February 18, 2010
Due to the mixed cultures between malay and chinese, and lots more that i don't know... Bangka had a rich variety of food. Mostly based on fish. Fish meatballs, fish dumplings, everything is fish, because its easy to get and and its plenty out there!
After getting some tan, i decide its time to get some taste of Bangka. Its just too bad that weather not good and its a little bit raining. But not stopping me and my friends for exploring some food!
Some store still clossed due to Lunar new year few days ago. You still could see lots of cars from different city and people talking in Jakarta slang language here and there.
I went to "Empek2" its a fish dumpling with some hot sauce called "cuka" i went to a small food stall near Bank Mandiri. We eat empek-empek and model there. Its cheap.
After that, i went to try "otak-otak" its also made from fish on a restaurant "AB" (Asli Belinyu) ..OMG its verrryyy good. They will give you 3 different sauce to go with. I try 3 of it. Its very nice! i take picture where you could see the prices of the food, its awesome!
Because the weather not so good, so we didn't go to more eating places...
February 17, 2010
I never know that fact, i thought people here been talk about it and its just because they are originally from here. I thought they were exaggerate things about this beach-Matras Beach in Sungai Liat Bangka Island.
But then i was wrong.
Thats what i thought, until i saw it my self!! i just told my self, if any of those tourist saw this beach, they will say Kuta-Bali or Lovina is nothing!
Exploring the beach
its not that deep, and the current not that strong
Clear water... no garbage
Aww... it feels like its calling me to swim!!
very soft white powder like sand.. i could imagine playing volley ball with this sand, its very very nice to stand on! (and HOT!)
and its a windy day too! thats why the wave a little bit bigger!
It feels like a private beach. Less people. I would love to lying down here all day, sleeping, and had my tan. Its just perfect.
Local government already build small stall for food vendors etc, but i didn't see any that open
The other unique thing about this beach is, there is a small fresh water source, hidden on this beach where you could wash up. The water is very cold, and there is plenty big rocks covering it. And its the only beach that had fresh water flow to the ocean.
Behind those rocks and trees, there's small river filled with fresh water
It is VERY CLEAN, compare to beaches that i've visited before in Indonesia and Thailand. Its still natural, the only thing could see is old trees and dead sea weeds. But then there is nothing like garbage there--ok very very less.
If now, you ask me, if i could choose where to go Bali or this island, seeing this beach, i would definitely choose Bangka! Its truly a hidden paradise!
PS. I have to be fair here to say negative things about this beach:
I can't find a toilet here or place to change my clothes! so you have to figure that out! i just hope the local government will fix this immediately!
February 16, 2010
On the second day at Bangka my friend told me about this natural hot spring. I thought they were joking... there are no mouintain in Bangka.. how come they got the hot spring???
So here we go again the pack with riding motorcycle about 30 minute to the hot spring at Pemali. I feel anxious because hot spring kind of fun after traveling for several days. I could swim and everything... hmmm...
Jambi had hot spring too. The one that i've visited is in Kerinci region. Its very huge!
Along the way i could see pretty view of ex tin mining hole that become lake, its very beautiful. Its seemed mysterious.
The entry ticket for Tirta Tapta Hot Spring is Rp 15,000,-/person and they charge Rp 1000,- for parking/ea
I had to change my jeans to short so i went to shower. Not bad its big, but its a little bit dark. Not very clean but for indonesia standard-its not that bad.
The first pool we see is the one with slide. I didn't see any guards there. I saw little children climb to the top of the slide and boys are playing around the slide.. wow.. i wont bring my niece here. I can't understand why safety not #1 here. Even if the water only knee or waist high.. still i could see children age 5-6 or younger here that goes to that pool.
Its too crowd for me so we move to other pool where my friends said about this pool. Smaller but its good there. Without hesitate i just jump in the pool. and OMG!! OMG!! iTS TOO HOOOTTT!
My friend reaction just laugh at me when they see my red face and tears almost dropping at the edge of my eyes.. omg! its too hot ! hahahaha... i feel like boiled !!
After a while i think its better for me to have a swim. So we move to bigger swimming pool where i could do my 12 laps routine. It feels so good since the water is warm, but not as hot as that small pool that i went to first time, duh!
After swimming i feel so hungry so we went to the canteen and get some cheese fried cassava, Rp 15.000 a plate. Its taste so good, so soft... hahaha i love cassava!
After full, i did little bit exploring and see there is a huge cage at the other ned of the hot spring. And its deer-rusa from Bogor palace (haha sorry about the name, forgot the english!). Oh they also had duck boat here on the hot spring area. But we didnt explore much because its past 6 pm and we have to head back home. We ride our motorcycle again back to Sungai Liat. And we take several pictures on the way too!
February 15, 2010
People say pictures say things that you just couldn't say. I wish i could post my whole pictures of Bangka Island here.
On my 2nd day, i borrow one of my friend uncle motorcycle and we ride along Sungai Liat street. Its a small town, the traffic is less crowded than Jambi, no traffic jam.
I like the air at the afternoon, its sunny hot, but you feel the "water" on the wind that blows. You could smell the sea salty air by riding motorcycle.
We went to a beach about 15-20 minute ride with normal 40-60 km/hr speed. The road is good, asphalt quite thin in some part, and could be slippery with the sand on some street corner/bent. Along the way to Tanjung Pesona Beach i could see how Bangka is a mix culture between Bangka people, Malay, and Chinese cultures.
Its still Chinese new year, you could hear fire cracker nite before. Some places even had the lion dance at night. At day time, you could see lots of chinese teen ride with motorcycle or walking, visiting one another house for what they call "kongnyan"/Imlek.
Tanjung Pesona Beach had a resort called Tanjung Pesona Beach Resort, placed in Pantai Rebo Sungai Liat.
When we stopped at security gate i just told them i want to go to lobby to check the room price. We do plan to stay over at one hotel. They allow us to go in. According to my friend to get to the beach usually they ask for Rp 10.000 per person.
To go to the beach we have to go a little bit down hill, and i could see the breath taking clear water from the road down, and i take apicture so youc ould see what i see for first time (i am a beach bum haha!). My first beach after so looong!
We park our motorcycle (its free), and i just ran to the beach. They have a park (jungle gym) for kids too. They even had two horse for rent there (its small local breed-ponny). Not bad!
First touch of the sand. Its not pure white sand, a bit yellowish but the beach is MUCH cleaner than Kuta Beach, i could assure you! i am not afraid of broken glass walking barefoot in the sand feel so nice.
Theres only less than 15 people on 3-5 kms shore, could you imagine that?
Its a heaven for me! just too bad i didn't plan to swim there that time!
I don't like over crowded beaches where lots of people lying down on the beach, dogs, and agressive people selling stuff and offer massage or braids etc (hahaha!). This beach very "beach" like pure place for relaxing. It had a clean canteen where you could buy ice cream or eat some food or snack. And as far i could see, there are just domestic/local visitor.
Its truly a hidden gateaway that i am very recomended!
Later we know that on the resort not far from there like 50-100 meters up you could find a nice restaurant with excellent view to the beach, but sure its more pricy. But from top/from the resort the view is worth the price.
We stay at the beach, playing with wave and sand and walking along the beach until almost 6 pm. We explore the resort too and went to this long bridge, its just so romantic (aaawww! wink wink).
We go back to the parking and then take few more pictures and swear we will go back here again ! hahahah !
Posted by
Fico
,
5:25 PM
Right on valentine days February 14, 2010, where Chinese also celebrate lunar new year, the year of the tiger (miaww!) i wake up earlier. Rushing to get ready to go to Boom Baru, Palembang sea port.
Its been two night i spent my day in Palembang, staying at a friend from same office in BLK area.
Been very nice there and i already get my boat ticket to Bangka Island. I get it from a ticketing agent at Jln Lingkar no 20C/Lingkar street #20C (phone number: 0711-364581). I use "Sumber Bangka" fast boat. The ticket price is Rp 161.500,- and i also get shuttle bus (its cheaper if you get it with the boat ticket) from Mentok (Bangka harbor) to Sungai Liat town (where my friend live) with the price Rp 60.000,- All shuttle car price from Mentok to other destination have same price Rp 60.000,- (even to the other harbor-Pangkal Balam).
Good news is there are straight flight from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang (Depati Amir Airport), Bangka. Direct flight from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang, Bangka are: Sriwijaya Air (4 flights/day), Lion Air, Batavia Air, Mandala Airlines. If you want to start from Palembang, they also have a direct flight to this pretty island with Sriwijaya Air, its a very early flight at 06.00 am and only one flight/day.
I am quite lucky because i got the ticket at the Lunar new year day. Lots of chinese went to Bangka since two days before the owner said. I had to wake up at 5.20, did packing night before and go shower and double check my stuff. My friend family, already wake up and they want to take me to the harbor (luv yaaa all!!).
From BLK we went to "Boom Baru" harbor. Its Palembang port/harbor for passenger at 6.35 am. You will see boats-ferry from/to Jakarta and Medan here too. I just check in, the officer will take the "boarding pass" off the ticket and i have to pay Boom Baru Port Tax Rp 3.500,- to the officer.
There's actually two boat going to Bangka island. The other boat is "Express Bahari" but it leave Boom Baru Palembang on mid day (around 12-1pm). Express Bahari is cheaper than Sumber Bangka, but i don't know exactly how much the ticket is.
The boat is quite comfy. Its the same type like the one that i use crossing Batam to Singapore. The difference is its not well maintain and its more crowded. I could also see the life jacket under the seat, so its good. The AC work just fine not too cold. I also saw the same view of plastic chair for extra passenger, but thankfully there are no extra passenger but the seat are full (100-150 passenger?)! You could put your luggage at the compartment/checked luggage, but i choose to carry my backpack inside the boat and put that near the TV area, place where i could see it (its over 13 kgs!). There are economy class right on the top back of the boat. The economy seat had no AC and i think they had great view ! I cold also see lots of boxes, motorcycles, new bicycles, plants (dont ask! haha), even cupboard and bed (lol) tied on the back of the boat.
My boat leave Boom Baru at 7.05 am, its scheduled at 7.00 am. The weather is not so good the sly is grey and cloudy. Ive been prepare for bad weather and high wave as lots of people said to me. But instead of high wave its a very smooth sail. We had to go trhough Musi River for 2 hours and open sea for another 1 hour. During on the Musi River the boat have to go very slow, because there are plenty wooden houses along the river bank. And, bad news, no snack along the sail, only a cup of mineral water. But you could get instant noodle and bread sold on this ship.
The view that i got is almost identically with Batanghari river in Jambi. The difference maybe with the floating house. Jambi government not allowed people to build floating houses along the river bank since like 10 years ago, so the river bank would be wide and clean to ship to sail.
At 7.46 the boat amazingly went to full speed and i know we are right on the river mouth (muara) and yes i could feel the wave not long after that. Its not too big, that i still could walk inside the boat. The views is amazing, crytal clear blue sea seemed endless with the sky. And i could smell the fresh salty air!
From distance i could see Bangka Island with a RED LIGHT HOUSE, its so beautiful.
I arrive in Mentok port/harbor in Bangka Island at 9.55 am. Bring my backpack, some people call me Mr Bule for some reason (hahaha!), i walk pass to the passenger bridge to the main building, here we go the porter/people who offer to carry your bag, taxi guys, and i dont't know hahaha so many! but i am happy just consider them as people who pick me up (T.T)
I walk to the parking lot and ask a guy who walk where my shuttle car is. I saw on a white paper on my ticket said "Garuda 14"--shuttle number to Sungai Liat. He just walk by and said, "no i didn't see it, you better use bus over there".. yada ya yada ya... i know this game.. hahah! so i just ognore that guy and just look more intensively through the crowded parking lot.
I saw plenty white shuttle bus and there are numbers on it. Bingo! i just look up and find it!! #14 on 2nd last row of the parking lot! the driver seemed very busy so i ask if its the correct shuttle and he said yes jump in !
Hahahah!! so guys.. if you read this.. once again! ASK MORE PEOPLE!
I jump in and sit nicely between a lady and a young guy. The passenger include me are 8 people. I sit on the last row. The shuttle car leave Muntok Port at 10.10 am.
It took me another 3 hours to go to Sungai Liat. Pangkal Pinang is more further, it took 1 hr to go from Sungai Liat. We stop once at a Restaurant in Kelapa region. The toilets are much more cleaner than most of toilets i saw on my trip between Jambi and Palembang. The restaurant also clean. But i didn't eat, just get my self a fresh melon juice (oh its very refreshing!!) for Rp 15,000,-
I arrive at my friend house almost at 1.20 pm. Very hungry! get some rest and go for little sight seing around the small town of Sungai Liat, planning for next day destination.
I am in Bangka, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
Total Expenses Day 1:
Fast Boat from Boom Baru, Palembang-Muntok, Bangka Island: Rp 161,500,-
Shuttle Car from Muntok Port to Sungai Liat: Rp 60,000,-
Boom Baru, Palembang Port Tax: Rp 3,500,-
Due to the mixed cultures between malay and chinese, and lots more that i don't know... Bangka had a rich variety of food. Mostly based on fish. Fish meatballs, fish dumplings, everything is fish, because its easy to get and and its plenty out there!
