JAVA INDONESIA

JAVA

INDONESIA

Java is not the biggest island of Indonesia. However, it is the most populated and a home to the capital, Jakarta. It is also home to Yogyakarta, the cultural heart of Indonesia. Yogyakarta's Borobbudur is a Buddhist monument dating back to 750 AD.

Java has Sumatra as its north-western neighbor across the Sunda Strait and the islands of Madura and Bail at its eastern tip. There is also a number of National Parks on the eastern side of Java and Mt Bromo volcano.

The change of scenery while sailing towards Java is noticeable and the sea traffic increases. There is industry along Java's coast and considerable shipping traffic. There is also a great number of fishing vessels, nets and flags denoting fishing pots. 

At times, sailing between fishing boats and nets is a difficult task and requires a change of course frequently. One wonders if there is any fish left in the Java Sea with the amount of fishing happening here day and night. Yes, the night sailing is another story. It is rather dangerous since many boats have no lights.

Fishing nets could be high and dry or submerged, then only sticks are visible. After many hazards of night sailing a sunrise is welcome.

Spectacular sunrises compensate the difficulties of night sailing.

KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS INDONESIA

KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS

INDONESIA

Karimunjawa Islands are located in the middle of Java Sea between Java Island and Kalimantan, Borneo. Well, maybe not right in the middle, about 70 sea miles away from Java and some 170 from Borneo. Those are actually two islands, Karimunjawa and Kemujan, connected by bridge.

While main transport on the islands is a bike, one would not notice being on Kemujan island after driving across the bridge.

The Islands are unique, the waters around them crystal clear and the multitude of reefs colorful with plenty of fish. It sure is a paradise for snorkeling and diving. There are a number of other islands on extensive reefs around Karimunjawa and Kemujan.

Local boats ferry the visitors on discovery trips to snorkel and dive. The closest are Menjangan Besar and Kecil, more distant Pulau Bengkoang, Cemara Besar and Kecil and many more.

The local population is friendly and fast adopting to visitors from all over the world. The fishing boats are of their special design, typical for Karimunjawa.

The sunsets are spectacular and seem to last forever after the sun goes down.

Karimunjawa Islands found their place on the world map and are fast becoming a destination to visit.

PULAU BANGKA INDONESIA

PULAU BANGKA

INDONESIA

Sailing along Bangka Island requires time. There are two routes. The eastern side of Bangka or the inside route, that is between Sumatra and Bangka. The decision needs to be made as to which route to take at the northern part of Bangka. The landscape is charming, long golden beaches lined up with palms, distant mountains. The sea is turquoise, the water clear. The outer passage is recommended if one wants to continue enjoying this scenery. It is a hundred nautical miles to sail to Tanjung Berikat at the southern end of Bangka.

The inner passage is longer, water not so clear and the weather could be stormy.

The 100 sea miles of the outer passage can be broken into comfortable day sailing between anchorages. One of those anchorages is Palau Panjang with extensive reef and excellent protection from swell in spite of the island itself being just a line on the horizon.

Another anchorage is just between reefs, very comfortable at low tide and with some swell breaking over the reef at high water. It is Karang Perlang only 25 miles away from the southern part of Pulau Bangka, Tanjung Berikat. The Cape itself is scenic and pleasure to sail by.

It was sad to leave Pulau Bangka behind although a sense of new adventure compensated for the departure.

PULAU PEKACANG INDONESIA

PULAU PEKACANG

INDONESIA

Some 50 nautical miles east of Sumatra and 240 west of Borneo, virtually in the middle of nowhere, there is a group of islands called Kepulauan Tuju, an archipelago. About seven islands have names, one is not charted and possibly a few small ones are not honored with a name either. A lucky one that has a name is Pulau Pekacang. From a distance it just looks like another scenic island of Indonesia. At a close glance it shows amazing beauty of its landscapes and coastline.

Another small island emerges at a closer look, that one is not charted. And further afield yet another island, Pulau Cebia, some 3 nautical miles from Pekacang. Pulau Cebia has a few houses, a small village where squid fishermen live.

Pulau Pekacang is uninhabited, rocky terrain is dramatic and scenic, joy to observe.

The single islands are obviously uninhabited and access to reach them is limited. The reefs and rocks extend from their coastline.

Never the less they are pleasing pictures to look at even though stepping on them is not easy. A bit of look not touch situation which protects the wild life. Cruising these parts of Indonesia is a real pleasure and absolute adventure.

CROSSING THE EQUATOR INDONESIA

CROSSING THE EQUATOR

INDONESIA

There is no indication, across the sea, as to where the Equator line actually crosses. One minute you are in the Northern Hemisphere and the next in the Southern. OK, so it is opposite to some 9 years ago when we crossed from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern. Back then we were day hopping and towing the dinghy behind so it was handy to get to the beach to celebrate Crossing of the Equator for the first time by boat.

Now we are on a passage and sailing against the wind so celebrations are on deck rather than on a beach.

The nine years of cruising the region has been a fabulous experience. It was exploring of different cultures and cuisines, meeting kind and genuinely friendly people, learning some of the languages to help communication.

They were years of learning about nature, wildlife and marine life. Years of fun, beach walking, swimming and snorkeling.

They were years of meeting other sailors, people that understand all the reasons for cruising and think alike.

Crossing of the Equator line does not put an end to our amazing lifestyle. It is just going to continue on the other side of the Equator.

SELAMAT PAGI INDONESIA & its 13 000 ISLANDS

SELAMAT PAGI

INDONESIA

&

its

13 000 ISLANDS

Indonesia, over 13 000 islands and at least 6 000 inhabited, is a maritime nation. Most of the nation is based on the island of Jawa and around the capital Jakarta. Some islands have only small villages where fishing is the main occupation. There are also houses on stilts with fishing nets in the middle of a bay. If the multitude of those was added to the total of inhabited islands the numbers would go drastically up.

There is also one more inhabited island, Pulau Ranoh, next to Abang island which 8 years ago was uninhabited. A resort build on that island opened in November 2017 and now Pulau Ranoh is quite seriously populated for a small island. It is full of resort guest and stuff and also noisy with water sports, jet skies, banana boats and alike.

Indonesia is a cruising Paradise. 

It is joy to see islands lined with coconut palms rather than palm oil industry monotonous landscape so typical of other Asian countries.

Some of the best coral reefs are found here. And there are many, some hazard to cruising yachts, not very well charted but absolute pleasure to snorkel on.

Indonesia and its islands is amazingly scenic and pleasure to visit.

SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE

Singapore is celebrating its 53^rd birthday. The island has almost doubled in size over those 53 years, due to reclaiming. So most of the new residential and industrial Singapore is build on sand. Obviously, the waterways are getting more narrow. Yes, space on the island and its waterways is becoming lesser and lesser while the population is growing.

Sailing through Singapore waterways, shared with Malaysia & actually called Johor Strait, is becoming difficult. Some years ago Singapore was a sailors friendly country. Guess, while space is becoming limited, sailing visitors are not welcome. Not so ships that are money making enterprise. Yachts with much lesser engine power are being send to shipping lanes where speedy 20 000 tonnes ships are creating a wake that rocks yachts gunnel to gunnel.

Unaware of the changes introduced in the last couple of years we managed to get a glimpse of this beautiful city before being escorted by police to roll of the shipping lane.

Luckily, visited many times before, Singapore stays in our memory as stunning, visitor friendly city with delicious cuisine displayed in many restaurants.

It was great to relax in a comfortable anchorage on the Malaysian side after some nautical miles added and not so smooth sailing passage. 

Happy Birthday Singapore!

PULAU REDANG MALAYSIA

PULAU REDANG

MALAYSIA

Many islands decorate the map of the East Coast of Malaysia. Those are best visited between May and November, in the North East Monsoon season, when the weather is sunny and the crystal clear waters are calm and warm.

Pulau Redang, a short hop from KualaTerengannu, is famous as an absolute holiday destination. It is accessible by ferry and by air. International flights from Singapore can land at its airport, as well as domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur.

The island is a Marine Reserve. It is famous for fabulous reefs and fish, snorkeling and diving are the primary interests of visitors. The island is Eco- friendly and it has a Turtle Sanctuary. Chagar Hutang Turtle Sanctuary is a sea turtle conservation and research center, it invites visitors and accepts donations to help with research.

Pulau Redang has walking tracks, white sand beaches, crystal clear waters. It is a paradise for snorkeling, diving, swimming and walking. There are a number of resorts and restaurants offering local and international cuisine.

KUALA TERENGGANU MALAYSIA

KUALA TERENGGANU

MALAYSIA

Kuala Terengganu is the capital of the State of Terengganu in north-eastern part of Malaysia. Roughly translated the name means a bright rainbow, which this city surely is.

It is often called KT for short. These shortened forms are popular in Malaysia, KL for Kuala Lumpur, KK for Kuala Kinabalu. KT is only some 400 kilometers away fro KL by road but well over 400 sea miles since it is necessary to sail around Singapore to get there.

KT is a trasure of the East Coast of Malaysia. It is a gateway to amazing Redang Island, the Perhentians and Kapa Islands.

The Museum Negeri Terengganu is a must to visit. Also the Crystal Mosque and Islamic Park Taman Tamadun Islam are worth visiting. The Crystal Mosque built on reclaimed, man made island is a construction of glass and crystal that glisten in the sunshine. The Park has miniature models of Mosques around the world.

Street Art is ever popular in KT. Murals decorate many walls and streets. A stroll through the streets of KT is a pleasure.

JOHOR BAHRU MALAYSIA

JOHOR BAHRU

MALAYSIA

Johor Bahru is a fast growing and expanding city on the southern tip of Malaysian Peninsula. It is connected to Singapore by a one kilometer long causeway built in 1923. The causeway is a road and train link to Singapore. There is also a bridge, Tuas, which construction was completed in 1998. It is almost two kilometers long.

Traffic between Johor Bahru and Singapore is frequent, actually it never stops. Thus JB is expanding with accommodation priced well below half price of Singapore prices. However, it is not just the new buildings growing fast. The history is also being preserved. Banguan Sultan Ibrahim used during the war as British Army observation tower is a well known landmark in JB.

JB's waterfront is being developed as well. Lido Parkland, Pantai Lido, is coming to life in front of Istana Besar, a royal palace built by Sultan Abu Bakar in mid 1800s and will stretch for some three kilometers along Johor Strait.

The waterfront is an attractive anchorage for yachts with its proximity to the city center.

Johor Bahru is already an attractive city and the work is done to make it even more appealing to its growing population and visitors.

MALACCA MALAYSIA

MALACCA

MALAYSIA

Malacca and its ever changing skyline is an example of the rapid development

and expansion in Malaysia. Reclaming, popular in Singapore for obvious reasons like growing population and need for more space, has reached Malaysia. Now, reclaming is popular in Malaysia as well.

Skyscrapers are rising up to the sky, classic landmarks like the floating Mosque are being dwarfed by building sites nearby. The famous Tower of Melaka 110 meters tall is almost equal in height to the surrounding it buildings.

This historic city dating to the 15^th century Portuguese and 18^th century Dutch influence is becoming a metropolis.

But nature is nearby. Water Islands are only five nautical miles south of the city. Pulau Besar has electricity transmitted to the island through pillons from the mainland and a regular ferry service. The city looks great at sunset from Pulau Besar. The other islands also look awesome.

The islands offer safe anchorages for yachts on a passage through Malacca Strait, the ancient trades route between China and India. Malacca has history, architecture, culture and delicious cuisine to offer. 

PULAU PINANG MALAYSIA

PULAU PINANG

MALAYSIA

Pulau Pinang is most unique of the islands surrounding Malaysian Peninsula. George Town, its capital, is expanding and growing into a metropolis. Its skyline is ever changing although heritage buildings are being preserved.

The changes are well visible on approaching the island by sea. The hills covered by rich vegetation are sprinkled with high-rises. Land is being reclaimed to build more sky-rises and roads. Well, Penang is an awesome place to live, no wonder the space is needed to accommodate newcomers to Penang and growing population.  

Temples find a prime spot in Pulau Pinang, mainly Chinese, but there are also many Hindu and Buddhist Temples. There is also a variety of Churches.

History of Penang is featured in a number of museums as well as Street Art. Street Art is decorating many otherwise insignificant buildings, walls and fences.

Penang offers delicious cuisine, variety of bars and night life. The lights of Penang can brighten your stay on this amazing island.