Diving Kakaban Island

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Kakaban island is part of the Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan, Indonesia The island has an area of 774.2 hectares (1,913 acres) and is quite steep with limestone cliffs covered with dense jungle right down to the water's edge and few beaches. The wall drops to 180 metres (590 ft) and currents can be strong with upwelling, downcurrent and reversing directions. The most distinctive feature is the huge brackish water lake in the middle of the island, in the local dialect Kakaban means "hug" as the island hugs the lake from the surrounding seawater.

In the middle of this island is a mangrove-fringed lake, slightly above sea level, where thousands of non-stinging jellyfish live making it interesting for diving. The jellyfish consist of four different species which have lost their natural defense system because of the lack of major predators in the lake. Similar lakes exist in thePhilippines ( Siargao ) Palau, with Jellyfish Lake being the best known.

The lake has warm brackish water and the bottom is covered with marine green algae. There are other animals living here, some sea cucumbers, gobies, sea anemones, tunicates, crustaceans, nudibranchs, orange purple clams and yellow clams on the branches, and snakes.

The lake is at most 17 metres (56 ft) deep with poor visibility and is 10 minutes walk from the beach. Kakaban was probably uplifted during the Holocene and sea water was trapped turning the area and formed a landlocked marine lake. The water is now a mixture of salt water and sweet water from the rain.

Stingless Jellyfish

In general, people feared to jellyfish because they have stings and fatal, but there are jellyfish that do not have stings. Ornate Cassiopeia is their name. Generally known by the name Stingless jellyfish. This change is due to the natural evolution of life on the habitat of these jellyfish. Living in close environment make the jellyfish do not have threat from vertebrate. Therefore this type of jellyfish do not need stings to protect themselves.

Not only that, these jellyfish will also issue a colorful light when it was getting dark. This jellyfish swim upside down with tentacles facing upwards. This is because a closed environment, so that food in the water becomes limited. Therefore, the jellyfish do simbioses mutualism with algae. Algae need sunlight to produce food. In the world, there are only two places which is the origin habitat of this type of jellyfish. Kakaban Island in Indonesia and Palau, Micronesia.

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How to get there 

- Flight Jakarta-Tarakan; Tarakan-Jakart: 2-way, Rp. 1.3Million/person

- Airport tax Jakarta: Rp. 40K

- Airport Tax Juwata Tarakan: Rp. 30K

- Juwata Airport to Pelabuhan SDF: Rp. 50K

- Speed Boat Tarakan - Tanjung Selor: : Rp. 85K

- Public Transport Tanjung Selor – Berau: Rp. 70K

- Public Transport Berau – Pelabuhan Tanjung Batu: Rp. 60K

- Speed Boat Tanjung Batu – Derawan: 250K(available for 5 person)

- Motel/Hotel at Derawan: Rp.75-450K

Borobudur

Borobudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.[1] A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside a perforated stupa.

Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, the temple’s design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region, yet there are enough indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian.[2][3] The monument is both a shrine to theLord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path around the monument and ascends to the top through three levels symbolic of Buddhist cosmology: Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). The monument guides pilgrims through an extensive system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the walls and the balustrades.

GETTING THERE
Thai Airways has a Delhi–Bangkok-Jakarta option for around 237,000 return economy
There is a direct flight to Yogjakarta from Singapore and all major cities in Indonesia. Borobudur is a 45-minute drive from the airport and is best seen in the morning. Taxis and guides can be hired for the day at the airport.

WHEN TO GO
The dry season, from May to September, is the best time to visit.

Stay
You need not stay in Yogjakarta. An easy day trip can be made from Jakarta or Bali. If you are flying to
Bali from Jakarta stop over at Yogjakarta for the day and take an onward evening flight to Bali. However, if
you want a night halt—all kinds of hotels are available—from the international Sheraton, Hyatt, Ibis
and Novotel chains to budget hotels with familiar names such as Manohara, Arjun, Saraswati.

Shop
Batik textiles, including sarongs and wall hangings; mind boggling array of spices; wayang
kulit puppets; and silver.