Karimunjawa :All You Can See

Karimunjawa : All You Can See

Ujung Gelam, the west coast of Karimunjawa

Traveling still becomes our passion. Then we choose Karimunjawa as our next trip there are many Karimunjawa’s package offered but we didn’t take it.  We went there independently. For this trip we didn’t go alone. Our friends joined this trip, they are: Boni, Willy, and Boni’s brother. So we cant use our motorbike for this trip. But, the tramp’s philosophy still exists on this trip. We gathered at Jombor bus station, Yogyakarta around 12 pm then looking for bus to Semarang. We choose the cheapest bus (we don’t remember the bus’s name), honestly, this bus was super terrible. Normally we can reach Semarang for 3,5 hours, but using this bus, we reach semarang for 4,5 hours. I suggested you to take the “normal” bus, it cost only rp.35.000 meanwhile our bus is rp.18.000. Now we know that money still talks. We arrive at semarang around 4.30 pm, Our journey has not ended, we still need to reach Jepara where the harbor to go over to Karimunjawa located. We got the last bus, and this one is the most terrible bus I ever had! Why? The driver is like in trance! He’s driving like a hell and ignores all the passengers inside. Feel like the next second is our last breath. But lucky us, we arrived Jepara safely. We pay this “devil bus” for rp.15.000.  Try it. Feel like you’re riding roller coaster.

We still have to go to the harbor from Alun-Alun Jepara (the termination point of “devil bus”). We decide to walk to get the harbor. We walk about 4 kilometer to the harbor. It was already dark when we get the harbor, so we have to spend the night in the harbor, sleeping without any tent or mattress and also we are accompanied by the blood-sucking bastards (read it: mosquitoes). Lucky us, we still alive, without infected by malaria or any mosquitoes disease. Around seven after the breakfast we have to buy ferry ticket to go over the Karimunjawa. Six hours left to see Karimunjawa. We pay rp.30.500 for this ferry boat.

Finally we can see Karimunjawa. The water was amazing; we can see fishes swimming freely on the water. Karimunjawa isn’t the only island we will visit. But there are many little islands around Karimunjawa. Okay, after we are in the slow ferry about for 6 hours. We have to find somewhere to sleep. We’re not taking hostel that time. But we heard from someone journal in Kaskus that someone stays at homestay, which is, belong to Karimunjawa residents, and he only pay for rp.15.000 per night. Yes we take it. The homestay. We have to walk for another 4 kilometre to reach the homestay, still with massive backpack. Seem that will break our back. Ouch! Finally we reach the homestay. How is the rp.15.000 homestay? It is okay. Clean and feels like home.The only problem is when the night comes. Mosquitoes will start to suck our blood.

Next day...

We decided to do snorkeling around Karimunjawa islands. What’s good here? THE WATER! We feel like we’re swum at the pool. But actually we are in the middle of ocean  . Was fun!

Ujung Gelam is our next stop. It’s the west coast of Karimunjawa Island. We’re having lunch in this place. Like picnic, we’re brought our trangia (its kind of mini outdoor stoves). We’re cooking here . While cooking some of boys climb the coconut tree. We have our coconut drink for free actually. Ujung gelam has fine sand. We’re doing snorkeling again here. Corals and colorful fishes are accompanied our snorkel time. After kill the time in Ujung Gelam we’re continuing to Menjangan Besar Island. Here’s where fancy resort located. I love this island, silent and calm, also clean. Because when we were in Ujung Gelam, its not clean at all, rubbishes everywhere. We can do fishing here or snorkeling. After that we’re heading to the shark and turtle conservation. We can swim with the baby shark here. It’s not dangerous. So no worries. 

Sun goes down. Time for us to go back to the homestay. Lucky us that time the sun goes down beautifully, we’re enjoyed the sunset on the boat, in the middle of ocean.

The next day..

We didn’t cross over to another island, but we stay at Karimunjawa. We try to explore Karimunjawa itself. We go to the hills, firstly we’re planned to do camping at the hills but people told us so many dangerous viper snake on the hills. So we didn’t do it. We just go up to the hills. Not much to see here. Only trees and the beach isn’t lovely. Dirty. And we can do such a sunbathing here. At the night we’re go back, and hang out with the locals. And tomorrow we have to back home with the same route in the beginning, except the economic buss from Semarang-Yogyakarta. We take the normal one for rp.35.000. Oh ya, on the way back home on ferry. We saw two dolphins swim alongside. Was really beautiful.

Hugs,

Joanne and Jacob

Here’s our cost details to visit this place  for one person:

1. Economic Bus from Yogyakarta to Semarang        :rp.18.000

2. Bus from Semarang to Jepara                                   :rp.15.000

3. Dinner at Jepara                                                          :rp   7.000

4. Breakfast at Jepara Harbor                                       :rp.  7.000

5. Ferry boat 2X (include for returns)                          :rp.61.000

6. We do cooking for lunch                                             :rp.Free

7.Homestay per night 15.000X2                                    :rp.30.000

8.Dinner the local food (sea food)                                  :rp.10.000

9.Breakfast in the homestay                                             :rp.10.000

10.Rent the local boat to get around the island            :rp.35.000

11.Lunch on the next day is free, we’re cooking           :rp.free

12.Dinner                                                                            :rp.10.000

13.Breakfast  at the homestay again (the day 2)          :rp.10.000

14.Lunch at the local warung                                           :rp.   7.000

15.Dinner at local warung                                                 :rp. 10.000

16.Breakfast for the last day before we’re leaving        :rp.10.000

17.We took becak from Jepara Harbor to bus station   :rp.10.000

18.Bus from Jepara to semarang                                      :rp.15.000

19.Bus from Semarang to Yogyakarta                            :rp35.000

Total :                                                                                 rp.300.000

 nb: if you're not planning to cook like us just add rp.10.000 for ur food 


more info about Karimunjawa accommodation (click here)


more picture, click the gallery.