Krakatau 2005

After we stayed in Ujung Kulon we proceed to Karakatau National Park, it was like 4 hours journey. The view of Krakatau from short distance was awesome. The Anak Krakatau is bigger than the Krakatau itself. The sea was choppy in the late afternoon when we anchoring off shore in front of Anak Krakatau. The story of Krakatau according to Wikipedia is as follows :"Krakatoa (Indonesian: Krakatau), also spelled Krakatao or Krakatowa, is a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The name is used for the island group, the main island (also called Rakata), and the volcano as a whole. It has erupted repeatedly, massively, and with disastrous consequences throughout recorded history. The best known eruption culminated in a series of massive explosions on August 26 - 27, 1883, which was among the most violent volcanic events in modern times. With a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 6, it was equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT — about 13,000 times the yield of the Little Boy bomb (13 to 16 KT) that devastated Hiroshima, Japan.
The 1883 eruption ejected more than 25 cubic kilometres of rock, ash, and pumice,[2] and generated the loudest sound historically reported: the cataclysmic explosion was distinctly heard as far away as Perth in Australia approx. 1,930 miles (3,110 km), and the island of Rodrigues near Mauritius approx. 3,000 miles (5,000 km). Near Krakatoa, according to official records, 165 villages and towns were destroyed and 132 seriously damaged, at least 36,417 (official toll) people died, and many thousands were injured by the eruption, mostly from the tsunamis that followed the explosion.
The eruption destroyed two-thirds of the island of Krakatoa. Eruptions at the volcano since 1927 have built a new island in the same location, called Anak Krakatau (child of Krakatoa).[1]This island has a radius of roughly 2 kilometers and a high point around 200 meters above sea level. The original island of Krakatoa had a high point at an estimated 2000 meters above sea level and had a radius of 9 kilometers".

Ujung Kulon 2005

It was the weekend of May 21 to 23, 2005. I visited Ujung Kulon National Park and Krakatau National Park with Amir, my school mate from the Law School of University of Indonesia, from 1975 and Nanny Budiman, my school mate from elementary to high school at BPK Penabur, 1968 to 1974. I remember that the journey was so fine, the sea was as flat as a mirror. We stay and sleep on board Stella all the time. We went to Peucang Island and walked to Karang Copong, about 3 hours from the ranger station and jetty. Stella anchored in the middle of the straits as usual. We also caught two yellow fin tuna (Thunnus Albacares) and had sashimi for dinner and barbeque tuna for lunch the next day in Krakatau, and sashimi again for dinner, and barbeque again for lunch, and barbeque again for dinner, gosh, I wish we did not catch the tuna.

The Eagle Lady From Kotok Timur Island

We first met Femke Den Haas a couple months ago when we were on the island to pick up Kiki Adjie the owner of the island. I was amazed to know that a Dutch Lady cares so much about the eagles while the Indonesian do not know much about eagles. She is married to an Indonesian and has been in Indonesia for more than 7 years, she speaks relatively good bahasa. She works hard to take care of the eagles (Brahminy Kites and Sea Eagles) and teach them to catch fish from the sea and be able to feed themselves, cured the raptors from inability to live in the wild resulted from long stay in captivity, then, they will be released to the wild again. She and her crews stayed on the island with very basic facility, most of the time, without electricity. She is very active supporting Jakarta Animal Aid Network, a non governmental organization focusing on the welfare of animals http://www.jakartaanimalaid.com/.

On the picture she is second from the right. On her right is Beth Rivin and on her left is Geni Achnas from UpLift International, a non governmental organization focusing on the health issues of women and children http://www.upliftinternational.org/. On the left, Amir and the writer next to him. Picture was taken on the jetty of Kotok Timur Island on May 31, 2008.

The Children of Labuan Bajo

While we were in Labuan Bajo, Flores, we were denied from getting the sailing permit for bad weather reason. The public sea transportation had been halted for the last 3 days. So we have no where to go except going to the shore and finally we were surrounded by children at a modest village called Gorontalo. It was about 3 Km from the harbor where we jumped out our rubber boat after taking us from Stella. The children were catching the lobster larvae to be sold to the people who worked collecting lobster larvae from the children and later sell them to the hatchery. The children were doing it after school time to help in supporting their parents earnings. They were so enthusiastic in posing for the camera. We were so touched by their simple ways of living, originality of their acts, the joy on their faces and the hope gleaming from their eyes.

Ujung Kulon Fishing 2007

We try fishing the area while we were in Ujung Kulon and we caught 3 good size of skipjacks (Katsuwonus pelamis) enough for our meals. The skipjacks ended up in our barbeque pits and enjoyed by everybody on board.

We were fishing for a short period only, the sea was so unpleasant to fish, windy and choppy. I remember the time where we use to fish all day in the area doing trolling and bottom fishing at night. The time when the corals were so pristine and spear fishing was so enjoyable. Diving the area now only to find dead corals and almost no big fishes. The area use to be abundant with trevallies and lobsters. Yellow fin tunas when in season come in big school. Well, it was 10 years ago. The time has passed. Commercial fishing fleets entering the area everyday without any supervision from coast guards or National Park Guards to regulate them. Ujung Kulon National Park are not preserved as it deserved.

On the picture, Chandra and James holding the skipjacks.

Ujung Kulon National Park

It was on August 10, 11 and 12, 2007 we went to Ujung Kulon National Park. It took us 5 hours from Marina Carita to Ujung Kulon. Ujung Kulon National Park is the home of the Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) or one-horned rhinoceros. On the way, the sea was inhospitable even though the weather was great. We stay, eat and sleep on board Stella just on the straits of Peucang Island. On one evening we just came back from Karang Copong by foot and we stopped by a big tree and took the picture there. The tree is so big we can not see the left or right side of it on the picture. It was so dark and we could see the eyes of deers and boars. The Peucang Island inhabited by lots of deers, boars, monkeys and many types of birds including peacocks and hornbills. In Handeleum we found dozens of wild ox grassing on the open space near the river. We were five of us, I (holding a stick), Amir (grey hair on the back), Chandra (black tank top), Edo (white tank top), and James (green T-shirt). Edo and James are friends of Chandra.

Stella on Stella

The only time Stella on board Stella was on the week end of March 31, 2006. The sea was very calm and the weather was perfect. Stella were with her mom, brother and a girl friend of him. We were having fun and did some swimming, snorkeling and islands hoping. Stay a couple of nights at the Putri Island Resort. The food at the resort was awful as usual so we cook some food on board. However, on the way back to Jakarta, the sea was a bit choppy and her brother could not handle it and throw up every where. He swore not to go again by any boat, ever. Stella was okay but I am not sure why she would not go on board Stella anymore. Maybe I will ask her more frequently.

Crews of Stella

It would not be fair if we were talking about Stella and ignoring the crews. The captain of Stella is Imam and the engine master is Anto. On our trip to Flores we were accompanied by Rachmat, a deck hand to help around with the boat. Imam is a good cook as well. Anto was his assistant when he was cooking. They always sleep on the fly bridge no matter of the weather conditions. Imam and Anto are very good with their job. Very responsible. Rachmat (left), Imam (center) and Anto (right).

The picture was taken on January 3, 2007 after their busy task filling in the fresh water tank using small jerry-can transported by rubber boat from the shore. The crews showed very good understanding about work division among themselves. They take turns when sleeping so we can sleep tight. They worked very hard and always happy even in difficult time when the weather was really bad, raining, big swells and dangerous seas.

Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragon (Varanus Komodoensis) can be found only at the Komodo National Park at Komodo, Padar, and Rinca Islands. We just visited Komodo and Rinca Islands. Anything about the komodo can be found easily on the net. Just google it. For me, tke komodos are scary creatures which kill the victims by using the poison and virus on their teeth and wait for many days when the victim is shivering and wobly.

Komodo Trip

Stella was left Jakarta on the 21st of December 2007 and reached Singaraja on the 25th. The voyage to Komodo Island started on the 26th when I and Amir, my close friend from the law student time arrived from Jakarta and transported by car driven by our friend, Dedet from Denpasar. After around 3 hours of unpleasant drive to Singaraja we just get on board and sleep. We started our journey the next morning on the 27th and stop at Gili Trawangan for two nights enjoying our selves by snorkeling and diving the area. On the 28th we reached Moyo Island, a private island in Sumbawa where Aman Wana Resort is located. We anchored at the Aman Wana cove and left the island the next morning to Sape, a small port in the East Sumbawa Island. The next day we are stranded at the channel on the way to Komodo Island. What an experience. We have been out in the open sea for days and could not get through the channel because the water was so low and the current so strong that our skipper Imam, decided to anchored and wait until the water tides up and the current slower. Finally we reached Komodo Island on the 29th. On the picture, Stella looking good anchoring in Labuan Bajo.