Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0813 4722 9636; Pulau Derawan; r 75,000-150,000Rp; )
Imagine a longhouse on
a pier and you have this pleasant losmen, with colourful verandahs, some with air-con.
The owner will take you to neighbouring islands for 700,000Rp.
April's Restaurant $
( 0813 5058 2483; mains 25,000Rp; 7am-8pm)
Wedged between Danakan and Le-
stari 1, guacamole-green April's dishes up reliable Indonesian favourites.
If Pelangi is full, there are three similar waterfront losmen nearby:
Sari
( 0813 4653
8448; r incl breakfast with fan/air-con 175,000/225,000Rp)
has sizeable adjoining rooms
and nice end units;
Dira
( 0813 4795 5950; r with fan/air-con 150,000/200,000Rp)
has
a restaurant overlooking the water;
Danakan
( 086 8121 6143; r with fan/air-con
150,000/250,000Rp; )
has large baths but suffers from a rough entrance.
INDONESIAN
PULAU MARATUA
Maratua is an enormous U-shaped atoll almost completely untouched by tourism. There
are two fishing villages at opposite ends with a pleasant surprise in between: a nicely
paved path through the jungle some 15km in length. The tidy village of
Bohesilian
, dir-
ectly across from Nabucco Island, is the best base, with tightly packed cottages on the
edge of the jungle, pleasant sea views, a little market, cheerful residents and several
homestays.
Senterbung
, near the pier, offers a front room with double bed for
200,000Rp, including three meals, but look at a few and decide.
Bohebekut
, the village
at the other end of the trail, is poorer and the beach is dirty.
For backpackers with time on their hands, Maratua is a slice of heaven. Hire a scooter
for a day (150,000Rp) and explore to your heart's content, passing over bridges between
islets, heading down long jetties and swimming in the lagoon. Like Kakaban, there is a
stingless freshwater jellyfish pond, although it's difficult to reach. The island's striking
dorsal ridge is also begging for exploration. Add a special someone and a visit here could
easily stretch into days...
NABUCCO & NUNUKAN ISLAND RESORTS
These two small islets in the mouth of the Maratua atoll are owned by Extra Divers, a
German dive resort operator with eight properties worldwide. As such, the upscale clien-
tele is about 80% German and Austrian, although the managers speak English. Both is-
lands are run by the same professional couple, Rainer and Evelyne, each well schooled in
hospitality. Some visitors split their time between islands: an excellent idea.
