Tour de PSSS 2009 -Karimun Jawa episode-

Yep, once again de’ Krishna, de’Kozzy, and our other travel buddy do the trip this year. Our destination is Karimun Jawa, Semarang, and Yogyakarta. This trip was held on August 7^th till August 14^th 2009. Just like last year’s trip, we had already prepared this trip long before we go. We had already booked the train, the express boat, and the homestay at Karimun Jawa on July. Initially, our team consisted of 8 persons (de’Krishna, de’Kozzy, Rio, Tommy, Johnny, Yudi, Daniel, and Christo) but unfortunately at the last minute Tommy canceled his participation.

Karimun Jawa

Before I start telling my trip experience in Karimunjawa, maybe most of you still don’t have the idea where Karimunjawa is. Karimunjawa is a complex of island that consists of one main island which is surrounded by many other small islands. Karimunjawa lies in Java Sea, north of Semarang. The distance between Semarang – Karimunjawa is approximately 120 km while distance between Jepara – Karimunjawa is around 90 km.

exact location of Karimunjawa

How to get there?

There are two alternative ways to reach Karimunjawa. You can take the express boat, kapal cepat Kartini, from Semarang or the slower one, KM Muria, from Jepara. Please keep in mind that these two boat don’t sail everyday. Another important note: you must book the ticket at least 2 weeks till one month before your departure, especially for the Kartini express boat and the VIP class of KM Muria. The ticket is easily sold out because of the high demand either from the tourist or from the local people.

Kapal cepat Kartini

Kapal Cepat Kartini (Express Boat)

Schedule: Saturday (9 a.m.) Tanjung Mas Harbour (Semarang) – Karimunjawa

Sunday (2 p.m.) Karimunjawa – Tanjung Mas Harbour (Semarang)

Tickets: Executive : Rp. 131.000

Business : Rp. 111.000

All classes are equipped with air conditioner.

Contact Person: Purwanto (08156627808)

By using Kapal Cepat Kartini, Karimunjawa can be reached for only 3-5 hours from Semarang, depends on the height of the wave.

KM Muria (the larger but the slower boat)

Schedule: Saturday (8 a.m.) Jepara – Karimunjawa

Monday (8 a.m.) Karimunjawa – Jepara

Wednesday (8 a.m.) Jepara – Karimunjawa

Thursday ( 8 a.m.) Karimunjawa – Jepara

Ticket: VIP : Rp. 60.250

Economy : Rp. 30.000

Economy class isn’t equipped with airconditioner.

Contact Person: ASDP Jepara (0291-591048)

Usually, the journey takes about 6-7 hours, depends on the wave.

Where to Stay?

Of course it will depend on your budget. In Karimunjawa, the accommodations range from homestay and budget hotel for budget travellers until high-end resort that will cost you up to US$ 300/nights. If you want to stay at luxurious place, maybe you should stay at Nirwana Beach Resort (located in the mainland) or Kura-Kura Resort (located in Menyawakan Island). If you are a budget traveler, just like us, staying at homestay is the best choice in Karimunjawa. We stayed at Mulya Indah homestay. The room was quite clean and large but there’s no bathroom inside the room. You can also ask the homestay owner to prepare lunch or dinner for you. Overall, Mulya Indah homestay is a nice and comfortable place to stay in Karimunjawa.

Wisma Mulya Indah

Rate: Rp. 60.000 / room (2 persons)/ night

Lunch / dinner: Rp. 20.000/ person.

Contact: Pak Mul ((0297) 312106)

Our trip…

We departed from Tanjung Mas harbour at 9 a.m. using Kapal Cepat Kartini and arrived at 1 p.m. in Karimunjawa harbour. Thank God, this boat trip didn’t make us nausea and vomit. At 3 p.m. we started our adventure. In Karimunjawa, we collaborated with three students from Moestopo University, all male (unfortunately, I forget their name, I’m sooo sorry T_T). So, there were 10 members in our team. First, we rent a boat which costed us Rp. 250.000/ boat/ day (in other word, Rp 25.000/person).

Our first destination was Menjangan Kecil Island. To enter this island, everyone must pay Rp 10.000. Menjangan Kecil has a beautiful beach. White sand, clear water, private beach (no one else but us) but you must be careful because there were so many ‘bulu babi’. There were also many small fish but the fish were almost homogen. Overall, my rate for this beach is 8.5/10

Menjangan Kecil pics...

Next destination was Menjangan Besar Island. You MUST visit this island. If not, that means you still don’t visit Karimunjawa. Menjangan Besar wasn’t about beautiful beach but there were another great sensation that you must feel. Yup, you MUST feel this sensation: Swimming session with SHARKS. A lot of SHARKS. At first, we were scared but then we tried to swim in that ‘deadly pool’. And guess what, the sharks were tame. They weren’t disturbed by our presence. There were another pool which were filled with sharks and barracuda. We can’t swim in this pool because barracuda is too dangerous. After sunset, we finally went back to the mainland, took a bath, and had dinner in ‘Warung Bu Ester” (which I thought the only restaurant in the island). Sambal in warung Bu Ester was really maknyusssssss!!!

Lots of SHARKS!!!

de'Kozzy and the SHARK

The next day, in the morning, we had a little walk. We went to Karimunjawa’s only market, which was very simple, to have breakfast. We also went to the only Puskesmas (Primary health care) in Karimunjawa. The life in Karimunjawa is very simple.

the only market in Karimunjawa

Our first destination in the second day was Cemara Besar Island. But before we reached the island, we did snorkeling in the sea near the island. We saw so many reefs (definitely beats Phiphi island) but we still didn’t meet ‘the school of fish’ just like we met in Phiphi island one year ago. After finished, we went to the beach. Wow…this island completely amazed us. We were speechless. Words, even photos, can’t explain the true beauty of Cemara Besar Island. You must visit this island and see the nature beauty with your own eyes. Cemara Besar island definitely beats Phiphi island in every single aspect

Cemara Besar, here we comes!!!

can you see the crystal water with the white sand??? Ah,perfect!

Ah, perfect part 2

Just like swimming in giant pool

Cemara Kecil island was our next destination. Just like Cemara Besar, we were also amazed by this island. Very beauty. In fact, the underwater life was better than in Cemara Besar. We met nemo in this island. Unfortunately we didn’t bring underwater camera. The fact that no one else except us was the plus point of this island. Just imagine: white sand, crystal water with nice gradation, and no one else in the island except your friend. PERFECT.

Cemara Kecil Island

de'Kozzy and de'Rio in the crystal sea near cemara kecil

Our last destination was Tanjung Gelam beach which located in the mainland. This beach were the best spot to see the sunset. We spent rest of our time in this beach, waiting for the sunset. De’kozzy did the sunbathing while the rest of us were sleeping in this beach. After sunset, we went back to the homestay.

Tanjung Gelam beach

Sunset in Tanjung Gelam

Nothing we could do in the last day. We must wake up early in the morning because the KM Muria boat departed at 8 a.m. It’s time to say goodbye to the beautiful island. We hope we can visit Karimunjawa in the future.

Conclusion…

You guys who read this blog, especially Indonesian, must visit Karimunjawa. This place just need a lot of promotion considering that many of Indonesian still have no idea about Karimunjawa. For me, Karimunjawa beats Phiphi island (unless the nightlife of course). So, wanna taste the white sand, crystal water, the private beach a la Maldives or Carribean? Visit Karimunjawa!!!