Pulau Dua Banten

West Java expands in the remote islands from the Ujung Kulon National Park (last Javan home of the one-horned rhino) in the west towards sweeping beaches of Pangandaran in the east. In between, you can go to the infamous offshore volcano of Krakatau, relax in chilled coastal resorts, become familiar with Sundanese tradition in Cianjur and then stroll through Bogor’s lush botanical gardens.

Many visitors simply go straight from Jakarta to Merak on their way to (or from) Sumatra, simply because there’s not much in this region to attract your attention. Came from here you are able to head to the west coast, though, and the historic town of Banten.

Pulau Dua / Pulau Burung Bird Sanctuary

Off the north coast at Banten, Pulau Dua is one of Indonesia’s major bird sanctuaries. The island has a large resident population – mainly herons, storks and cormorants – but the peak time is between March and July, when great numbers of migratory birds flock here for the breeding season.

It’s a half-hour trip by chartered boat from the Karanghantu harbour in Banten, but you can walk across the fish ponds (via bridges) to the island. From Banten, take an angkot 5km east to Sawahluhur village. The trail to the island starts 100m or so before the village and then it’s a hot 1km walk, weaving between the fish ponds – just keep heading for the trees on the horizon. There is a PHKA post with a derelict hut that has bare wooden beds and not much else. If you are planning to stay, bring food and water.

 

Carita Beach

160 km fro Jakarta, take a bus to Labuan and then an angkot to Carita (5000Rp).To Anyer, an angkot costs 7000Rp. Carita offers a more traditional and laidback sense than Anyer and a certain scruffy charm. This beach is large, and there’s some terrific swimming and some relatively priced accommodation choices. Travels to Krakatau ( opposite ) and Ujung Kulon National Park are best organised here. The hotel Sunset View is the best place for information. Heading north from Labuan port, the usual access point, Carita proper starts around 8km further on

About 2km from Carita across the rice paddies you will see the village of Sindanglaut (End of the Sea), that's the location where the large tsunami of 1883 ended its destructive run. Hutan Wisata Carita is known as a forest reserve with walks over the hills and jungle. Curug Gendang waterfall is the three-hour return hike through the reserve.

Hutan Wisata Carita

Curug Gendal Waterfall

Krakatau diving

Black Rhino - Ujung Kulon

Travel agencies including Black Rhino, close to the Sunset View hotel, can schedule diving (just like Rakata Hotel); two-dive excursions start at 750,000Rp including equipment rental. The perfect diving is in Ujung Kulon National Park, but Krakatau and Pulau Sanghiang are also of interest

Mostly everyone in town will try to peddle you a Krakatau trip. Look at your tour boat first as waves can be rough, and be sure it provides a radio on board. Black Rhino ( above ) and Rakata Hotel receive great reports; after negotiating, day trips to Krakatau start from about 1,800,000Rp. Trips to Ujung Kulon cost from US$280 per person for four days and three nights; overnight trips to Badui villages start at US$150.

Hotel

Sunset View (r 85,000Rp, with air-con 150,000Rp; a) The cheapest option on this stretch, though the small, poky rooms could do with a really good scrub.

Rakata Hotel (r 90,000Rp, with air-con & TV 175,000Rp; a) Another inexpensive option, the Rakata offers reasonably priced rooms, though tariffs jump on weekends. The restaurant serves up good seafood and tours can be set up here.

Carita Baka Baka (r from 160,000Rp, family bungalows from 450,000Rp; a) It’s looking a bit weary these days, and maintenance is not what it should be, but this midrange place has an idyllic spot right on the beach and is surrounded by palm trees. Rates double at weekends. 

Mutiara Carita (www.mutiara-carita .com; r from 450,000Rp, cottages from 800,000Rp; as) Stylish rooms and thatched cottages, some with beachfront aspects, in a large, leafy complex that has a tennis court, pool tables (and, unfortunately, karaoke). The kids’ facilities and activities are excellent here.

Krakatau Surf Carita (villas from 635,000Rp; as) This place has three classes of well-constructed, attractive detached bungalows (with either two or four bedrooms) right on the beach, with a view of the crashing surf. Prices rise by 30% on weekends. Add 21% tax to room rates.

Valentine Restaurant (meals from 30,000Rp) Carita has scores of inexpensive local places that specialise in fish and seafood, but for a smarter setting head to this elegant place, opposite the Krakatau Surf, which has a long menu of meat and fish dishes. 

Pulau Bidadari, Jakarta

A popular destination for locals and expats alike lies only kilometres from the polluted harbour of Jakarta. Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands), a string of islands in Teluk Jakarta (Jakarta Bay), is the perfect respite for those stuck in the capital too long.

No matter what the misleading name, you will find entirely 130 islands within the group, and also these, 37 are used for commercial purposes. Pulau Pramuka is the group’s district centre, most people live on Pulau Kelapa, which is certainly about 15km north of Jakarta. Close to Pulau Kelapa, Pulau Panjan is the only airstrip in the islands.

Many accessible islands are already developed into resorts with bungalows plus water sports. Most of these are pricey by Indonesian standards and cost high weekend supplements. The fact that said, they greatly have white-sand beaches and quiet, clear seas (aside from the islands close to the mainland).

This resorts now have offices in Jakarta or at the Ancol Marina (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol) for bookings. And also booking through their respective offices, you can take reservations from the Jakarta Visitor Information Office, allowing for better comparisons.

Getting There & Around
The resorts already have daily speedboats from Jakarta’s Ancol Marina for visitors and day tourists, mostly departing among 8am and 11am and coming back among 2pm and 5pm, with additional services on weekends. Some are just a 20-minute trip away, however the farthest islands take around two hours to reach. Return day-trip prices to the resorts with lunch include Pulau Bidadari (240,000Rp), Pulau Ayer (314,000Rp), Pulau Sepa (618,000Rp) and Pulau Kotok (850,000Rp). Gray Line has also day trips to the islands. Locals will ferry you from one island to another location (but this could be pricey). Most islands are small enough to simply explore by walking. 

Pulau Bidadari

Is nearest resort island and is popular with Jakarta residents for day trips. Its one of the least interesting resorts, but you can use it to go to other islands like Pulau Kahyangan, Pulau Kelor (which has the wrecks of the old Dutch fort), or Pulau Onrust (where the remains of the 18th-century shipyard can be explored). Boats could be hired for your short trip from Pulau Bidadari for 50,000Rp per hour.

The island’s resort (per person incl full board from 454,000Rp) includes a various simple cottages and sports facilities, and can be booked at Ancol Marina. 

Diving Kakaban Island

asiadivingvacation.com

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.

aliyamuafa.wordpress.com

kakabantravelservices.blogspot.com

travel.detik.com

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.