Backpacker Girls

After few days in Bangka, my sister told me that shes in Belitung visiting her in Law in Manggar, a small city in Belitung island. So i decide to join her and her family for a short trip before went back to my jungle.
I bought a fast boat ticket two days before i leave Bangka. I don't want to take a risk because its still on Lunar New Year celebration week and everything seemed fully booked. I went to the travel agent next to the Otak-Otak AB restaurant where we having an otak-otak fiesta day before.
Theres only one boat to go to Belitung from Bangka island. And its not everyday! yikes! talking about isolated island again! I think it was like twice a week! so be careful when you do the travel itinerary to both island!
Beside there's less boat traveling abck and forward both islands, you might have to check weather too. There's not once the boat flip ! its so scary. Last time in January my brother in law brother boat(hahah sorry make you confuse) have to go back to Bangka island because the boat hit by big wave and it breaks all of boat window glass!

On the day i travel to Belitung. I have to leave Sungai Liat at 10.15 am using a rent car to go to Pangkal Pinang. The price for the rent car is Rp 150.000,-
I arrive at Pangkal Balam, Bangka island harbour at 11.30 and i have to wait for like 1 hour to go to the boat. Its pretty neat boat since its a new boat. The boat Name is Bahari Express 8C (the "B" flip like a month ago..uhh...).




I will post something later ok.... its lots of fun for sure !!

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!

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.






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.





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 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 !