Karimun Java - Swimming With Sharks

Sharks. Hmm, who does not know the animal species of mammal on this one. Ferocity, undoubtedly. Sharp teeth of course could easily rip the prey instantly, not to mention humans. So no wonder if the shark is the most feared sea creatures.

Well, in large Menjangan Island Publications, Jepara, Central Java, there is a location where we can actually chat with white sharks (Carcharodon carsharias) without worrying.

"Just do not hold the tail. If held, yes iso bite. If enough ngelus arep holding his head. Do not bite it, "said Karso, one of the boatmen who became our guide while visiting one of the floating homes on the island of Menjangan Besar, Karimun National Park, Java, Jepara, Sunday (29 / 6) yesterday.

In the floating house which also became a place of accommodation of the tourists here, dozens of sharks measuring between 1 to 1.5 meters are maintained. By the owner, the shark has become a kind of entertainment for tourists who stay at the floating house. Later, as the interest of tourists visiting these locations, the manager invited houseboat tourists who want to try the adrenaline swim with sharks collection.

For an entrance fee, the manager did not specify the cost of tickets. "Typically, entry fees for one group only Rp 20,000," said Karso.

Cheap is not it?! Moreover, these fares are including snorkeling equipment rental, such as Goggle, snorkle, and fins.

Lisa, one student from the Netherlands who are following an exchange student in Yogyakarta, admitted that initially he was scared to swim in the pool shark measuring about 9 mx 9 m it. "At first I was scared, but this is an amazing experience, why do not I try it," he said in English accent.

This sensation, which also provoked me to test your nerve. At first it rada excited, but after learning that the owner enough to feed them and assured me that the sharks were benign, I was finally nyemplung to the pool which contains about nine shark.

There are two swimming shark at the floating house built since 18 years ago. The first pond, measuring about 3m x 7m, right in front of the house that leads to the high seas. In this pool, tourists were not allowed to swim. Given, in addition to the white shark populated but there are also classified as malignant barracuda fish.

According to Is (53), manager of the houseboat, there are about a dozen different kinds of fish.However, that pretty much is the white shark and barracuda with a variety of sizes. "Sharks are the big size of 50 kg. All were children. Their mother was dead. At first there were four. Three dead, one was brought to the Ancol, "Is the word, who has worked in the house belonging to Mr James for 20 years.

According to Is, the fish is the catch of the fishermen and then maintained as a decoy for the guests who come to the guesthouse.

Guests or visitors who come in house, only allowed to swim in the pool are left homeless. In addition there are sharks in the pool there is also a tortoise is large enough. Is, not knowing in detail the age, but the tortoise was already there in the house since 5 years ago.

In addition to the guest house run by Is, there is also a pool shark at the floating house karimun Jaya, belonging to (late) Ismarjoko. In the floating house, there are several types of sharks of various sizes.

According Diah, one of the managers at the guesthouse, the sharks it was classified as malignant. However by giving adequate and regular food, the fish will not attack those who want to swim in a pool of sharks found in the house. "Ad also dared to swim anyway. Okay anyway.There have been fed enough and regularly. Usually when it's their glut of benign-benign aja sih.Just do not fit any wound down to the pond, "he said.

"Usually those Caucasians who dare to swim here," he added.

Not hard to achieve a floating guesthouse on the island of Menjangan Besar. From the fishing harbor in the village Karimunjawa just take the time not more than ten minutes by chartered boat belonging to the fishermen, at a rate of between Rp 250,000 to Rp 300,000 for a full day's rental.

Karimun Java archipelago consists of 27 small islands located in the Java Sea. Its location approximately 83 miles north of Jepara. Of the 27 islands, only five inhabited islands, namely Pulau Karimun, Kemujan, Parang, Mosquitoes, and Genting.

In addition to offering the sensation mingle with the sharks, the area of ​​white sand beach that lies a small deer island the main attraction. This location can also be used as an area of ​​sea water therapy.

There are two alternative pathways of marine transportation which can be used to Publications, namely by using the KMP Muria from the Port of Jepara Kartini or fast boat from the port of Tanjung Mas Karimun Semarang. But the freight on this one, since a month ago, in a damaged condition and was repaired. This causes a surge of passengers in KMP Moriah for the past month. Within a week, there are two times the shipping schedule from Jepara to Publications, namely Wednesday and Saturday.

Well, if you have the opportunity to visit Karimun, it's worth trying to challenge that can test your adrenaline. Will be guaranteed an unforgettable experience.

source: kompas.com 
Report KOMPAS.com journalists Eko Hendrawan Sofyan

Senggigi Beach Lombok

If you ever imagine your body lying on the beach Indonesia, on the beautiful white sand, sprinkled with exotic all-natural scenery, and showered with sunlight that warms the body, it is not wrong if you took time to relax and air travel to the Senggigi Beach on the Island Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The beach is located 12 kilometers northwest of the city of Mataram was indeed a famous tourist attraction for its beautiful beaches and naturalness.

Communities often align the beauty of this beach with famous beaches on the island of Bali, like Kuta, Legian and Sanur. In fact, the beauty of Senggigi Beach is often portrayed beyond the beaches, because the condition is much more comfortable and quiet. Perhaps this is related to the arrival of foreign tourists has not been rampant in this beach.

As the mainstay of coastal resorts of West Nusa Tenggara Province, Senggigi is still relatively natural, and kept clean. The beach is still beautiful, the crash of the waves are not too big, and beautiful underwater scenery, further confirmed that the beach that stretches about 10 kilometers is an ideal place for domestic and foreign tourists for a moment forget the daily routine and atmosphere of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Senggigi Beach is now beginning ogled by tourists, especially foreign tourists, because of the relatively virgin territory and also has extensive information about his whereabouts. With increasing interest and enthusiasm of tourists to the Senggigi Beach, the local government and companies sewasta increasingly keen to build and fix all the infrastructure, so that the tourists more interested to visit this beach.

Privileged
Visiting Senggigi in Lombok Island may need to be a travel agenda for tourists who love the beauty and freshness of nature. Just imagine, when entering the coastal area, travelers will soon swept away by soft-breeze that blows along the coast cluster in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province. Fresh atmosphere, comfortable, and beautiful as if greeting tourists at the beginning of his visit. Time has been at the beach, the eyes of the tourists will be served by the exotic charm of the beach set in waves chasing each other, which extend the white sand, and thousands of tiny animal that spreads on a bed of sand, and the landscape of Mount Agung in the opposite island (the island).

Senggigi beach does offer a unique charm. Natural atmosphere that has not been overwhelmed by foreign tourists, as a marker of difference with this beach on Bali's beaches. It certainly gives the feel of its own for the visitors. Not surprisingly, this beach is now used as a new alternative destination of the tourists who missed the reassuring atmosphere of natural silence

There are many tourist activities that visitors can do at this beach, like swimming, splashing, diving, snorkeling, sunbathing, and playing around making sandcastles. If the afternoon sun had begun to fade, tourists can also take the time to simply stroll the beach barefoot track, sitting on the sand with mangamati blue-green ocean water, or relax at the beachside hotel outlets while waiting for sunset arrived. For visitors who want to swim or just playing in the water, it is suggested to be more careful, because at the seaside there are many sharp rocks are quite harmful to the feet.

For tourists who visit the beach of Senggigi, Batu Bolong Temple sempatkanlah observed. As I walked along the edge of Senggigi Beach, approximately half an hour, travelers will find a temple built on a reef which is located on the beach. Pretend this is by surrounding communities named Pura Batu Bolong. According to local legend, the ancient temple is often held the sacrifice of a virgin, as a dish of food for the sharks that live on the beach. Another legend says, the temple is also a place where women throw himself into the sea because of a broken heart.

Location
of Senggigi Beach is situated in the northwest city of Mataram, West Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB), Indonesia.

Access
Towards Senggigi beach area is quite easy, because there have been ports and airports on the island of Lombok. If the opposite of the island of Bali, travelers can depart from the Port of Karang Asem use a ferry to Senggigi, with travel time about 30 minutes away. Mileage can be trimmed when using aircraft from Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar to Mataram Selaparang Airport (Capital NTB), which only takes about 15 minutes.

Apart from the Port of Karang Asem, tourists can also depart from the port of Padang Bay in Bali use a ferry to Sheet Harbour on the island of Lombok. On the way, travelers will be pampered with a beautiful natural scenery and also the appearance of dolphins followed the ship that chased each other. Padang Bay-Sheet trip by ferry takes about 4 hours. After arriving in Sheet Harbour, visitors can proceed to the city of Mataram. From the city of Mataram, Senggigi Beach is 11 kilometers and can be reached by taxi and other public vehicles.

In addition to sea, tourists can also headed Senggigi Beach by way air flights from major cities in Indonesia, like Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali and Yogyakarta. By using aircraft from one of the city, travelers will get to the airport Selaparang, Mataram. From the airport it can direct travelers to the area of ​​Senggigi Beach.

Accommodation and Other Facilities
Around Senggigi Beach there are many lodging options that can be made ​​to suit your needs.Ranging from five-star hotels, resorts, hotels jasmine up. Some places to stay that can be used as an alternative is the Holiday Inn, the Oberoi, Sheraton Senggigi, Melati Dua Cottage, Pool Villa Club, Panorama Cottage, and others. Moreover, in coastal areas is also often found restaurants, cafes, bars, open markets, a row of souvenir stalls and souvenirs, mosque, public toilets, parking lots, and others. Indonesia Senggigi beach is a beach that deserves to be the tourist beaches.