Sempu Island; South Malang East Java

                       At Point of view; a lagoon of Sempu Island

Sempu Island, Untouched moment

By:

Desia Sasmito

Approximately 120 KM south Malang, we could enjoy the fisherman village called ‘Sendang Biru’. Just a short cross to the sea, we also have a camping ground in a small Island called “Sempu”. Even though this island is not Tourist Destination, but many teenagers likes to come here for camping or seizing their holidays. I said it is not Tourist Destination, because we could not find hotel, restaurant, toilet, transportation and others facilities that the Tourist Destination should have. It is just an inhabitant and untouched Island with modern equipments. To reach and enjoy this place, I suggested you to provide two days off.

The most wonderful site here is a lagoon which located in southernmost point of Sempu Island could be reached in two hours walking (normal speed), in very muddy footpath, and entering conserved rainforest. You would find this vacation is very exhausted, but it is paid when we could reach and enjoy scenery in the lagoon. We could hear clearly the Hindia ocean sound of the waves with the white sandy beach which is clean and calm, so that it is suitable for relax, recreation, sunbathing, and also swimming. It is like a natural swimming pool, but still in salty water as we know it is sea water, right? We find a lost beach here.

To get reach

It is so amazing moments if we reach this place with our friends, kind of close friends, our community, family, etc.

Start from Malang city, we could prepare our camping bags. We must make sure bring sufficient foods, clothes, Sandals or boot shoes, torches, etc. Well, it sounds like a camping stuff as our property to go.

Transportation

If you come from out of Java, you can take ticket to Surabaya, East Java. You will arrive in Surabaya International Airport then rent a car for 2 days. It takes about 2 hours driving then arrives in Malang city; prepare everything there before we go. You can leave for Sendang biru before afternoon, because we would like to see the sunset before dark in “Bajul Mati” beach. It is surround ‘Sendang Biru’; a fisherman village. ‘Sendang Biru’ is a place for fisherman come from sailing and grabs huge number of fish from the ocean. So, there you will find many boat and fisherman activity in the morning and afternoon. Some of the fisherman who has some boat also provide us a service to cross the sea go to Sempu Island.

Accommodation

Well, if you want to stay before crossing the sea we can stay in some local people’s house in “Sendang Biru” or you go straight crossing and entering the forest before dark, or find camping ground surrounding lagoon in Sempu Island. The most important stuff have to bring is Mosquito repellent, because there will be a lot of mosquitoes ready to bite you everywhere and anytime and do not forget to bring wet and dry tissue for everywhere toilet.

Foods

Prepare our foods such as “mie goreng” (noodles), instant coffee, milk, tea, bread and any foods that you think it is good for your body. Or we also can buy some fish from fisherman village and cook grilled fresh fish. If you want to eat “steamed rice”, we can bring from “warung” (foodstall) surround Sendang Biru, it is easier then we have to steam rice by ourselves.

TIPS:

-wear good shoes or sandals for muddy road in the forest

-bring raining coat is a must

-use sunblock or mosquitoes repellent

-bring enough mineral water