With last week end being a long week and our annual staff outing on the horizon, it was decided that we should make the best of the weekend and as a group go a bit further than Bandung or Carita and have 2 whole days on a team outing. The place chosen was one of the Thousand Islands called Harapan Island.
Harapan Island is 3 hours 'express' boat ride north from Jakarta and is mainly full of places to stay and as a starting point to explore the many islands around it.
3am on Saturday morning, I am up and awake and getting ready for the weekend. My taxi arrived at 4 and so by 4.30am I was stood inside my center having a cup of tea. By 5.30 I was in Mcdonalds having breakfast. We should have all left at 5am but well, there is always someone late. The boat was due to leave at 7 and so we had to be there to catch it.
The boat leaves the delightful harbour of Muara Angke, North Jakarta which is next to Pluit. It is a full on fishing harbour and considering the size of Jakarta, it should tell you then that the size of the harbour was big and packed tight with fishing vessels of all shapes and sizes and rich smells and dirty harbour water.
We had to walk t he last 10 minutes of the journey due to the traffic outside the harbour. From there we walked with the masses to a meeting point and was told our ferry was the last in line, which meant crossing 3 other ferry boats to get to ours and after clambering around we found that we had to sit in the open sun on the top deck due to the amount of people already on the boat.
The boats themselves have 2 decks of which the upper deck has a large area that is just open. The cabin area (if thats what you call it) is very low, there are no chairs and 2 fans. You have to lie or sit on the floor and sweat away. Outside you have the breeze and then sun. There is no cover from the sun so it burns.
After waiting just over an hour and with at least 300 people on board, many sat on the roof of the cabin we left the port and headed into the Java sea. It was a pretty much routine trip, clear skies and flat sea but it was hot and becauseof the sun I was wearing my black hooded top to help keep the burn away as well as my sons factor 50 sun cream, which did work. After aback numbing 3 hours of looking at small islands and the sea we eventually arrived at Pulau Harapan or Harapan Island. Again, we had to clamber over other ferries and then pretty much jump on the quay and fight through those leaving the island to get to the land. All typically Indonesian.
We were staying in a house or homestay which was right on the sea which was nice and not far from the ferry. It was quiet enough there, and the house whilst run down had AC in the bedrooms and there were plenty of bathrooms. So plenty of space for 30 of us.
After lunch of chicken and rice we waited for another boat to take us out snorkelling. One of the best things about the islands is the amount of reef and coral that can be explored and whilst not completely pristine there are lots of colourful fish and things to look at and the water is clear, clean and warm which is good. We set off in a small fishing boat and headed off to see some fish and explore some islands. Being me, I have no idea what islands we saw, nor did I ask but most had white or golden sand with a backdrop of tress and looked nice.
The snorkeling was good with the exception of how to get back on the boat as there was no ladder provided so you had to climb up onto it via a tyre which was not very helpful. After a while we set off to another island passing a overly full exposed sandbank full of tourists. We headed to a delightful islands chose not to get off the boat as the island was full of people so we headed somewhere else and snorkelled there instead.
Bobbing about in the sea we were supposed to watch the sun go down but it turned cloudy as it often does here at sunset so we headed back to the house, and once there, showered in the delightful salt water Mandi and went and ate.
After eating and things we played some 'games' which seemed to involve a lot of shouting and arguing but was good fun and the someone arrived with BBQ food for us. The Tuna was great, however that was all I ate. I like Tuna.
I passed out before 11pm as being up so early finally hit me however by 4am I was awake and so stumbled out of the house in the morning found someone selling drinks, bought some coffee and juice and watched the sun come up, which was nice.
By 8am everyone was up and off exploring the island and on another boat trip. I decided to stay at the house and relax and try to sleep.
By 12 we were fighting to get back on the ferry and once on it found that the open part of the top deck had a tarpaulin sheet covering it so there was shade from sun and once we started moving the breeze kept us cool as we endured another 3 hour boat trip back. It was a little more choppy and so the ferry moved in the swell somewhat and someone threw up which was nice especially as the boat was so crowded but it was another uneventful boat trip.
Back at the port in Jakarta we had to again work out how to get off the ferry and onto land by negoiating the other tied up boat and then walked off to find a taxi. By 4.30 I was home and in the shower feeling clean again.
It was a great trip away from the city depsite the boats and the heat and not getting burnt from the sun was a plus. The ferry trip was an experience and one must do these things however next time, I will take a fast boat out. I have no idea what else is on Harapan island as I never had time or made time to explore it but the islands around were great and they are all worth going to.
For a quick break from the city which is cheap and cheerful and a true Indonesian travelling experience go to Harapan Island.
Harapan Island is 3 hours 'express' boat ride north from Jakarta and is mainly full of places to stay and as a starting point to explore the many islands around it.
3am on Saturday morning, I am up and awake and getting ready for the weekend. My taxi arrived at 4 and so by 4.30am I was stood inside my center having a cup of tea. By 5.30 I was in Mcdonalds having breakfast. We should have all left at 5am but well, there is always someone late. The boat was due to leave at 7 and so we had to be there to catch it.
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| Looks nice |
 |
| There is the sea under all that |
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| Trying to get on a boat |
 |
| Not our ferry |
 |
| Another ferry |
 |
| On the deck |
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| Hot |
 |
| Thats your seat for 3 hours |
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| Fishing boats |
 |
| A view |
 |
| What I could see if I stoodup and looked down |
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| Jakarta in the distance as we set off |
The boat leaves the delightful harbour of Muara Angke, North Jakarta which is next to Pluit. It is a full on fishing harbour and considering the size of Jakarta, it should tell you then that the size of the harbour was big and packed tight with fishing vessels of all shapes and sizes and rich smells and dirty harbour water.
We had to walk t he last 10 minutes of the journey due to the traffic outside the harbour. From there we walked with the masses to a meeting point and was told our ferry was the last in line, which meant crossing 3 other ferry boats to get to ours and after clambering around we found that we had to sit in the open sun on the top deck due to the amount of people already on the boat.
The boats themselves have 2 decks of which the upper deck has a large area that is just open. The cabin area (if thats what you call it) is very low, there are no chairs and 2 fans. You have to lie or sit on the floor and sweat away. Outside you have the breeze and then sun. There is no cover from the sun so it burns.
After waiting just over an hour and with at least 300 people on board, many sat on the roof of the cabin we left the port and headed into the Java sea. It was a pretty much routine trip, clear skies and flat sea but it was hot and becauseof the sun I was wearing my black hooded top to help keep the burn away as well as my sons factor 50 sun cream, which did work. After aback numbing 3 hours of looking at small islands and the sea we eventually arrived at Pulau Harapan or Harapan Island. Again, we had to clamber over other ferries and then pretty much jump on the quay and fight through those leaving the island to get to the land. All typically Indonesian.
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| Arriving at the island |
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| Tourist boat |
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| Getting off the boat |
 |
| Tourists |
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| Welcome to Harapan Island |
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| A view |
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| Outside the homestay |
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| The homestay |
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| Main room |
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| rooms |
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| View |
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| From the front door |
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| Side alley |
We were staying in a house or homestay which was right on the sea which was nice and not far from the ferry. It was quiet enough there, and the house whilst run down had AC in the bedrooms and there were plenty of bathrooms. So plenty of space for 30 of us.
After lunch of chicken and rice we waited for another boat to take us out snorkelling. One of the best things about the islands is the amount of reef and coral that can be explored and whilst not completely pristine there are lots of colourful fish and things to look at and the water is clear, clean and warm which is good. We set off in a small fishing boat and headed off to see some fish and explore some islands. Being me, I have no idea what islands we saw, nor did I ask but most had white or golden sand with a backdrop of tress and looked nice.
 |
| Off exploring |
 |
| Typical island |
 |
| Golden or white sand |
 |
| The blue ocean |
 |
| Sun set |
The snorkeling was good with the exception of how to get back on the boat as there was no ladder provided so you had to climb up onto it via a tyre which was not very helpful. After a while we set off to another island passing a overly full exposed sandbank full of tourists. We headed to a delightful islands chose not to get off the boat as the island was full of people so we headed somewhere else and snorkelled there instead.
Bobbing about in the sea we were supposed to watch the sun go down but it turned cloudy as it often does here at sunset so we headed back to the house, and once there, showered in the delightful salt water Mandi and went and ate.
After eating and things we played some 'games' which seemed to involve a lot of shouting and arguing but was good fun and the someone arrived with BBQ food for us. The Tuna was great, however that was all I ate. I like Tuna.
I passed out before 11pm as being up so early finally hit me however by 4am I was awake and so stumbled out of the house in the morning found someone selling drinks, bought some coffee and juice and watched the sun come up, which was nice.
 |
| Dawn |
 |
| Sun rise |
By 8am everyone was up and off exploring the island and on another boat trip. I decided to stay at the house and relax and try to sleep.
By 12 we were fighting to get back on the ferry and once on it found that the open part of the top deck had a tarpaulin sheet covering it so there was shade from sun and once we started moving the breeze kept us cool as we endured another 3 hour boat trip back. It was a little more choppy and so the ferry moved in the swell somewhat and someone threw up which was nice especially as the boat was so crowded but it was another uneventful boat trip.
Back at the port in Jakarta we had to again work out how to get off the ferry and onto land by negoiating the other tied up boat and then walked off to find a taxi. By 4.30 I was home and in the shower feeling clean again.
It was a great trip away from the city depsite the boats and the heat and not getting burnt from the sun was a plus. The ferry trip was an experience and one must do these things however next time, I will take a fast boat out. I have no idea what else is on Harapan island as I never had time or made time to explore it but the islands around were great and they are all worth going to.
For a quick break from the city which is cheap and cheerful and a true Indonesian travelling experience go to Harapan Island.
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