#sailing indonesia boats

[cat-mess]

Lately I…

[bajoboatcharter]

Let's sail away.

KAIA Liveaboard

[gurkandbannis]

LIVE Bima Suci

Live performance from Bima Suci Indonesia🇮🇩right outside of the entrance of the ship😎it was very cool🤩cant imagen how the party will be on the ship back home🥳 If you like what you see, feel free to comment below. We upload a video every single day so be sure to follow so you can take a part in our journey🥰🥰

[desikanya]

Boita Bandana, a cultural tribute to ancient maritime activities

People in Odisha celebrate Boita Bandana, a boat festival marking the region's maritime glory. This annual observance occurs on Kartik Purnima, the full moon day in the holy month of Kartik. Boita Bandana is a cultural tribute to Odisha’s ancient maritime activities and trade relations with Southeast Asian countries.

Symbolic Act of Floating Boats:

The most important ritual of Boita Bandana is floating little hand-made boats. They are usually made of plantain or banana stems and other similar natural and traditional materials. Boats are laden with various offerings such as flowers, coins, ‘Kaudis’ or cowries, ‘Pana’ or betel leaves, ‘Guā’ or betel nuts, and a lighted lamp. This symbolic act pays homage to Odisha’s rich maritime history and the courageous sailors who engaged in trade with Southeast Asian nations. The festival serves as a cultural bridge connecting the present generation with the seafaring legacy of their ancestors.

Remembering the Sadhabas:

Boita Bandana echoes the collective consciousness & memories of the past. It commemorates the legacies of the Kalinga Sadhabas – the maritime merchants & seafarers. The origins of this festival descend from an ancient maritime tradition of merchant trade and voyages across the ocean to different regions of Asia, which was well developed in this region known in ancient times as Kalinga. This ancient maritime tradition is preserved through this festival which celebrates the voyages of their ancestors, to Southeast Asian countries, which include mainly present-day Bali, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, and all the way to Champa region in Vietnam. Local traditions ascribe the origins of the ritual tradition to around the 3rd century BC as Kalinga was a well-known powerful maritime power with strong trading links across the oceans, especially during the reign of the Maurya empire whose rulers coveted the region for its influence.

Kartika Purnima was considered auspicious for them to begin their voyage. It was during this time of the month as well when the Northeast monsoon winds started blowing from November, which was favorable for the merchant mariners as the winds would guide the sails of their boats across the ocean leading them southwards towards Sri Lanka. Thereafter using the ocean currents to cross the Indian Ocean to reach Southeast Asia where they would carry on sailing across different regions for trade. After trading the ships would take the ocean countercurrent to get back to Sri Lanka in time to take advantage of the Southwest monsoon around May and return home. Hence the families of the traveling sailors used to perform rituals on the day of Kartik Purnima for their safe journey and return, which henceforth became the tradition of Boita Bandana (Worship of the Boats).

Boita Bandana and Jagannath Culture:

At Sri Mandira (Jagannath Puri), the deities wear a variety of attires, or ‘besa’, throughout the year. During the holy month of Kartika, they receive special ‘besa’ outfits. In years when the Kartika month includes six days of ‘Panchaka’ instead of the usual five, the deities wear the rare and unique ‘Nagarjuna Besa’. In this special attire, the deities are dressed like ‘Nagarjuna’, a revered figure. This unique ‘besa’ is a significant part of the Kartika Purnima celebrations in Puri. And, Boita Bandana is every year meant to be celebrated in the early morning of Kartik Purnima.

Boita Bandana serves as a vibrant reminder of Odisha’s historical ties with other maritime civilizations and instills a sense of cultural pride among the people.

Information from different sources.

[instruth]

A HAKKA FOLK SONG

I am going to share a poignant Hakka folk song my mother used to sing to me since I was little. This Chinese dialect song is about a young Hakka wife singing her heart out, on how she misses her husband who has sailed away on a long business trip oversees.

My mother’s eyes swelled with tears every time she sang to me. She missed my dad whenever he traveled by boat to Indonesia on business. He was a trader and was often out of town.

I am sharing only the chorus in romanized Hakka and in Mandarin (with English translation).

I composed the remaining twelve verses from memory, and translated them into English. I recalled this lovely folk song in the Hakka dialect of our mother’s tongue.

SAILING AWAY

Chorus:

想起浪阿

siong kee lorng ah ...

想起浪阿

siong kee lorng ah ...

想起阿哥過外港

siong ki Ah Kor ko ngwai kong ....

I recall the waves, ah ...

I recall the waves, ah ...

I think of Ah Kor sailing away ...

(Ah Kor, Elder Brother, is a polite way to address the Husband. Traditional Hakka women do not call their husbands by name).

Standing by the shore

I watch you sail away

The sea has taken you

To a distant land

When I close my eyes

I see the billowing

My thoughts travel to you

Carried by the waves

I pray that you are safe

Oh! My heart is troubled

My Ah Kor has gone abroad

I am left here on the shore ....

Chorus:

想起浪阿

siong kee lorng ah ...

想起浪阿

siong kee lorng ah ...

想起阿哥過外港

siong ki Ah Kor ko ngwai kong ....

©Johnny J P Lee

29 May 2023

My FamiLEE Hakka Folk Song

Photos of my FamiLEE and the Bong Family of my Mum. 9 Photos in sequence - my wedding, mum & dad, FamiLEE, me as Best Man at my sis’s wedding, with paternal grandma, me and my sis, Bong Family (my mum is the eldest), my family at my son’s wedding, me and my two sisters at our nephew’s wedding.

[semper-legens]

186. The Night Ship, by Jess Kidd

Owned: No, library Page count: 371 My summary: 1628. Mayken sails to a new world on board a ship named for her destination, a child seeking her new existence. But tragedy befalls the Batavia before too long, and Mayken is cast into a world of conspiracy that she doesn't quite understand. Three hundred and sixty one years later, a boy called Gil is trying to move past the death of his mother when he comes across the graveyard of the Batavia. But how and why are their lives interlinked? My rating: 4/5 My commentary:

I should probably have heard of this incident before now. Long-time readers of this blog will know that I am particularly interested in Bad Things Happening On Boats, from the Franklin expedition to the mutiny on the Bounty to the Belgica. So I should probably have come across the Batavia before now, right? Apparently not. Yeah, we're back in historical fiction territory, with a split narrative between a girl who sails on the Batavia's doomed voyage in the 1620s, and a boy in the 1980s who finds himself washed up on that same shore. It was mystical, it was haunting, it was lyrical, and it was a very good, if tragic, read. I'd highly recommend it.

Let's start in 1628 with young Mayken, a newly motherless girl being sent to live with her estranged father in Batavia, a Dutch colony in Indonesia. The only person she has is her nursemaid, Imke, who dies in the crossing after a bite on her foot is infected. Mayken is curious and imaginative, but that imagination can be used against her. When a sailor she thinks of as a friend helps her obtain access belowdecks, she thinks that's a great thing despite the area belowdecks being full of perils for a lone child. She is taught a story of an eel-like creature called the Bullebak, and comes to believe that this monster is responsible for anything that goes wrong on the ship. This serves, to the mind of the adult reader, as something of a metaphor for the true rot at the heart of the Batavia, including the mutinous Jeronimus Cornelisz who takes advantage of the wreck to take some of the surviving women as his own and orders the murder of survivors when supplies get low. Mayken was a really engaging protagonist; Kidd strikes a fine balance between her childish naivety and a real sense of character and personality. She's not a bland Dickensian urchin, she has her own thoughts and feelings, and the narrative doesn't spell out exactly why she does half the things she does, while still leaving the truth plain for anyone to see if they are looking. Mayken believes in the Bullebak because she needs a sense of control in her life while Imke is sick and the ship wrecks and everything is falling apart. She is protective of the people in her life because they are all she has. She finds routines and patterns in her daily existence because they help keep her grounded in a sense of reality. It's a mature, nuanced worldview that still keeps the childish outlook and that has to be commended.

Meanwhile in 1989, we have Gil, a newly motherless boy being sent to live with his estranged grandfather on an island off the coast of Australia. There's something familiar between Gil and Mayken - shared by the mirroring the narrative does between them. The first two chapters are mirror images of each other, sharing the same beats and progression, highlighting these two children as important. Gil's mother, who reading between the lines was severely mentally ill and/or a drug user, died not too long ago. She may or may not have killed herself. Gil found her, and lived with her corpse for a couple of weeks before eventually being found and shipped off first to a children's home, then his only living relative, his grandfather Joss who lives on Beacon Island. Gil has the same naivety of Mayken, but his worldview is a bit more cynical; while Mayken makes connections among the crew and passengers of the Batavia, Gil keeps to himself and trusts nobody, even though he's young enough that this independence is more sad than admirable. He has a hot temper and does not react well to bullies, not helped by the fact that he's 'weird', liking to dress in his grandmother's clothes and put on fashion shows because that's what he used to do with his mum. He also exhibits some distressing behaviours, such as drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes, something he also seems to have learned from his mother. As events unfold, we get to understand him and what he has done better, as well as the complex guilt he carries with him over his mother's death.

This is a book about trauma, and this is a book about tragedy, and it doesn't have any easy answers to either. Bad things still happen. Mayken is one of the people massacred by Cornelisz' men, and is believed to haunt the island long after her death. Gil's tortoise Enkidu dies after being dropkicked by Gil's bullies, and ends up being stalked and harrassed by an adult who hates his guts. Mayken lost everything. Gil's mother's death might be his fault. Most of the characters are messed up by some trauma or other, not just the kids, and very few of them have the language to express it or the wherewithal to understand it. Some of their stories we only catch glimpses of, and ultimately cannot know why they are the way they are, just seeing the end result. It's a melancholy tale, but not a grim one. There's light there. Despite the monstrous actions of a few people, there are still others who take Mayken under their wing or look out for Gil. People are complicated, and most of us are just doing the best we can under the circumstances. And that's such a hopeful message, even in the midst of all this pain. You can heal. There is a light. Even if you don't reach it, that light is there.

Next, dark magic and a strange boy in a rural town.

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

y'know, van lifer family vloggers are a scourge on society already. but i've got a new one lately: boat life family vloggers. so over the last week on facebook watch/video, i've started to get a young aussie couple, say in their early 30s, trying to convince people that living on a catamaran, sailing around the world is the peak of living sustainably and "beating the housing crisis" and "living the life they want" etc etc etc, all the usual mantras of van lifer family vloggers.

i don't really know how old most of the videos in my feed are, but in a couple of the latest ones that i've watched, they have a toddler (say about 2 years old) and a 6 month old or something. I've been thinking, along side of a parody series of van lifer family videos that I watch on YT shorts, about how incredibly cramped this life is. just how much control these parents want over their kids. how lonely and isolating it will be for those kids once they're older, and need actual kids their age- not just their sibling (or siblings if these people want more kids that the two they've got)- to interact with outside of and away from their parents (and their brother rn- or sister/s if they have more kids). at one stage, right after they have their second kid, they're straight back on the boat like a week after the kid is born.

in one of the videos, they show you around a new boat that's about $1.5 million to buy. they show you all the rooms in it: the galley, the two bedrooms, the kitchen etc and the navigation deck. but in what i suppose is meant to be the master bedroom (it's a queen bed stuffed between 2 walls and a door, with two small overhead fans when it's hot)..... and there's a funny thing down the end of the bed for storage. the woman of the couple, who shows the viewers the room, goes "oh i could probs fit in here!!! *feet stick out as she tries to squeeze herself into a STORAGE UNIT* oh wait. no i can't fit in it. it really is storage. or y'know. you could fit a child in there, i suppose." like. kelsey or whatever your name is. why the fuck would you put a kid in there??? other than maybe you're nursing them and want them close. but still. it's A FUCKING STORAGE UNIT?????

but i digress. you're being "environmentally conscious". you're living off of solar power and "teaching our kids about the r E a L w O r L d!!!!! giving them a real education!!! letting them live a life that they'd NEVER have on the mainland of australia!!! look! we've sailed to the bahamas to meet another youtube travel couple!! look! our boat broke down in bali so now kelsey has a much needed break from the kids on the mainland of indonesia bc we've invited our family over to the conutry bc it's closer (and cheaper) than Hawaii, where we were a month ago!!!"

like. have you considered that maybe this isn't really healthy for your kids??? like you have the tiniest fucking shower "or if the weather's good, our shower is mother nature :).... using the crystal clear waters of barbados to wash ourselves!!!! isn't that just awesome and cool and unique!!!???" and "oh our boat batteries have died so now we HAVE to shack up at a marina to charge :(! this sucks, bc it's so much better to be right next to dolphins in the atlantic oceans for our little boys!!!! we hate being on any mainland really bc we're not being self-sufficient!!! but half the time we have to moor and go to the mainland of anywhere, to make sure we stock up on locally sourced, grass fed farmer's market stock and also long life food!!!"

anyway. you get my point. i don't think this channel is good for starters, considering that what if you have a massive fight, in which you need time to cool off AWAY from your partner??? even more esp when you have the two kids now??? you really have NO private space on this catamaran, even though they sell it as if they do. again, obvs they're not filming EVERYTHING so you don't know what goes on when the camera isn't on. but still. i think this lifestyle is all fun and games..... until you get kids in the picture.

i dont think it matters if your son atlas (the 2 year old) and your son ashwaganda (the baby) really see dolphins up close in the atlantic ocean vs an aqaurium or on a doplhin cruise back in australia. they do NOT need "real world living" at goddamned 2 YEARS OLD AND 6 MONTHS OLD!!!! they are CHILDREN. they need other kids to be around.... and in their immediate family back in australia...... not just with their parents..... and random kids that they might meet in whatever country you've sailed to.... for like a week. before you claim "it's been too long since we've had our sea legs and we're so restless to get back on the water to BE FREE and away from the hustle and bustle of *insert city here*.... even if it WAS a welcoming break for mummy and daddy. since daddy had the boys over in bali and mummy shoved you off on grandma while we had a retreat in bali."

it's just beyond me that they're selling themselves as an aspirational couple and how "to break free of the mainland of your country and trust your gut for family!!! be self-sufficient today and live the free-roaming, real world, carefree catamaran adventurer/vagabond life today with your kids in tow!!!!" NO!!! i can just imagine how much your kids will hate you if you continue to live this life when they're older than 2 years old and 6 months old.

[journarl-s]

LABUAN BAJO, INDONESIA - Mini Album Posts: LET'S GO ON VACATION AGAAAIIN!!

If you hear Labuan Bajo, the first thing that comes to mind probably the extinct Komodo. But, if you explore more, you will find another beautiful attraction around it. Labuan Bajo is so beautiful, so mesmerizing, that all the bad things that happened were all overshadowed by it.

To be honest, I've expected Labuan Baju to be water, water, and water. I mean, I thought island hopping would be swimming, snorkeling, diving, everything about water. I was wrong. Beside water, there was hill. The amount of snorkeling and hiking that I did was not equal, I did more hiking than I thought I would lol. But everything was worth it. Bajo really reminds me of Dinosaurs and Land Before Time (if you know the Dinosaurs cartoon). Here comes several photos of me during Bajo trip, ようこそ!

1. Playing touristy but the big bag is kind of WHYYY (I forgot where I was)

2. Pink Beach is LOVE

3. Sylvia Hill (before the sandal incident occurred)

4. Padar Island, turned out I'm one of your STRONGEST soldier! (sandals for hiking was so NOT comfortable)

5. Even though I wore sandal, I think I can still endorse you, Padar Island

6. One more of me at Padar because Padar is just so beautiful

7. The black dots were bats (Kalong Island) (please forgive my lack of photography skill)

8. Kanawa is really the BEST snorkeling spot in Bajo I guess even I can see the beautiful underwater scenery with my nearsighted eyes and also got swept up by the current

9. Kelor island hike with the prayers that my sandal was going to be alright lol

10. Taka Makassar aaaaalllll whiteeeeeee (except it wasn't captured on the pics)

11. On the Way to some Cave I forgot the name lol

12. Me with the Komodo, but I guess the camera was confused where to focus or how to get both objects to be HD

Those were some photos from the Bajo Trip! although the trip was far less from what I expected (boat scam, no drone or underwater camera, lost one day of the trip due to the unprofessional tour) HUFT, it is still one of the endearing trip that I've ever been to.

Lesson learned is if you want to go on a trip with a travel tour, best if you find all the reviews of the tour to be a consideration whether the travel tour have got good reputation or not, and if it involves sailing, ASK the travel tour to video call you to show you the REAL ship that you're gonna use.

DO NOT USE YOUR FLORES TOUR TO BAJO!

with such an up and down experiences, I found a little gem there. through thick and thin of Bajo trip, here are they:

and the last but not least, the ones who convinced me to join the trip, A BIG THANK YOUUUUU LUV:

Now, it is time to part ways. Let's go on another vacation yess!!

XOXO, Sari

[nunuisancenewt]

I feel like when people question what was “special” about Europe that made it Conquer the world/Industrialize/become rich. They ignore the coast too much

Europe looks weird! it’s a glorified peninsula more than a continent, and it is covered in more big weird shaped peninsulas, Greece ( especially the Peloponnese), italy, Iberia, Denmark, and Fenno-Scandinavia which is huge and wraps back around and points at europe again, not to mention the large islands right nearby of Britain and Ireland, Anatolia ( “Asian” but you know what I mean) , or all the Mediterranean islands ( corsica and Sardinia are big, so is Sicily, and then theres Cyprus, and the balearics, and the Entire Aegean) , and the north African coast, the supposed “First Civilization” of Europe was centered on Crete and controlled the Aegean! I don’t know much about sailing or the weather and relative calmness of different water bodies or the history of boats but like , just picture going from the Aegean to the Mediterranean, the Mediterranean as a training ground for the open ocean hugging the coast, and then the Scandinavians pebble hopping increasingly larger distances to Britain and then to Iceland and Greenland and then to Newfoundland, and then spain making the trip straight across to the Caribbean.

Basically, If I was terraforming a major landmass with the goal of making a group of amazing sailors that could conquer the world quickly , well I guess I’ll make the eastern pacific ocean, but If I needed them to be OKish at land based colonialism and stay unified enough to build massive world sprawling empires, well I guess I would make Europe/the Mediterranean *

* Northern Canada is similarly messy but it is cold and frozen over much of the year. Indonesia ( and papua new guinea, timor leste, Malaysia, arguably lets include Philippines ) are also nice and messy but Rainforest soils are very low in nutrients and don’t work well for annual crops like most grains , ( Java is an exception because it is Full of Volcanos)

[fragrant-stars]

As someone from the global South I'm gonna chime in: my grandparents' parents had to flee China for Indonesia directly bc of Mao. (Long story short: great grandfather was an activist, the government did not like that he was an activist, so he packed up his family and sailed to Indonesia on a boat)

They were dirt poor farmers too, so it's not like there was some epic upheaval of government and then Only The Rich Fucks Got Their Just Desserts..... Not a single person in my family- or most of the Chinese people I've met, for that matter- thinks that the PRC's government policies as a whole are a good idea that should be implemented everywhere else.

Did these revolutions make life better for people? Depends on who you ask. For sure though, for many people life was about the same amount of shitty, just in new and different ways.

Not to mention, a lot of times certain people who sense that revolution is at hand get a little violence-happy towards people they deem as acceptable targets / stand ins for the authors of their oppression... The Khmer Rouge and the riots of '98 in Indonesia both spring to mind...

To me the PRC and the USA are more or less the same- they have some good things and some bad things, but they both have a worrying lack of respect for human rights 🤷

I agree that we need to decentralise government and make our governing system more about helping each other rather than making a quick buck but- I think carelessly throwing around names like Lenin and Stalin and holding China up as an example of what you'd like a post-revolution state to look like... makes a lot of us descendants of the survivors..... Wary of what your plans for revolution might entail.

TLDR if your response to "ok what are your plans for after the Revolution" is to point at existing Marxist-Leninist model countries like China, I as a Chinese person am going to start wondering whether my family and I will have to pack up our shit and GTFO. again.

something very funny about accusing specifically Marxist Leninists of not having posts-revolutionary plans, given how 1 out of 5 people on earth are presently living under the governance of explicitly Marxist Leninist experiments. we do very much have plans for these things. we even wrote it down. you can read about it for free with just a few clicks

[harmonyhealinghub]

The Hidden Island Shaina Tranquilino September 11, 2024

Captain Jonah Hale had heard tales of the hidden island for as long as he could remember. An uncharted speck of land somewhere in the vastness of the Pacific, it was whispered about in seafarers' taverns, a place where time stood still and the rules of the world ceased to apply. Most dismissed the stories as mere sailor's lore, but Hale was not most people. He had spent the better part of his life chasing legends, and this was the one that had eluded him.

For years, he had studied ancient maps, deciphered cryptic journals, and pieced together fragmented tales. His obsession led him to the darkest corners of the earth, but it wasn't until he found an old mariner in a remote village in Indonesia that he finally got the clue he needed—a set of coordinates, scrawled on a scrap of parchment, handed over with a trembling hand.

"The island is not of this world," the old man had warned, his eyes clouded with memories of things better forgotten. "Once you set foot on it, there's no telling what you'll find... or if you'll ever leave."

Undeterred, Hale set sail with a small crew aboard his trusty vessel, The Odyssey. They sailed for days through uncharted waters, where the sea was eerily calm, and the sky seemed perpetually overcast. It was as if the world held its breath in this place, waiting.

On the morning of the seventh day, the island appeared on the horizon, a silhouette against the gray sky. It was small, no more than a mile across, dominated by a single, towering mountain shrouded in mist. Hale ordered the crew to drop anchor in a sheltered cove, and as the boat rocked gently on the waves, he felt a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature.

"This is it," he muttered to himself as he stepped into the dinghy that would take him ashore.

The beach was a stretch of white sand, untouched by footprints or time. Beyond the shore, a dense jungle loomed, its trees ancient and gnarled, their roots snaking across the ground like the tendrils of some subterranean beast. The air was thick with the scent of earth and something else—something sweet and cloying that Hale couldn't quite place.

As he ventured deeper into the jungle, he noticed that the usual sounds of nature were absent. There were no birds, no rustling leaves, no insects buzzing in the undergrowth. It was as if the island itself was holding its breath, waiting.

He pressed on, his heart pounding in his chest, until he came to a clearing at the base of the mountain. In the center of the clearing stood a stone archway, covered in vines and inscribed with symbols that were not of any language Hale recognized. The archway framed nothing but empty space, yet as he approached, he felt a strange pull, as if the very fabric of reality was thinner here, stretched to its breaking point.

Hale reached out a hand and touched the stone. The symbols began to glow with a soft, amber light, and the air shimmered as a portal materialized within the archway. Through it, he could see another world—a world bathed in golden light, where towering spires rose from a landscape of lush, verdant forests. The sight was both beautiful and terrifying, a glimpse into something beyond his comprehension.

He should have turned back then, but the island's pull was too strong. Steeling himself, Hale stepped through the portal.

The transition was seamless, like walking through a veil of water. On the other side, the air was warm and filled with the sound of distant music, a haunting melody that seemed to come from the very earth itself. He was in a vast, open plaza, surrounded by towering structures made of a stone that glowed with an inner light. The architecture was unlike anything he had ever seen, a blend of organic and geometric forms that defied the laws of physics.

As he wandered the empty streets, Hale realized that this was a city of the lost civilization he had read about in his research—a civilization that had somehow transcended the bounds of time and space. But where were its inhabitants?

He found his answer in the city's central square. At its centre stood a colossal statue of a figure clad in flowing robes, its hands raised as if in supplication. Around the statue's base were dozens of stone figures, their expressions frozen in fear and awe. It took Hale a moment to realize that these were not statues—they were people, petrified in an instant, caught in the midst of some cataclysmic event.

A deep sense of dread settled over him as he understood the island's curse. This was not a place where time stood still, but a place where time had been shattered. The civilization had tried to harness powers beyond their understanding, and in doing so, they had doomed themselves to an eternity trapped between worlds.

Hale felt the island's pull once more, a whisper in his mind urging him to stay, to become part of the island's eternal tableau. But he resisted, stumbling back toward the portal. As he passed through the archway, he felt a jolt, as if something had tried to cling to him, to drag him back.

He staggered out into the clearing, the jungle silent and oppressive around him. The portal flickered behind him and then vanished, leaving only the stone archway, cold and inert.

Hale wasted no time in returning to the beach, his heart pounding as he rowed back to The Odyssey. As the island receded into the distance, he could still feel its presence, a lingering shadow on the edge of his consciousness.

When he reached the ship, he ordered the crew to set sail immediately. As they left the cove, the island seemed to dissolve into the mist, as if it had never been there at all.

For the rest of his days, Captain Jonah Hale never spoke of what he had seen on the hidden island. But the memory of that place haunted him, a reminder that some mysteries are better left unsolved, and that there are forces in the world far beyond human understanding.

[dsandrvk]

Sunday, September 1 - Garove Island

Here in the South Pacific, it seems the islands are either coral atolls that have emerged from the water, or the remnants of volcanoes along the "ring of fire". Rabaul had been defined by volcanoes that both created a wonderful harbor and yet repeatedly destroyed the town. Here, Garove Island is the rim of a caldera, an almost perfect ring of steep terrain with an opening on the south. Inside the ring are several small villages, linked by a short road, while there are more villages on the outside of the island. There are probably routes between the inside and outside, but due to the steep terrain and dense jungle, it is probably easier to go from place to place by boat.

We only had a half-day here, arriving after lunch, and there was another cultural performance scheduled. Because time was limited and we wanted to see some of the area, we decided to skip the dancing and wander off in the opposite direction. Also, after last night's incredible performance, anything else would pale in comparison so soon after.

One of the local men walked part of the way with us, and gave us some information about what some of the buildings were used for (i.e. "that's a restaurant"), and we walked past a well constructed stone retaining wall that allowed the houses to be built well above the water level. On the sea side were more outrigger canoes than we had seen in one place before. Every place we have been has their own style of outrigger - these were very narrow with an extremely lightweight outrigger attached only near the middle of the canoe. It probably makes sense, since they are probably fishing only in the caldera, where the waters are calm.

The "road" abruptly turned uphill, and became a double concrete path, suitable for vehicles, although we never saw any. It then went through a cut in the cliff that had been blasted, and we eventually came out on a very wide bench with another couple of small villages. It was nice to walk around and talk to some of the locals - we met a family who had several houses overlooking the bay - they were smartly all sitting in the shade, unlike us, who were walking around in the heat.

Once we knew that the performances were over, we headed back down and over to the school and church area. Everywhere we looked there were beautiful plantings - sometimes a whole hillside. Many plants were native, such as the crotons, but in other places we saw non-native "bedding" plants such as marigolds, lantana and zinnias. Most of the houses were newly thatched and the entire place had more of a feel of relative prosperity and contentment.

The school and church here are quite extensive, and there is even a priest who resides here. The school buildings were quite neat, and beautifully landscaped - we met the gardener who showed us around a bit. By now, the vast majority of guests had left to briefly explore some of the areas we had seen earlier or were going back to the ship, so we had the place to ourselves. Unlike the school we visited in Indonesia, here the education is very basic and religious oriented, with no technology and books that don't really reflect what would be practical for the locals. It's too bad, as here, as everywhere we have been in PNG, there are many, many children, and education will be the key for the future of the country.

Although it had been a beautiful, mostly sunny day (very hot and humid, but that is to be expected), as we sailed out of the caldera, the clouds rolled in, and the island was bathed in shadow. We haven't had much luck with sunsets on this trip, as that seems to be the standard in the evening. Tomorrow we will also have only an afternoon on shore again, as we head over to the main island of New Guinea and a visit to a village near the mouth of the Sepik River.

[turisiancom]

TURISIAN.com - Kementerian Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif (Kemenarekraf) pada peringatan Hari Ulang Tahun (HUT) Ke-79 tahun ini mengusung kosep berbeda. Salah satunya adalah melaksanakan pengibaran bendera merah putih di bawah laut Pulau Pramuka, Kepulauan Seribu, DKI Jakarta, Sabtu, 17 Agustus 2024. Pengibaran bendera merah putih dilakukan langsung oleh  Menteri Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno. Menparekraf tiba di Pulau Pramuka pukul 09:45 WIB, setelah menempuh perjalanan dengan speed boat dari dermaga Pantai Marina Ancol. BACA JUGA: Bertemu Para Investor, Ini Yang Ditawatarkan Kemenparekraf untuk Pengembangan DPSP Sesampainya di Pulau Pramuka—yang pada tahun ini masuk dalam 50 besar Anugerah Desa Wisata Indonesia (ADWI) 2024—Sandiaga langsung menuju Lapangan Sepak Bola Pulau Pramuk. Disini, sang menteri mengikuti upacara Peringatan Detik-Detik Proklamasi Kemerdekaan RI. Upacara tersebut diadakan secara daring bersamaan dengan upacara di Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN), Kalimantan Timur. "Ini adalah wujud keberpihakan pemerintah pusat terhadap daerah-daerah terdepan, terluar, dan yang masih menghadapi berbagai tantangan dibandingkan daerah lain," kata Sandiaga. BACA JUGA: Pasukan Pengibar Bendera Pusaka Jawa Barat Dikukuhkan, Siap Bertugas di HUT Kemerdekaan Sandiaga berharap,Kepulauan Seribu dapat terus berkembang menuju Indonesia Emas 2045. Sementara itu Sandiaga juga menegaskan bahwa pihaknya akan terus berkoordinasi dengan berbagai pemangku kepentingan. Utamanya, untuk mendorong pengembangan pariwisata dan ekonomi kreatif di Kepulauan Seribu. Sedangkan Kemenparekraf sendiri telah meluncurkan berbagai program unggulan. Seperti ADWI 2024 dan Kabupaten/Kota (KaTa) Kreatif. BACA JUGA: Yuk Kenali Para Pejuang Kemerdekaan Indonesia di Museum PETA Bogor! Partisipasi Masyarakat Hal ini, guna meningkatkan partisipasi masyarakat, khususnya generasi muda di Kepulauan Seribu. Pada kesempatan tersebut, Sandiaga tampil mengenakan busana tradisional Suku Dayak Lebo dari Pedalaman Kelay, Berau, Kalimantan Timur. Pakaiannya dilengkapi rompi berbahan kulit kayu berwarna cokelat. Lengkap dengan topi berhias bulu burung enggang yang menjuntai. "Busana ini saya dapatkan langsung dari Kabupaten Berau saat kunjungan ke Desa Wisata Derawan," akunya. "Ini menjadi bentuk kebersamaan dengan Presiden dan rekan-rekan yang memperingati Detik-Detik Proklamasi pertama di IKN," sambung Sandiaga. BACA JUGA: Jembatan Emas Kota Pangkalpinang Jadi Spot Destinasi Kemerdekaan Dibagian lain, Menteri Pemuda dan Olahraga (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo, yang juga hadir dalam kesempatan tersebut. Dito, menekankan bahwa kemerdekaan RI adalah momen refleksi untuk memajukan generasi muda Indonesia, khususnya di bidang olahraga. Menpora Dito menambahkan, keberadaan mereka di Pulau Pramuka adalah arahan dari Presiden Joko Widodo. Yakni, untuk melaksanakan upacara kemerdekaan di wilayah 3T (tertinggal, terdepan, dan terluar). BACA JUGA: Kemenparekraf Jajaki Kerjasama dengan Juneyao Airlines di Shanghai "Saya yakin dengan potensi bahari dan pariwisata di Kepulauan Seribu, daerah ini bisa dikembangkan menjadi pusat olahraga air. Seperti open water swimming dan sailing," ujarnya. Menurutnya, pemerintah pusat bersama pemerintah Kabupaten Kepulauan Seribu. Termasuk,  Pemprov DKI Jakarta akan fokus pada pengembangan aquatic sport di wilayah ini. Menparekraf Sandiaga didampingi oleh Deputi Bidang Pengembangan Destinasi dan Infrastruktur Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf, Hariyanto. Serta Bupati Kabupaten Administratif Kepulauan Seribu, Junaedi. ***

[javasunrisecoffe]

Examining Komodo Tour Packages: Individualized Experiences for Every Passenger

Discovering one of Indonesia's most stunning natural beauties starts with a Komodo tour. Every travel style and desire can be accommodated by a Komodo tour package, whether you're seeking for a quick trip or an intense adventure. This article will help you choose the ideal Komodo tour package for your trip by explaining the various kinds that are offered.

Komodo Tour Package Types

1. Day Outings

Perfect for: Families with young children, short-term guests, and busy people. Typically, day trips to Komodo Island depart from the nearby Flores Island town of Labuan Bajo. A speedboat ride to Komodo Island, guided trekking to view the dragons, and a stop at one or two snorkeling locations are typically included in these programs.

Standouts:

escorted hike to witness Komodo dragons.

swimming near colorful coral reefs.

Visit picturesque locations such as Pink Beach.

An example of a schedule

Departure from Labuan Bajo in the morning.

Getting to Komodo Island in time for a guided hike.

Swimming at the Pink Beach.

Get back to Labuan Bajo at the end of the day.

2. Tours that Last All Night

Perfect for: Visitors looking for a slower pace and more in-depth exploration. A more relaxed experience can be had on an overnight excursion, which frequently includes stops at several islands and extras like beach exploring and sunset gazing. On one of the islands, accommodations are usually provided in a little lodge or on a boat.

Standouts:

More time to spend exploring the Rinca and Komodo Islands.

chance to view more scenery and wildlife.

Stargazing and sunset views.

An example of a schedule

Day 1: Leave Labuan Bajo, go snorkeling on Komodo Island.

Spend the night on the boat.

Day 2: Go to Rinca Island, look for more places to snorkel, and then head back to Labuan Bajo.

3. Liveaboard Cruises for Several Days Perfect for: Adventure seekers, diving aficionados, and people looking for a fully immersed experience. Cruises on liveaboards are the most thorough method to discover Komodo National Park. These trips, which often last three to seven days, emphasize both on land and underwater exploration. Boats designed for liveaboards can range in comfort from basic to opulent.

Standouts:

plenty of options for diving in top-notch locations.

Many island trips and walks with guides.

whole board meals and cozy lodgings.

An example of a schedule

Day 1: Set sail for the first dive location on the liveaboard.

Days 2–5: Beach visits, diving, and island excursions every day.

Last day: sunrise snorkeling or diving, then back to Labuan Bajo.

4. Tailored Private Tours Perfect for: Groups, families, and anybody seeking a customized experience. With the flexibility and exclusivity of private excursions, you may customize the schedule to fit your unique interests and pace. These cruises offer a customized vacation, ranging from day visits to prolonged liveaboard adventures. Standouts:

Activities and a customized schedule.

transportation and a private guide.

the ability to concentrate on particular hobbies, such as wildlife photography, leisure, or relaxation.

An example of a schedule

tailored according to interests, encompassing certain island visits, events, and length.

Selecting the Ideal Tour Package Take into account the following elements when choosing a Komodo tour packages: Spending Plan

Day trips are the least expensive, although liveaboard cruises can be more costly but provide better value for longer stays and more activities.

Interests

Liveaboard cruises offer unrivaled access to dive spots for scuba divers.

Trekking and wildlife-focused private trips or overnight tours may be more appealing to those who enjoy the outdoors.

Style of Travel

The best options for you are conventional packages if you like organized itineraries.

Go for private or customized excursions for greater flexibility and individualized experiences.

Time Allotted

For brief stays, day trips are ideal.

Multi-day tours let you delve further into the area if you have more time.

In summary All traveler budgets and tastes are catered for in Komodo trip packages, guaranteeing that everyone can enjoy the wonders of Komodo National Park. Whether you're going on a quick day excursion, a leisurely overnight tour, or a comprehensive liveaboard cruise, all of the packages guarantee amazing experiences with the Komodo Islands' distinctive species and natural beauty. Make a thorough plan, select the package that best meets your needs, and be ready for an unforgettable experience.

[hungryfacesart]

Sailing through Paradise: My Unforgettable vacation to Komodo Islands

For everyone who loves the outdoors, taking a trip to the Komodo Islands is a dream come true. I couldn’t help but be amazed at the cultural contrasts between Europe and Indonesia as I sailed out of Labuan Bajo, the entry point to this breathtaking archipelago, especially at this quaint seaside village. From that point on, my journey on the boat started, giving me a special chance to fully…