Pulau Tegal

 mountain, park, island, water, village, place with historical importance, interesting place

Strand Greetings from Tegal Island
Many mengenyitkan forehead as an invitation to Tegal Island visited me tell a few friends. Where is it? The first word that came out of them.

Tegal Island, an island located in Pasawaran District, Lampung Province, indeed the existence of Tegal Island is not well exposed, his name tends to sink behind the fame or the Gulf Kiluan Way Kambas National Park, but do not ask the beauty under the water. Nice.

've Gathered a few friends who will leave for the island of Tegal, including Faizal, a friend of mine from Malaysia whom I know through a social network called Couchsurfing traveler, he was originally going to stay at my house for a few days and see Jakarta, but I "kidnapped" in order to participate to Lampung with us :).

Lucky Nana, allowing us to use his car, so we do not have to bother changing public transport and of course reduce our costs. Pasar Festival in Kuningan became our meeting point. Agreed time is at 10 pm, but we just reached Pasar Festival 12 o'clock at night, leaving Faisal who has been since the first 9pm be there! Sorry dude :)

Promptly at half 1 in the morning, we started walking the streets of the capital to the port of Merak, road conditions quite well, except at Merak toll, some points are no road repairs, so that the rate stalled vehicles, especially many of the vehicles passing through the toll road.

Ferry began crossing the Sunda Strait that separates the island of Java with Sumatra Island starting at 3 am, we spent time with sleeping in a cabin aboard by paying an additional fee Rp.6.000, - to use this place.

Above: The atmosphere on the ferry. Bottom: Pay 6 thousand new to sleep

Sumatra morning sun greeted us that morning, accompanied by the sound of a ferry horn sounds repeatedly to enter the harbor ferry sign Bakauheuni. We rushed to the car to get out of the ferry queue.
Nana, Sari, Selly, Ayudi, Ruth, Gw (Photo by Tareh)


Welcome to the island of Sumatra

When we actually missed estimates, as an initial target at 7 am we started to cross to the island of Tegal. Whereas that time, the time at 6 o'clock in the morning, and we had just set foot in Port Bakauheuni.
Port Bakauheuni (Photo by Faisal)

Car trunk FULL!

Armed with minimal information about Tegal instructions to reach the island, making it seem very long trip, we only find out if the island is located in the district of Tegal Pasawaran and we should head up the beach Ringgung for timber ships to the island of Tegal. Unfortunately, some times we asked on the street, even more misleading, we use GPS also has no way to Ringgung Beach.

12 noon, we just get the right direction to get to the beach Ringgung, which was not too far from the causeway Port Bakauheuni - Sumatra!

View Larger Map

Ringgung beach is in front of us, the beach is only a small village, do not imagine this as a beach beautiful white sandy beaches. However, this is where we hired a boat to take us to the island of Tegal. Deftly, Mr. Tang who have helped us raise the boat to the small boat logistics motor with a maximum of 10 people rmuatan.
Ringgung beach

Roar of boat engines and splashing waves accompany our 10 minute trip to the island from the beach Ringgung Tegal. Expanse of green sea nan calm seemed so exciting, obviously, because Tegal Island is at an almost choppy bay.
Above: Wooden boat with a capacity of 10 people. Below: The Green water in island waters Tegal
In the distance a lot of cages, cages are very suitable to be cultivated in the calm waters. According to Mr. Tang, the many species of fish farmed in cages are grouper here is empowered to sell very high and usually to be exported to foreign countries, such as Taiwan and Hong Kong. Too bad we can not buy our fish for the dinner, due to the tight control the cage. Mr. Tang even further, if one fish dies, then the form of the dead fish must be disclosed to the foreman guard cages.
Above: grouper cages. Bottom: Tegal Island Beach
Stretch of white sandy beach is visible, but Mr. Tang suggestion that we set up a tent on the other side of the island, because the site was often visited by local tourists, so the atmosphere is no longer lonely. Plus a few weeks ago at the site, my cousin who set up tents there had been harassed by a wild boar in the evening.

Mr. Tang on the mooring mast trees not far from the beach. There is no place for our ramps set up a tent, because the place is full of shrubs and litter also relics previous camper at this place. Once cleaned up, then we get a bit of space to set up our two tents.
Above: Boat leaning Tegal Island. Below: Our tent.
In short, can not wait it to immediately throw themselves on the green water there. Snorkeling equipment that we brought our own from Jakarta was put out, the lack of snorkeling equipment rental, we must bring their own force of Jakarta.

Just 3 seconds I buried my head into the water, a fairly large sized turtle swim gracefully beneath me. Before long, she nimbly disappeared. Ahh .. really a wonderful reception from the island. The turtle figure is no longer I encountered after that, but the others are pretty scenery kept me entertained, some fish nemo (clown fish) seem to play around in the anemone. Really funny.
Hi Nemoo .... :)


Underwater Tegal Island

Underwater Tegal Island

I was issued a speargun, try my luck to get fish here, we do not have fish to eat tonight. Repeated attempts, none of which I can fish, decorate a wry smile on my face. We must be content with just eating instant noodles and grilled sausages tonight, coupled with some snacks that we brought.
Spearfishing

Cooking Dinner

We collect wood to light the fire, we were lucky the weather was sunny. The fire is started, warmed our bodies amid wind gusts shore hardness. We spent the evening sitting on the beach with a portable speaker turn. The night was getting late, one by one we began to enter the tent and fell asleep. Do not let me forget the bonfire still burning so that no wild boar that approached our tent.

Barking dog cages watchman woke me up that morning, it was a very friendly dog, many times came to our tent and sat down beside us. Astonishingly, the dog is in the cage that night which is about 50 meters from the beach, meaning the dog cage to swim from the mainland.

At 8 am, we were picked up by Mr. Tang to head to the beach Ringgung, but before we come to the island arises only in the form of a sand dune is not too extensive, but the underwater scenery around the island is filled with various kinds of fish. Satisfied take pictures and swim here, Mr. Tang steer the ship toward Ringgung Beach.
Burnt Island

Burnt Island

One day, I will be back again to Tegal Island, but for diving there, the information that I can say one Tegal Island a great place to do diving. Feels impatient.

Fact Behind The Story:
Merak ferry Bakauheuni: 1 car Rp.235.500 (including any passengers in it)
2 days boat rental: Rp.240.000 (bid results, originally valued Rp.300.000)
If taking public transportation from Jakarta, in Bakauheuni APV car rental to the beach at a cost Rp.350.000 Ringgung that could fit 7 people.