here isn't something you must go to the sea first, though it is still located in the coastal area.

Those with stripes are the sergeant damselfish

Di Adventure Cove Waterpark, Sentosa, Singapura, ada satu sensasi snorkeling buatan. Kenapa saya sebut buatan? karena kolam luas penuh ikan ini sepenuhnya buatan manusia, meski ikan ikan di dalamnya yang berwarna warni ini tentunya asli. Beragam koral buatan ditanam di kolam Rainbow Reef, lengkap dengan ikan ikan yang biasanya anda temui saat snorkeling yaitu damselfish, anthias hingga angelfish yang berwarna warni.

 
At Adventure Cove Waterpark, Sentosa Island, Singapore, you can feel the sensation of some kind of "artificial" snorkeling. Why do I called that artificial? since the pond full of fish is entirely man-made, although the fishes is of course real. Variety of man made hard corals are planted inside the pond, complete with fishes you usually see when snorkeling at the sea such as damselfishes, anthias and also angelfishes.

Can you believe this is all man-made?

Kolam Rainbow Reef dibuat lebih tinggi dari lantai dan di sebagian sisi terdapat kaca untuk melihat isi kolam yang penuh dengan ikan laut berwarna warni. Bagi keluarga dengan anak kecil, ini adalah tempat ideal untuk pengenalan satwa laut dan semacam simulasi untuk snorkeling yang sesungguhnya di laut kemudian hari.

This Rainbow Reef pond is protrudes, higher than the floor and at some side of the pond you can see rectangle glass to see inside the pond which is filled with colorful fishes. For families with young children, this is an ideal place to introduce some marine fish and also some kind of simulation for the real snorkeling in the sea later.

Sayangnya Rainbow Reef ini sangat menarik bagi pengunjung Adventure Cove Waterpark, yang berarti saya harus mengantre untuk menikmati satu keliling mengitari kolam. Jika mau lebih puas, rasanya mesti minimal mengitari kolam ini dua putaran, jadi cobalah untuk datang tidak di masa puncak liburan atau weekend jadi anda bisa menikmati snorkeling mudah dengan maksimal.

Unfortunately this Rainbow Reef is very attractive to visitors, which meant that I had to queue first before enjoying one laps around this pond. I think to be satisfied, you must try at least two laps around the pond, so if you have options, try not to come during holiday peak or weekend so you can enjoy this place even more.

@marischkaprue - usually snorkeling without snorkel, or should we say just free dive?

NOTES:

• Untuk menikmati Rainbow Reef sudah termasuk dalam paket memasuki Adventure Cove Waterpark sehingga anda dapat mencoba berkali kali tanpa harus membayar lagi.
• Rainbow Reef is included in the entrance ticket at Adventure Cove Waterpark so you can try many times without having to pay again.
• Harga tiket masuk Adventure Cove Waterpark saat non peak (Senin hingga Jumat): 29 SGD (dewasa), 20 SGD (anak anak dan di atas 60 tahun); during peak: 33 SGD (dewasa), 23 SGD (anak anak dan di atas 60 tahun)
• Admission price to enter Adventure Cove Waterpark during non peak (Monday to Friday):
  29 SGD (adult), 20 SGD (child 4-12 years old and above 60 years old); during peak: 33 SGD (adult), 23 SGD (child 4-12 years old and above 60 years old)
• Kontak Resort World Sentosa: +65778888
• Resort World Sentosa, Contact: +65778888

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Budget 2,7 Juta Seminggu di Pulau Weh

Siapapun yang sudah mengalami perjalanan ke Indonesia Timur pasti tidak menyangkal kalau dari segi pantai dan laut, Indonesia timur jawaranya. Namun, sayangnya traveling ke Indonesia timur itu kurang bersahabat bagi kantong. Keluhan pertama selalu karena tiket pesawat ke daerah timur itu mahal, belum lagi untuk lokasi lokasi tertentu yang harus naik perahu, apalagi yang sewa khusus benar benar bisa menguras kantong.

Padahal, salah satu hal yang benar benar bikin saya cinta Indonesia Timur itu air lautnya yang bening dan warnanya variatif tapi bikin pengen nyemplung disaat kita melihat air yang jernih.

Nah, di barat pun ternyata ada kok, dan saya yakin sebenarnya banyak karena belum explore aja jadi belum banyak referensi lokasi yang indahnya ya tidak kalah dengan Indonesia timur, namun kita bisa menikmati dengan budget yang jauh lebih rendah, baik untuk transportasi maupun akomodasi. Lokasinya di Pulau Weh, Aceh.

Deluxe room sudah AC dan warm shower bath

suasana di teras, tiduran di hammock paling bikin betah :)

Tempat saya menginap saja harga kamarnya hanya 350 ribu rupiah per malam. Jangan bilang ini tidak murah dahulu, kalau lihat lokasinya yang setara resort, ini jauh lebih murah dibanding sewa resort, karena sebagian kamar persis ada di depan laut, dengan teras yang ada hammocknya, benar benar bikin betah. Ada juga budget room yang harganya 200 ribu per malam, tapi tidak ada AC, pilihan lain deluxe dengan harga 250 ribu per malam.

Kalau long stay, harga bisa jauh lebih murah, dari 130 ribu sampai 180 ribu per malam, tapi ga berlaku buat kamar yang persis di depan laut. Nah, kalau kesini, saran saya ambil kamar no 4 karena lokasinya paling bagus :)

Berasa laut jadi kolam renang :)

Dermaga di penginapan

Banyak ikan berkeliaran di area dermaga

Yang paling menyenangkan itu dermaga di penginapan ini, airnya jernih banget dan banyak ikan berkeliaran, mulai dari blue tang fish, longnose butterfly, dan beragam ikan berwarna warni yang bisa kita amati dari dermaga, dan bahkan tempat makan di penginapan.

Disini airnya jernih banget, sumpah, ciyus! :3

snorkeling atau skin dive sambil foto foto di dermaga, seru!

Pake baju renang pun santai saja karena ini daerah turis & warga sangat friendly :)

Buat yang tidak bisa diving, tetap wajib nyemplung ke laut, bisa langsung di dermaga aja, tinggal sewa masker, fin dan pelampung, cuma 15 ribu per item per hari, atau kalau mau lebih bagus tinggal nyebrang ke pulau rubiah di seberangnya.

Untuk makan bisa di penginapan, atau tinggal jalan kaki 10 menit sudah sampai di area yang banyak tempat makan dan pantai terbuka. Harga makanan disinipun budget friendly.

Foto di sudut manapun hasilnya indah :)

Di depan ini tempat makan dan lobby

Oke, mari kita hitung hitungan budget. Tiket dari Jakarta ke Banda Aceh anggap saja sekitar 1,2 juta PP (bisa lebih murah tergantung season), kapal penyebrangan ke Sabang bisa naik kapal cepat 60 ribu (PP 120 ribu) atau kapal ferry sekitar 30 ribu (PP 60 ribu), menginap 6 hari 5 malam di kamar terbaik 2,1 juta, expenses untuk sewa alat untuk snorkeling misalnya 4 hari terus terusan mau nyemplung 180 ribu, makan seminggu 300 ribu, tambahan transportasi 500 ribu.

Jadi total total, sekitar 4juta untuk all expenses berlibur di area yang lautnya tidak kalah dengan Indonesia timur. Kalau mau lebih murah tentu saja sharing kamar dengan teman, jadi budget bisa turun, kalau share 3 orang budget jadi 2,7 juta per orang, dan kalau mau lebih ngirit ngirit dijamin bisa jauh lebih murah karena yang saya pilihkan itu kamar yang paling enak dan transportasi yang paling enak juga.

Foto ini bikin semua ngiler pengen ke Pulau Weh :)

 So, when you'll pack your bags and visit Weh Island? :)

@marischkaprue - work hard, travel hard.

My video: "A note from a travel junkie" sebagian besar lokasi shootingnya di Pulau Weh:

Notes:

·      Penginapan: Iboih Inn, sebelum datang reservasi dulu ke +62811-841570 atau email ke iboih.inn@gmail.com. Di lobby dan tempat makan ada wifi gratis, so far Telkomsel dan Smartfren lancar jaya sinyalnya disini jadi bisa tetep online.

·      Kapal cepat dari Ulee Lhe (Banda Aceh - Pergi) setiap hari pukul 09.30 WIB dan 16.00 WIB, untuk pulang dari Balohan (Pulau Weh - Pulang) pukul 08.00 WIB dan 16.00 WIB.

·      Kapal Ferry setiap hari dari Balohan (Pulau Weh - Pulang) pukul 08.00 WIB, hari Senin, Selasa, Kamis, Jumat pukul 14.00 WIB dari Ulee Lhe (Banda Aceh - Pergi), Kamis, Sabtu dan Minggu pukul 11.00 WIB dan 16.00 WIB dari Ulee Lhe (Banda Aceh - Pergi), sementara dari Balohan (Pulau Weh - Pulang) untuk hari Kamis, Sabtu dan Minggu di pukul 13.30 WIB.

·      Pilihan transportasi: Minibus, taksi, ojek atau becak dari Balohan ke kota Sabang (20 sampai 30 ribu),  ke Iboih 50 ribu per orang, sewa motor sekitar 100 ribu per hari, sepeda 50 ribu per hari, tergantung keahlian menawar masing masing.

·      Pilihan akomodasi lain di Iboih: Yulia's Bungalow (rate 60 ribu sampai 200 ribu per malam) telp: 0821-68564383, O'ong Bungalow (rate 50 ribu sampai 150 ribu per malam), Fatimah Bungalow (rate 120 ribu sampai 200 ribu per malam)

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Thanks for your responses! I've sent merchandise to some of you, hope you enjoy the taste of Aceh! :)

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